National Sports

Canada rugby coach Kingsley Jones has been working the phones in recent days, contacting clubs and players in Europe about assembling all his weapons for a crucial World Cup qualifying series against Uruguay. So far, so good.

North America's top hockey video gamers are facing off in the inaugural Snider Hockey Cup.

TORONTO — Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly is thankful for Toronto's bye week, perhaps more than others in the dressing room. Toronto started its five-day break on Thursday on the heels of back-to-back losses.

Freestyle skier Torin Yater-Wallace has a simple picture in his mind: His family all together in South Korea for the Winter Olympics and watching him compete in the halfpipe. His journey there has been much more complicated.

WENGEN, Switzerland — Showing yet again that good slalom beats good downhill in Alpine combined, Victor Muffat-Jeandet rose from 27th place to win a World Cup on Friday.

OTTAWA — Climate change could turn out to be the Winter Olympics' biggest spoil sport.

Thursday's Games NHL Carolina 3 Washington 1 Buffalo 3 Columbus 1 Calgary 5 Tampa Bay 1 --- NBA Boston 114 Philadelphia 103 Toronto 133 Cleveland 99 L.A. Clippers 121 Sacramento 115 L.A.

Thursday's Games NHL Carolina 3 Washington 1 Buffalo 3 Columbus 1 Calgary 5 Tampa Bay 1 --- NBA Boston 114 Philadelphia 103 Toronto 133 Cleveland 99 L.A. Clippers 121 Sacramento 115 L.A. Lakers 93 San Antonio 81 --- The Canadian Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — With Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic among the walking wounded and Serena Williams already deciding not to defend her title, injuries and absentees have been the focus of attention ahead of the Australian Open.

PARK CITY, Utah — Canada's Mikael Kingsbury has been finding success all over the globe lately. But there's something about Utah's Deer Valley Resort that brings out the best in him. Kingsbury, of Deux-Montagnes, Que.