National Sports

VANCOUVER — While Marcel de Jong has Canadian roots, his experience with hockey involved grass and a ball. The Vancouver Whitecaps' left back was born in Newmarket, Ont., but at the age of four his family returned to their native Netherlands.

REGINA — When Noah Dobson was 15, he made the decision to forgo playing midget hockey in Canada and instead travelled to Austria to play for EC Red Bull Salzburg. Dobson said the move allowed him to get daily ice time and improve his skills.

RENTON, Wash. — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wanted to be talking about football matters — Seattle's recommitment to the run game, the addition of two new co-ordinators , almost anything to do with what happens between the lines.

HOUSTON — Chris Paul's grit and veteran leadership have pushed the Golden State Warriors to the brink of elimination. Now the Houston Rockets must wait to see if his injured leg is strong enough to help them take one last step to the NBA Finals.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday granted a rare posthumous pardon to boxing's first black heavyweight champion, clearing Jack Johnson's name more than 100 years after what many see as his racially-charged conviction.

Thursday's Games NBA Playoffs Houston 98 Golden State 94 (Rockets lead series 3-2) --- AHL Playoffs Rockford 3 Texas 2 (OT) (Stars lead series 3-1) --- MLB American League L.A.

With no deadlines to meet and a monthlong summer break coming up, NFL teams are in no hurry to formulate a policy on demonstrations during the national anthem.

REGINA — While several of his Hamilton Bulldogs teammates huddled around a TV in the team hotel for Wednesday's game at the Memorial Cup, Robert Thomas opted to stop watching shortly after the first period.

Canadian Zachary Claman De Melo isn't apprehensive about qualifying 13th for this weekend's Indianapolis 500. After all, 13 has been a meaningful number for the 20-year-old Montreal native, who'll be making his Indy 500 debut Sunday.

MILWAUKEE — Body camera video showing police using a stun gun on an NBA player over a parking violation is just the latest setback for efforts to improve the strained relationship between Milwaukee officers and the city's black population.