National Sports

TORONTO — Alexandre Despatie was five years old when he first started diving in his backyard pool. He loved it immediately and started dreaming big. Despatie's skills grew exponentially and it wasn't long before he made his mark on the sport.

Austin Pasztor is living proof the draft isn't the only path to a productive NFL career. The six-foot-seven, 308-pound offensive lineman is preparing for his seventh season and second with the Atlanta Falcons despite not being drafted.

TORONTO — Raptors guard Delon Wright refused to take the bait Thursday when asked about some trash-talk from Washington's Kelly Oubre Jr. The Wizards forward slid in a barb after Wednesday's 108-98 Game 5 loss in Toronto.

QUEBEC — Patrick Roy is returning to the Quebec Remparts as coach and general manager. The Hall of Fame goaltender announced Thursday that he has signed a two-year contract with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.

Boston officials Thursday approved changing the name of Yawkey Way, the street outside Fenway Park, because of allegations former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey was a racist who resisted signing black ballplayers in the 1940s and '50s.

WINNIPEG — Maurice Leggett is making impressive progress in his comeback from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his 2017 season, and the Blue Bombers defensive back said a lot of the credit for his recovery goes to the woman he just asked to marry.

VANCOUVER — Style points won't be top of mind for the Vancouver Whitecaps when they face Real Salt Lake on Friday night.

With the first round of the NHL playoffs in the books, The Canadian Press takes a look at the four series that will determine the conference finalists.

BOSTON — Auston Matthews described scoring in the playoffs like feeling "an earthquake in your feet" following his winner in Game 3 of Toronto's series with the Boston Bruins.

HUMBOLDT, Sask. — What became a symbol of grief following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash earlier this month is about to melt into memory.