National Sports

MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact will have some fans at their first Major League Soccer home game during the COVID-19 pandemic next week, making them the first professional sports team in Canada to play in front of spectators.

Without a Scotiabank Arena sellout or the rabid Jurassic Park to feed off, Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors are creating their own playoff energy.

TROON, Scotland — Fences blew over behind Canada's Alena Sharp as she warmed up for her 6.30 a.m. start. Nelly Korda’s opening drive went 187 yards and the fierce wind meant she had a hard time just walking the first three holes.

Toronto FC has signed academy forward Jordan Perruzza as a homegrown player. The Toronto native will join TFC's roster on Jan. 1, 2021. He'll become the 24th player in club history from the Toronto FC Academy to sign with the first team.

NEW YORK — Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez upset No. 2 qualifying seed Anna Blinkova of Russia 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round of qualifying for the Western & Southern Open on Thursday.

LAKE LOUISE, Alta. — Canada will not hold an alpine ski race on the World Cup circuit this season after the Lake Louise event announced Thursday it will take a season off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Pride have loaned Canadian international defender Shelina Zadorsky to Tottenham Hotspur of the FA Women's Super League for the remainder of 2020. Zadorsky, from London, Ont.

TORONTO — The $1-million Queen's Plate will be closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first jewel of Canada's Triple Crown will be run Sept. 12 at Woodbine Racetrack.

EDMONTON — The Vancouver Canucks were down 3-1 with goalie Jacob Markstrom getting pounded by vulcanized rubber when they flipped the script on the St. Louis Blues Wednesday and scored three unanswered goals for a 4-3 win in NHL playoff action.

TORONTO — The Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated Columbus from the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games Wednesday, overcoming a late two-goal deficit and beating the Blue Jackets 5-4 on Brayden Point’s goal 5:12 into overtime.