National Sports

RIMINI, Italy — The Canadian men's volleyball team swept Germany in Nations League action on Wednesday. Set scores were 25-17, 26-24, 25-21. Sharone Vernon-Evans of Toronto led the way with 15 points, Stephen Maar of Aurora, Ont.

TORONTO — Jason Spezza will once again be sporting blue and white next season. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday the 38-year-old forward has re-signed with his hometown team at the league minimum US$750,000 for the 2021-22 campaign.

NEW YORK (AP) — The ESPYS are returning to New York next month for the first time since 1999, with actor Anthony Mackie hosting the show that honors the year’s top athletes and sports moments.

TAMPA, Fla. — Two NBA players from Canada's original training camp roster were no longer on the list as pre-Olympic qualifying camp opened in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday.

TORONTO — The Toronto Six have re-signed forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis, who was the National Women's Hockey League's most valuable player this past season. The Six, the lone Canadian team in the six-team league, enters its second season in 2021-22.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks announced Wednesday special-teams co-ordinator/linebackers coach AJ Gass has left the organization for personal reasons. Gass served twice as a member of the club's coaching staff.

HALLE, Germany — Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime earned one of the biggest victories of his career Wednesday by topping Swiss star Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the second round of the Noventi Open.

Tuesday's Games (All Times Eastern) NHL playoffs Best-of-Seven Semifinals Tampa Bay 4 New York 2 (Series tied 1-1) --- NBA Playoffs Best-of-Seven Second Round Brooklyn 114 Milwaukee 108 (Brooklyn leads series 3-2) --- MLB American League N.Y.

Canada has reached the final round of World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF for the first time since 1996-97 in the buildup to France '98.

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Now the adventure really begins.