National Sports

It's been an eventful three-year run for Josiah St. John.

Andrew Case didn't want to miss a chance to play for Canada on the international stage, even if the timing wasn't perfect. Case, a Blue Jays pitching prospect from Saint John, N.B.

HAMILTON — Star receiver Brandon Banks has signed a two-year extension with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

DURHAM, N.C. — Rising Canadian basketball star RJ Barrett has been named ACC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season. The forward from Mississauga, Ont.

Canadian Rory (Red King) MacDonald will defend his 170-pound title against veteran Jon Fitch on April 27 in the fourth and final opening-round matchup of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix.

NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, San Jose Sharks centre Joe Pavelski and Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk are the NHL's three stars of the week.

Winnipeg's Valour FC has signed teenage forward Tyler Attardo and former Canadian youth international midfielder Dylan Carreiro.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's government has remained defiant despite losing the right to host the World Para Swimming Championships after it banned Israelis from competing in the event, a qualifying competition for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka is the first player from Asia to top the men's or women's tennis rankings while Canada's Bianca Andreescu jumped 38 positions to a career-high No. 68.

CAIRO — This year's African Cup of Nations in Egypt has been pushed back by six days to cater for Ramadan and allow Muslim players time to rest and recover after a month of fasting.