National Sports

Nathan MacKinnon doesn't really notice when the minutes begin to creep up. The Colorado Avalanche centre is too invested in the moment — usually one where he's either trying to help his team get even or push ahead in a tight contest.

TORONTO — No decision has been made yet but CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani expects Canada to get an automatic berth — along with co-hosts Mexico and the U.S. — for the 2026 World Cup.

Fresh off a bucket-list win, Cassie Sharpe wants to lock down yet another. The freestyle skier aims to carry the momentum from winning X Games halfpipe gold in Aspen, Colo., last week into the world championship starting Friday in Utah.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed veteran right back Scott Sutter to their growing roster. The club announced Wednesday that an agreement had been inked with the 32-year-old defender for the 2019 season, with an option for 2020.

Ben Silverman didn't have to look up his pairings for the fourth round of the Farmers Insurance Open last Sunday. His phone began vibrating as soon as they were announced.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed Canadian safety Mike Daly on Wednesday. The native of Kitchener, Ont., was scheduled to become a free agent next month. Daly, 28, appeared in all of Hamilton's 18 regular-season games last year, starting 17.

TORONTO — Montreal lightweight John (The Bull) Makdessi will face German Nasrat Haqparast on March 23 at a televised UFC card in Nashville.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Asian Cup organizers have opened an investigation after soccer fans threw shoes and bottles at Qatar's players during their semifinal victory over the United Arab Emirates.

TORONTO — It might have seemed like an innocuous gesture. But it was part of a much bigger problem that saw Canadian Francois Imbeau-Dulac lay down some of the best dives of his life at the 2012 London Olympics — and then completely fall apart.

LONDON — Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood might have a shot at winning the world's most grueling steeplechase for the first time with a not so wild horse.