National Sports

Former NHL goalie Damian Rhodes admits he was far from a good puck handler in his playing days. Scoring a goal was the furthest thing from his mind. "I didn't want one at all, I just wanted to win," Rhodes said Friday.

One of Kevin Clark's theories as to why he performed so brilliantly for Canada at the Spengler Cup last month and why he has enjoyed some of his best hockey at age 32 is the fact he became a father last summer.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman Martin Marincin to a US$700,000, one-year contract extension. Marincin, 27, has no points and eight penalty minutes 13 games for the Maple Leafs this season.

Toronto head coach Nick Nurse says guard/forward Norm Powell is cleared to play Sunday when the Raptors host the San Antonio Spurs, while star forward Pascal Siakam and centre Marc Gasol are getting close to returning.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have named Jim Little as the team's new chief executive officer.

Orlondo Steinauer will let the Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback situation sort itself out in training camp. Hamilton has two bona fide starters under contract after re-signing veteran Jeremiah Masoli to a one-year deal Dec. 31.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Canada's mixed curling team opened the Youth Olympics with a 7-4 extra-end win over Russia on Friday. Skip Nathan Young's rink scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth before counting three in the extra end.

NEW YORK — Five women will participate in a scrimmage with former NHL players, hoping to generate interest in female hockey. “It's a great opportunity to play on such a big stage," goaltender Kimberly Sass said.

Winnipeg's Valour FC added some experience to its attack Friday by signing former FC Edmonton forward Daryl Fordyce. The 33-year-old joins the Canadian Premier League side after playing the 2019 season with Ireland's Sligo Rovers.

TORONTO — Record-chasing captain Christine Sinclair will be joined by 15-year-old starlet Olivia Smith in Canada's 22-player squad for a two-week preparation camp in Texas ahead of the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship.