National Sports

BROSSARD, Que. — High taxes, obsessive fans, blanket media coverage and the French language are all reasons invoked to explain why NHL free agents tend to steer clear of Montreal. But Ben Chiarot isn't worried about any of that.

MONTREAL — Hundreds of young people from Montreal North, and even a few not-so-young, welcomed home local hero and NBA champion Chris Boucher on Friday.

LIMA, Peru — Canada's rugby sevens teams opened the Pan American Games with convincing victories on Friday. The Canadian women crushed Mexico 54-0, while Canada's men beat Uruguay 31-0. Each team won gold last time out in Toronto in 2015.

LIMA, Peru — Here are five Canadian athletes/teams to watch on Saturday, the first full day of competition at the Pan American Games: CANADIAN WOMEN'S RUGBY SEVENS TEAM After opening with a 54-0 win over Mexico on Friday, Canada draws host Peru and B

MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact are hoping new winger Lassi Lappalainen can help them snap a season-long four-game losing streak.

VANCOUVER — Coach Marc Dos Santos calls July a "nightmare" for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

TOKYO — Canada's Michelle Li has upset the world's top-ranked women's badminton player. Li, from Markham, Ont., beat Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan 2-1 (21-15, 15-21, 22-20) on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.

Shawn Bullock walks into Hockey Canada's office every day with a lot on his plate. Looking at the game through different lenses in an attempt to stay ahead of the curve is one of those many tasks.

TORONTO — Nick Hagglund spent five seasons with Toronto FC, won the MLS Cup and became a father here. Traded to his hometown of Cincinnati in January, the 26-year-old defender still has a special place in his heart for Toronto.

TORONTO — Frederik Andersen's busy off-season has seen him fly home to Denmark, work to hone his on-ice skills in California, and attend a couple of weddings. For all the Maple Leafs' jet-setting No.