National Sports

TORONTO — Alex Galchenyuk took some time to fully grasp the microscope he would be under as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

MONTREAL — As residents of their city dig themselves out of an arctic winter blast, the Montreal Impact are escaping to warmer pastures. The one catch is, they'll need to be fit.

After playing Switzerland to a scoreless draw in a closed-door training match last week, fifth-ranked Canada turns it up a notch Tuesday when it takes on Norway in a women's soccer friendly in Murcia, Spain.

You could excuse Milos Raonic if he let out a shudder when the Australian Open draw was released. An opener against the mercurial Nick Kyrgios. Three-time Grand Slam champ Stan Wawrinka a good bet for Round 2.

MILTON, Ont. — Former Olympic flag-bearer Adam van Koeverden will be carrying the Liberal banner into the coming federal election, after securing the nomination in the southern Ontario riding of Milton on Sunday.

SKOWHEGAN, Maine — A Maine pastor who publicly predicted the final score of Sunday night's AFC championship game isn't claiming divine intervention. But he's confident the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl as well. The Rev.

New York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner, New York Rangers centre Mika Zibanejad and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane have been named the NHL's three stars for the week ending on Sunday.

NEW YORK — Centre Jack Hughes and right-winger Kaapo Kakko are the top-ranked players on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's mid-season rankings released on Monday. Hughes, from Orlando, Fla.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat to a two-year extension. The 28-year-old native of Dallas has spent the past two seasons with the Bombers.

MELBOURNE, Australia — As Serena Williams made her way out to the Australian Open's main court during pre-match introductions, the voice booming over the stadium's speakers implored spectators to welcome "the world's No.