National Sports

OTTAWA — There will be a strong Manitoba presence at the upcoming Scotties Tournament of Hearts as five teams from that province have been confirmed for the 18-team competition at Calgary's Markin MacPhail Centre.

Supporters groups from around Major League Soccer voiced their support for the players Monday in their ongoing labour dispute with the league.

Toronto has failed to make the three-city shortlist for the 2026 Gay Games. In August, the Ontario capital made the list of eight candidates cities from the original list of 20.

DALLAS — Major League Baseball consultant Theo Epstein was hired Monday by a financial firm that advises on investments in sports teams.

HUDDERSFIELD, United Kingdom — Canadian goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler has joined Huddersfield Town on a contract that runs through the end of the season.

TORONTO — York United FC has signed Canadian defender Dominick Zator to a two-year contact. The 26-year-old from Calgary spent the first two Canadian Premier League seasons with Cavalry FC, making 47 appearances.

HALIFAX — Lukas Cormier and Thomas Casey each scored a pair of goals in a 5-1 Charlottetown Islanders win over the Halifax Mooseheads in Halifax Sunday afternoon.

ASPEN, Colo. — Canadian freestyle skier Evan McEachran reached the X Games podium a second straight year taking bronze in men's slopestyle Sunday. The 23-year-old from Oakville, Ont., placed third behind winner Nick Goepper of the U.S.

EDMONTON — Leon Draisaitl was one assist away from matching a record held, in part, by a Canadian icon, and he had no idea. But the German forward feels much more content with the two points his team earned Sunday night.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Canadian tennis star Bianca Andreescu is the top seed for her first tournament in 15 months. Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., received the top seed Monday for the Grampians Trophy, which starts Wednesday.