National Sports

NAPLES, Fla.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Defending champion France’s World Cup hopes took a huge blow with the news that star striker Karim Benzema is out of the tournament after tearing a muscle in his left thigh during training on Saturday.

REGINA — The night before the Grey Cup offered Zach Collaros an opportunity to catch up on the latest episodes of Gabby's Dollhouse.

REGINA — Before every game, Stanley Bryant awaits a text from his mother Bernita Hines asking him "are you ready for some football?" His answer, in both word and on-field deeds, is a resounding "yes.

OTTAWA — As captain of the Ottawa Senators, Brady Tkachuk was willing to take the blame for his team's 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon. The reality is the Senators just weren't good enough against the NHL's hottest team.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Sarah Bujold, Kelly Babstock and Madison Packer scored two goals apiece to lift the Metropolitan Riveters to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation on Saturday.

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands — Canada's Laurent Dubreuil raced to victory in the 500 metres to lead Canada on a two-medal day at the ISU speedskating World Cup. The Canadian women's team sprint captured a silver medal Saturday in the season's first race.

REGINA — With 11 years between Grey Cup appearances, Toronto Argonauts linebacker Henoc Muamba isn't taking anything for granted as he heads into the CFL championship game on Sunday.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Authorities turned away thousands of fans Saturday night from a concert celebrating the World Cup beginning the next day in Qatar, revealing the challenges ahead for Doha as it tries to manage crowds in FIFA's most-compact tourname

REGINA — Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros says his ankle, which has been under much scrutiny during Grey Cup week, didn't regress after his lone practice in Regina.