National Sports

WINNIPEG — Matt Nichols seems to have found a favourite word to describe how the Blue Bombers offence will be this season. In a scrum with reporters after Tuesday's practice, the quarterback used the word "explosive" six times.

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — Canada's women's rugby sevens team has made it to France for the final stop of the World Series season. But its luggage was not so fortunate. The Canadian women left Sunday, flying from Victoria to Montreal and then Lyon.

Parents say a new rule restricting where girls from rural Saskatchewan can play hockey should be put on ice.

MARKHAM, Ont. — After getting punched in the jaw during Canada's weekend rugby loss to Romania in Edmonton, Tyler Ardron found himself chatting with his assailant at the post-game meal. Hooker Otar Turashvili, it seems, is good company off the field.

Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said defender Sheanon Williams has a place with the club after he serves a suspension stemming from an assault charge last week. "One hundred per cent," Robinson told reporters on Tuesday.

TORONTO — Montreal lightweight John (The Bull) Makdessi is stepping in for the injured Claudio Puelles against (Super) Sage Northcutt at UFC 214.

TORONTO — There were undoubtedly times this season when Kyle Lowry questioned his future in Toronto. Every NBA player experiences frustration from time to time, said Masai Ujiri, and Lowry is no different.

MONTREAL — Patrice Bernier goes back 17 years when the topic turns to the Montreal-Toronto soccer rivalry.

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions took some important strides in 2016.

EDMONTON — The fortunes of the Edmonton Eskimos in 2017 rest on a high-flying offence, fixing a suspect defence, and spiking a recurring problem with penalties.