AP Sports

Steady decline in youth hockey participation in Canada raises concerns about the future of the sport

BRAMPTON, Ontario (AP) — In 2022, a veteran of the Bauer Hockey equipment giant said the number of kids playing hockey in Canada was spiraling downward. Participation numbers have been dropping for some time in the nation that is home to the sport. Many watching the trend see ominous signs when it comes to young people choosing hockey in Canada and worry that some of the solutions will not be easy. The sport has become more and more expensive to the point where some parents feel they can’t take part.

Why Germany’s 2006 World Cup patriotic fervor is unlikely to repeat at Euro 2024

BERLIN (AP) — When Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup, it unleashed an unexpected burst of national pride across the country. It was the first time many Germans felt they could wave the flag unburdened by the country’s dark past. Germany is getting ready to host another major soccer tournament, the European Championship. But the scenes of patriotic fervor from 2006 are hard to imagine happening again. The national team could yet coax reluctant Germans to celebrate. But the country itself is going through difficult times politically, with a far-right surge making many uncomfortable about public displays of national pride. There are few German flags hanging from balconies or windows just days before Germany’s opening game against Scotland on Friday.

Locking down games and dominating late has become a hallmark for the Florida Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers have become experts at locking games down and dominating opponents in the third period. Getting a lead and holding on to it has them two wins from the Stanley Cup after cooking up that recipe to perfection in Games 1 and 2 of the final against the Edmonton Oilers. Florida has outscored opponents 28-11 in the third during the playoffs. Taking a 2-0 lead in the series the Panthers did less relying on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and controlled much of the play throughout. They head to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 full of confidence in their style.

Caitlin Clark and other rookies draw near-record crowds, record ratings for 1st month of WNBA season

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA says the first month of the season drew its highest attendance since the league’s second season in 1998 and the best television ratings in the league’s history. The figures are the latest evidence of the surging popularity of the WNBA since it added prominent rookies including Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago’s Angel Reese and Los Angeles’ Cameron Brink. The league says its games are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling last season’s average. The WNBA says it sold out more than half its games in May, with arenas filled to 94% capacity.

Mumbai-born Netravalkar to bowl against India stars Kohli and Sharma as US chases more cricket glory

WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) — At age 18 Saurabh Netravalkar’s ambition was to play top-level cricket for India. That never happened but at 32 he’s suddenly got a chance to bowl against his country of birth at the Twenty20 World Cup. The left-arm United States pacer will be watched nervously by a billion cricket fans back home in India when the teams meet Wednesday. Indian broadcaster Star Sports is already promoting the game as a clash between players like Netravalkar against India superstar batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Tournament favorite India won’t be over-confident, having seen the U.S. pull off a major shock in world cricket when it beat Pakistan. Netravalkar played at a junior level for India.

Aaron Rodgers and Haason Reddick are not attending Jets’ mandatory minicamp

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and edge rusher Haason Reddick are not participating in the team’s mandatory minicamp. Both players are subject to roughly $50,000 in fines for the unexcused absences. Coach Robert Saleh says Rodgers’ absence is related to an event “that is very important to him.” Meanwhile, Reddick appears to be sitting out because of a contract issue. Saleh said Rodgers was at the facility Monday for a physical and team photo shoots, but then left to attend the undisclosed event, which the quarterback told the coach about well in advance. Reddick didn’t attend any of the team’s voluntary workouts after being acquired from Philadelphia in March.

Snubbed by their first choice, the Los Angeles Lakers must resume their head coaching search

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers must continue their latest coaching search with the basketball world already knowing their first choice turned them down. Dan Hurley emerged from his dalliance with the NBA with the leverage to finish a lucrative new contract at UConn. The Lakers have endured their share of embarrassments in recent years, but a snub by a college coach is among the roughest twists yet. So the Lakers must resume a search that has stretched well into its second month since Darvin Ham’s firing May 3 and has yet to produce a slam-dunk choice.

Sprinters catching up to Flo-Jo’s hallowed 100, 200 world records that have stood since 1988

The aura and world records of late sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner hover over track to this day. Known for her long and colorful nails, flashy outfits and her cool “Flo-Jo” nickname, she had a magical run in 1988. She set the 100 mark of 10.49 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials and the 200 mark of 21.34 on her way to a gold medal at the Seoul Olympics. It had seemed as if the records might never be touched. But Flo-Jo’s marks appear to be within reach with the Paris Games coming up this summer. There’s a cast of sprinters springing from the blocks who don’t see an intimidating time but, rather, a record that’s meant to be broken.

49ers running back Christian McCaffrey gets honored with Madden cover

Christian McCaffrey grew up playing the Madden NFL video game with his brother, dreaming of being a player in the league one day. Getting on the cover of the famed video game was never even a consideration. Electronic Arts Inc. announced Tuesday that the San Francisco 49ers star running back will be on the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL 25 that launches worldwide on Aug. 16. McCaffrey called it a “huge honor.” McCaffrey won the AP Offensive Player of the Year last season when he helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl. He led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the NFL lead with 21 touchdowns.

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki blazing his own baseball path in US via Stanford, MLB Draft League

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Slugging first baseman Rintaro Sasaki hit 140 high school home runs back home in Japan but opted out of the Nippon Professional Baseball draft in order to take his own unique path. He is attending college in the U.S. and will play his first game here in New Jersey for Trenton of the MLB Draft League. Sasaki hardly seems fazed by the expectations that come with being a trendsetter of sorts, and at 19 comes across mature beyond his years discussing the importance of finding something to fall back on after his baseball career is through.