In an abrupt about-face at the behest of broadcast partner ESPN, the UFC has postponed UFC 249 and all future scheduled shows due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO - Pat Stapleton, a longtime NHL defenceman who famously kept an air of mystery over whether he possessed the puck from the goal that won the 1972 Summit Series, has died. He was 79.

TORONTO - Auston Matthews has been wheeling around his property in Arizona on rollerblades trying to stay in shape.

Toronto sports figures from Mitch Marner to Michael Bradley have joined forces with Mayor John Tory in a video urging people to "come together by staying home" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hamilton has a choice between poetry and a slam dunk.

TORONTO - Edmonton Oilers forward Colby Cave remains in a medically-induced coma at a Toronto hospital after suffering a brain bleed earlier this week.

A list of Canadian international and domestic sporting events impacted by COVID-19:

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators have signed centre Mark Kastelic to a three-year, entry-level contract.

TORONTO - Canada will be a spectator when Major League Rugby holds its first ever collegiate draft in June.

Curling Canada announced Thursday that the remaining national curling championships on its 2019-20 calendar have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

MONTREAL - The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic track and field trials for next year's Tokyo Games will remain in Montreal.

ST. MARYS, Ont. - The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is posting its 2020 induction ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOUTHAMPTON, England - Southampton became the first Premier League club to announce an agreement with players to defer part of their salaries during the coronavirus pandemic.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Former Texas Rangers star Josh Hamilton has been indicted on a felony charge of injury to a child after his teenage daughter accused him of beating her.

It makes little difference to Alexis Lafreniere when, where or how he’ll learn about being selected in the NHL draft.

D.J. Smith noticed something when his Ottawa Senators arrived in northern California last month.

Josh Morrissey figures he has more close friends on the Edmonton Oilers than any other rival NHL team.

NEW YORK - Alexis Lafreniere remained the top North American skater as the NHL released its final rankings for the 2020 draft Wednesday.

After leading Samoa and Canada to rare tournament wins on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, coach Damian McGrath now faces the challenge of getting Germany's part-time players promoted to the top-tier sevens circuit.

BERN, Switzerland - Veteran Swiss women's hockey goaltender Florence Schelling has been named general manager of one of the top men's teams in her home country.

A list of Canadian international and domestic sporting events impacted by COVID-19:

MONTREAL - CCM has joined the list of hockey equipment manufacturers contributing supplies to front-line health care workers in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Edmonton Oilers say forward Colby Cave is out of emergency surgery after suffering a brain bleed.

CALGARY - Prefacing his hopes that the Calgary Flames return to the ice soon with the acknowledgment that pro hockey is not a societal priority right now, general manager Brad Treliving remains optimistic.

The Canadian Grand Prix has become the latest major sports event in the country to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boston’s Chris Sale, out for the season following Tommy John surgery, thought about the prospect of his teammates sequestered in the Phoenix area for an extended period if Major League Baseball and its players adopt an all-Arizona start to the season.

For the first time since halting play four weeks ago, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman raised the possibility Tuesday of not completing the regular season in order to squeeze in time to award the Stanley Cup.

TORONTO - Changes in Tokyo Olympic qualifying dates have Canada's marathoners rearranging their race calendars.

TORONTO - The CFL is on hold until at least the start of July, with league officials looking at various scenarios once governments and medical experts decide it is safe to play again.

TORONTO - Sheldon Keefe doesn't have Netflix and hasn't seen "Tiger King."

An eighth NHL player has tested positive for COVID-19.

Hayley Wickenheiser saw what was coming and heard the fears of friends on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

GENEVA - Russian officials on Tuesday flatly denied bribing a FIFA voter with millions of dollars to support the country's winning 2018 World Cup bid, after American prosecutors revealed new details about the alleged payments.

OTTAWA - Expansion Atletico Ottawa has signed Victor (Viti) Martinez, making the Spanish midfielder its sixth international player.

A list of Canadian international and domestic sporting events impacted by COVID-19:

Andy Ackers the Toronto Wolfpack hooker is now Andy the barber.

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Alexander Barabanov to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2020-21 campaign Tuesday.

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenceman Dylan Samberg to a three-year entry-level contract, starting in the 2020-21 season.

NEW YORK - Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area this season and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

With NBA games indefinitely on hold, there has been a lot of discussion about post-season possibilities — including by coaches around the league.

TORONTO - Hayley Wickenheiser's call for medical supplies for front-line health care workers got an assist from actor Ryan Reynolds.

DETROIT - Fresh off the train and only 18 years old, Al Kaline ran into an immediate roadblock trying to join the Detroit Tigers. Called up to the majors, he couldn't get past the security guards at Briggs Stadium.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Former All-Star first baseman Todd Helton pleaded guilty to driving under the influence as a first offence and has served 48 hours in jail as part of his sentence.

Auston Matthews remembers returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs' hotel after dinner one night and finding something unexpected.

The NFL draft will be conducted in a virtual format, with team personnel working from their homes.

UFC 249 is going ahead with Justin Gaethje stepping in for lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson for the interim 155-pound title.

DETROIT - Baseball Hall of Famer Al Kaline has died at 85, a family friend has told The Associated Press. Kaline was a longtime star for the Detroit Tigers.

Canadian Dalton Kellett is two races into his rookie season on the IndyCar circuit and he hasn't even left home.

TORONTO - Bill Manning has his family on hand as he works from home during Major League Soccer's hiatus due to COVID-19.