National Sports

Former Canada Soccer president Jim Fleming, who helped lead Canada to its first men's World Cup, has died on the eve of Canada's return to the soccer showcase. Canada Soccer said Fleming died Thursday in Edmonton. He was 87.

After impressing against regional competition in qualifying for its first World Cup since 1986, Canada now faces a string of next-level tests in Qatar, starting with No. 2 Belgium. Here's a look at Canada's Group F opposition: BELGIUM (Nov. 23, 2 p.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The sale of all beer with alcohol at the eight World Cup stadiums was banned Friday, only two days before the soccer tournament is set to start. Non-alcoholic beer will still be sold at the 64 matches in the country.

SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. — Sebastien Gervais scored the game winner 6:09 into the third period as the Saginaw Spirit narrowly defeated the Niagara IceDogs 3-2 on Thursday. Theo Hill and Zayne Parekh added the others for Saginaw (13-6-1).

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Canada dropped a second consecutive contest in Rivalry Series play to the United States Thursday, falling 2-1 at Sandman Centre. Alex Carpenter scored what proved to be the winner with under seven minutes remaining.

WINNIPEG — Kyle Connor is starting to break out of a mini-slump. Connor completed his hat trick netting the game winner with 53.5 seconds remaining to give the Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.

WINNIPEG — Matthew Savoie recorded a hat trick and three assists as the Winnipeg Ice outduelled the Regina Pats 9-5 on Thursday.

BAIE-COMEAU, Que. — Xavier Fortin knocked in the game-winning goal 46 seconds into overtime to lift the Baie-Comeau Drakkar past the Victoriaville Tigres 3-2 on Thursday. Nathan Baril and Félix Gagnon also scored for Baie-Comeau (9-9-2-1).

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had two goals, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 39 saves, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Thursday night. Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and Philippe Myers also scored for the Lightning.

TORONTO — Nico Hischier and his teammates delivered yet another message to their doubters Thursday. Long a Metropolitan Division doormat, these New Jersey Devils — balanced, lightning-quick, mature and confident — are an entirely different animal.