hockey

Canada's 4-2 victory over the U.S. in group play gives the Canadians the top-seed heading into the quarterfinals. The U.S., the defending gold medalists, also advance to the quarterfinals.

Feb. 4 is known as Taffy Abel Day after hockey player Clarence “Taffy” Abel.

"I will never forget how my teammates in the Bruins locker room accepted me as one of their own," Willie O'Ree said as his No. 22 was lifted to the rafters.

The 19-year-old prospect for the Nashville Predators is the first NHL player, active or retired, to come out. "Living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink," Prokop said.

The NHL is the first of the four major North American pro sports leagues to crown a champion during the pandemic. Some players spent over two months in a bubble, with no COVID-19 cases reported.

As cities continue relaxing shelter-in-place mandates and reopening, sports leagues are cautiously readying to compete again.

The National Hockey League was the last major sports league to integrate, and is still the least diverse, with a lot to do to develop talent and build goodwill in minority communities.

The Blues were a last place team in January. Now they are NHL champions for the first time in their franchise history.

Citing low pay and lack of resources, the women said they would refuse to play in professional games in North America until the situation is addressed.

The league's Board of Governors unanimously approved the city's bid to become the 32nd active franchise in the NHL. The team expects to take the ice for the first time in 2021.