Football (CFL)

TORONTO — Stewart Johnston plans to ease into his new role as CFL commissioner. Johnston officially took office Thursday following 28 years at TSN. He'd served as the sports broadcaster's president since 2010.

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — The flyers started appearing around the Augustana University campus earlier this year, followed by the all-student email blast. A club team was forming for women's flag football, with room for all comers.

CAGLIARI — Max Nixon scored touchdowns on an interception return and blocked punt recovery as Canada defeated Italy 56-0 in an exhibition senior men's football contest Saturday. The game was the first between the two countries.

OTTAWA — Greg Ellingson is calling it a career and retiring as an Ottawa Redblack. Ellingson, 36, played 10 CFL seasons with Hamilton (2013-14), Ottawa (2015-18), Edmonton, (2019, 2021), Winnipeg (2022) and Montreal (2023).

Christian Covington has always been aware of his Hall of Fame father's many football achievements, but he now has a deeper appreciation of them. Covington is heading into his second season with the B.C.

VANCOUVER — Larry Donovan, a former head coach of the B.C. Lions, has died. He was 84. The Lions confirmed Donovan's death Monday. The cause was not divulged. Donovan joined the Lions as special-teams and defensive-line coach in 1986.

They're teammates now with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but Tim White wants a lot more than just friendship from Kenny Lawler this season.

He's still on the mend, but Tyson Philpot anticipates a triumphant return to the Montreal Alouettes in 2025. A foot injury prematurely ended Philpot's promising '24 campaign. The North Delta, B.C.

HAMILTON — Christian Covington enters his second CFL season with renewed respect for the Canadian game. The six-foot-three, 285-pound defensive lineman signed with B.C. last May after playing 101 regular-season games over nine NFL seasons.

VANCOUVER — Hosting the 2024 Grey Cup game and festival generated $121.9 million in economic impact for Vancouver, the CFL announced Wednesday. The economic impact figures were released in a summary this week by Sport Tourism Canada.