T.J. Oshie, U.S. Olympic star in Sochi and Capitals Stanley Cup champion, announces he’s retiring.

Oshie shared his news in front of hundreds of fans gathered at the fountains at Washington Harbour in Georgetown, seven years to the day of one of the most memorable Cup celebrations in hockey history when he and several teammates jumped into the fountains and took a dip.

President of hockey operations Brian MacLellan, general manager Chris Patrick, coach Spencer Carbery and longtime teammates Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson came out to support Oshie as he called it a career.

“My only contribution was that this could be a good day and place to have (the ceremony),” Oshie said, adding, “I can’t thank the Caps enough. Another first-class move by them to have my retirement here, invite all the people out. It really made this day special.”

The announcement had been expected for quite some time, with Oshie’s contract expiring. The 38-year-old did not play this past season because of a nagging back injury that sidelined him off and on, going on long-term injured reserve instead.

Oshie said in the spring of 2024 he would only return to the Capitals if he found a permanent solution or fix to the issue. His final game was at home on April 28 last year against the New York Rangers, a 4-2 loss in the first round that eliminated Washington in a sweep.

“I was fully prepared that could be my last game: I got the pictures taken of me taking off the skates to prove it,” Oshie said. “I hadn’t thought too much about (the end), honestly, besides that moment. Even before that moment, knowing how tough it was on really the whole team with me, what I was going through, actually saying the words out loud at the podium with my family in front of me and the Caps organization, my teammates, all my close friends, it was emotional.”

Taken 24th in the 2005 draft by St. Louis, Oshie played 1,116 regular-season and playoff games in the league with the Blues and Capitals since making his debut in 2008. He had 336 goals and 428 assists for 764 points, including 21 points during Washington’s Cup run.

Oshie made an international name for himself at the Olympics, earning the nickname “T.J. Sochi” for going 4 for 6 in shootout attempts against Sergei Bobrovsky during the U.S.-Russia preliminary round game in that tournament.

“I like to think that when I was playing, that I was playing for my teammates, for my coaches, for my family, for my fans. I rarely thought about my own accolades,” Oshie said. “To be remembered (as a ‘warrior’ type of player) is a huge honor because that was my goal and the way I played the game.”

In the NHL, his biggest impact came after he was traded from the Blues to the Capitals in 2015. Oshie took on an immediate leadership role as a key addition to the core of Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom and Carlson, helping the team make the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons in the nation’s capital.

“I’ll be the first to give credit to my teammates, because without them, I was nowhere near good enough to do it without a group like that,” Oshie said.

BET Awards open with Kevin Hart poking fun at honourees and star-packed performances. LOS ANGELES — Grammy winner Doechii turned her BET Awards moment into a powerful call for justice, using the stage to highlight the immigration raids and protest crackdowns happening just miles from where the ceremony is taking place in Los Angeles.

After being named best female hip-hop artist -- her first-ever BET Award -- Doechii acknowledged her fellow nominees, then shifted the spotlight to the issues unfolding outside the venue.

“There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,” said Doechii, who won a Grammy for best rap album, only the third woman to win in that category.

“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest,” she said. “I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?”

Doechii’s words drew applause from the audience at the Peacock Theater, where the awards airing live.

“People are being swept up and torn from their families,” she continued. “I feel like it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people. We all deserve to live in hope and not fear. I hope we stand together.”

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#McIntosh sets Canadian record in 800M #freestyle. Two #Canadian #Olympic medallists went head-to-head in a nail-biting 100-metre butterfly race, while Summer McIntosh of Toronto set a Canadian record in the 800-metre freestyle on Sunday at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria.

Ilya Kharun of Montreal and Josh Liendo of Toronto squared off in the same race that saw them share a podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Kharun won in a personal best time of 50.37 seconds, touching the wall .09 ahead of Liendo. Both were well under the AQUA A qualifying time of 51.77 for this summer’s world championships in Singapore.

The 20-year-old Kharun was happy with the win but sees room for improvement.

“There’s definitely some tweaks I can improve on,” said Kharun. “I know it’s not perfect yet. There’s some things we’ve got to work on.” Liendo took silver in Paris, and Kharun the bronze. It was the first time two Canadian men stood on the Olympic podium together and first double podium for Swimming Canada since 1976 (Cheryl Gibson, Becky Smith — silver and bronze 400IM).

McIntosh had a sellout crowd on its feet at Saanich Commonwealth Place cheering as she swam the 800 metres in 8:05.07. That shaved almost five seconds off her own Canadian record and was the third-fastest time ever, 0.95 of a second off the world record American legend Katie Ledecky set in May.

“I’m always hoping to break records and push the boundaries of sport,” said the 18-year-old, who set a world record in the 400-metre freestyle on Saturday’s opening night.

“I’m always trying to be faster and faster. That just gives me more fuel to the fire.”

Para swimmer Nicholas Bennett won his second event of the trials. The S14 swimmer with the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club won the men’s 200-m multi-class freestyle event in 1:54.44. He earned a silver medal in the same race at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

“It was really good,” said the 21-year-old from nearby Parksville, B.C., who won the men’s 100-m multi-class breaststroke Saturday. “We’re right where we want to be.”

Connie Ferguson returns to screens in the long-awaited third season of Kings of Jo’burg later this week.

South Africa’s Zakithi Nene just missed out on victory in a men’s 400m thriller of a race against American Olympic champion Quincy Hall at the Diamond League meeting in Rome on Friday night.

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