National Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Lourdes Gurriel Jr., hit a two-run shot in the top of the first inning off Zack Wheeler, and the Toronto Blue Jays cruised to a 9-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday in Grapefruit League play.

NEW YORK — The NHL is instituting changes to the draft lottery that make it more difficult for the last-place team to drop out of the top three in the selection order.

MONTREAL — The American-based NHL divisions have dealt with postponement challenges due to COVID-19 concerns this season. Now it's the Canadian-based North Division's turn.

The Toronto Blue Jays were dealt a significant injury blow Tuesday with news that reliever Kirby Yates was expected to miss the entire season due to a right elbow injury.

Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green is hopeful some of his ailing centres could soon be back in the lineup. The Canucks (16-17-3) have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks.

Four months out from the Tokyo Olympics, Canada's artistic swim team is without a head coach.

It's been a while since Corey Conners has played in a match-play event, but he thinks he has enough experience to draw on. Conners, from Listowel, Ont.

Trainer Mark Casse is making a very bold ask of Soup and Sandwich. The unbeaten American-bred grey colt will chase a third consecutive victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Florida Derby over 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park.

Moments after taking the field against the U.S. at the SheBelieves Cup last month, Canadian forward Adriana Leon felt something wrong. "I awkwardly twisted my foot and right away I knew something was wrong. But I played on," she said.

The National Women’s Hockey League is adding a seventh team by expanding into Montreal next season, two people with direct knowledge of the league’s board of governors’ approved plan told The Associated Press.