National Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday, with the team off to the worst start in the league nearly a third of the way through his third season.

It didn’t take much to stir Jack Eichel’s national pride in looking ahead to representing the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament .

Brady Tkachuk remembers skipping school to watch his dad play in the 2006 Olympics. Now it's his turn — finally — to play international hockey against the best players in the world.

TORONTO — Ed Botterell, who represented Canada in sailing in the 1964 Olympics and competed around the globe, has died. He was 93. Sail Canada confirmed that Botterell died Monday in Mississauga.

MONTREAL — Montreal Alouettes offensive lineman Kristian Matte announced his retirement Thursday after playing 14 seasons with the CFL club. The six-foot-four, 296-pound lineman from Longueuil, Que.

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will open the Club World Cup against Egyptian club Al Ahly, with Palmeiras and Porto also part of that group for the tournament that will take place in the U.S. next year.

Jon Cooper was always walking into a locker room loaded with talent.

Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics have agreed to a $67 million, three-year contract, two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff ruled out defenceman Rasmus Dahlin from playing against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night because of back spasms. Ruff did not provide a timeline of how long Dahlin might be sidelined.

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) — Defending champion Max Homa birdied his last two holes to shoot a 6-under 66 and take a one-shot lead over South African Ockie Strydom in the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Thursday.