National Sports

REGINA — Nicholas Johnson scored a natural hat trick to break open a tight game and lead the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Regina Pats on Saturday night.

WINNIPEG — Jesper Wallstedt left a lot of Jets hopefuls shaking their heads on Saturday night. The Minnesota goalie stopped 38 of 40 shots as the Wild whipped Winnipeg 5-2 in an NHL pre-season game. “I felt good,” Wallstedt said.

MONTREAL — CF Montreal is heating up just in time for a push into the Major League Soccer playoffs. For midfielder Caden Clark, the key to their success is simple: remember to enjoy the game even as the pressure rises.

EDMONTON — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a nickname for the opposition’s end zone. They refer to it as the “chicken box.” So, after each of running back Brady Oliveira’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns, he did a chicken dance.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa 67's scored the first four goals and then hung on for a 5-3 Ontario Hockey League victory over the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday.

BOISBRIAND, Que. — Justin Carbonneau's second goal of the game, scored at 4:40 of overtime, lifted the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to a 7-6 win over the visiting Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action on Saturday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jonathan Aranda homered for the second consecutive game, helping Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday.

OTTAWA — The Montreal Alouettes want to give themselves every advantage heading down the stretch and Saturday’s 24-12 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks was a big step forward.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Finnish goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract. The 29-year-old, whose deal is worth US$875,000, appeared in 24 games last season for the Nashville Predators. Lankinen posted a record of 11-6-0, a 2.

MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Jeeno Thitikul had a rocky closing stretch but did enough to expand her lead over Hall of Famer Lydia Ko, finishing with a birdie for a 4-under 68 on Saturday and a two-shot advantage in the Kroger Queen City Championship.