National Sports

VANCOUVER — Rick Tocchet took over the Vancouver Canucks a year ago, with the team struggling to find wins and consistency in how it played.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a new home this season. The CFL club announced Tuesday its home venue will go by the name of Princess Auto Stadium. The official change will come about in April.

NFL officials will have to wait to see Canadian tight end Tanner McLachlan up close and personal. The six-foot-five, 240-pound tight end at Arizona had accepted an invitation to attend the Reese's Senior Bowl later this month in Mobile, Ala.

TORONTO — Ilya Samsonov hasn't had a lot to smile about this season. The Maple Leafs goaltender struggled early and lost the No. 1 job in Toronto before enduring the embarrassment of being placed on waivers.

OTTAWA — Bryce Carter is staying put. The American defensive lineman, who terrorized CFL quarterbacks last season, signed a one-year extension with the Ottawa Redblacks. He was slated to become a free agent next month. The six-foot-one.

TORONTO — Canada's senior men's basketball team will have an early test leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Canada Basketball announced the team will face the U.S.

Joel Anthony still fondly remembers all the veteran players who helped him through his NBA career and the local stars who inspired him as a young kid growing up in Montreal. Now he wants to do the same.

CALGARY — Bruce Covernton, a former offensive lineman who won two Grey Cups with the Calgary Stampeders, died Tuesday. He was 57. The Stampeders confirmed Covernton's death but the cause wasn't divulged.

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart is taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons. General manager Daniel Briere announced Tuesday that Hart had requested and been granted time away from the team.

Canadian left-hander James Paxton and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to an US$11 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.