National Sports

CALGARY — Beating archrival United States and earning a spot on the world championship team are the stakes for the players named to the Canadian women's hockey team for an upcoming series against the reigning world and Olympic champions.

Two events into the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Canada coach Damian McGrath is seeing plenty of positives despite a labour dispute that cut into the team's pre-season preparations.

Mark Giordano and John Tavares are keen to see what player and puck tracking brings to the NHL.

VANCOUVER — Elias Pettersson didn't always envision himself skating among the greats. "I always believe in myself. But to be honest, growing up I didn't think I would play in the NHL," the Vancouver Canucks' star rookie said Tuesday.

TORONTO — Police say a pair of Stanley Cup Championship rings have been stolen from a west Toronto home. The rings were taken during a break-and-enter from a home on Monday in the East Mall and Burnhamthorpe Road area.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed American defensive back Anthony Gaitor on Wednesday to a contract extension through the 2020 season. Gaitor was entering the final year of his agreement this season.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and Croatia's Mate Pavic will not defend their Australian Open mixed doubles title.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired Guinean international winger Alhassane Bangoura on a one-year loan from Spanish La Liga club Rayo Vallecano. The Whitecaps made the move with the use of targeted allocation money.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Canadian Milos Raonic is done at the Australian Open — and now is facing another health concern.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Four times, Serena Williams was only one point — a single point — from closing out a victory in the Australian Open quarterfinals. On the first such chance, at 5-1, 40-30 in the third set, she turned her left ankle awkwardly.