National Sports

CALGARY — Finland won its first game of the women's world hockey championship Wednesday with a 4-0 blanking of Russia. Petra Nieminen scored twice to lead the Finns (1-2).

TORONTO — Robbie Ray's stellar start for the Blue Jays on Wednesday night wasn't quite enough to get him a decision. Teammate Alejandro Kirk helped make sure that Toronto still got the victory.

CALGARY — Canadian women's hockey team captain Marie-Philip Poulin won't play Thursday against the United States at the world championship after blocking a shot with her chest in a previous game.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays reinstated reliever Joakim Soria from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and optioned fellow right-hander Connor Overton to triple-A Buffalo.

TORONTO — The Greater Toronto Hockey League is requiring all eligible players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in the 2021-22 season.

EDMONTON — Three more Edmonton Elks players have tested positive for COVID-19, the CFL club announced Wednesday. Twelve players have now returned positive tests since the team got back to to Edmonton following its 21-16 win over the B.C.

VANCOUVER — Winning a Canadian Championship has become a fixation for head coach Marc Dos Santos and his Vancouver Whitecaps. It's been seven years since the club hoisted the Voyagers Cup, and the lack of silverware hasn't gone unnoticed.

TOKYO — Settling herself onto her bike, Keely Shaw looked up at coach Sebastien Travers and said "I got this." The 27-year-old from Midale, Sask.

Serena Williams added herself to the list of big-name withdrawals from the U.S. Open on Wednesday, pulling out of the year’s last Grand Slam tournament because of a torn hamstring.

CALGARY — Natalie Spooner is warming to her job of creating havoc in front of the opposition's net to generate scoring chances from close range.