National Sports

VANCOUVER — Jack Hughes shook hands with Kaapo Kakko for the first time Thursday. If the expected script plays out at the NHL draft, the two potential future stars know their stories will be intertwined for years to come.

EDMONTON — With Mike Reilly leaving the Edmonton Eskimos for the B.C.

VANCOUVER — Defenceman Alex Edler says signing an extension with the Vancouver Canucks was always his top priority.

TORONTO — Charlie Montoyo likes the idea of Major League Baseball making a return to Montreal.

REIMS, France — Canada got a wake-up call at the Women's World Cup on Thursday, paying for a slow start and some defensive lapses with a 2-1 loss to the European champion Netherlands in their final preliminary-round game.

Starved for fans despite success on the field, the Tampa Bay Rays have been given the go-ahead by Major League Baseball to look into playing a split season in Montreal. However, the mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla.

TORONTO — Longtime sports talk radio host Bob McCown will leave his position as host of Prime Time Sports on Friday, Sportsnet said in a release.

AYSEN, Chile — Avianna Thompson led all scorers with 13 points as Canada defeated El Salvador 61-15 Thursday to advance to the semifinals at the 2019 FIBA U16 Women's Americas basketball championship.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers have hired former Calgary Flames head coach Jim Playfair as an associate coach. Playfair will join a familiar head coach in Dave Tippett, who was hired by the Oilers this off-season.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse won the 200 metres and took silver in the 100 Thursday at the Ostrava Golden Spike track and field meet. De Grasse, from Markham, Ont., won the 200 in a season-best time of 19.91 seconds.