National Sports

TORONTO — The Toronto Arrows have become Canada's first professional rugby union side. The Arrows, a beefed-up offshoot of the Ontario Blues regional squad that plays in the Canadian Rugby Championship, will begin play in Major League Rugby in 2019.

The Laval Rouge et Or and reigning Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs have looked just as strong this year as they did last year.

DOHA, Qatar — Canada's Shallon Olsen captured a silver medal on vault in the individual apparatus finals Friday at the world gymnastics championships. Olsen, of Surrey, B.C.

Golf may have already given way to hockey season in Canada, but Bill Holowaty still has irons, wedges and putters on his mind. Expensive ones. So should you, he surmises.

Thursday's Games NFL San Francisco 34 Oakland 3 --- NHL Winnipeg 4 Florida 2 N.Y. Islanders 3 Pittsburgh 2 (SO) Dallas 2 Toronto 1 Detroit 4 New Jersey 3 Montreal 6 Washington 4 Nashville 4 Tampa Bay 1 Ottawa 4 Buffalo 2 St.

Thursday's Games NFL San Francisco 34 Oakland 3 --- NHL Winnipeg 4 Florida 2 N.Y. Islanders 3 Pittsburgh 2 (SO) Dallas 2 Toronto 1 Detroit 4 New Jersey 3 Montreal 6 Washington 4 Nashville 4 Tampa Bay 1 Ottawa 4 Buffalo 2 St.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames staged a massive third-period comeback on Thursday, led by captain Mark Giordano.

EDMONTON — Mikko Koskinen knew it could be his last chance at making a name in the NHL. So far his return has been an impressive one.

MONTREAL — Jesperi Kotkaniemi says he's never heard such a loud roar from the crowd on a night when the Montreal Canadiens set a record for the two fastest goals in NHL history.

TORONTO — A better effort ended with the same frustrating result for the Maple Leafs.