National Sports

VANTAA — Canada earned a semifinal berth at the under-18 women's world hockey championship on Thursday with a 17-0 blowout win over Japan at Tikkurila Arena. Chloe Primerano had two goals and three assists.

HAMILTON — James Butler took full advantage of his head start on CFL free agency Thursday. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats released the veteran running back, who was slated to become a free agent Feb. 11.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.

A reunion of Barcelona's famed trio of Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi and Neymar at Inter Miami would certainly be welcome — if it happens.

Captain Jonathan Osorio didn't mince words when asked what areas Toronto FC needs to get better in this season. "We need to improve everywhere," he said at MLS Media Day in Miami on Thursday. "It's that simple." Reinforcements have been slow coming.

VANCOUVER — Defensive lineman Tibo Debaillie signed a two-year contract extension with the B.C. Lions on Thursday. Debaillie was slated to become a free agent on Feb. 11.

WINNIPEG — Valour FC head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos will return to the club on a one-year contract, the Canadian Premier League team said Thursday. The club finished last in the eight-team league with a 7-14-7 record last season.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Canadian linebacker A.J. Allen to a one-year contract extension, the CFL team said Thursday. The 26-year-old native of Burlington, Ont.

The mid-season departure of Karlee Burgess from Team Chelsea Carey to fill an opening on Team Kerri Einarson was just the latest example of an unusual curling roster change late in the quadrennial.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch says he hopes to hold a January camp in the future after plans for such a gathering this year had to be scrapped. "We tried to have a January camp.