National Sports

Andre De Grasse watched Aaron Brown explode out of the blocks and round the corner with blazing speed.

OTTAWA — Dave Cameron stepped in front of the microphones and tried to spin what had just unfolded. A parade of Canadian players followed their head coach, toeing the company line after a jaw-dropping loss at the world junior hockey championship.

VANCOUVER — Participation in hockey in British Columbia was struggling in 2021 — the pandemic had dealt a heavy blow to player registrations, and numbers had already been flagging before COVID-19 arrived.

PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press late Friday night.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Devils defenceman Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist, Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves and New Jersey defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers signed former New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres to a $15 million, one-year contract on Friday. The two-time All-Star gets a slight raise from his $14.2 million salary with the Yankees.

Friday's Schedule World Junior Hockey Championship Preliminary Round (At Ottawa) Latvia 3 Canada 2 (SO) Slovakia 2 Switzerland 1 Finland 3 Germany 1 Sweden 8 Kazakhstan 1 --- NHL Toronto 5 Detroit 2 Vegas 6 San Jose 3 Buffalo 6 Chicago 2 Colorado 4 U

BRANDON, Man. — Caden Brown scored twice and Tye Spencer had a goal and assist as the visiting Regina Pats beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 7-3 in Western Hockey League action on Friday at Westoba Place.

TORONTO — Jess Kondas was home for the holidays in Calgary when the phone rang with the best early Christmas present she could have imagined.

DETROIT (AP) — Mitch Marner's third career hat trick spoiled Todd McClellan's Detroit coaching debut as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the struggling Red Wings 5-2 on Friday night.