National Sports

LAS VEGAS — Wayne Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 gave hockey a massive boost of mainstream appeal in the United States. Now Gretzky is looking to grow Canada's other national sport south of the border.

With a tantalizingly deep pool of talent, Canada's men's basketball roster has been the subject of speculation for well over a year. Fans and the media wondered who's in and who's out. They jotted down their personal picks in eager anticipation.

RIMINI, Italy — The Canadian men's volleyball team swept the Netherlands 3-0 in Nations League action on Thursday. Set scores were 25-16, 25-16 and 25-19. Canada improved to 5-8 with the win and is 12th in the 16-team standings.

Eriq Zavaleta hit the trifecta in donning El Salvador colours for the first time during the recent international break.

WINNIPEG — Darrell Patterson is back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Bombers hired Patterson as their defensive line coach.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed wide receiver Terrell Jana, their second-round selection at the 2021 CFL draft. The Vancouver native was selected 17th overall by Saskatchewan after four years with the University of Virginia.

Canadian decathlete Pierce LePage estimates there were perhaps 100 or 150 fans at the recent Hypo-Meeting multi-events competition in Gotzis, Austria, where he finished runner-up to teammate Damian Warner.

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — A coronavirus infection created disruption for two teams at the European Championship on Monday after a positive test for Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour also led to two England players having to self-isolate.

AMSTERDAM — Memphis Depay scored one, he set up Georginio Wijnaldum for the next two, and the Netherlands made it three out of three.

Former NHL defenceman Tom Kurvers, who won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens and also played for Toronto and Vancouver, has died. He was 58.