National Sports

CALGARY — Mired in their first four-game losing skid in 20 years, the Calgary Stampeders are going back to Jake Maier at quarterback on Saturday after he was benched for a game. It won't be an easy assignment.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames signed winger Jakob Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract on Friday. The contract has an average annual value of US$800,000.

QUÉBEC — Australian road cyclist Michael Matthews raced to victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on Friday. Matthews earned a record third career victory in Quebec City. He was previously tied with Slovakia's Peter Sagan with two wins.

Braxton Whitehead said Friday he has verbally committed to Arizona State, making him the first member of a Canadian Hockey League team to attempt to play the sport at the Division I U.S.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have loaned midfielder Jay Herdman to Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League and rewarded two Whitecaps FC 2 players with MLS contracts.

Tiger Woods had yet another surgery on his lower back on Friday morning. This one he hopes will relieve some of the spasms he experienced this year. It was the sixth surgery on his lower back in the last 10 years.

BRUSSELS — Canadian shot putter Sarah Mitton rebounded from a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics by capturing Diamond League gold on Friday. Mitton, of Brooklyn, N.S.

TORONTO — Toronto FC welcomes Austin FC to BMO Field for the first time Saturday, in a battle of two teams on the MLS playoff bubble. "It's an important game," said Toronto captain Jonathan Osorio. "We know what's at stake.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they bicycled on a rural road had a blood-alcohol level of .087, above the .08 legal limit in New Jersey, a prosecutor said Friday.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers signed defenceman Travis Dermott to a professional tryout on Friday. Dermott, a 27-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., produced two goals, five assists and 26 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season.