National Sports

VICTORIA — B.C. Hockey League players have been given the go-ahead to return to a limited season starting next month after the provincial health officer conditionally approved a plan for a safe return to the ice in five pod cities.

Toronto FC's camp remains closed as the MLS team works with local health authorities on a plan to resume training in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays made three errors and recorded just four hits en route to a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an eight-inning pre-season game on Friday.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs traded defenceman Mikko Lehtonen to the Columbus Blue Jackets for goalie Veini Vehvilainen on Friday. Vehvilainen made his NHL debut with Columbus on March 6. The 24-year-old Finnish goaltender was 10-18-5 with a 2.

TORONTO — John Herdman knows the numbers inside-out. "We've conducted 800 (COVID-19) tests in the last two months across the men's and the women's (teams).

ISTANBUL — Canadian Cyle Larin added to his goal total in Turkey on Friday, scoring in Besiktas' 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in Super Lig play. The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont.

ÅRE, Sweden — Petra Vlhova is back on course to become the first Slovakian to win skiing’s overall World Cup title. Vlhova defended her first-run advantage in a slalom to claim her 20th career victory on Friday.

DOHA, Qatar — Canada's Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes lost 2-0 (22-20, 21-18) to Americans April Ross and Alexandra Klineman in the final of the Katara Beach Volleyball Cup on Friday.

Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs came into the NHL's pandemic-shortened campaign desperately looking to change the narrative.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired midfielder Caio Alexandre via transfer from Brazilian club Botafogo FR.