National Sports

VANCOUVER — After a season of peaks and valleys, right-winger Jake Virtanen is looking for a little more consistency as he signs a new deal with the Vancouver Canucks. Virtanen and the Canucks inked a two-year, US$5.1-million contract on Thursday.

NEW YORK — The NHL has announced that its Winter Classic and all-star weekend will not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Winter Classic featuring the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues was scheduled for Jan.

BRESCIA, Italy — Laurie Canter shot a career-best 12-under 60 to open up a four-shot lead after the first round of the Italian Open on Thursday.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have avoided arbitration with Connor Brown by signing the forward to a three-year, US$10.8-million contract. The Senators and Brown were scheduled to have an arbitration hearing Thursday.

What bobsled pilot Justin Kripps wants out of the upcoming sliding season is momentum. What that looks like will be dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

OTTAWA — The Canadian figure skating championships have been pushed back a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is now scheduled to take place Feb. 8-14 at Vancouver's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

ANTWERP, Belgium — Canada's Milos Raonic has advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Open. The No. 5 seed, from Thornhill, Ont.

When U.S. figure skaters and a few foreigners training in this country kick off the season at Skate America this weekend, it could be a rare opportunity to display their wares.

Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic has been harder for women's pro sports than men's because of the financial gap between the two. Women's hockey in Canada was already in transition before the pandemic threatened to halt its progress.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The World Series is tied at a game apiece following the Tampa Bay Rays' 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brandon Lowe (low) drove in three runs with a pair of homers while the Rays were building a 5-0 lead.