National Sports

MONTREAL — Karl Alzner says joining the Montreal Canadiens gives him a better chance to win a Stanley Cup than he had with the Capitals in Washington. He was thrilled to sign a US$23.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks were busy on the opening day of free agency Saturday, signing centre Sam Gagner to a US$9.45-million, three-year contract and defenceman Michael Del Zotto to a $6-million, two-year deal.

CAIRO — R.J. Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 20 points and 11 rebounds to power Canada to a 91-42 rout of Mali to open the FIBA U19 World Cup on Saturday. Lindell Wigginton of Dartmouth, N.S., had seven assists.

Edmonton Eskimos head coach Jason Maas likes where his team is at heading into their bye week.

Paul George has a new home, and Russell Westbrook has a new star teammate. The Indiana Pacers have agreed to trade George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, said two people with knowledge of the details.

TORONTO — Marco Estrada summed up his outing Friday night in two succinct words. "It sucked," said the right-hander, visibly frustrated after allowing a career-high seven walks in the Toronto Blue Jays' 7-4 loss in 11 innings to the Boston Red Sox.

TORONTO — Ronnie Yell helped rally the B.C. Lions to their first win of the season. B.C. scored 10 second-half points off two Yell turnovers (interception, fumble recovery) en route to a 28-15 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night.

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Danielle Kang won back-to-back majors as an amateur yet she's never cracked the winner's circle in her half-dozen years as a pro.

VANCOUVER — Defender Sheanon Williams was cleared to return to Vancouver Whitecaps activities and competition on Friday following an assessment by Major League Soccer's substance abuse and behavioral health program doctors and an investigation by the