National Sports

TORONTO — When the Toronto Blue Jays open the 2019 season against the Detroit Tigers Thursday afternoon, it will mark not only a new beginning for a team trending towards a more youthful core, but a fresh start for its rookie manager too.

VANCOUVER — Quinn Hughes won't be looking to put on a show when he makes his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks. "I don't think I need to do anything special," the 19-year-old defenceman said after practice on Wednesday.

NEW ORLEANS — A court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by the man convicted of killing former Saints football star Will Smith during a traffic altercation, rejecting claims that Cardell Hayes acted in self- defence .

TORONTO — The CFL and its players continue to discuss non-monetary issues, but union senior advisor Ken Georgetti expects the two sides to begin tackling financial matters very shortly.

PARIS — Norway captain Maren Mjelde scored in stoppage time Wednesday to send Chelsea into the Women's Champions League semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate win over Paris Saint-German.

Calgary's Cavalry FC has signed Congo international Dominique Malonga. The French-born forward represented France as a youth international but switched allegiance to Congo.

Many of the top Canadians in the NCAA basketball ranks are former teammates or rivals from high school or club competition. Not Mfiondu Kabengele and Brandon Clarke, though.

Doug Armstrong had pushed just about every button he could. The St. Louis Blues general manager rebuilt a significant chunk of his roster over the summer through free agency and trades after his team missed the playoffs by one point last spring.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens will be without forward Paul Byron for a game Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets that could make or break their playoff hopes.

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball hopes to gain control of local broadcasting agreements involving its teams, the reason behind its bid to purchase regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Co.