National Sports

MONTREAL — Ukraine Team Select, a hockey team consisting of 11- and 12-year-old refugees displaced by war in their home country, rubbed shoulders with hockey royalty on Tuesday when they met the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko is close to returning to game action. The 27-year-old netminder told reporters Tuesday that he plans to act as the Canucks' backup on Saturday when Vancouver hosts the Philadelphia Flyers.

MONTREAL — Cody Fajardo has a new CFL home. The veteran quarterback signed a two-year deal with the Montreal Alouettes on Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency.

QUEBEC — Premier François Legault is calling on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to provide a public explanation after disturbing revelations in a recent Ontario court decision of sexual assault and torture suffered by teenage players.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders landed veteran quarterback Trevor Harris on a busy opening day of CFL free agency and gave him plenty of support.

SURREY, B.C. — Michael Couture used to run down the concrete steps at the end of every B.C. Lions home game, eager to slap the hands of the players he idolized. Now he'll be on the other side of those high fives.

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is planning to change his walkout music for at least one game at Rogers Centre this season. The selection will be a nod to his Hartford-area sporting roots.

REGINA — Trevor Harris is officially a Saskatchewan Roughrider. The CFL club announced Harris's signing Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency. But sources had indicated last week that Harris agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Riders.

CF Montreal is still in the experimentation phase of camp as it continues pre-season preparations in Florida.

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Blue Jays outfielder George Springer was his usual easygoing self at spring training on Tuesday, hamming it up at times with his teammates as everyone gets settled into the regular pre-season routine and flow.