National Sports

CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L. — Hometown favourite Brad Gushue began the National Grand Slam of Curling tournament with a loss Tuesday night. The skip from St. John's, N.L., fell 8-6 in an extra end to Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller.

COLWOOD, B.C. — Team Canada coach Tim Hunter says the team that looks to defend its world junior hockey title over the Christmas season will be one of the fastest ever.

VANCOUVER — DeVone Claybrooks has finally found the right place to become a head coach. There have been other job opportunities in both the CFL and NFL, the 41-year-old said, but something was always off. That changed with an offer from the B.C.

TORONTO — Canada teammate Jordyn Huitema hadn't been born when Christine Sinclair won her first Canadian Women's Player of the Year Award in 2000. Eighteen years later, Sinclair's remarkable soccer career continues to impress.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have traded former captain Kendall Waston to FC Cincinnati in exchange for US$450,000 of general allocation money, $300,000 of targeted allocation money, a 2019 international roster spot and future considerations.

Matt Dunstone said the new timing system used at curling's Canada Cup "has got to go." Braeden Moskowy felt it was "all cons, no pros" while Brent Laing simply called it "terrible.

Jessica Mendoza will have more of a presence on various ESPN platforms starting next baseball season. Mendoza signed a multiyear extension with ESPN to remain part of the "Sunday Night Baseball" announcer's booth and make more studio appearances.

Stephen Hoyle got a taste of Canada during a brief tryout with Toronto FC in 2013. Now the English striker is looking forward to settling in Winnipeg as Valour FC's first international signing.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Timothy Liljegren's chances of playing for Sweden at the world junior hockey championship are in jeopardy. The 19-year-old Marlies defenceman suffered a high ankle sprain Dec.

TORONTO — Troy Tulowitzki had no plans to be anything but a starting shortstop upon his return from injury. The Toronto Blue Jays felt it was unlikely he'd be able to play regularly at an above-average level.