National Sports

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands — Canada opened the world speedskating championship with a pair of gold medals. The men and women won the team sprints to kick off the four-day championship in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks appointed Nadia Doucoure as an offensive qualify control coach Thursday. Doucoure served as a scout with Ottawa last year after participating in the franchise's Women in Football internship program during training camp.

TORONTO — The injury news on Toronto FC star Lorenzo Insigne is positive. The Italian star winger, who hobbled off the pitch in last weekend's season-opening 3-2 loss at D.C.

They've been longtime teammates at the University of Guelph, but receiver Clark Barnes and defensive back Siriman Bagayogo will be all business at the CFL combine. Both players will attend the combine, which goes March 22-26 in Edmonton.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers acquired forward Nick Bjugstad and defenceman Cam Dineen from the Arizona Coyotes for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL draft and blue-liner Michael Kesselring on Thursday.

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The familiar horns of "El Mechon" by Banda MS blared in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league facility on Thursday to welcome back catcher Alejandro Kirk.

Bo Horvat was the first to go at the end of January. Vladimir Tarasenko moved on next. Ryan O'Reilly wasn't far behind. NHL trade boards had already shed three big names two weeks before the league's deadline.

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed American free-agent receiver Derel Walker on Thursday. The six-foot-two, 187-pound Walker had 65 catches for 874 yards and a TD in 16 regular-season games with the Edmonton Elks in 2022.

Reaching peak health has been the theme of the off-season for superstar sprinter Andre De Grasse. The Markham, Ont., native dealt with a nagging foot injury and a second bout of COVID in 2022.

TORONTO — Veteran Canadian running back Andrew Harris is officially back with the Toronto Argonauts.