National Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jon Rahm started his round strong and ended it even better Thursday, closing eagle-birdie-birdie for a 7-under 65 and a two-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

FÜSSEN, Germany — Canada is not guaranteed to have a team at next year's world junior curling championships after the men's and women's teams were officially relegated to the junior-B championship on the final day of round-robin competition.

Canada Soccer has struck an agreement in principle with the Canadian women's team on compensation for 2022.

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.