National Sports

VANCOUVER — Three-time Olympic rowing champion Kathleen Heddle has died of cancer at age 55. Canada's Heddle and Marnie McBean won Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996 in the coxless pair and double sculls respectively.

CALGARY — Recent history built heat into Thursday's first game of the NHL season for the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets. The last NHL game the Jets played was a 4-0 loss Aug. 6 to the Flames, which ended Winnipeg's post-season.

VANCOUVER — Two Vancouver Canucks players are self isolating under the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. The NHL released a list of players unavailable due to COVID-19 protocol Wednesday, and it included defenceman Jordie Benn and forward J.T. Miller.

The executive director of the MLS Players Association says delaying the start of the 2021 season would be the "best solution" for Canadian teams given the pandemic-related border issues.

Toronto FC confirmed former New York Red Bulls coach Chris Armas as Greg Vanney's successor on Wednesday. The 48-year-old Armas becomes Toronto's 10th head coach.

TORONTO — The morning after the Canadian figure skating championships were cancelled due to COVID-19, virtually ending a season that never got off the ground, Paul Poirier went to the rink.

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have scored their own docu-series on Amazon Prime Video.

TORONTO — Mike Tyson is coming to the CFL. The Toronto Argonauts signed the American defensive back Wednesday, along with Canadian receiver Juwan Brescacin.

VANCOUVER — The City of Cranbrook, B.C., is suing its former hockey team as well as the Western Hockey League over the team's departure in 2019. The Kootenay Ice left for Manitoba before the start of the 2019-20 season, becoming the Winnipeg Ice.

ISTANBUL — Canadian Cyle Larin showed off his rich vein of form Wednesday, scoring in the 85th minute as Besiktas downed Caykur Rizespor 1-0 to advance to the Turkish Cup quarterfinals.