National Sports

TORONTO — Ilya Samsonov kept his team in the fight early. Auston Matthews — looking more and more like last season's 60-goal man — took control from there.

HALIFAX — Evan Boucher had a goal and an assist to help lead the Halifax Mooseheads past the Shawinigan Cataractes 6-3 on Thursday.

LA QUINTA, Calif.

TORONTO — The importance of the Toronto Arrows to Canadian rugby was reinforced Thursday with news that Rugby Canada is embedding two of its staff with the Major League Rugby side.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Flyers coach John Tortorella defended Russian defenseman Ivan Provorov’s decision to cite religious beliefs as his reason to boycott the team's pregame Pride celebration. “Provy did nothing wrong,” Tortorella said Thursday.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks have signed veteran defensive back Ed Gainey to a one-year contract extension. Gainey was fifth on the team with 47 defensive tackles last season, his first in Edmonton, to go with an interception and two forced fumbles.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Brooke Henderson enjoyed the opening day of a fresh LPGA season a whole lot more than the tough, waning days of last season.

VANCOUVER — Ali Ahmed knows his new Major League Soccer contract doesn't mean the hard work has come to an end.

TORONTO — Jason Priestley wants Canadians to draw their own conclusions about Harold Ballard, the controversial former owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

TORONTO — Ontario bettors can again wager on Ultimate Fighting Championship events. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) reinstated betting on UFC events in the province Thursday. On Dec.