National Sports

The Canadian figure skating scene underwent a dramatic change last season after several high-profile athletes left the team.

TORONTO — Kyle Lowry had two reasons to smile Tuesday. The Toronto Raptors point guard put pen to paper on a one-year, US$31-million contract extension before taking part in his first full practice with the NBA team in the pre-season.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears have put Pro Bowl defensive tackle Akiem Hicks on injured reserve, the latest blow on the injury front for a team trying to keep up in the NFC North. The University of Regina product suffered an elbow injury Oct.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The U.S. women's hockey team will host Canada for a training camp and two exhibition games next month near Pittsburgh. The event runs Nov. 4-10 in Cranberry Township, Pa. The games will be Nov. 8 and 10.

VANCOUVER — None of the CFL's nine opening-day starting quarterbacks will play every game this season. The B.C.

FREDERICTON — Former National Hockey League player Danny Grant has died in his hometown of Fredericton at the age of 73 following a battle with cancer.

STOCKHOLM — Canada's Brayden Schnur lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to German qualifier Cedrik-Marcel Stebe in the first round of the Stockholm Open on Tuesday. Schnur, from Pickering, Ont.

HIROSHIMA, Japan — The Canadian men's volleyball team settled for a ninth-place finish at the World Cup after losing 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 15-9) to host Japan on Tuesday.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have recalled defenceman Ashton Sautner from their American Hockey League affiliate in Utica, N.Y. The 25-year-old Sautner has one assist in two games with Utica this season.

Toronto Argonauts wide receiver S.J. Green, Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris and Blue Bombers defensive back Marcus Sayles are the CFL's top performers for Week 18.