National Sports

DALLAS — Kris Knoblauch arrived to find a locker room in turmoil. The Edmonton Oilers — among the Stanley Cup favourites when training camp opened — had got off to a disastrous start to the NHL season.

PARIS (AP) — This one's for the birds: A pigeon landed on the court during a French Open match Saturday, leading the chair umpire to use a towel to rescue the fallen fowl.

FRANKENMUTH — The accolades and recognition meant the world to Jagger Firkus. Firkus was named the David Branch Player of the Year Award winner at the Canadian Hockey League awards Saturday.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff was dealt another blow Saturday when closer Jordan Romano was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.

Kyrie Irving was not making a threat, nor was he boasting, nor was he saying anything that would be considered outlandish. It was the final week of the regular season.

BANGKOK — Canadian boxer Mckenzie Wright earned a 5-0 decision over Serbia's Nina Radovanovic on Saturday to move within one win of punching her ticket to Paris in a last-ditch Olympic qualifier.

SAGINAW — Last season's failure fuels Michael Simpson as a shot at redemption approaches. The London Knights goaltender was previously with the Peterborough Petes, who fell 4-1 to the Seattle Thunderbirds in last year's Memorial Cup semifinal.

SAGINAW — Easton Cowan's big-game reputation has only grown this season, but he's had some added motivation pushing him to another level.

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions' brass weren't expecting to get a lot of sleep Friday night. A decisive 29-6 win over the Edmonton Elks in pre-season play had just made some looming cuts to the team's roster all the more complicated.

WINNIPEG — Quarterback Jake Maier was glad the Calgary Stampeders had something to cheer about after an emotionally tough week.