National Sports

DALLAS — Jamie Benn used a lesson from his youth baseball days to help score the tiebreaking goal Thursday night. Benn backhanded the winner with 4:21 left, and the rolling Dallas Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-3 after blowing a three-goal lead.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tyson Barrie and rookie Pierre Engvall came through to help new Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe get a win in his NHL coaching debut.

St. Louis defenceman Vince Dunn set the tone for the Blues with a crunching hit that drew a retaliation penalty. "I think it energized everybody in the whole city of St.

NASHVILLE — The Vancouver Canucks hurt the Nashville Predators with their power play. Again. Bo Horvat scored one of Vancouver’s five power-play goals, and the Canucks beat Nashville 6-3 on Thursday night to stop a three-game slide.

CALGARY — Brandon Banks is forever grateful to June Jones. When Banks broke into the CFL in 2013 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he was used predominantly as a kick returner by then head coach Kent Austin.

CALGARY — Brandon Banks is the CFL's outstanding player. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver captured the honour for the first time Thursday at the CFL awards banquet in voting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and nine league head coaches.

CALGARY — Montreal Alouettes linebacker Henoc Muamba captured the CFL's top Canadian award Thursday night. Muamba received the honour at the CFL's awards banquet in voting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and nine league head coaches.

CALGARY — Orlondo Steinuaer of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats is the CFL's coach of the year. Steinauer received the honour Thursday night at the CFL's awards banquet in voting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and nine league head coaches.

Kaillie Humphries is officially part of USA Bobsled's national team. The two-time Olympic champion for Canada was selected Thursday night as a member of the U.S. team for this season.

QUEBEC — Western Mustangs quarterback Chris Merchant has been named the top player in Canadian university football this year. Merchant captured the Hec Crighton Trophy on Thursday night at the U Sports football awards.