National Sports

OTTAWA — Drake Batherson scored a natural hat trick Wednesday to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 26-year-old’s first of the night was his 100th career goal.

Bill Belichick had seemingly been waiting for the right opportunity to return to an NFL sideline. Instead, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is headed to the college ranks to take over at North Carolina.

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have signed guard AJ Lawson to a two-way contract, the NBA team announced Wednesday. The six-foot-six, 185-pound guard from Toronto averaged 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 35.

VANCOUVER — There have been days this season when walking into the office was a bit like walking into a minefield for Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

Lake Placid, N.Y., would play host to bobsled, luge and skeleton events for the 2026 Olympics if a track currently being rebuilt in Italy isn't finished in time for the Milan-Cortina Games, officials said Wednesday.

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Basketball Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are among 10 limited partners who have joined the Buffalo Bills’ ownership group.

CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders re-signed veteran kicker Rene Paredes on Wednesday while also restructuring quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.'s deal. Calgary signed Paredes to a two-year contract extension.

BUDAPEST — Canadian swimmers Ilya Kharun and Ingrid Wilm won two medals each Wednesday at the short-course world championships. Montreal's Kharun won silver in the men's 50-metre butterfly and Calgary's Wilm took bronze in the women's 100 backstroke.

The last six years have landed Canadian Kurtis Rourke firmly in the U.S. college football limelight. The 24-year-old Oakville, Ont., native will lead the upstart Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) into South Bend, Ind.

A Toronto man who excelled to secure the title of a global spreadsheet champion last week calls his unusual achievement a "satisfying victory." Michael Jarman won the Microsoft Excel World Championships in a Las Vegas arena on Dec. 4.