National Sports

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames' 2016-17 season started slow and ended too quickly.

CALGARY — The possibility of a hockey idol walking through their dressing room door had the youngest Calgary Flames shaking their heads in amazement Monday.

NEW YORK — The police officer who tackled former pro tennis player James Blake in a mistaken arrest filed a defamation lawsuit Monday against the athlete, the police department and the watchdog group prosecuting his misconduct case.

ATLANTA — John Coppolella was forced to resign as Braves general manager Monday after an investigation by Major League Baseball revealed serious rules violations in the international player market.

It will be an interesting stretch run in the CFL's West Division. Calgary (CFL-best 12-1-1 record) has already clinched a home playoff game. The Stampeders are off this week before visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Oct. 13.

TORONTO — James Hinchcliffe is recognized as much for his performance on the "Dancing with the Stars" as he is for his on-track exploits on the IndyCar circuit.

TORONTO — Canada's James Hinchcliffe started his IndyCar season with a bang and ended it with a whimper. It was all part of the learning process for the 30-year-old driver from Oakville, Ont., who has completed seven seasons on the circuit.

VANCOUVER — After missing the playoffs a third time in four years, the Vancouver Canucks looked in the mirror last spring and finally came to terms with a reality that was clear for almost everyone else to see. The team is rebuilding.

HAMILTON — C.J. Gable's reward for a stellar performance Saturday night was a new team. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats dealt the veteran running back to the Edmonton Eskimos on Monday for the rights to two negotiation-list players.

LAS VEGAS — Officials at a remote Nevada prison where O.J. Simpson was set free after nine years for armed robbery arranged the former football and Hollywood star's dead-of-night departure to avoid public scrutiny. It worked.