Releases » Jeff Hassler and Tyler Ardron at the Welsh rugby

TORONTO -- Canadian international Phil Mack has signed a short-term contract with the Ospreys, joining fellow Canadians Jeff Hassler and Tyler Ardron at the Welsh rugby club. Injuries to halfbacks Rhys Webb and Tom Habberfield left Ospreys with only Tito Tebaldi at scrum half. "We are pleased to have been able to secure Phils services and he will provide us with some much needed cover in a crucial position over the coming weeks. "With Rhys already sidelined, Toms untimely pre-season injury has left us light at scrum half, having only a winger or untried youngsters as cover," Andy Lloyd, Ospreys rugby operations manager, said in a statement. "With that in mind we felt it was crucial that we acted swiftly, and in Phil we have someone who has impressed at international level and who we believe can come in at short notice and do a good job for the region." Mack, a 27-year-old from Victoria, has won 15 caps for Canada and is a former captain of the national sevens team. "This contract comes as a reward of Phils consistent play over the summer in the Pacific Nations Cup and in the Rugby World Cup qualifiers against U.S.A.," said Steve Lancaster, Rugby Canadas high performance manager. "Although its a short-term deal, its a great opportunity for Phil to experience professional rugby in the U.K. and it will give him exposure to potentially receive a longer contract." The Ospreys play in the RaboDirect Pro 12 league. Jaromir Jagr Penguins Jersey .B. -- Canadas Rachel Homan opened the Ford Womens World Curling Championship with a 7-5 win over Russia on Saturday. Matt Murray Penguins Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. http://www.penguinsauthenticofficial.com/sidney-crosby-jersey/ .During the week, McCoy told reporters he respected Hoyer for his intelligence, athleticism and how he conducts himself on and off the field. This wasnt an act, some attempt at psyching out Hoyer. Tom Barrasso Penguins Jersey . Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto. Kris Letang Penguins Jersey . Nat Borchers headed in the sole goal in the 54th minute, getting on the end of a Kyle Beckerman free kick. The defeat cost Sporting top spot in the Eastern Conference. Even a draw would have moved the Kansas City club above Columbus.VANCOUVER -- Corey Perry and Saku Koivu each had a goal and an assist and Frederik Andersen made 31 saves Saturday as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. The result is another serious blow to Vancouvers fading playoff hopes as the club remains five points back of the Phoenix Coyotes for the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Luca Sbisa, Matt Beleskey and Mathieu Perreault also scored for Anaheim (48-18-8), while Andrew Cogliano and Daniel Winnik added two assists as the Ducks moved into first place in the Pacific Division. Brad Richardson replied for Vancouver (34-31-11), which got 16 saves from Eddie Lack. The Minnesota Wild left the door open for the Canucks to move within three points of the Wests final playoff spot after a 3-1 road victory in Phoenix, but Vancouver was unable to capitalize on the opportunity. With just six games left on their schedule, it looks as though the Canucks can start making their off-season plans. The Ducks led 2-1 after the first period and increased their lead at 11:02 of the second off a Canucks turnover when Winnik chipped a pass from the side of the net into the slot to Koivu, who buried his 10th of the season. Vancouver had a number of opportunities to make things interesting, including three power plays in the second alone that yielded a lot of possession, but not many clear-cut chances for the leagues 27th-ranked unit. After Koivu gave the Ducks a 3-1 lead, Andersen made consecutive saves off Vancouver forwards Chris Higgins and Jordan Schroeder from in tight before shooting out a pad to stone Zack Kassian moments later. Perry then put the game out of reach by banging home his 38th of the season at 6:45 of the third. Vancouver had a chance to pull one back with about 11 minutes to go, but both Daniel Sedin and Nicklas Jensen failed to find the range from in close against Andersen, who started in place of No. 1 goalie Jonas Hiller. Perreault added insult to injury with his 18th of the season on a Ducks power play at 14:03. Anaheim has thoroughly dominated the ffirst four meetings of its five-game season series with Vancouver, outscoring the Canucks 21-6 and surrendering just one point to its division rivals.dddddddddddd The teams meet for the final time April 7 at Rogers Arena. The Ducks opened the scoring at 7:36 of the first period after the Canucks had a couple of good chances at the other end against Anaheims rookie netminder. The puck was played back to the point to Sbisa, whose shot found its way through a maze of players and past Lack for his first of the season. Beleskey then made it 2-0 just 1:11 later with his sixth of the campaign. Ducks forward Rickard Rakell collected a puck in front of Lack and fed a behind-the-back pass to Beleskey, who beat the helpless Canucks netminder upstairs as Anaheim scored on two of its first five shots. Vancouver got one back at 11:12 off some nice work from Kassian in the offensive zone. The big forward maintained possession at the blue-line before feeding defenceman Ryan Stanton. His shot was kicked out by Andersen right to Richardson and he buried his 10th of the season. Anaheim had a great response to that goal, with Perry hitting the Ducks second and third posts of the period on a dominant shift that saw Vancouver hemmed in its zone for an extended period of time. Higgins had a nice deflection in the slot that Andersen was quick to handle with just over a minute to play before Lack made a glove save on Anaheims Patrick Maroon. Notes: Richardson had a great chance with the game scoreless in the first period, but Andersen made a phenomenal stick save on a shot that he deflected onto the post. ... Ducks forward Teemu Selanne sat out after playing Friday night in Edmonton against the Oilers. The 43-year-old has not played back-to-back games this season, but said after the morning skate that he will play against the Canucks in Vancouver on April 7. ... Kassian now has two goals and five assists during his four-game point streak. ... Perreault now has six goals in his last eight games. ... Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf took a shot off his foot prior to Anaheims fifth goal and did not return. ' ' '