REALTY ONE SATURDAY EYE-OPENER

Connor McDavid has a brand new orange sweater. The Edmonton Oilers selected the 18-year-old Erie Otters captain with the first overall selection at the NHL draft. Edmonton didn’t stop there, either. They then traded their 16th pick to the New York Islanders for defenceman Griffin Reinhart.

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The Buffalo Sabres got their own superstar with the second overall pick. They chose Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Eichel out of Boston University. Arizona selected OHL scoring leader Dylan Strome third overall, Toronto picked up Mitchell Marner at Number 4 and Carolina rounded out the top 5 with Noah Hanifin.

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The Calgary Stampeders got the best of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats yet again. Rene Paredes kicked a 50-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to lead the Stampeders to a thrilling 24-23 win over Hamilton in a rematch of last year’s Grey Cup game, which Calgary also won.

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The Blue Jays’ bats were on fire, and the pitching was stellar as Toronto pummelled the Texas Rangers 12-2 at Rogers Centre. Edwin Encarnacion hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the first inning to lead the charge. Russell Martin and Danny Valencia also went yard. Mark Buehrle got the win. After the game, the Jays called up rookie pitcher Matt Boyd. He’ll get his first major league start against Texas this afternoon.

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Jager Toffan’s 2 run home run in the 6th inning powered the Regina Red Sox past the Edmonton Prospects 5-2 Friday night. Over 500 fans were on hand to enjoy the 11th Red Sox victory of the year.

Regina starter Parks Smithey recorded the win as he pitched into the 5th inning, giving up just 2 hits. The bullpen combination of Kendal Daniels, Mike Thill and Louis Cohen blanked the Prospects the rest of the way.

Gabriel Montero also added two hits for the Red Sox, who ended a 2 game losing streak.

The Red Sox have Saturday off before hosting the Swift Current Indians on Sunday at 2 pm.

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The Canadian women’s soccer team takes the field later tonight in a quarter-final matchup against England at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Vancouver. Two teams locked up semifinal berths last night. The US topped China 1-nil in Ottawa and Germany slipped past France 2-1 on penalty kicks in Montreal.

(Canadian Press/Outlaw Communications)