SPORTS IN BRIEF

Lind signs with Canucks

VANCOUVER (CP) — The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Kole Lind to a threeyear entry level contract. The 19-year-old from Shaunavon, Sask., has registered 85 points (35 goals, 50 assists) in 51 games in his third full season with the Kelowna Rockets. In 197 WHL games over parts of four seasons, Lind has registered 214 points (79 goals, 135 assists) in 197 games.

Lind was originally selected by Vancouver in the second round, 33rd overall, at the 2017 NHL draft.

“Kole has had an outstanding season in Kelowna despite missing games due to illness and injury,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a release. “We’ve been impressed not only with his high-end offensive skill but also in the way he battles, sees the ice and makes plays in the defensive end.

“We’re excited for him to continue his development and provide further forward depth for our organization.”

Seattle ticket drive off to hot start

SEATTLE (AP) — Apparently, sports fans in Seattle are ready for the NHL.

The group looking to bring an expansion team to Seattle for the 2020 season said it surpassed 25,000 ticket commitments in two hours after kicking off its season-ticket drive on Thursday. The season-ticket drive is one the steps required by the NHL as part of the expansion process and is meant to gauge the interest in the market. Fans were required to put down a deposit of $500 per ticket or $1,000 for club tickets. If the first day is any indication, Seattle and Oak View Group will have no problem demonstrating the desire for an NHL franchise in Seattle. By comparison, a similar season-ticket drive to gauge the interest in Las Vegas took two days to reach 5,000 deposits and a month to reach 9,000.