Rutherford takes over as Canucks president

The Canucks hired veteran NHL executive Jim Rutherford as team president on Thursday.

Rutherford will also serve as interim GM and lead the search for a GM.

The Canucks cleaned house Sunday, firing GM Jim Benning, coach Travis Green and other front-office staff. The team hired Bruce Boudreau as coach on a two-year deal.

The 72-year-old Rutherford, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders’ category, was GM of the Penguins from 201421. The team won Stanley Cups in 2016 and ’17.

He also served as the Hurricanes GM for 20 years and saw the team win the Cup in 2006. College football: Alabama starting CB Josh Jobe will miss the College Football Playoff after undergoing foot surgery this week. NBA: The Pacers and Raptors canceled their practices in precautionary moves, citing the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, 63, was placed in the protocols after testing positive for the virus, ESPN reported. He’s fully vaccinated, including a booster shot, and reportedly has mild symptoms. Later, the Raptors announced that team president Masai Ujiri had tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolating at home. Ujiri also is fully vaccinated and has received a booster. Ujiri said he attended an event Sunday for his nonprofit Giants of Africa at which everyone was required to be vaccinated. After the gala, he learned that some guests had tested positive. NFL: Packers WR Randall Cobb underwent surgery last week for a core muscle injury and will miss several games and maybe the rest of the regular season. Soccer: Villarreal clinched the final place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 3-2 win over host Atalanta in a match postponed from Wednesday because of heavy snow. Villarreal only needed a draw to advance as runner-up from Group F.