Canucks fire General Manager

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks fired president and general manager Mike Gillis on Tuesday, a day after being eliminated from playoff contention.

Gillis took over as general manager from the fired Dave Nonis after the 2007-08 season. The Canucks advanced to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals under Gillis before losing to Boston, and since then the team has been in a steady decline.

The Canucks lost in the first round of the playoffs for two straight seasons before missing the post-season entirely for the first time since 2008.

Lakers’ GM agrees to new contract

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has agreed to a multiyear contract extension late in one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Kupchak had one year left on his current contract.

The Lakers’ latest defeat was their 53rd of the season, matching the franchise record set in 1958. Kupchak has a wholesale rebuilding job in store with the Lakers, who will miss the playoffs for just the third time since 1976.

MLB umpire loses son

CLEVELAND (AP) — For the second time, veteran major league umpire John Hirschbeck has lost a son.

Michael Hirschbeck died Tuesday of unknown causes in Poland, Ohio. The Indians said he was 27. No other details were immediately available.

John Hirschbeck had been scheduled to work the interleague series between Cleveland and the San Diego Padres, but was with his family.

Jamaican sprinter banned for positive test

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaican Olympic sprinter Sherone Simpson was banned from her sport until Dec. 20 after testing positive for a banned substance.

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission on Tuesday said Simpson was “negligent in all the circumstances.” The 18-month ban began from the date of her sample collection on June 21, 2013.

The commission also banned Jamaican Olympic discus thrower Allison Randall for two years. She will not be able to compete until June 2015. Her ban also started June 21, 2013.

Simpson, an Olympic 4×100-relay gold and silver medalist, has said she was not a “cheat” and never intentionally took the stimulant oxilofrone.

Hewitt, Young advance on the clay

HOUSTON (AP) — Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt beat Canada’s Peter Polansky 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in gusty conditions to advance to the second round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.

Also advancing were Americans Donald Young and Michael Russell. Young routed countryman Ryan Harrison 6-0, 6-1, and Houston-based Russell eliminated Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 7-6 (2). Harrison was plagued by a back injury that later forced him to pull out of the doubles.

U.S. to host Slovakia in Davis Cup

LONDON (AP) — The United States will host Slovakia in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs on Sept. 12-14.

The International Tennis Federation held the draw Tuesday.

In other matchups to be played right after the U.S. Open, India hosts Serbia, Brazil hosts Spain, Israel hosts Argentina, Canada hosts Colombia, Australia hosts Uzbekistan, Netherlands hosts Croatia, and Ukraine hosts Belgium.