Canucks sign Spokane’s Grabner

The Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League have signed Spokane Chiefs player Michael Grabner to a three-year entry level contract, according to a report published Wednesday in the Province newspaper of Vancouver, British Columbia.

The paper reported Grabner will receive the rookie maximum of $850,000 (U.S.) per year. He was the 14th overall pick in the 2006 National Hockey League draft.

Grabner, a right wing from Austria, was on the road for a National Hockey League game in Edmonton, Alberta and unavailable for comment. He is expected to be returned to the Chiefs by next week.

•The Chiefs acquired 20-year-old Corey Courchene from the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

Courchene is in his fourth season in the WHL and had totals of 11 goals, 13 assists and 150 penalty minutes last season in 56 games.

He is a 6-foot-1, 203 pound left wing who has also played defense.

Golf

The Washington State men’s team shot collectively their best round of the tournament and moved past two teams in the final round to finish in fifth place on Tuesday at the Opus NW Husky Invitational in Auburn, Wash.

Led by Jordan Mason, who finished in a tie for 11th overall at -1, the Cougars made their run by shooting a final round 290, finishing 26 shots behind champion UCLA (855). Washington finished second at 864 and John Wise of the Huskies took medalist honors at 7 under par.