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MALMO, Sweden - Ending a four-year run without a gold medal wont be easy for Canada at the world junior hockey championship. The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. "Youve got to expect theyll be structured and hard working," coach Brent Sutter said Wednesday after a one-hour skate at the cosy Isstadion, where they face the Germans on Thursday. "Theyll be ready to play. "That game is the biggest game to date we have. It doesnt matter our opponent, its how we have to play. Lets make sure were responsible." You can watch all the action live on TSN beginning at 7am et/4am pt. Pre-tournament exhibition games against Finland, Sweden and Switzerland showed that while the Canadian squad — led by Halifax Mooseheads star Jonathan Drouin — will be among the better teams in the 10-team event, it doesnt have the speed and offensive flash of some of the 15 Canadian teams that won gold in the past. The host team Sweden, with at least 10 players returning from a squad that won silver last year in Ufa, Russia, looks like the team to beat, especially after the 3-0 beating they put on Canada in an exhibition game last week. The Swedes are in the opposite first-round group and will play at the newer, much larger Malmo Arena. Canada has only three players back from the 2013 tournament. They include Drouin, Jake Paterson (who didnt dress for any games in Ufa as the third goalie), and defenceman Griffin Reinhart, who is suspended for the first three games this year from a slashing incident in last years semifinals. The loss in Ufa ended Canadas 14-year run of top-three finishes at the tournament officially called the IIHF world under-20 championship. This years squad is younger than most, and should be a showcase for three players not even eligible to be drafted by the NHL yet. First among them is Connor McDavid, the dazzling 16-year-old playmaker and scoring star of the Erie Otters who will not be eligible for the draft until 2015. There is also forward Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice, the younger brother of Griffin Reinhart, along with big defenceman Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts. They may go one-two in the 2014 draft. Sutter has McDavid and Reinhart on the wings with centre Bo Horvat, an imposing Vancouver Canucks prospect from the London Knights. They were the only line to stay together through the teams three pre-tournament games. Reinhart turned 18 in November and is not a true "underage" junior, and Sutter uses him as he would a seasoned veteran. In exhibition play, he played the power play and on the penalty kill. In one instance when Canada was short-handed two men, he was the lone forward on the ice. "Hes an all-purpose player," said Sutter. "He just knows how to play the game. "Hes an intelligent player and his paying attention to details in all sorts of situations is very high. As a coach, youre very comfortable playing him in whatever situation that occurs." Reinhart is used to the ice time with Kootenay and was a captain on Canadian under-18 teams, so he likes the responsibility Sutter has given him. "It gives you confidence for opening night," he said. "We took some games to find our mentality and what well bring to the first one. "We feel confident in our game right now. The focus has turned onto the first game against Germany and were looking forward to it." The exhibition games were a test for Drouin, the third overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning last June. Sutter blasted him for a weak showing against Sweden, even though it was Drouins first game since suffering a concussion in a league game with Halifax on Dec. 8. He was moved from left wing to centre for the final exhibition against the Swiss and played better. "Brent said some stuff," said Drouin, who will likely centre big winger Anthony Mantha and the defensively solid Taylor Leier of the Portland Winterhawks. "I know I played bad and didnt help the team. "I had to step up my game against the Swiss and I think I did. I feel better. The first game was a little rough. Its been three weeks (since he played) and its different from major junior. Its way more fast, but I think the second game was better." Another question to be settled was in goal, and Sutter believes hes found his man in Paterson of the Saginaw Spirit, who will start against Germany. The Mooseheads Zach Fucale will start the tournament as the backup, but Sutter expects both will see action in the tournament. Other lines are likely to have Nic Petan of Portland between Curtis Lazar of the Edmonton Oil Kings and Kerby Rychel of the Gueph Storm; and captain Scott Laughton of the Oshawa Generals with Frederik Gauthier of the Rimouski Oceanic and Josh Anderson of the Knights. Charles Hudon of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens may slot in the Drouin line. The defence will likely be rearranged when Griffin Reinhart returns Dec. 31 against the Americans. Sutter has been trying various combinations for a group that includes Ekblad, Matt Dumba of the Minnesota Wild, Chris Bigras of the Owen Sound Attack, McDavids Erie teammate Adam Pelech, Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders and Derrick Pouliot of Portland. Without a high-powered attack, there has been much talk of playing "Boston Bruins hockey," which despite popular perception does not mean hammering everyone who moves, but rather working the puck up the ice in tight, five-man units and playing a controlled two-way game. "It is the makeup of our team," said Sutter, who won gold with a similar group in 2006. "We have to support each other. "We cant be a spread-out team thats playing one zone and two zones ahead. We have to be coming out of zones together and using each other. When one guy has the puck, the other four have to be options and be available for plays. And we have to be smart when were hitting the red line. We cant have turnovers." The game against Germany is a chance to see flashy forward Leon Draisaitl, who is Morrisseys teammate in Prince Albert. Draisaitl is a projected top-10 pick in 2014. They played against one another at the under-18 championship, and Morrissey said they have been joking about meeting again at the world juniors. "Hes a really skilled player," the Calgary native said. "Weve become almost best friends on our team. "Hes got phenomenal vision. I think he plays like (Anze) Kopitar. He likes (Pavel) Datsyuk a lot. All I can say is hes an unreal player." Wholesale Jerseys China . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. Wholesale Los Angeles Rams Jerseys ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.wholesalejerseysnflonline.us.com/ . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Wholesale San Francisco Giants Jerseys .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons fears were confirmed on Wednesday when a second medical opinion found star wide receiver Julio Jones foot injury will cause him to miss the remainder of the season. Coach Mike Smith said Jones will have surgery on Monday, but the Falcons still did not release details of the injury. Jones, the NFLs leading receiver, injured his right foot in Monday nights 30-28 loss to the New York Jets. Smith had said Tuesday the first reports were not encouraging. Jones wanted a second opinion and was examined Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C., by foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. "Unfortunately, Julios appointment with the doctor today confirmed our initial findings," Smith said in a statement released by the team. Anderson repaired a broken bone in Jones right foot before his 2011 rookie season. The loss of Jones is a devastating blow to the Falcons, who are 1-4 and entering their bye week. Roddy White, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, hurt his hamstring in the loss to the Jets and missed Wednesdays practice. Smith said White, who already was slowed by an ankle sprain, also will miss Thursdays practice. Harry Douglas, Kevin Cone and Drew Davis were the top receivers Wednesday. After those three, the teams options are practice squad receivers Darius Johnson and James Rodgers. "Injuries are a part of the NFL and youve got to deal with them," Smith said. "Everybody has to deal with them. Our guys understand its an opportunity for somebody else to step up. Weve done it many times already this season. Its not going to be any different than any other week." Jones leads the NFL with 41 catches and ranks second with 580 yards receiving. He made his first Pro Bowl team in 2012 when he had 79 receptions for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns. Joones (6-3, 220) provides size mismatches for most cornerbacks and is the Falcons top deep threat.dddddddddddd He had eight catches for 99 yards, including a 46-yarder, against the Jets. "Its tough to replicate what he can do," said quarterback Matt Ryan. "Certainly hes one of the most gifted receivers in the NFL. That makes it difficult to replace that but we have other guys who need to step up and I think will step up for us." Ryan said he saw Jones on Wednesday before the receiver left the practice facility for appointment in Charlotte. "Weve all kind of been there before," Ryan said. "Its part of playing in this league. Its a tough, physical game. Hes got a great mindset about it though. Hes positive, hes upbeat." The Falcons could seek help at wide receiver during the bye week. Jones big-play ability will be difficult to replace. "Its going to take some time to figure out what were going to do, depending on how long hes out or whatever," Ryan said. "But well figure it out and try to find a way to get it done and be explosive in some different ways." Douglas, who has 16 catches for 219 yards, is in his fifth season. Most of his experience has come as the No. 3 receiver, and he could be asked to join tight end Tony Gonzalez in a lead role when the Falcons return from the bye week to play Tampa Bay on Oct. 20. "Ive been playing football for a long time," Douglas said. "I dont need to go out there and try to be Superman. Ive just got to play the game of football." Cone had his first career catch on Monday night. Davis had four catches in 2012 and none this season. While his teammates made optimistic predictions about the backup receivers, Cone stated the obvious. "Im definitely no Julio Jones," Cone said. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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