Dein erstes Forum » ayed nine seasons with the Maple Leafs and Can

EDMONTON -- The core of Canadas national womens soccer team is back where it all began, hoping rekindle some chemistry as it begin its campaign for the 2015 World Cup. Replica NCAA Jerseys . Seven of the Canadian players for Wednesdays match against South Korea in Edmonton were on the Canadian team that ignited the womens soccer program in 2002 when it finished second to the U.S. in the U19 world championship at Commonwealth Stadium. Those seven -- captain Christine Sinclair, keeper Erin McLeod, centrebacks Carmelina Moscato and Rhian Wilkinson, midfielders Diana Matheson and Brittany Timko and forward Kara Lang -- are reconnecting after spending the season playing for various teams around North America. "This game is really kick-starting our campaign to 2015," Moscato said Monday at a news conference to promote the ticket sales for the 2014 FIFA U20 womens world cup that will be played in four Canadian cities. "Although were not looking necessarily two years in advance, right now we do have specific goals. Its centred around connection again. Weve been off for about a month after the NSSL season and we have all worked hard to be back in shape and fit for this game. But it really is about playing soccer together again and reconnecting with our national team goals and identity and wheres were going." The team, which won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, has been in Edmonton for five days preparing for South Korea. While thats not a long time, both Moscato and McLeod said its been a great team-building experience. "Theres elements that are easy because were like a family now," said Moscato, who was off the national team for a few years before rejoining it in 2009. "Meals are always enjoyable, having chatsabut on the field, that winning behaviour, that gold-medal standard behaviour, it takes time to reconnect again." McLeod, a native of St. Albert, a bedroom community of Edmonton, said the team is fortunate in that the players have managed to stay connected over the years and the excitement of being together this week is "really bringing us together." Both agree the match with South Korea will be a test of just how together the team is and where it has to go from here to get ready for 2015. "Its going to be challenging," said the 30-year-old McLeod. "In the game there are going to be moments we might be disconnected, but I think thats good to have the test early on to see how much we can fight now, having been apart. And we will only grow from that." The teams are 1-1 in recent matches and McLeod said one of the keys for Canada is to get off to a good start. "We have to come out fighting and bringing the game to them," she said. "A lot of times we start games on our heels and we dont want to be like that this time, or anymore." South Korea is a technically disciplined team that Moscato says is very strong on the counter-attack and dangerous in its ability to regain the ball and sneak behind defences. "So its going to take a lot of defensive discipline for us to regain the ball immediately when we lose it," she said. "So thats a big focus for us because they are quite technically savvy and quite intelligent on the ball." Note: Lang will be with the team as she continues her comeback from two torn knee ligaments, but wont play Wednesday. NCAA Jerseys Outlet .com) - A top-10 showdown is on tap in at the McKale Center on Saturday, as the 10th-ranked Arizona Wildcats play host to the eighth-ranked Utah Utes in a key Pac-12 matchup. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic . The win gives Canada its fifth title at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge. "Weve got to keep pushing," said Westlake, who led Canada with five goals in the tournament. "The second you let off the pedal, everyone catches up. https://www.chinajerseysncaa.us/ . And all things considered, the first 40 games have offered a little bit of everything from a hockey club that faced many questions in its first year under new management, with a new head coach and with a number of new faces in the lineup. However, with a recent dip in scoring, it seems some of the same old questions persist and several new ones have been raised after a somewhat troubling homestand.VANCOUVER -- Trevor Linden hadnt spoken to Jim Benning in 25 years before interviewing his former teammate for the Vancouver Canucks vacant general managers position. It didnt take long for the pair to realize they shared a blueprint for what it will take get the franchise back on track. In his first significant hire since being named the Canucks president of hockey operations last month, Linden officially introduced Benning as the teams 11th general manager on Friday, two days after the club announced the move. "I wanted a builder with similar views that could help us set up the Vancouver Canucks for the next decade and beyond," Linden said at a press conference at Rogers Arena. "What really became apparent during our interviews is how much we connected on our vision and our values and how we see winning organizations in the National Hockey League." Linden and Benning played together with the Canucks for two seasons when the former was just starting his career and the latter was seeing his wind down. "Trevor was a teammate 25 years ago, but when I interviewed with Trevor, I thought we shared the same values and principles," said Benning, who has spent the last seven seasons as an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins. "Hes cut from the same cloth I am. Hes going to work hard, hes going to do everything that he can do to make the organization successful, so I wanted to tie myself to somebody that had the same thoughts and beliefs that I did." The Canucks fired president and general manager Mike Gillis and head coach John Tortorella in the wake of a nightmarish 2013-14 season that saw the club tumble down the standings and miss the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. Tortorella spent just one campaign behind the bench after his puck-pressure, shot-blocking style woefully failed to mesh with a Vancouver roster that had been more free-wheeling under former head coach Alain Vigneault. Apart from preparing for the NHL draft where the Canucks hold the sixth pick at the end of June, Benning will be looking to hire a coach that shares his and Lindens thought process on how the game should be played. "This organization needs to play an up-tempo, fast-skating, skilled game," said the 51-year-old Edmonton native. "Before last season, this team had almost a relentless attitude about them that they were going to skate and to wear teams down and to score, and for whatever reason that didnt happen last year." Benning was one of the architects of a Bruins organization that defeated the Canucks in seven games in the 2011 Stanley Cup final. He said he had never heard of the "Boston model" in terms of building a team before arriving in Vancouver, but added that he wants the Canucks to incorporate younger players into the lineup with a level of both physicality and skill. "We want to become a four-line team," said Benning. "You watch the playoffs now, the final four teams that are playing, they have four lines that contribute. We want our third and fourth lines to have an important role in the team winning. "We have some work to do there in getting to that point, but we want to be a four-line, six-(defencemen) complete team." Tortorella leaned hard on Vancouvers top players and it cost the team in the second half of season when injuries and fatigue started to pile up. With that in mind, Benning said he specifically wants more out of the clubs bottom-six forwards. "Im not talking about fighting, but Im talking about between the whistles getting in on the forecheck, hitting, playing with a little bit more grit to take some of the heat off the first two liness," said Benning. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys China. "Theyre skill guys and let them play, but when the third and fourth line plays, lets get some offensive zone time and spend some time in the other teams end." Tortorella criticized the Canucks roster as being "stale" and in need of new blood in his last press conference before getting axed by Linden, but Benning said that despite last seasons performance, he still believes the core group of veterans can be part of a quick turnaround. "Theyre high-character people. When Trevor did the exit meetings with them, they felt bad about what happened this last year," said Benning. "Were going to try and help them out by having more depth on our roster, playing four lines and (hiring the right coach). "Some of the players, for whatever reason, just didnt have a good year last year. Its a good team, its a talented team and I feel confident that these guys are going to have a good year next year." The Canucks have been criticized for a poor draft record in recent years, however Benning pointed to 2013 first-round pick Bo Horvat as an example of a player who might be ready to step in. "I think hes a player that is going to be an important guy around here for us going forward," said Benning. "Vancouver plays in maybe the toughest division in the league. To win our division and keep going, were going to have to go through the (L.A. Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks). "Theyre big heavy teams so when we talk to our scouting staff, one of our mandates is Lets try to get a little bit bigger, lets get a little more rugged so we can play both styles -- we can play a skilled skating style when need be, but when its a rugged physical game, we can play that game, too." Linden made a point of thanking the Bruins for allowing Benning to leave the club prior to the NHL draft, a situation that could have made for some uncomfortable conversations. "I was surprised that it wasnt a longer process. It actually moved quicker than I thought it would," said Linden. "I know it was not an easy situation to have someone knocking on your door wanting to talk to someone whos important to your organization." The Canucks job is Bennings first as a general manager and he said he has a type of coach in mind for his new team. While past success is key, experience in the league is not necessarily a prerequisite. "We want a coach thats firm but fair (and) has good communication skills so he can relate to the players," said Benning. "We want a coach thats going to play a structured style of game when we dont have the puck, but give the players the freedom to skate and create when they do have the puck." Meanwhile, a number of Canucks have no-movement clauses in their contracts, but Benning said those should not be an impediment to improving the roster. "Weve got to do whats right for the organization," said Benning. "If we feel that we need to approach a player about asking him to waive his no-trade clause, were willing to do that. "I want to do everything I can to make this team successful. Its a different style team than Boston, but that doesnt mean the recipe for building the teams going to be any different." Notes: Apart from helping to shape a Bruins Cup-winning team in 2011, Bennings managerial resume also includes 12 seasons with Buffalo Sabres, with eight of those spent as that clubs director of amateur scouting. ... Selected sixth overall by Toronto in the 1981 NHL draft, Benning played nine seasons with the Maple Leafs and Canucks, collecting 52 goals and 191 assists in 610 career games. ' ' '