Its that time of year again as Canada gets set to open the World Junior Hockey Championship against Slovakia on Boxing Day.
Heath Miller Youth Jersey . Watch all the action live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5 and TSN GO at 8pm et/5pm pt with pre-game coverage beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also hear the game live on the TSN Radio Networks. Canada is looking to end a five-year gold medal drought that dates back to 2010, when a loss to the United States in the final snapped a previous run of five straight titles from 2005-2009. There is unfinished business for many returning players after a fourth-place finish last year. A 2-1 loss to Russia in the bronze medal game sent Canada to its second straight tournament without a medal - only the second time in World Junior history that Canada has been held without a medal in consecutive years (1979-1981) Canada has seven returning players with forwards Curtis Lazar, Connor McDavid, Sam Reinhart, Nicolas Petan, Frederik Gauthier, defenceman Josh Morrissey and goaltender Zach Fucale. I was disappointed with how we played last year and the result we got, Lazar told the Canadian Press on Monday, reminiscing on the loss to Finland in last years semis and the defeat to Russia in the bronze-medal game. Second chances dont come around too often. Were fortunate to have this chance. Lazar, on loan from the Ottawa Senators, was named team captain on Monday with Buffalo Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart and potential No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL draft Conner McDavid assigned as alternates. I want it to be loud. Thats the biggest thing, said Lazar. Regardless if were out there blocking a shot, hitting a guy or scoring a goal, we want our fans to support us and cheer us on. Its going to be huge, but in saying that we need to be able to manage the crowd and get them behind us right off the start. If we can get that momentum rolling through the tournament it will be really beneficial to us. World Juniors in Canada. Theyre here to support us and its up to us to put on a show. Fucale will start in net for Canada opposite Denis Godla for Slovakia. Fucale was named the starter during Thursdays practice, though head coach Benoit Grouxl would not name the starter for Canada. In Slovakia is an opponent who has captured just one medal in tournament history - a bronze in 1999. Montreal Canadiens prospect Martin Reway, Boston Bruins prospect Peter Cehlarik and Robert Lantosi are the only three returning forwards this year but a young group of talent including the likes of Matus Sokel, Patrik Koys and Dominik Briestensky give Slovakia a few legitimate offensive options. With only one defensive returnee, 17-year-old 2015 draft prospect Erik Cernak, the Slovaks will face an uphill climb against a superior Canadian attack. We want to play a fast game. Fast on the forecheck, fast with the puck, fast at getting the puck back, Groulx said on Tuesday. On Thursday, the head coach said he was ready to see his team on the ice in a meaningful game, Its time to play and well be ready. We dont want to be part of scrums after the whistle or anything like that, said Groulx. When you look at our team, we have a lot of skilled players that dont play like that (in the CHL/NHL). I dont expect discipline to be an issue. Projected Team Canada Lines: Forwards: Domi - Reinhart - Duclair Ritchie - McDavid - Lazar Paul - Petan - Fabbri Crouse - Gauthier - Virtanen Point Defence: Nurse - Theodore Morrissey - Bowey Morin - Hicketts Heatherington Goalies: Fucale Comrie Game Notes: CAN beat SVK last year, 5-3 CAN has 8 wins, 1 tie all-time vs SVK Tie came in 1999, 7 straight CAN wins since Slovakia: lost to SWE in QF in 2014 only medal was a bronze in 1999 finished 8th in 4 of past 5 years (6th-2012) 2 players on roster play in CHL, including goalie Gibl-Barrie Canada: came in 4th in 2013 and 2014 lost to FIN in SF in 2014 and to RUS in bronze medal game won a medal each time tournament was in Canada only time 3 straight years without a medal was 1979-81
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Jack Ham Youth Jersey .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings take aim at an eighth straight victory on Monday night as they wrap up a road trip versus the Calgary Flames.TORONTO - Speaking at an event for season ticket holders before the season began, Masai Ujiri urged Raptors fans - and by extension the team itself - to help make the Air Canada Centre a daunting place for opponents to visit. "We have to make this place a living hell for [opponents] to come play here," the Raptors general manager pleaded. So far its been anything but. "We have far more focus on the road than we do at home and that is a concern," coach Dwane Casey said after his team dropped to 4-8 at the ACC, losing another heartbreaker, 104-102 to the Bobcats in overtime Wednesday. With a record of 5-6 outside of Toronto, the Raptors are one of three Eastern Conference teams with more wins on the road than at home. Wednesdays loss to the Bobcats, a team theyve had difficulty with in the past, was an especially bitter pill for them to swallow. After coughing up a 16-point lead in the third quarter, the Raptors were able to hold it together long enough to force overtime. In the extra frame, DeMar DeRozan - seemingly exhausted after playing over 40 minutes - split a pair of free throws to tie the game up with one second remaining. A second overtime period seemed imminent. As Josh McRoberts inbounded, Kemba Walker curled off a screen set by Al Jefferson. Freed up for just a moment before Jonas Valanciunas closed out hard on the Bobcats leading scorer, Walker drained the dagger that handed the Raptors yet another unsettling loss in their own building. "It hurts," admitted Kyle Lowry, whose three-pointer sent the game into overtime. "Everyone loses a game [to] a buzzer-beater but youd rather get blown out by 50 than lose on a buzzer-beater." The building went silent as the buzzer sounded, keeping in mind the noise level rarely exceeded a dull roar on the night. Attendance was listed at a generous 15,201 Wednesday evening, shy of the teams 17,774-season average, 12th best in the association according to ESPN.com. Many of those fans - the ones still rooting for this team to win - left shaking their heads, disappointed but not in the least bit surprised. It was awfully quiet for most of the game, but its hard to blame the fans in attendance. They havent been given much to cheer about. "Weve got great fans, great crowd, warm building, hot building so theres no reason why we cant come out with that type of fire and intensity [we have on the road]," Casey said. Offensively, the teams numbers are almost identical at home as they are on the road. The drop off, at least statistically, is on the defensive end where the Rapptors are allowing 100.
John Stallworth Steelers Jersey. 4 points per game, 4.1 more than they surrender away from the ACC. A home-court disadvantage is nothing new. Last season Toronto was one of four teams in the NBA to average more points and shoot a higher field goal percentage on the road than at home. Still, no one can seem to pinpoint whats causing it. "I have no idea, I really cant explain it," said Lowry, who had 17 points and six assists in the loss. "I think weve just got to figure out a way to turn it around." "Weve got to start to use our home court to our advantage and not feel too comfortable or think were going to be able to pull it out in late-game situations," added DeRozan after a 30-point performance. DeRozan, who is fourth in the league in minutes played per contest, appeared to be gassed by the end of the game, going 1-of-4 from the field in overtime and missing a crucial free throw down the stretch. He was quick to dismiss the suggestion of fatigue after the loss. "No I was good, I was good," he insisted. "I could have played four more overtimes if we had to." As a team, the Raptors shot just 3-of-11 in the extra period, missing their first six shots. Valanciunas, who had 10 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes, played most of overtime after sitting out the entire fourth quarter. For Casey, it was a decision made with the match-up in mind. "We were mixing it up, we had to mix it up," Casey said of the teams coverage on Jefferson, the Bobcats crafty and undersized centre. "Jonas did as much as he could with Jefferson. Jefferson is one of the most potent low-post scorers in the league but for [Valanciunas] to learn those are the guys hes going to have to guard." "I thought he fought and battled him and used his height as much as he could and I thought Jonas did a good job on the other end, taking it to him in the paint and scoring on him." Still, Casey maintains that its a give and take with Valanciunas on the floor in these scenarios. Although you have a theoretical advantage offensively with Valanciunas against the smaller Jefferson, its understood that you are giving something up on defence. Is one worth the other? Instead, Casey rotated the more experienced, more versatile trio of Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough and Patrick Patterson in the fourth. For now, the Raptors will have to put their home-court conundrum on hold as they focus on what lies ahead. On Friday theyll begin a challenging four-game road trip in Dallas before visiting Oklahoma City, San Antonio and New York.
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