Dein erstes Forum » instrumental in Englands 3-0 series whitewash of Au

The Saskatoon Blades entered this season believing they were capable of winning the Memorial Cup on home ice. Despite a first-round exit from the Western Hockey League playoffs, the Blades still have a chance to prove they belong in the 2013 Canadian Hockey League championship. The host Blades will have been idle for 51 days when they open the tournament Friday against the Ontario Hockey Leagues London Knights. Saskatoon experienced an up-and-down season -- including a rocky start, an 18-game winning streak and a television crew filming their every move -- before a stunning sweep at the hands of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Blades head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken says the pressure of hosting major junior hockeys premier tournament hung over his players all season. "It was a different year simply because of the highs and the lows," said Molleken, whose club finished the regular season 44-22-6. "Every time we lost a game it almost seemed like people around us thought it was the end of the world. "The talk at the start of the year, everything was about the Memorial Cup and maybe our focus wasnt where it should have been." As hosts of the tournament, the Blades were followed by a television crew. Molleken says it was an adjustment at first, but adds the presence of the cameras had nothing to do with the teams short run in the playoffs. "In the early going our players just didnt know how to react because there was a camera in the locker-room at all times," he said in a recent phone interview. "But I think when I look back at it and as the season went on, they became a part of our team and they did a tremendous job with it. "I think for the players, it was a real learning experience for them and a positive experience for them." Blades captain Brenden Walker joined Saskatoon prior to the season after three campaigns with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He says having the cameras around was a unique situation. "It was pretty cool for us and a pretty cool experience to be involved in, and a great memory of this year that we can show in the future," Walker said before adding, "with the cameras theyre looking for ups and downs and that kind of stuff ... it was difficult sometimes for sure." The Blades, who automatically earned a bye into the Memorial Cup as the host team, have been swept out of the playoffs in the last three seasons. Despite this years stumble, Molleken still believes his team has what it takes to win the Memorial Cup on home ice. "We felt we built a team here that could win a championship but for whatever reason we didnt compete as hard as we needed to against a team that was playing extremely well in Medicine Hat," he said. "They did a great job against us." Added Walker: "Maybe we thought it was going to be easy or we werent prepared for it but now weve got to put that behind us and really not worry about that and instead worry about our readiness for the Memorial Cup." The Blades are led offensively by Josh Nichols (47 goals, 38 assists) and Matej Stransky (40 goals, 45 assists). Walker was next on the scoring list with 33 goals and 43 assists, while Russian world junior goalie Andrey Makarov will be counted on at the other end after posting a 2.62 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Following a two-week break after their March 27 elimination, Molleken put the Blades through more than a month of hard training. He says theyre in the best shape theyve been all the season. Walker says the players can see the light at the end of the tunnel. "Its been a long journey here for the last little bit but were just chipping at it and its going to be a great thing when the puck drops," Walker said. "(Losing in the first round) was a tough way to go but thats behind us and were just moving forward and weve got a bigger goal ahead of us. Weve just to make sure were ready to go." The Blades are drawing inspiration from last seasons hosts, the Shawinigan Cataracts. The club crashed out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs but managed to win the Memorial Cup after a long layoff. Saskatoon will be looking to capture its first CHL title, but the club also knows that there will be detractors. "We are healthy and were anxious to get the puck dropped on the 17th and we know were going to be playing against three league champions that have proven theyre worthy of that," said Molleken, whose team rolls four lines and six defencemen. "Were going to have to take our game to a new level and our players have worked extremely hard at that." The Blades know all they can do is control what happens on the ice going forward. "You never want to think that you get a free bye into the Memorial Cup and instead just come right through the front door," Walker said. "Now this is our last kick at the cat." The Portland Winterhawks and the Halifax Mooseheads round out the field for the MasterCard Memorial Cup, which runs through May 26.San Francisco Giants Store . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Custom San Francisco Giants Jerseys .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/ . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Wholesale Giants Jerseys . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Stitched Giants Jerseys . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada.Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell will miss the start of the Aviva Premiership season with a back problem that director of rugby Mark McCall insists is only minor.Farrell, who was instrumental in Englands 3-0 series whitewash of Australia in June, sustained the injury during pre-season more than a month ago and has been managing it since.The 24-year-old will sit out at least the Premiership opener against Worcester at Twickenham on Sep. 3 and possibly additional matches, but McCall insists the prognosis is short term.Owen has a little bit of a back niggle, but its nothing serious. Well have to see how it is at the start of next week, McCall ssaid.ddddddddddddIt isnt related to the England tour, its something that has been picked up in the last five weeks. We dont expect him to miss too much though.Farrell was a central figure in Saracens march to a Premiership and Champions Cup double last season and, on the strength of his displays against the Wallabies in June, is knocking on the door of world class status.Alex Lozowski, a summer recruit from Wasps, will deputise at fly-half in Farrells absence, while Alex Goode is also an option in the position. ' ' '