|  Wys³any: 2018-12-26 08:33:24 Temat postu: nner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth s
Canadas Kevin Koe is trying his best to avoid distractions and focus on curling as he prepares for the upcoming mens world curling championship. There have been a few challenges for Koe in the leadup to the competition, which opens Saturday at Beijings Capital Indoor Stadium. Chief among them is news that there are changes coming to his rink next season. Koes current lineup features second Carter Rycroft, third Pat Simmons and lead Nolan Thiessen. Rycroft, whose wife is pregnant, has already said hell be taking a year off after this season. Kevin Martin confirmed to The Canadian Press that Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert will be leaving his rink to join Koes team next season. Koe preferred to keep his focus on the world championship and declined to comment on the coming changes. The future plans of Simmons and Thiessen were unclear. It was the first major shakeup in whats expected to be a summer of significant change on the mens curling scene now that the four-year Olympic cycle is complete. The timing is less than ideal for Koe and his teammates. Gerry Peckham, the Canadian Curling Associations high-performance director, expects Koe to be able to lock in on the immediate task before him. "Our analysis of his performance skills and performance attributes would suggest that hes an incredibly focused individual and is seldom distracted by anything external to the game at hand," Peckham said. "I think those teammates have looked in each other in the eye again, squared their shoulders, are shaking each others hands and are now moving on to complete this journey of a world championship." Koe won gold in his only previous appearance at the world championship, taking top spot at the 2010 playdowns in Cortina DAmpezzo, Italy. At this years event, Canada will be a favourite along with Scotland, Sweden, Norway and China. The 12-team field is rounded out by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Russia, Switzerland and the United States. "Canada used to be known obviously as a big favourite going in all the time but you quickly realize how the gap is changing," Koe said. "Our experience in 2010 was awesome in Italy and it was a great feeling to win. But this is just as important for us. "To get to be two-time world champs would be pretty neat and kind of validate our first win." Koe arrived early in the week so that hed have time to adjust to the 14-hour time change. He was greeted by plenty of smog, heat and humidity. Hes also still getting used to the various culinary options in the Chinese capital. "Its a bit of a culture shock for us," Koe said in a recent interview. "Big difference from what were used to. Obviously a huge city but it will be a great experience." Koe had a strong performance at the Tim Hortons Brier and is enjoying another solid year on the World Curling Tour. Hes third on the money list and fourth in the order of merit standings behind only Olympic champ Brad Jacobs, Howard and Jeff Stoughton. The only change from the 2010 lineup is that Simmons has replaced Blake MacDonald on the Calgary-based rink. "We dont get too excited or too worked up as a team," Koe said. "Were pretty calm. Obviously the experience of being to one (world championship) will help for sure, especially when youre coming to a foreign country where everything is different. "At least we can rely on the experience once we actually get on the ice of knowing weve been to the worlds and we did well last time." Its the first World Curling Federation world championship event to be staged in China. The venue was used for volleyball competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The Chinese team skipped by Rui Liu is coming off a fourth-place result at the Sochi Games. Scotlands Ewan MacDonald has three world titles to his name although this is his first appearance as skip. Thomas Ulsrud, who won Olympic silver at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, will skip the Norwegian team. "We know most of these teams and theyre all pretty good," Koe said. "Not too many easy games out there." Swedens Niklas Edin is not back to defend the title he won last year in Victoria. Instead, Oskar Eriksson will skip the Swedish entry. Round-robin play will continue through Thursday evening and tiebreakers will be used if needed to determine the top four teams. The Page playoff system will be used ahead of the medal games on April 6. Koe said the ice conditions in the venue will be a huge factor. "They do have some great icemakers but its really warm here," he said. "Its supposedly pushing 30 (degrees Celsius) here and they had an event in the facility early in the year and there was a lot of problems. But I think theyve brought in some dehumidifiers and air conditioning to cool the arena down. "Thats the big worry here. If the ice is good, I for sure like our chances. Bad ice would be a bit of an equalizer I think. But when you have some of the best icemakers in the world, Im sure theyll get it figured out." Canada has won gold three of the last four years at this event. Stoughton was victorious in 2011 at Regina and Howard won at Basel, Switzerland in 2012. The Canadians are scheduled to open against Denmarks Rasmus Stjerne on Saturday. "You have four very solid, confident, resolved individuals (who are) mentally tough," said Peckham. "I think they realize the significance and the importance of this world championship to themselves individually and as a collective, and then of course representing this curling nation of Canada. "So I think theyve gone out the door with their game face on." The world championship will return to Canada next year as Halifax plays host. Cheap Wisconsin Jerseys Free Shipping .com) - Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard notched a win, while second-seeded two-time champion Ana Ivanovic, third- seeded Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth seed Sabine Lisicki all exited the draw at the Generali Ladies Linz tennis event. Cheap Wisconsin Jerseys Authentic . 1 Caroline Wozniacki and three-time champion Serena Williams cruised into the semifinals, while last years runner-up Vera Zvonareva succumbed to Aussie Samantha Stosur in Thursdays womens quarterfinal action at the U. http://www.cheapwisconsinjerseys.com/?tag=wisconsin-john-clay-college-jersey. Cory Batey and Brandon Vandenburg were each convicted on four charges of aggravated rape, one of attempted aggravated rape and two for aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also found guilty of tampering with evidence as well as an unlawful photography charge. Stitched Wisconsin Jerseys . The Jays responded to the three-spot Detroit placed on Casey Janssen the evening before with an attack on the Tigers Achilles Heel, its bullpen, tying the game in the ninth and winning the game in the 10th. The result absolved Marcus Stroman, brilliant once again, of a tough luck loss while at the same time robbing Max Scherzer, brilliant once again, of a deserved win. Gabe Carimi College Jersey .C. -- The Edmonton Oilers used a late-power-play goal to get a hard-fought road victory.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Cam Talbot flustered the Flyers again and Martin St. Louis reached a milestone, as the New York Rangers went to Philadelphia in the opener of a home-and-home set and left with a 3-0 victory. Talbot hadnt played since making 31 saves in a 2-0 triumph over the Flyers on Nov. 19 at Madison Square Garden and on Friday turned aside all 26 shots he faced to give the Rangers a third win in their last four tries. All three of those wins have come via shutout, as Henrik Lundqvist stopped 21 shots in 5-0 win over Montreal five days ago. St. Louis notched a goal and an assist to reach 1,000 career points. Dan Boyle and Rick Nash also scored for the Rangers, while Derek Stepan assisted on all three goals. Steve Mason made 21 saves for the Flyers, who have lost three in a row and are 1-6-1 in their last eight. Were definitely in a rut here, said Mason. There is still a lot of time to make up room, but you cant let this keep sliding like this. Its unacceptable, its embarrassing and we have to get going on a roll here. The teams will meet again Saturday afternoon in New York. Talbot stopped all eight shots he faced in the first period and the Rangers cashed in on a power play just over six minutes into the contest to grab a 1-0 lead. Stepan kept the puck alive in the Philadelphia zone at the right point and swept a pass to the left point for Boyle, who rifled a shot past a screened Mason. St. Louis picked up an assist on the first goal, then scored his ninth of the season at 4:14 of the second to reach the milestone. Stepan again factored into the goal with a shot from the right circle that Mason stopped. Thee rebound, though, caromed into the low slot for an unchecked St.dddddddddddd Louis, who snapped it home. Its always great when you achieve something, but I dont think it crosses your mind when you try and play in this league, said St. Louis about reaching 1,000 points. To get a thousand, its a great accomplishment. Im not going to hide my feelings, Im proud of that. To do it on a win, do it on a goal, I think it makes it special and the boys really played well today. The Rangers added to their lead 5 1/2 minutes into the third period after Chris Kreider was hit with a double-minor for high-sticking. Less than a minute into the penalty kill, Stepan led a 3-on-1 rush and sent a pass from the left wing into the right circle for Nash, who one-timed a shot into the net for his 16th goal of the season. Talbot, after stopping seven shots in the second period, turned aside 11 in the third to complete his fifth career shutout. Most of the shots were from the outside and the guys did a great job of watching out and letting me see pretty much every puck, said Talbot. Game Notes In 16 seasons with the Rangers, Tampa Bay and Calgary, St. Louis has 379 goals and 621 assists ... Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a separated shoulder. The defenseman picked up an assist on the Rangers final goal ... The Rangers have posted three shutouts in a four-game span for the first time since registering three consecutive shutouts from Feb. 4-10, 1973 ... The Flyers were 0-for-6 on the power play, while the Rangers converted once in their six chances with the man-advantage. 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nner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth s
