Neues bei Dark Orbit » "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through,

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Canada has room for two more skaters at the IIHF World Championship, but wont expand the team unless a forward gets injured. Steve Yzerman intends to stay at a dozen forwards, eight defencemen and three goaltenders following Saturdays arrival of defenceman Dan Hamhuis from Vancouver. "At 12 and eight, we really have no plans of adding a forward," Hockey Canadas executive director of the national mens team said at the Globe Arena. "If we got an injury, maybe add a forward, but were comfortable with the group we have." Players have begun flowing into the world championship in Stockholm and Helsinki as first-round playoff series conclude in the NHL. Each country can carry 22 skaters and three goaltenders in the tournament, but is allowed to dress 20 skaters and two goalies per game. Canucks forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin and defenceman Alex Edler were expected to join Sweden on Saturday. Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec said in Montreal hell play for the Czech Republic, but wont arrive in time for Sundays game against Canada. Hamhuis will probably be Canadas only late pickup. The 30-year-old from Smithers, B.C., landed too late to skate with his Canadian teammates Saturday afternoon. Minus a 13th forward, Canadian head coach Lindy Ruff can insert the defenceman into the lineup Sunday without having to scratch another defender. "He can be in the lineup tomorrow for sure," Ruff said. "It just depends on how much we want to play him." The top four teams in each group of eight advance to quarter-finals. Canada (4-0-1) was second in the Stockholm pool with 13 points behind unbeaten Switzerland with 14 points. The Swiss booked their ticket to Thursdays quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Denmark. Sweden was third with 12 points following a 2-0 win over Slovenia. The Czech Republic (2-2-1) dropped to fifth after Norway beat Belarus 3-1 on Saturday. Finland topped the Helsinki pool with 14 points followed by the United States with 12, Russia at nine and Slovakia with seven. Mike Smith rotates back into Canadas net Sunday for his third start of the tournament after a win and a shootout loss. The Canadians expect to see Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavalec in the Czech net. Eighteen of the Canadian players have an NHL teammate on the Czech team. The world bronze medallists the last two years lost to the Swedes and the Swiss and needed a shootout to get by Denmark in the preliminary round. "Obviously with the talent theyve had, theyve probably played a little bit under par," Ruff said. "I think this is a big game for them and I think theyre going to treat it that way." Yzerman, who arrived in Stockholm two days ago, heads the management group that will choose Canadas coaches and players for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Tampa Bay Lightning general manager had the same role for the 2010 mens team that won gold in Vancouver. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said following a meeting with the International ice Hockey Federation in Stockholm that the league is proceeding on the assumption its players will participate in a fifth Winter Games. Yzerman is operating on that assumption as well. "Our backup plan is well come up with a backup plan if the NHL doesnt go," he said. "Weve started from Day 1 with the approach it will eventually get done and the NHL players will be there." He drew players for Canadas 2013 world championship lineup from non-playoff NHL teams. The lockout-shortened season ended three weeks later than usual. Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal is Canadas lone 2010 Olympic player in this world championship. There are legitimate 2014 candidates here, particularly at forward. Lightning forward Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers, Jordan Eberle of the Edmonton Oilers, Ladd and Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche have stood out on the wide, international ice that Canada must contend with in Sochi. "Its an opportunity, particularly with a lot of the younger players that havent been in the NHL very long or havent been involved in the previous Olympic program, for us to really get to know them as players, where they potentially fit and are they ready for the Olympics?" Yzerman said. "Are they ready to unseat some of the veteran guys? The more opportunity we get to watch them and spend time with them, it just helps with the evaluation process." Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes and Devan Dubnyk of the Oilers have both been solid in Canadas net. A Canadian goaltender has yet to stake a claim on frontrunner for the Olympic teams starting job. "Is there a clear-cut No. 1 goaltender right now? No, but theres certainly a lot of candidates for that," Yzerman said. "We have an interesting group of forwards, a lot of depth at forwards. As this shortened season progressed, some of the young defencemen played very well and you have to take (them) into consideration. "Things will work their way out through the playoffs this year and the first half of next year as well. New names come into the mix a little bit two years ago you wouldnt have really thought about." Yzermans national team group includes St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong, Detroit GM Ken Holland, Oiler president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe and Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson and vice-president of hockey operations Brad Pascall. Boston GM Peter Chiarelli is an advisor. swell Bouteille Isotherme . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. swell Bouteille dEau . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. http://www.swellbouteille.fr/ .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. swell Gourde . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Bouteille swell La Baie . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Indias Ankur Dhama finished second in his Heat but could not qualify for the finals of the 1500m T11 Athletics event at the Rio Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.Ankur managed a timing of 4:37.61 in Heat 1, behind Turkeys Semih Deniz (4:11.75) annd ahead of third placed Oscar Siquiej Raxon (4:57.dddddddddddd2).The other three athletes in the Heat were disqualified. ' ' '