CALGARY -- Although she wasnt pleased with her time, Ottawas

[jokergreen0220]

CALGARY -- Although she wasnt pleased with her time, Ottawas Ivanie Blondin skated well enough to win the womens 5,000 metres at the Canadian Olympic speedskating trials on Friday. Darian Stewart Jersey . "I was really nervous for it," said Blondin, who finished in a time of seven minutes 18.45 seconds to win the race by less than half a second. "Im a little surprised with the time and disappointed. It shouldnt have been that close and I shouldnt have skated probably one of the worst times Ive skated in like two years." Blondin finished ahead of Edmontons Nicole Garrido, who had a time of 7:18.87, and Josie Spence of Kamloops, B.C., at 7:23.24. "I wouldnt say I skated really well, but Im obviously happy that I came out on top today," Blondin said. "I think its kind of a miracle that I did." Blondins result will be good enough to earn her a spot to compete for Canada in the 5,000 metres at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, according to Sean Ireland, Speed Skating Canadas long-track program director. "She would be the first person in that provisional quota spot," Ireland said. Canadas team, which will consist of 10 women and eight men for all disciplines, will be officially announced on Jan. 22. Four years ago Blondin competed at both the short-track and long-track speedskating Olympic trials, but failed to earn a spot to compete at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. "I developed ulcers in my stomach because I was so nervous and stressed out," said Blondin, who finished second in the 3,000 metres on the first day of the Olympic trials last Saturday. "This time around its been a lot better, but its still stressful. "Sometimes I feel like the general public doesnt really realize how much stress you put on your body when you go through these Olympic trials. Its nice to watch and see and everything, but being in it Ive probably got like five grey hairs from this, even though Im 23." Blondin will now take a couple days to relax before heading to Tucson, Arizona to attend a pre-Olympic training camp. "I think itll be nice to get away and relax and just calm down a little bit from these Olympic trials," she said, adding that she doesnt think she will battle as many nerves in Sochi. "Now that the Olympic trials are over and just being at the Games, Ill have a lot less pressure because realistically I dont have anything to lose when Im there." While Blondin believes she did enough to qualify to compete for Canada in three events (5,000 metres, 3,000 metres and womens team pursuit) in Sochi, Torontos Jordan Belchos will have to wait to find out his fate after winning the mens 10,000 metres with a time of 13:24.96 on Friday. Winnipegs Stefan Waples finished second in 13:53.65, while Francois Dery of St. Jean Chrysostome, Que., placed third at 13:58.30. Whether Belchos gets to compete for Canada at the Games depends on what other countries do, said Ireland. "Currently we do not have a quota spot for the Olympics themselves in the 10,000 metres," Ireland said. "We have the first reserve spot, so if another country declines a 10,000 spot, well then theres a chance that we might be able to fill that depending on our own quotas." Belchos said hed rather be in a state of limbo, than not have any chance at all to compete at the Winter Olympics. "Id rather be in this situation than be out," he said. "I dont know what the chances are or anything like that. Im just trying to skate and be prepared if that happens." Thats the right attitude for Belchos to have, Ireland said. "My advice would be to train and prepare knowing that theres a chance," said Ireland, adding that he should know whether another country declines a spot in the 10,000 by mid-January. "Its slim chance at that." Until he finds out his fate, Belchos said that he will continue his usual training regimen. "The next two weeks for me are just about getting away from skating and just training to be an Olympian, but knowing it could not happen," he said. "Im in a position where if it doesnt happen, its almost what I expect. If it does, it would be a pleasant surprise. Its tough to be in such a weird spot." Todd Davis Jersey . Case in point: LeBron James vs. Ben McLemore. James was driving to the rim in the first quarter and McLemore decided to try to take the charge, which was quite admirable and predictably futile. Carlos Henderson Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Peyton-Manning-Broncos-Jerseys/ . Zdeno Chara scored with 13 seconds left in regulation after David Krejci tied it late, lifting the Bruins to a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night in a game that saw Orpik taken from the ice on a stretcher.TORONTO - By Monday morning - hours after an increasingly perilous skid hit five - more than a few members of the wobbling Maple Leafs were on the third floor of the Air Canada Centre, playing some basketball on the practice court of the neighbouring Toronto Raptors. "I think some guys just wanted to go shoot some hoops and loosen up," said captain Dion Phaneuf on a rest day for most of his teammates. The Leafs are doing what they can to loosen up and shake the ills of a losing streak that has them tumbling closer and closer to another late season collapse and early spring exit. In fine position as recently as two weeks ago - second in the Atlantic following a statement win in L.A. - they are now simply clinging to the final wild card position in the East with a grueling test against St. Louis ahead on Tuesday night. "No ones happy with whats gone on," said Phaneuf, "but its reality. We have got to come [Tuesday] prepared and ready to go." Just as the highs of a win streak are exaggerated so too are the lows of a losing slide. Toronto has lost five straight, all close games and all with a series of consistent and untimely trends. First has been the sluggish starts and inability to score the games first goal. The Leafs have a .714 winning percentage this season when they score first, a .289 mark when they dont. Theyve given up that valued first goal in seven straight games, falling behind by two or more in five of the seven (six losses). And while theyve improbably rallied to tie or pull within one in each of the five losses - even leading briefly against Tampa - the uphill climb has ultimately proven too steep to overcome. "The one issue for us, more than anything, is that we seem to have been putting ourselves in the position of clawing back into games," head coach Randy Carlyle observed. "And you wont have success if you continually have to do that." "Weve played from behind too often," Phaneuf concurred. "When we have been coming from behind thats when weve been attacking more than from the start. When you do get down you play with more desperation. We have to find a way to play with that desperation right from the get-go." Not helping matters, though certainly not the singular point of blame, has been the goaltending. His confidence simply sunk at this point, James Reimer has not provided anywhere near the top-tier caliber of goaltending that Jonathan Bernier delivered before his injury, the kind of elite nightly theatrics the defensively-inept Leafs require to win. Consider Berniers 8-2-2 record and .947 save percentage this season when facing 40 shots as reminders of that ability to perform under heavy strain. Reimer, meanwhile, has a disastrous .871 save percentage in five starts in place of Bernier. Nursing the first groin injury of his career, Bernier was on the ice again Monday afternoon, but wasnt sure if hed be available to return against the Blues. "It hurts to see your team lose," he said, "but at the same time its one of those injuries [wwhere] youve got to take time. Brendan Langley Jersey. Dont want to rush and then youre out for another four or five games after." Bernier said his readiness would be determined by the teams medical staff, but said hed know for himself when he was able to make "a split save or that I can make that stretch save and not think about it I guess." Update: Bernier was the projected starter on Tuesday morning. Without him, Carlyle would be faced with difficult question in goal for a tough tilt against the best team in the West. Start Reimer for the sixth consecutive game despite his struggles or hand the net to Drew MacIntyre, the 30-year-old who has yet to start an NHL game. While perhaps difficult to envision Carlyle turning back to Reimer yet again, consider that under similarly challenging circumstance - two sets of back-to-backs in the past week - he went with the struggling former no. 1 each and every time. The tried and tested product, however unstable at the moment, may be more appealing than the unknown. Reimer was pulled for MacIntyre in the teams fifth straight loss on Sunday night. "What happened last game, surely you take that into consideration, but the most important thing is that the individual we choose to represent us at that position tomorrow night we feel confident he can get the job done," said Carlyle. Beyond goaltending are the series of game-changing mistakes and breakdowns that have often left Reimer on an island all his own, left to sink or swim in an unforgiving crease. Bernier bailed out those mistakes more often than not. Reimer has not. There was Troy Brouwer left all by his lonesome in the slot during the first loss in Washington. There were two Gustav Nyquist breakaway goals in Detroit. It was three times open for Steven Stamkos in Toronto. There was the Phil Kessel neutral zone giveaway which sprung Max Pacioretty against Montreal, a Rene Bourque breakaway coming shortly after. And most recently, a bad line change and pinch that sparked an odd-man rush goal from Damien Brunner and then later another breakaway, this time from Patrik Elias. "What we have to do is we have to limit our mistakes," said Carlyle. "Were making too many of them that are costing us in the hockey games." Additionally, the Leafs have been unable to find much offence beyond their top line. Without the likes of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, and Tyler Bozak scoring two or three a night, theyve simply not produced enough to overshadow other faults as was often the case in victories earlier this season. "Theres still lots of hockey to be played," Phaneuf said. "Theres lots of points that are available for us. We obviously are not happy about what has happened, but whats happened has happened. Theres no going back to yesterday or three days ago or a week ago. Right now our focus is on St. Louis and coming out and playing the way that we can. "Weve slid far enough. Weve got to grab some traction here and regroup with a big win." Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap Authentic Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Cheap Jerseys Throwback Wholesale Jerseys 2018 ' ' '