SOCHI -- After the team photo had been snapped, after the Canadian players had taken off their game sweaters and pulled on their practice jerseys, Sidney Crosby and head coach Mike Babcock skated a few laps around the ice together and held what appeared to be a deep discussion. Cheap Air Max 97 . They looked each other in the eye. They made gestures with their hands. The two leaders were engaged. In fact, near the end of the conversation Babcock skated through a crease, while Crosby toured behind the net as a puck whizzed behind the back of the coachs head. He didnt even notice and kept on talking. “I think everybody has to adjust a little bit and was just making sure Im on the same page as far as what he expects and what he wants,” Crosby explained after Canadas second practice at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. “The offensive part and the skill that we have, I think that will come quicker then some of the adjustments we might make in the defensive zone. Defensive zone coverage was the topic of discussion between the two as they skated. Babcock and his coaching staff had shown the players a video in one of the many meetings the group has had since arriving in Sochi on Monday. Crosby wanted some clarification. “There was a little confusion there,” Babcock said. “We sorted it out. That gives me a chance tomorrow to sort it out with the group. “What weve tried to encourage is … if there is something as a player you dont feel or dont know, we encourage you to talk. The idea is to get everyone comfortable so we can play the game fast. When youre thinking you dont go fast. That was a good part of the process. Obviously, [Crosby] is a guy who is real comfortable and we want that from the captain. We want him to ask questions if there are any issues.” Crosby won a world junior title and steered the Rimouski Oceanic to a Memorial Cup final as a teenager. He was a Stanley Cup champion as a captain before his 22nd birthday and won an Olympic gold medal nine months later. Next chapter Now the 26-year-old Crosby has been asked to take over as captain for Scott Niedermayer, who had the captaincy in Vancouver four years ago, and write the next chapter in Canadian hockey leadership that stretches from the smooth-skating defenceman to Mario Lemieux and all the way back to Phil Esposito and beyond. ``I think youre much more used to things, youre a little wide-eyed that first time,” Crosby said. “The biggest thing I learned from a guy like Scotty is that he didnt really say that much, he just said the right thing at the right time. The way he carried himself and his whole demeanour that he had, his quiet confidence, it was really something that was felt throughout the whole room. ``The other thing here is that weve got a lot of guys who have played together not just the last Olympics but going back a ways, I think theres some trust there. And for the new guys coming in, you try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. Were trying to do that. Thats the strength of Canada, guys always come together pretty quick. Thats instilled in us at an early age. I like that side of things for sure. Niedermayer was 37 when he captained Canada to gold in 2010. He retired a few months later. Mario Lemieux was 36 when he captained Canada to gold in 2002. He retired before the next Olympics. Does age matter when it comes to Olympic hockey leadership? Babcock likes the fact that Crosby will be surrounded by all the returnees from the Vancouver team. “The reality for me is we have 11 guys back from the last time who had success,” he said. “We have a new opportunity and we have to come up with a new identity. Does experience help in winning? Absolutely. Does the Olympics weigh in more than the guy who has won a Stanley Cup, I dont know that? “I know I like guys who have won because theyve been through it and done it right. You dont win unless youve done it right. In the details is whats going to separate. There is a whole bunch of teams with really good players. Someone is going to become a really good team and win the tournament. Thats what were going to try to do. Were going to try to get better each and every day so we can win.” Air Max 97 Outlet Store . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. Air Max 97 Buy . -- Felix Girard scored on the power play in the third period to lift the Baie-Comeau Drakkar past the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday. http://www.airmax97outlet.com/ .cas NHL Play of the Year showdown continues today with a man whos spent most of his career on highlight reels and a goalie actually "reaching back" for a save.Another disappointing loss on the road for Montreal, a last-minute heartbreaker in Philadelphia for Toronto, and an edge-of-your-seat thriller for Vancouver highlighted week 32 of Major League Soccer action for Canadas three teams. There was a time not long ago where the Montreal Impact looked like Supporters Shield contenders - they were leading the Eastern Conference with games in hand and looked to be coasting towards the MLS playoffs. Now, with just four regular season games to play, the wheels have come off for the Impact. They have been overtaken in the Eastern Conference standings and currently sit in fourth place - just three points above the Chicago Fire and one point above the Philadelphia Union. Granted, the Impact have a game in hand on both of those teams, but that game is a midweek fixture in Los Angeles against the two-time defending champion Galaxy, so it is hardly an easy three points. If the Impact are going to make the playoffs in just their second season in MLS, theyll need to do it on home soil. Aside from the trip to LA on October 16, the Impacts remaining games include two at home - next weekend against the New England Revolution and October 19 against the Philadelphia Union - followed by their final league game of the regular season, away to Toronto FC on October 26. They do not want to be in a situation where they need points from the final game of the season in order to make the playoffs, because there is nothing that Toronto would like better than to play spoiler against the Impact. Torontos season has been one filled with disappointment: More upheaval in the front office, more turnover on the roster, more losses piling up and, for the seventh consecutive season, no playoffs for the supporters. Saturdays loss in Philadelphia perfectly summed up TFCs woeful season. They played very well for large stretches of the game with Bright Dikke proving to be a real handful up front, the midfield snapping at Philadelphias heels and the back four looking very composed. Air Max 97 Sale. Although the game was deadlocked at 0-0, when Fabinho was sent off for Philadelphia in the second half, the advantage swung in Torontos favour. They had numerous opportunities to put the game out of reach, but a combination of poor decision-making and poor finishing saw TFC fail to find the back of the net, which set the game up for a dramatic finish. And what a finish it was. Kleberson curled a delicious free kick into the top corner of Joe Bendiks goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to send the fans at PPL Park in Chester, PA delirious. The Union desperately needed the three points to keep the pressure on Montreal and the goal from Kleberson was a thing of beauty. For Toronto FC fans, all they have left to look forward to is the end of the season comings and goings. While the management team is promising to make a splash by signing two high-priced designated players, TFC fans will know better than to hold their breath. In Vancouver, the Whitecaps playoff hopes are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a 2-2 draw at BC Place with the Portland Timbers. Camilo scored both goals for Vancouver - the second has to be a leading contender for goal of the year in MLS, a stunning side scissor-kick to draw Vancouver level - but the Whitecaps must feel like theyve missed their last chance to drag themselves into the playoff picture. Vancouver sits six points adrift of fifth-place Colorado and their remaining fixture list doesnt make for pretty reading. The Whitecaps travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders on Wednesday (TSN2 10pm et/7pm pt), followed by away and home games with Colorado to end the season. Failure to pick up maximum points from all three games will likely mean the end of Vancouvers season. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '