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| OTTAWA -- Hayley Wickenheiser doesnt put much stock in the flag-bearers curse. Cody Ceci Senators Jersey Authentic . The womens hockey star, who will carry the Maple Leaf into the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics, says the idea that she and her teammates could be under any more pressure is absurd. After all, they play a sport that many in Canada consider religion. So any sort of cosmic jinx pales in comparison to the weight of an entire countrys expectations for the womens team to win a fourth straight gold medal in Sochi. "I think theres just too much emphasis to put on that," Wickenheiser said Thursday via conference call from Austria. "The pressure that we feel is the pressure that always comes with playing hockey as a Canadian hockey player, whether youre male or female. "The country expects a gold medal. Whether I carry the flag or not, Im pretty sure our team doesnt feel any extra added incentive that theres more pressure to perform, because we already feel that already." Not all athletes see it that way. Diver Alexandre Despatie felt it would be a distraction and said hed decline any offer to carry the flag at the 2012 London Games. Kayaker Adam van Koeverden carried the flag at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and finished a disappointing eighth in the 1,000 metres -- although he did win a silver medal in the 500. Moguls skier Jean-Luc Brassard blamed his disappointing performance at the 1998 Nagano Olympics on being the flag-bearer a day earlier. Wickenheiser and her teammates hope the same thing doesnt happen to them. Hockey Canada says the women will march in the Feb. 7 opening ceremonies despite playing their first game the following night versus Switzerland. Brassard, the assistant chef de mission for the Sochi team, was on the panel that selected Wickenheiser along with chef de mission Steve Podborski, assistant chef France St. Louis and one athlete representative. Hockey Canada nominated her for the honour. "Throughout her successful career, this Canadian athlete has demonstrated true Canadian grit, patriotism and sportsmanship," said Podborski, adding that Wickenheiser will lead the Canadian team with "the utmost pride and class." Wickenheiser is embracing the opportunity to put her sport centre stage. "What I think it does is it shines a very positive light on the sport of womens hockey and just on our sport in general for the world to see," said the 35-year-old forward. "Thats a great responsibility and expectation that every nation in the world has to carry in and I think should really embrace." The Shaunavon, Sask., native, who is at a pre-Olympic camp in Austria and wasnt able to attend the formal announcement Thursday on Parliament Hill, will be making her fifth Winter Olympic appearance. But for the first time since 2006, she wont be Canadas captain. Caroline Ouellette has been handed that job, while Wickenheiser will be an alternate. But she remains Canadas biggest womens hockey star and a pioneer of the game. She and teammate Jayna Hefford will be the only players in the 2014 womens hockey tournament who have played in every Olympic Games since female hockey made its debut in 1998. Her stewardship extends beyond hockey as a spokesperson for Right To Play, Clean Air Champions, KidsSport, Spread The Net, Plan Canadas Because I Am A Girl and Classroom Champions. Wickenheiser read the athletes oath in the opening ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and she is running for election to the International Olympic Committees athletes commission in Sochi. Veteran speedskater Clara Hughes carried the flag at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics while womens hockey player Danielle Goyette was the flag-bearer at the 2006 Games in Turin. "I remember we were joking, like Dont trip and fall when you come in," Wickenheiser said of her conversation with Goyette before the opening ceremonies eight years ago. "Thats sort of the same thing we were talking about today. Geez, Id better watch some YouTube videos and figure out how the athletes have done this before." --- Colin White Senators Jersey . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots. Erik Karlsson Senators Jersey . Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season, the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in. http://www.hockeysenatorsauthority.com/daniel-alfredsson-senators-jersey-c-16/ . He made another correct read. The Browns, who have been shuttling quarterbacks on and off the field all season, finally got some good news on that front: Campbells ribs are only bruised.Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart believes Ben Stokes could open the batting alongside Jason Roy for their World T20 game with Afghanistan if Alex Hales is ruled out through injury. Hales and Roy have struck up a positive partnership at the top of the order but Nottinghamshires Hales is struggling with a back problem that will be assessed on Wednesday morning ahead of the game, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 9am.James Vince appears likely to come in to replace him but former England captain Stewart is keen to see Stokes and Roy opening the batting in Delhi. It will be a huge blow, Jason Roy and Alex Hales are two very destructive players and they have created a very good opening partnership, Stewart told Sky Sports News HQ.Lets hope he is 100 per cent fit and the two of them can go out and open the batting and repeat what they did the other day against South Africa.You want to still take the attacking options and I wouldnt be against pushing Ben Stokes up the top of the order if Alex Hales isnt fit. Eoin Morgan says England will leave their decision over playing a third spinner against Afghanistan on Wednesday until the last minute. Theres James Vince there in reserve but if Ben Stokes bats for 10 or 12 overs, England will win the game, I promise you that.He doesnt open too often, perhaps just one or two occasions for Durham, but I would gamble and say to Ben go up there, show how good you are, and bat with Jason Roy.Stewart is well aware of Roys abilities, having regularly seen him oppening the batting for Surrey, and he feels he has the ability to swing a game in his teams favour in the same way Stokes can. Curtis Lazar Senators Jersey Authentic. He is a destructive player. If you speak to bowlers, he is one of the last batsmen they would want to bowl to, Stewart said of Roy.He destroyed Dale Steyn in that opening over [against South Africa], to really set the tone for England to go on and win that game.Joe Root took the plaudits and rightly so but Jason Roy really took the attack to the opposition, he put them on the backfoot, to allow England to bring that run-rate down. Surrey Director of Cricket Stewart would like to see Stokes and Jason Roy bat together at the top of the order Just like Stokes, if Roy bats 10 overs in a 20-over game, that side will win more times than not.He [Roy] just needs to bat a little longer now and get 75 or even a hundred.As for Englands chances of winning the tournament, Stewart is convinced they can beat anyone on their day and could yet cause an upset.I said before the tournament started, England wont be one of the favourites but they are a very dangerous side, he added.We saw that against South Africa and although we didnt see it [in their opening defeat] against West Indies, if they are on their A game, they can beat anyone. Morgan unsure on third spinner Eoin Morgan will make late call on how many spinners will face Afghanistan I include West Indies and India in that, who are probably the two favourites, although we must not discount New Zealand.If England can repeat what they did with the bat against South Africa, they then need to be just a little bit smarter with the ball and execute their variations a little better.They can go all the way but they have to be on their A game.Watch England v Afghanistan in the World T20 on Wednesday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 9am. Also See: Moeen: Spin could be crucial Root inspires record chase Morgan unsure on third spinner Cricket video Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' ' |
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