Off Topic » No. 1 since he handed Alberta their

KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Its crunch time on Thursday for two of the top teams at the Canadian mens curling championships as they fight for the right to play in the one vs. two game on Friday. Should B.C.s John Morris win, he would be guaranteed a top-two finish, most likely No. 1 since he handed Alberta their only loss. That victory gave both teams 8-1 records, with Morris getting an edge because his rink won the head-to-head matchup. "We want that one-two game," he said. "If we win tomorrow morning were in the one-two game." Should Manitobas Jeff Stoughton win, he would be in control and need only beat Ontario in the evening draw to ensure a top-two finish. He was just as anxious Wednesday after a win left Manitoba at 7-2. "We play B.C. which is a huge game for us," he said. "We play them in the morning and that could mean getting into the one-two game which is very important." Stoughton looked more in control and said he felt that way as well. Manitoba started with four wins then lost games to Alberta and Quebec but has bounced back. Alberta continued its roll with a 10-5 win over Ontarios Greg Balsdon in Wednesdays evening draw. Kevin Koe and Alberta have only Prince Edward island (3-6) and Quebec (4-4) standing in their way of a guaranteed top-two finish. The late draw had meaning for the teams jockeying for fourth place and a shot at making the final through the 3-4 game. "This was a big bounce-back game," said Saskatchewans Steve Laycock, after beating Prince Edward Island 8-5 to improve to 5-3, good enough for fourth spot. "We had a couple of tough ones in a row against Alberta and Manitoba, which we knew they would be . . . Heading into the final couple of days we know we control our own destiny now." They play Ontario and B.C. on Thursday. Ontario fell to 4-4 with the loss to Alberta. "Tomorrows a big one," said Laycock. Earlier, Morris and B.C. scored a big five in the third end and coasted to an 8-3 win in eight over Ontario. Manitobas Stoughton continued to keep the leaders in sight with a 7-4 win over Laycock. Stoughton and third John Mead looked a lot more in control, although they also benefited from Laycocks mistakes. "We got a great deuce in the first end and then it was pretty mistake free," he said. "A lot of great shots made, you have to do that, and it felt pretty good all around for all of our guys." Stoughton also faces Balsdon Thursday and the Brier rookie from Toronto wasnt giving up hope. "Weve got a tough day tomorrow with Saskatchewan and Manitoba but if we can win our last three games, 7-4 . . . should be okay for a tiebreaker anyway." Morris and B.C. are clicking even more than they did at the Olympic trials, where they lost the final to Brad Jacobs. Jim Cotter, who throws fourth stones for B.C., has gained a lot of confidence and it shows, agrees Stoughton. "I think Johns just brought so much confidence to that team. Hes made them believe that theyre a great team, which they obviously are." Morris was ranked as the top third (based on the stones he throws), Cotter the top skip and Rick Sawatsky the top lead in cumulative percentages after the first two draws on Wednesday. Only Manitoba second Mark Nichols stopped it from being a B.C. sweep. Also, Quebecs Jean-Michel Menard still has hope after improving to 4-4 with an 8-3 win over winless Nova Scotias Jamie Murphy. On the outside looking in, New Brunswicks James Grattan sits at 4-5 after beating the Territories Jamie Koe 8-3, leaving Koe at 3-6. Cheap Air Jordan Authentic .com) - Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has been selected as the NHLs Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Friday. Cheap Air Jordan China . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. http://www.airjordanscheaponline.us/.com) - Former FBI director Robert Mueller said his investigation found no evidence that the NFL saw the elevator video of Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee before the tape was released in September. Cheap Air Jordan Shoes . -- Jake Peavy arrived at Bostons spring training complex on Monday with a large white bandage covering his left index finger, the result of a weekend accident. Cheap Air Jordan Retro .The result meant Juventus will spend the winter break three points clear of Roma after the league leader beat Cagliari 3-1 on Thursday.Milan remained seventh ahead of the rest of the weekends fixtures, but was provisionally two points behind third-place Napoli in their duel for the final Champions League spot.GLENDALE, Ariz. - New team name, new building name, same ownership drama for the Arizona Coyotes.Only nothing regarding new majority ownership of the team, as indicated in previous reports, was announced before Thursday nights season opener.NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, speaking before Arizona hosted Winnipeg, said the Coyotes franchise is doing well. Then he fielded questions from reporters about a potential new investor, Philadelphia hedge fund manager Andrew Barroway, at Gila River Arena.Bettman confirmed that current Coyotes owners George Gosbee and Anthony LeBlanc and their partners have received an unsolicited expression of interest in joining the IceArizona ownership group.Its been all good. I think the vital signs are terrific and everything is headed in the right direction, Bettman said. Nothing has been finalized. Its conceivable nothing will be finalized. Its possible something will get finalized. But what it means is the franchise is headed in such a direction that there are people with substantial resources who want to be a part of this and want to bring additional assets and support to the franchise.Bettman added that any speculation about what the new ownership stake would mean as far as relocation of the Coyotes is unfounded.Its off the mark, he said. If this comes to fruition, thats great news. Even if it doesnt, the fact that the interest is there is just a testament to how much progress the franchise has made.Any transaction is subject to league approval.IceArizona wasnt looking for more investors and the league didnt expect any further activity, Bettman said, while not confirming or denying that Barroway is the investor who expressed interest.The Coyotes were in danger of leaving Arizona in 2009 when former owner Jerry Moyes took the team into bankruptcy in an attempt to sell it. But the NHL and the city of Glendale, where the Coyotes play, fought the sale in court and the league bought the team and ran it until last year.After years of potential owners backing out and much speculation from one season to the next about whetther the Coyotes would continue to play in the Valley of the Sun, IceArizona completed its purchase after reaching a deal on a lease agreement for what was then Jobing.ddddddddddddcom Arena that was approved by the Glendale City Council by a 4-3 vote.Taking over a situation like they took over, it isnt like turning on a light switch. It takes time to build it the right way, Bettman said. It could be losses, but it could also be viewed as the initial investment to get things right.The New York Post reported last week that the Coyotes owners lost $24 million in the first season of operation alone. IceArizona has a five-year out clause from the lease should losses continue to mount.The lease was signed with the expectation that the league would be here for the long haul, Bettman said. Based on everything Ive been told ... I would be surprised if we find ourselves in that situation.Bettman said there is no reason for fans to be skeptical or cynical with regard to any new ownership transaction, and no reason the current lease deal wouldnt remain in place even with new majority owners.At this point, I dont understand the exasperation (from Coyotes fans and critics), Bettman said. Everything that weve told you for the last four years has come to fruition just the way we told you it would. I kept saying we were committed to being here ... the teams here. We identified new owners. Theyre here. Theyre improving the operation of the club. Theyre relating to the community. Theyre running this building. All the things we promised you, theyve happened.Before this season, the team changed its name from Phoenix Coyotes to Arizona Coyotes to make a stronger connection to all fans in the state.NOTES: Bettman said there is plenty of interest in NHL expansion, but the league isnt currently looking into it. ... The Phoenix area could get an NHL All-Star game in the near future. I dont have a date, but we owe you a game, Bettman said. ... The league will play an outdoor game at some point in Winnipeg, Bettman said, and only a date for that is needed. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '