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CALGARY -- One of the most recognizable faces on the Canadian womens hockey team will not play in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Defenceman Tessa Bonhomme was among three players released from the team Tuesday morning along with defenceman Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man., and Winnipeg forward Jenelle Kohanchuk. Bonhomme was a veteran of the womens team that won Olympic gold in 2010 in Vancouver. "I dont think it matters who you are, youre always surprised when a cut is made," Bonhomme said. "Ive never counted my chickens before they were hatched and I always knew I would have to earn my spot no matter what. "At the beginning of the year, I felt great, like I was playing the way I should and then I kind of ran into a little bit of health issues and didnt really bounce back the way I wanted to." Head coach Dan Church reduced his roster to 24 players as Canada prepares for the chance to defend gold in February. One more defencemen and two more forwards will be released before the 21-player Olympic roster is announced in late December. Bonhomme raised her profile and that of womens hockey with appearances on "Wipeout Canada" and CBCs "Battle of the Blades" post-2010. Bonhomme has also done television work for Leafs TV in Toronto. The 28-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., represented Canada in four world championships in addition to the Olympics. She won three gold and two silver in those tournaments. "I tried this afternoon to try to sit down and realize what Id worked so hard for the past three years isnt going to happen," Bonhomme said. "Im OK with that. Im an adult and this is what I signed up for, an opportunity to try out. "Im thankful Dan and Hockey Canada gave me the opportunity to come out here and try and prove what I got. Unfortunately it wasnt enough." Bonhomme, Lacquette and Kohanchuk had just played in the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., where Canada beat Finland 6-3 in Saturdays final. Kohanchuk scored twice in the championship game. "We didnt foresee they were going to be able to move themselves up enough to overtake who was ahead of them on the depth chart at this point," Church said. "It didnt matter how many weeks were still (to go), we didnt see that happening based on the body of work to date." Lacquette, 21, and Kohanchuk, 23, were rookies on the national team. Between them, theyve played 15 international games since the 27 players arrived in Calgary in August. Bonhomme appeared in her 100th international game during the Four Nations. Offensively skilled and quick on her skates, Bonhomme has 10 goals and 41 assists for Canada, but didnt have any points in Lake Placid. She sat out some games this fall because of a crushed nerve she suffered in an Oct. 1 game, as well as a bout of shingles. "Those are by no means excuses," Bonhomme said. "I would never rely on one of those for the reason I was playing bad. Maybe I just didnt perform up to the standard or up to par that they wanted and they decided to release me at the first chance they got. "Ive trusted the coaching staff from the get-go and I trust that they made the right decision. I have no doubt in my mind this team will be successful." Bonhomme was one of 13 veterans from 2010 invited to try out for the Olympic team again, but she was beaten out of her job by younger defenders. Lauriane Rougeau, Laura Fortino, Courtney Birchard and Tara Watchorn are newcomers to Canadas blue-line since 2010. Jocelyne Larocque, who was released from the 2010 team, and 2010 vets Catherine Ward and Meaghan Mikkelson are the experienced defencemen remaining. "In looking at the number of defencemen we have, it comes down to a numbers game and who is ahead of whom at this point in the season," Church said. "We have a lot of talented young players playing really well right now. "At this point, we have seven defencemen here who have been a little bit more consistent in their level of competition and thats why theyre still here." The Canadian women often say the Olympic Games is their Stanley Cup. That makes it difficult to tell them they wont be going, said Church. "While its a real tough day for coaches, its the toughest day for players," Church said. "They were all emotional in their own way, but they all handled it very dignified. It was a tough day all around. "Tessa was a true professional. She just thanked us and that was pretty much it." Bonhomme intends to return to Toronto, re-join the Toronto Furies of the Canadian Womens Hockey League and pursue a masters degree in speech pathology. She was the first female hockey player on "Battle of the Blades" which pairs hockey players with figure skaters. Bonhomme and David Pelletier were crowned the winners. "Maybe Ill go online and check out some new reality TV shows," Bonhomme said. "Theres got to be a few shows I can apply for and hopefully get on." Meghan Agosta-Marciano, Rebecca Johnston, Jennifer Wakefield, Gillian Apps, Caroline Ouellette, Melanie Daoust, Jayna Hefford, Bailey Bram, Brianne Jenner, Haley Irwin, Hayley Wickenheiser, Natalie Spooner, Vicki Bendus and Marie-Philip Poulin are the remaining forwards after the release of Kohanchuk. "Jenelle had played very well from the start of the season until now. We just didnt see that she was going to be able to move up enough to make our final roster," Church said. "Shes a hard-working player and a real good person, so it was hard to let her go, just as it was the other two players. "Brigette is a talented defender and I think theres potential for her down the road if she matures and becomes a more well-rounded athlete." Shannon Szabados, Charline Labonte and Genevieve Lacasse will be Canadas goaltenders in Sochi. Church informed Bonhomme, Kohanchuk and Lacquette of his decision prior to the teams departure for Grande Prairie, Alta., on Tuesday. The Canadian women resume their schedule of games against Alberta Midget Hockey League teams there Wednesday. Canada has played 27 games against mens teams in the AMHL and international womens teams since the players centralized in Calgary in August. Canada and the U.S. women will meet again Dec. 12 in Calgary, followed by their exhibition games in Grand Forks, N.D., on Dec. 20, St. Paul, Minn., on Dec. 28 and Toronto on Dec. 30. Javon Hargrave Jersey . -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are tightening the race for second place in the Atlantic Division. Justin Hunter Jersey . For Bergevin, the best pick is the 30th — which traditionally goes to the Stanley Cup winner. "Thats our goal. http://www.officialpittsburghsteelersfootball.com/authentic-l.c.-greenwood-jersey-womens . The same cant be said of last Saturdays 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium against a very weakened New York Red Bulls side and one which had three stalwarts in Henry, Cahill and Olave back home in Harrison, NJ. Arthur Moats Jersey . LaQuinton Ross scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting his first four 3-pointers, to send No. Vance McDonald Jersey . Of course that doesnt mean hes ignoring it. Thats actually rather impossible given the behind-the-scenes access to the Toronto Maple Leafs the network is getting. DUBLIN, Ireland -- Irishman Conor McGregor promised his countrymen a first-round finish of fellow featherweight Diego Brandao, and he made good on that commitment. McGregor outclassed the Brazilian slugger and scored a TKO win at the 4:05 mark of the headlining matchup of "UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao" on Saturday. McGregor was the quicker fighter from the start, using flashy kicks to the head and body to stifle his opponents advances, but it was hands that ultimately sealed the deal. After Brandao tried unsuccessfully to bring the action to the canvas, McGregor unleashed a left hand that sent his opponent to the floor, and he followed to the ground with more strikes with 55 seconds left in the first round. Afterward, McGregor said he would sip fine whiskey with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta and convince him to return to Dublin with a soccer stadium as the venue. "I said I was going to put him away in the first round, and I put him away in the first round," McGregor said. "Theres not a man alive who can come on this soil and beat me. "Im going to go backstage with Mr. Lorenzo Fertitta, have a little whiskey, and talk about being in a stadium." In the nights co-feature, Icelandic welterweight Gunnar Nelson (13-0-1) kept his undefeated professional record intact with an impressive second-round finish of Zak Cummings (17-4). A crisp right hand landed flush several times on the feet before he grabbed Cummings head and drug him to the floor in the second round. Once there, Nelson showed off his vaunted grappling skills, spinning perfectly to his opponents back and using punches to soften up Cummings defence before locking in a rear-naked choke. Nelson didnt take long once he got the hold, and Cummings was forced to tap with 12 seconds left in the round. "This was a tough fight," Nelson admitted after the win. "Zak is a very tough opponent. He is strong everywhere and he knows what he is doing. The atmosphere out there was something else. "I have never felt like that in the octagon. The crowd was so loud andd so intense.dddddddddddd" McGregor and Nelson were awarded $50,000 each for the evenings two "Performance of the. Night" bonuses. In a key flyweight matchup, Ian McCalls speed and game-planning proved superior to Brad Pickett, as "Uncle Creepy" picked up a clearcut decision win over "One Punch." McCall was the quicker fighter from the start, and he darted in and out of range to avoid Picketts preferred brawling style. While Pickett did land the occasional big right hand, it was McCall who was generally quicker on the trigger, using a pinpoint jab and quick kicks to the body to rack up points. At the end of 15 minutes, McCall was awarded a decision win with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. McCall admitted he was a little disappointed in his performance but happy with the result and now hopes for a third fight with current UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. "I was a little off -- I wasnt aggressive enough," McCall said. "But it was an intelligent fight, I think. I know Brad thinks I dont respect him as a fighter, but I really do. Hes a strong guy -- hes fought a lot of people. Now, there is unfinished business with Demetrious Johnson. He has something that is mine." In the nights first main-card matchup, Northern Irelands Norman Parke (20-2-1) earned a one-sided TKO victory over Japanese lightweight Naoyuki Kotani (33-11-7). Parke shut down his opponents takedown attempts and punished him with strikes on the feet from the start. In the second, Parke threw his opponent to the floor and looked to take the back and lock in a rear-naked choke. When Kotani defended the move, Parke simply settled for blasting away with big punches and elbows until referee Marc Goddard put a stop to the drubbing at the 3:41 mark of the frame. "I feel great," Parke said after the win. "Fighting in front of a home crowd is so special. It was just unbelievable. Even the weigh-ins last night were unbelievable with thousands of people making so much noise. It was great for me to be a part of it." 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