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Asked about the pressure that comes

Started by fu0222, 2015-11-10 07:00

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KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- B.C. Lions head coach Mike Benevides wants his players to embrace the role of being Grey Cup hosts. He told them as much before CFL training camps got going Sunday. "I was pretty honest about it. You know what? Its additional pressure," said Benevides. "Every team across the country is saying the same thing -- we want to win a championship. Im not going to be dishonest and say Well its at home so its no big deal. It is a big deal." The Lions started a string of three straight host teams winning the title in their own backyards with their victory at B.C. Place Stadium in 2011 and will be looking to make it a four-peat for host cities this November. "We want to win it in front of our fans," Benevides continued. "Last time it was here thats exactly what occurred, and thats what we get paid to do. Distraction, focus, motivation -- call it whatever you want. Thats the No. 1 goal." The Lions have not won a playoff game since raising the Grey Cup three years ago, but running back Andrew Harris said he believes they have the horses to get it down in 2014. "The expectation for us every year is to be in the Grey Cup. Obviously theres maybe a little more added pressure, but last time it was here we won and that was a great year for us," said the Winnipeg native. "Were looking to do the same and I definitely think looking around and seeing the guys that we have solid chance to do that." That chance could rest heavily on Travis Lulays surgically repaired shoulder. The Lions quarterback was injured during last seasons 11-7 campaign and returned for their playoff loss before going under the knife. Lulay said Sunday "it remains to be seen" if he will be ready to go when B.C. opens its regular season on June 28. "Im still in a stage where camps going to be a continued progression for me, but it has steady upward progression throughout the off-season," said Lulay. "Im actually really anxious to see how it recovers on a day-to-day basis coming out here." B.C. traded for veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn at the CFL draft as an insurance policy, and while Benevides and Lulay were both adamant the Lions No. 1 quarterback is on schedule, the head coach added its his job to make sure his star gets back to 100 per cent. "All these guys that are elite athletes, theyre champions and MVPs," said Benevides. "You have to make sure you help them in understanding the overall picture. Hes intelligent, he understands it, hes been through this before but theres no doubt that well have various conversations and discuss it back and forth." Added Lulay: "Sometimes you think you can be Superman and overcome some of that stuff. Managing expectations is one of the biggest parts of coming off an injury and thats one of the things Ive learned and you have to learn to deal with that." The Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup as hosts in 2012, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders took the title on the Prairies in 2013. Both teams loaded up through trades and free agency in the off-season leading up to the CFLs marquee event, but the Lions had a quiet winter by comparison. What B.C. does have is a lot of fresh faces at camp both on the field and the sidelines. A number of veteran players were either traded, retired or moved on through free agency, while the club also has new offensive and defensive co-ordinators. Khari Jones has been brought in to kick-start an offence that was criticized for being too predictable, while Mark Washington was promoted to run the defence after six seasons coaching the secondary. "We have a lot of open positions," Benevides said of the competitions for spots at camp. "Were going to have a young team and we have to evaluate and find that talent. "Our football team is going to play fast. Everything we do is fast." Apart from a lot of new blood and fresh schemes, the Lions who have been around awhile believe theyre also wiser as hosts because of what they went through in 2011 after starting that season 0-5. "The biggest thing for us is just coming through adversity and staying on that one track and definitely building as a team," said Harris. "I think we did that in 2011 and we have some components this year to make that happen again. Its being persistent and staying at it. Its a full 18-game season and you never know how it ends." Benevides was the defensive co-ordinator with that championship team and will be looking for his first playoff win as a head coach in a season he hopes will culminate with a victory for the Lions in Vancouver on Nov. 30. "Its a long, long journey. Its a long, long season," he said. "Its about making critical plays at critical times and winning that critical game. "Nobody can tell you how the script is going to be written, but its going to be written and someones going to stand on the podium." Notes: The Lions had a meeting with CFLPA representative Paul McCallum before Sundays first practice, a session the veteran kicker said helped clear the air of any questions players might have with regards to the threat of a strike. The leagues collective bargaining agreement expired on Thursday night. ... The Lions first pre-season game is scheduled for June 13 on the road against the Edmonton Eskimos. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Watch the Senators vs. Penguins live tonight on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt.  The Senators led 2-0 early in the second period, but the Maple Leafs scored six of the games final seven goals to take the tilt in regulation. Toronto winger Phil Kessel capped his fifth career hat trick with the game-winning goal at 14:02 of the third period. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . -- Unselfish offence, tenacious defence. http://www.wholesaleJerseysfc.us.com/ . By the time that happened, it was too late for Iowa State. Daniels scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half, and the Huskies hung on for an 81-76 victory Friday to reach the East Regional final a year after UConn was barred from the NCAA tournament. Wholesale Cheap Jerseys . Winnipeg has performed much better on home ice this season, posting a 16-9-2 record as the host compared to an 11-17-4 road mark. Watch the game live on TSN starting at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Wholesale Jerseys USA . As the season progresses, the gaps are narrowing and the fields are closing in on the leaders. A week ago, there wasnt an obvious challenger in the mens or pairs event.Despite joining the likes of Taylor Hall and Nathan MacKinnon as future no. 1 overall NHL picks to also be selected by a KHL team, Connor McDavids future professional team will be based in North America. "It was pretty cool honestly to get drafted over there, but by no means is that the end goal at all," McDavid said while on TSN 1050 Wednesday. Chosen with the 77th overall pick by the Croatioan club Medvescak Zagreb, the 17-year-old said his focus is strictly on improving in the off-season heading into his NHL draft year. "Im going to look to put on some muscle, get bigger, get faster, get stronger," he said. On a short break after a pro-longed season in which he suited up for Canada at the World Junior Championships and led the Erie Otters to the third round of the OHL playoffs, McDavid is headed to Gary Roberts renowned summer hockey camp, which he will attend for the third consecutive year. "Im well aware of the circumstance that Im going into," McDavid jokingly mentioned when asked if he knew about what he was getting into with Roberts notoriously intense and grueling sessions. Looking ahead to next hockey season, McDavvid admitted to thinking about participating in the 2015 World Junior Championships which will be held in Toronto and Montreal.dddddddddddd After attending a Bruins-Canadiens playoff game at the Bell Centre, McDavid said the experience had him excited as he imagined what it would be like to see all the Habs Jerseys in the building transformed into Canadas red and white. "It would be absolutely unbelievable," he said. "If I am fortunate enough to play again, it would be an absolute dream come true to play on home soil." Asked about the pressure that comes with being a no. 1 overall pick and dealing with the criticism along the lines of what Sidney Crosby has dealt with this season following his post-season struggles and the Penguins disappointing playoff elimination, McDavid said it comes with the territory, but the blame shouldnt be laid solely on the Pittsburgh captain. "He is the guy and people are going to look at him and blame him, but its a team effort and thats the way you have to look at it," McDavid said, noting Crosby still had an "unbelievable year." McDavid: Training with Roberts, World Jr.s cheap nfl Jerseys authentic Jerseys nfl wholesale wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys wholesale Jerseys ' ' '

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