TORONTO -- Ryan Nelsen is left to improvise once more. A week ago, the rookie Toronto FC head coach welcomed Argentine Maximiliano Urruti to the club. The long-coveted youngster and his fellow countryman, Matias Laba, were to spend the rest of this disappointing season playing together with other newcomers expected to be key members of the Reds of the future, offering Nelsen and supporters a glimpse of a side poised to take a run at respectability. But with Laba now out of the line-up for up to six weeks after breaking his big toe in a 2-0 loss in Columbus last Saturday, Nelsens plan to finally see his core group in action is also on the shelf. "Whether youre at the top of league or the bottom of the league, these things happen," a philosophical Nelsen said Friday before the Reds flew to Washington and a date with D.C. United on Saturday night. "Its just life." So, instead of testing the chemistry between Laba, 21, and Urruti, 22, Nelsen said he will use the injury to give others an opportunity to audition for a more regular role in the side. "Weve got to the stage now where well be putting people into the firing line," Nelsen said. "Theyve got to play well or well change the team and see what other guys can do." Jeremy Hall, 24, is expected to be the first to get the opportunity to fill Labas shoes in the defensive midfield position. its a spot he patrolled regularly earlier in the season, having made 18 starts in 2013. "Its a tough loss for the team but at the same time guys are going to have to step up and show their worth to the coach and prove that they can still contribute to the team," said Hall, who has one goal in 22 appearances after moving from defender to midfield. "Im comfortable in there, so Im just going to have to do what Ive been doing at the beginning of the season and hopefully I can continue to do well." Toronto (4-12-8) goes into D.C. having lost two straight matches, which came after the club posted its first two-game win streak in more than a year. The Reds won 2-1 in Washington on June 15. While very little has gone right in 2013 for D.C. (3-17-4), the leagues worst team has been given a spark by Luis Silva, 24. The California-born midfielder has scored three goals and added an assist in four appearances for United since being traded from Toronto for allocation money on July 9. "Its sad for us that hes not going to be on our team this weekend, but hes a good player, hes done well for D.C. and were going to have to keep an eye on him," Hall said of Silva, who leads his new club in scoring. "Im sure Luis is going to want to have a good one against us." Same goes for Toronto native and former Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario. The 35-year-old has battled injuries this season but the veteran has always been a handful for the Reds when they travel to D.C. He has six goals in three matches between the teams at RFK Stadium since he left Toronto early in the 2011 season, including a hat trick in his first match against his former side. Saturdays match also has special significance for Toronto striker Jeremy Brockie, 25. The New Zealand native will be play his final game of a loan deal from the Wellington Phoenix of Australias A-League. Though he said Friday has was "disappointed" to have only scored once in his first 14 matches with the Reds after an A-League season in which he scored 16 times in 24 games, Brockie said hes enjoyed MLS and Toronto and would be happy to return as a loan after the upcoming A-League campaign. "Its a very well-run club and all its missing really is the playoff contention so if the possibility was to come back one day then Id definitely be open to that," said Brockie, a New Zealand international who has two years remaining on his contract with Wellington. Nelsen, a former teammate of Brockies with New Zealand, said although the striker didnt find the back of the net as much as many had hoped, "hes helped out in so many ways on and off the field." "His professionalism day-in and day-out shows the younger players what its all about," Nelsen said. . Watch the announcement live on TSN.ca at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. This years honourees will be recognized at the 2014 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, scheduled for June 23-24 in Vancouver. . -- In the stadium program sold at the Miami Dolphins game on Halloween, Richie Incognito was asked whos the easiest teammate to scare.
http://www.cheaplouisvillejerseys.com/? ... jersey.com) - The Atlanta Hawks have stepped up to every challenge during their 14-game winning streak and will face another daunting task Friday with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder in town. . Among the teams moves was trading one of the teams two third round picks, no. 83 overall, to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brandon Bollig, a six-foot-two, 223-pound left-winger who had seven goals, seven assists, and 92 penalty minutes in 82 games last season. . Spains victory rendered Frances 3-0 win against Finland meaningless as Spain needed just one point to secure passage to Brazil. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema scored either side of Joona Toivios own-goal as France advanced to the playoff among the eight best second-place finishers.CALGARY - Evan Polei scored two goals and the Red Deer Rebels picked up their first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Hitmen in Western Hockey League action on Saturday. Jeff de Wit and Kolton Dixon also scored for Red Deer (1-1-0), who bounced back from a loss to Kootenay on Friday night. Pavel Padakin scored the lone goal for Calgary (0-1-0), on a power play in the first period. Hitmen goalie Mack Shields started in net, but was replaced after giving up three goals on 22 shots through 44:38. Evan Johnson stopped four of five shots in relief. Rebels goalie Rylan Toth made 19 saves. --- OIL KINGS 4 ICE 2 EDMONTON — Andrew Koep scored twice and Patrick Dea needed only 18 saves to lead the Oil Kings over Kootenay. Cole Benson and Tyler Robertson had a goal and an assist for Edmonton (1-0-0), and Luke Betolucci chipped in with two assists. Robertons goal was an empty netter with 12 seconds remaining in the game. Bryan Allbee and Alexandra Chirva scored for the Ice (1-0-0), who were outshot 36-20. --- BRONCOS 5 WARRIORS 2 MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Jay Merkley scored two goals, including one into an empty net at 18:10 of the third period, as the Broncos downed the Warriors. Jake DeBrusk had a goal and two assists, and Dakota Odgers and Zac Mackay also scored for Swift Current (2-0-0). Landon Bow made 35 saves. Moose Jaw (0-2-0) got goals from Jaimen Yakubowski and Noah Gregor while Zach Sawchenko stopped 33 shots. --- WHEAT KINGS 6 PATS 1 REGINA — Jesse Gabrielle scored a hat trick and Brandon connected on four of nine power-play opportunities en route to victory over Regina. Ivan Provorov, Tim McGauley and Duncan Campbell also scored for the Wheat Kings (2-0-0). Dryden Hunt scored the lone goal for the Pats (0-2-0), on a power play in the third period. --- RAIDERS 3 BLADES 1 SASKATOON — Dakota Conroys power-play goal at 13:06 of the second period held up as the winner as Prince Albert edged Saskatoon. Thomas Andrlik and Reid Gardiner also scored for the Raiders (2-0-0), who outshot their opponents 30-21. Nick Zajac scored a short-handed goal for the Blades (0-2-0) in the first period. --- TIGERS 5 HURRICANES 1 MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Steven Owre scored two goals and Cole Sanford tacked on three assists to lead Medicine Hat over Lethbridge. Mattthew Bradley, Chad Butcher and Mark Rassell also scored for Tigers (2-0-0), who outshot the Hurricanes 39-21.dddddddddddd Jamal Watson scored the lone goal for Lethbridge (0-2-0), while Stuart Skinner stopped 34 shots. --- COUGARS 6 WINTERHAWKS 3 PORTLAND, Ore. — Chase Witala had a goal and two assists and Ty Edmonds made 31 saves as Prince George toppled the Winterhawks. Jari Erricson scored shorthanded for the Cougars (1-0-0), Jansen Harkins and Aaron Macklin had a goal and an assist apiece, and Haydn Hopkins and Chance Braid also scored. Paul Brittner had two goals and Layne Viveiros had the other for Portland (0-2-0), which failed to score on eight power plays. --- GIANTS 3 ROYALS 1 VANCOUVER — Tyler Morrison scored a goal and assisted on another, and Lee Payton needed to make just 11 saves as the Giants beat Victoria. Thomas Foster and Joel Hamilton also scored for Vancouver (1-0-0), which outshot its opponent 45-12. Travis Brown scored a power-play goal for the Royals (0-2-0), and Coleman Vollrath stopped 42 shots in the loss. --- ROCKETS 6 BLAZERS 1 KELOWNA, B.C. — Jackson Whistle stopped 32 shots, and Tyson Baillie and Kris Schmidli had a goal and two assists apiece as the Rockets trampled the Blazers. Riley Stadel, Carter Rigby, Austin Glover and Colton Heffley each had a goal for Kelowna (1-0-0), and Nick Merkley and Joe Gatenby chipped in with two assists apiece. Deven Sideroff scored for Kamloops (1-1-0) and Connor Ingram and Bolton Pouliot combined on 33 saves. --- SILVERTIPS 1 THUNDERBIRDS 0 SEATTLE — Graham Millar scored the games lone goal 1:53 into the first period and Everett held on to edge Seattle. Carter Hart made 26 saves for the Silvertips (1-0-0), who failed to take advantage of five power-play chances. Taran Kozun stopped 18 shots for the Thunderbirds (1-1-0), who went 0 for 3 with the man advantage. --- CHIEFS 4 AMERICANS 2 KENNEWICK, Wash. — Tyson Helgesens power-play goal at 15:02 of the second period proved to be the winner as Spokane doubled up Tri-City. Keanu Yamamoto, Dominic Zwerger and Mitch Lipon also scored for Spokane (1-0-0), and Garret Hughson made 33 saves to spoil the Americans home opener. Vladislav Lukin and Justin Gutierrez scored for Tri-City (0-1-0) while Evan Sarthou turned aside 25 shots. ' ' '
