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MONTREAL - Patrice Bernier said he never wanted to leave his hometown club, but the Montreal Impacts dismal Major League Soccer season had him considering his options.Any concerns appear to have been put to rest, as Bernier signed a new two-year contract with the Impact on Thursday.The team captain will be a veteran presence in a revamped midfield, which includes new additions Marco Donadel and Nigel Reo-Coker.My heart is here, I started here, and the goal when I came back (to North America) three years ago was I wanted to be part of the project and I wanted to finish here, Bernier said at a news conference.Its just when its a bad season you start to think of everything, because at the age that I am you start thinking that you want to win, you want to finish on a good note knowing you built something thats going to go further on.The 35-year-old team captain from Brossard, Que., played in 26 regular-season games with the Impact last MLS season, including 20 starts. He was a stabilizing presence on an otherwise struggling team, as the Impact finished last in the MLS standings at 6-18-10.At his age, and with the Impact struggling, he said he had to think about winning and ending his career on a high note.I dont think in my mindset I ever wanted to leave, Bernier said. It was, Where are we going?The moves the Impact have made this off-season, adding a wealth of European experience, seems to have provided adequate direction for Bernier.Donadel is a veteran of 244 games in Italys elite Serie A, and Reo-Coker played over 200 games in the English Premier League before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2013.Were going to have a team thats going to erase this past season, Bernier said.Bernier has 13 goals and 19 assists in 84 MLS regular-season games over three seasons with the Impact.He was named the teams player of the year in 2012 and took part in the 2013 MLS all-star game against Italian side A.S. Roma.Having been a part of some of the clubs biggest moments, Bernier said it would have been difficult to play for another MLS team.I didnt see anywhere else to play, at least here in North America, he said. It would have been weird to be somewhere else.And Bernier will have the chance to play competitive soccer next year even if the Impact have another bad MLS season. Montreal advanced to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League and will play a two-leg series with Mexican club Pachuca starting in February.Internationally, Bernier has made 50 appearances with Canadas senior mens team, scoring two goals.With midfield now set for the Impact, manager Frank Klopas said the teams next target is to improve at centre-back. . - Nikita Jevpalovs scored 6:22 into the second overtime as the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada edged the visiting Rimouski Oceanic 2-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. . -- Down to 10 men and behind on the scoreboard, Toronto FC displayed its perseverance. . According to various reports, the striker is about to sign a five-and-a-half year extension with Manchester United worth a reported 300,000 pounds a week that would see him at Old Trafford until 2019. . Zimmermann became the National Leagues first 16-game winner, pitching seven solid innings to lead the Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Wednesday night. .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans had even more motivation to score once he saw defensive tackle Clinton McDonald return a fumble for a touchdown. "I talked to Clinton and I said, How are you going to score one before me?" the first-round pick said. "And then, luckily, I got in." Buccaneers first-stringers on offence and defence were far too much for the slow-starting Buffalo Bills in rolling to a 27-14 preseason victory on Saturday evening. McDonald returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown, Evans and quarterback Josh McCown hooked up for a 24-yard touchdown. And running back Doug Martin scored on a 1-yard plunge as the Buccaneers (1-2) broke the game open by building a 24-0 first-half lead. For Evans, selected seventh overall, the touchdown also made up for the one he had taken away a week earlier in a 20-14 loss to Miami. Thats when a 42-yard touchdown catch was erased by a replay review which showed he fumbled at the 1. "I was telling everybody I was going to redeem myself, and I did," said Evans, who had three catches for 44 yards McCown was pleased for the rookie. "Its good to get him in the end zone, legitimately this time, and let him feel good about that," said McCown, who went 13 of 16 for 112 yards and an interception in playing the first half. "Its good that a guy you picked that high, you want to see him, just like our offence, come together and move forward every week." The Bills (1-3) continue to take steps backward. The announced sold-out crowd that came to get its first glance at the $130 million in renovations at Ralph Wilson Stadium also got a look at a team that still needs plenty of polish. The EJ Manuel-led offence spent much of the first 30 minutes sputtering, and was booed off the field at halftime. Buffalo managed just 82 yards and six first downs through eight first-half possessions, and never got beyond the Bucs 43. Manuel struggled, completing nine of his first 18 attempts for 67 yards, with two turnovers. "I dont think any of us are happy," coach Doug Marrone said. "When you play poorly, you should get booed. I dont have any problems with that." Bills starters did finally reach the end zone for the first time this preseason. But it came against the Buccaneers second-stringers on two third-quarter possessions. Manuel hit Mike Williams -- the former Buccaneers receiver who was acquired by Buffalo in a trade last spring -- for a 14-yard touchdown.dddddddddddd Then running back Fred Jackson scored on an 8-yard run. Williams touchdown was the starters first after being limited to four field goals on their previous 18 possessions. Jackson was particularly fired up during the first half, and held an impromptu offensive huddle on the sideline. "Obviously, we cant be happy with that," Jackson said. "But at the same time, we cant let that define who we are. Its a preseason game that we didnt look well in. We have to go out and make some adjustments and continue to move on." Discipline was an issue, too. The Bills were flagged three times over a five-play stretch. Add in Jackson being stopped for a 5-yard loss, and it led to Buffalo facing one third-and-40. Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas wasnt impressed by his former teams offensive output midway through the second quarter. Thomas posted on his Twitter account that the starting offence "should play the entire game." The game started sloppily, with the teams combining for three turnovers in the first quarter. Then came McDonalds fumble return midway through the second quarter that put Tampa Bay ahead 17-0. With Buffalo facing first-and-20 at its 22, Adrian Clayborn burst around the left side to sack Manuel and force the ball loose. McDonald scooped it up and rumbled into the end zone. "We still got a lot of things to improve on, but this is a great dress rehearsal for us all to see on defence," McDonald said. "Our defence played lights out tonight." NOTES: Bucs coach Lovie Smith announced starting linebacker Jonathan Casillas was left home because he violated team rules. Smith said Casillas would rejoin the team Sunday. ... Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin (neck), tight end Lee Smith (toe) and safety DaNorris Searcy (stinger) were hurt in the first half and did not return. ... Tampa Bay S Bradley McDougald did not return after hurting his knee. ... DT Alan Branch did not play after he was arrested earlier Saturday for drunken driving. State police say Branch was arrested at about 2 a.m. in the town of Cheektowaga after officers noticed Branch vomiting out the drivers side door of his vehicle. ' ' '
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