Wir suchen Dich! » Tuukka Rask of Finland: I dont

It was like walking on eggshells at the North Queensland Cowboys on Tuesday.Kiwi Test star Jason Taumalolo said he had put an alleged egg-throwing incident behind him after being the high profile player among five Cowboys accused of pegging them at cars in Townsville last week.The North Queensland backrower reckoned he now only had Brisbane in his sights ahead of Friday nights NRL sudden death semi-final in Townsville.He claimed he owed his teammates a big game.And it seemed only a standout display from Taumalolo would appease his teammates after clearly polarising the Cowboys player group ahead of the NRL grand final re-match.Taumalolo and Tautau Moga were slapped with $2500 fines by the Cowboys on Monday over the Wednesday night incident, just days before the teams first finals game.All five players involved face court next month on wilful damage charges.Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston could not hide his disappointment with Taumalolo on Tuesday.And he was obviously unimpressed the matter had become a talking point ahead of a match that threatened to derail their title defence.Asked if he was concerned Taumalolo could still be distracted by the incident, Thurston said after a long pause: Yes and no. (But) hes a big boy.In contrast Test prop James Tamou believed Taumalolo had nothing to apologise for.I dont think he has let anyone down, he said.This year he has been one of our best players and I think his head is screwed on right for this game.For the record Taumalolo faced the music on Tuesday and admitted to a media scrum he had a point to prove against the Broncos.I owe it to the boys, he said.Just days after being charged, the New Zealand wrecking ball made little impact in North Queenslands 16-10 opening finals loss in Melbourne last weekend, amassing 86m from eight runs.I need to put in a better performance. I thought I owed them one last week and didnt come up with the goods, Taumalolo said.I am not going to lie, it kind of got to me in the end (against Melbourne).It obviously affected my performance on the weekend, something I was pretty disappointed about.I didnt help myself with the stupid things I did.Its been a long couple of days. Today is all about moving on and focusing on Friday night.Cowboys coach Paul Green was confident Taumalolo had put the incident behind him.I think so, we have dealt with it. Its last weeks news. As a club we have moved on, he said.I would say he will bounce back with a big game on Friday night.Tom Brady Jersey Throwback . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Signed Michael Jordan Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/tom-brady-jersey/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Tom Brady Jersey Retro . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Womens Tom Brady Jersey . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play.TORONTO -- The question, which doesnt yet have an answer, is what a successful World Cup of Hockey means in the Olympic equation.On the eve of this tournament dropping the puck here in this hockey-mad country, one ponders: If the event ends up being a smashing hit, will that lead NHL owners to believe theyve found their new, best-on-best vehicle? After all, NHL owners have never been that enamored with shutting down their season in mid-February for an Olympic tournament they make no money from.To which Alex Ovechkin on Thursday reminded the hockey world that nothing replaces the Olympics, no matter how much fun and entertaining the World Cup of Hockey might be.I asked the Washington Capitals superstar if, as in the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, when he threatened to play even if the NHL didnt participate, he felt the same way about the South Korea Olympics in 2018.My decision is the same, he responded. So I dont know whats going to happen right now, but we just have to wait [for] what they say and well see. ...Its a situation where you dont know whats going to happen, he added. But obviously, I said Im going to play.Ovechkin doesnt speak for all NHL players; in fact, I think theres a wide range of thoughts and beliefs about how the league should proceed.First and foremost, though, its foolish to think that the level of success of this World Cup isnt related in any fashion to the Olympic discussion. It has to be, regardless of the decision. Theyre tied to each other in some fashion.Yeah, definitely, agreed Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby. This will be something that people are going to compare, that players are going to relate to when youre talking about making a decision like that. Theres so many factors: the timing of it, where the Olympics are, but the fact is, if theres an ability to put on an event like this, its an option and it probably makes the decision harder, especially if people enjoy it. You can only do so many things and you want to be involved in everything, but at the end of the day, this looks like its going to be a great event -- I havent been able to be part of it before. ... Ive had great experiences in the Olympics; well have to see what happens.Its all a moot point if the International Olympic Committee doesnt change its tune when it comes to paying for players insurance and travel costs, something the IOC has always done dating back to Nagano 1998.Still, I think the Olympic question goes beyond that. Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 were held in countries rich in hockey history. Will playerss care as much about wanting to travel across the world to nonhockey countries?Depends on whom you ask.ddddddddddddOne hundred percent, young Canadian phenom Connor McDavid said Thursday, without hesitation, when asked about wanting the NHL to stay in the Olympics. For some of the guys that have been there, the answer might be a little bit different, but for us young guys that have never had an opportunity to play and win an Olympics, I think it would be something a little bit different. For me, personally, Ive always dreamt of playing in the Olympics and representing my country there. The World Cup is awesome and all that, and its similar in that kind of sense. But do I hope it takes over the Olympics? Not at all. I definitely want the Olympics to be an option for NHL guys.Two-time Team USA Olympian Patrick Kane doesnt want the World Cup to be a replacement for the Olympics; rather, he wants the World Cup to be an important add-on to the best-on-best competitions.I dont know if you want to think of it as a substitution; for me, I look at it as having the chance to play for your country every two years at such a high level, said the Chicago Blackhawks star, last seasons Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP. Hopefully, its something thats put in there along with the Olympics.Echoed Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask of Finland: I dont think you can ever replace the Olympics, but if you can add to it, and keep them both in the picture, I think that would be a great thing.Besides, Rask said, the opportunity to sell the game in a new market like South Korea could be of great benefit.I think it would be a great thing for hockey to go there and kind of showcase for Asian people, show what hockey is all about, said Rask. I think Olympics are great. If we have a chance to go, I think we should go.Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price knows where his vote lies.The Olympics are a special event, and I really enjoyed my experience going to Sochi and being able to experience that world event, he said. It was really special for me and family to be able to go and take that in. It would be kind of sad to not be able to do that again.Perhaps, in the end, what a successful World Cup of Hockey truly means for the NHL and the NHLPA is enhanced leverage in talks with the IOC.As in: Weve got our own great tournament now, so if you dont play ball, were gone.First, however, this tournament has to be a hit.Were about to find out. ' ' '