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| n in 2008. "I think youve got to be fast to sit on the pole, and to win the race, youve got to be f |
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets hurried to make history. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Just more than 24 hours after firing Scott Howson, they announced the hiring of Jarmo Kekalainen of Finland as the first European to be a general manager in the National Hockey League. Kekalainen, director of amateur scouting with the St. Louis Blues 2002-10, held a news conference Wednesday in his native Finland at the same time the Blue Jackets Blue Jackets held theirs in Ohio. "One of my dreams since I hung up my skates has been to be a GM of an NHL team sometime. Now that dream has come true," Kekalainen said in Helsinki at the home arena of the Jokerit club, where hes been GM since 2010. "Im really happy and pleased, even proud, that Ive been give this chance." The 46-year-old, who played sparingly in the NHL, worked closely with Columbus director of hockey operations John Davidson with the Blues. When the Blues hired Doug Armstrong as general manager in 2010 instead of Kekalainen, Kekalainen returned to Finland to take over as GM of Jokerit in Finlands top league. "Jarmo and I have a relationship that goes back a number of years, most recently with the St. Louis Blues organization where he was an assistant general manager and in charge of the amateur draft," Davidson said. "I look at Jarmo as a person who has a world of experience. Thirty per cent of the players in our league are European. Hes very intelligent about the world of hockey, not only in Europe but also in North America." Kekalainens current team is in first place. So badly did Kekalainen want to return to the NHL as a GM, that he had an unwritten agreement with the clubs owner that he could be let out of his contract if a GM job developed in the NHL. He is expected to arrive in Columbus as soon as travel and visa issues are resolved. "Im humbled but at the same time have faith in myself. I believe Ive deserved this opportunity through my own hard work," he said. "Now Im going to roll up my sleeves and go there and build a team out of the Columbus Blue Jackets that seriously aims to win the Stanley Cup." Hell face a number of challenges. Under Howson, the Blue Jackets made the playoffs in 2008-09 but have fallen to the depths of the league since. They had the worst record in the league a year ago, have a record of making a mess of things at the draft and in trades. Attendance has fallen; there are published reports that the club sold between 7,000 and 8,000 season tickets this season. The Blue Jackets are 4-7-2 in this lockout-shortened season and leave Wednesday to begin a six-game Western swing that starts in Los Angeles on Friday night. The club does have three first-round picks in this summers amateur draft. "We feel here that we know how important the draft is, especially with a deep draft and this one is a deep draft," Davidson said. "Hell become a major voice regarding the upcoming draft. That certainly played into it. Thats a part of it, but its certainly not all of it." Howson, a 52-year-old Toronto native, was hired as executive vice-president and general manager on June 15, 2007. He took the place of Doug MacLean, who had guided the franchise from its inception, through its first NHL season in 2000-01 and the next five campaigns. He was in charge in 2008-09, when the Blue Jackets went a franchise-best 41-31-10 and made the playoffs with star forward Rick Nash and Calder Trophy-winning goalie Steve Mason leading the way. But the club then fell on hard times and last season was an NHL-worst 29-46-7. Midway through the season, Howson revealed that Nash, the teams captain, had asked to be traded. It took months before Nash was dealt along with a minor league defenceman and a conditional third-round pick to the New York Rangers for forwards Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, 21-year-old defenceman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick. The Blue Jackets won their opener this season at Nashville, and earned another point in their second game. But they lost eight of 10 games before Monday nights surprising 6-2 victory over San Jose -- scoring as many goals in one night as they had in their three previous games combined. "Im anxious to get down to work and meet this new challenge," said Kekalainen, who lived in the U.S. for 13 years before his return to Finland. He played 55 games in the NHL as a left wing over six seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins. "I know Jarmos going to have success," Davidson said. "Hes a driven man." Cheap Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . Pagan opened the game with a double, went to third on a bunt and raced home when Brandon Belt hit a sacrifice fly in a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . -- Their team back together again, Canada looked comfortable at the womens world curling championship as they closed in on a playoff spot. http://www.cheapjerseysmart.us/ . Forte sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee early in a loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4 and sat out the rest of the season. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Off-Season Game Plan looks at an obviously talented Canucks team that GM Mike Gillis will presumably want to keep intact as much as possible heading into next season. Wholesale Jerseys . Brazil beat Saudi Arabia 3-0 in Barranquilla, while Spain narrowly escaped a shock defeat by South Korea, winning a penalty shootout 7-6 after 0-0 draw in regulation and extra time in Manizales. INDIANAPOLIS -- David Ragan, in the midst of a career breakthrough, added the pole for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to his suddenly improved resume. Ragan earned his first career Sprint Cup Series victory earlier this month at Daytona, a track long considered to be the crown jewel track of NASCAR. Indianapolis ranks among the most prestigious tracks in the world, and Ragans pole-winning run Saturday was no small feat. He made his run late in the session, with three-time Brickyard winner Jimmie Johnson holding down the top spot on the leaderboard. Ragan turned a lap of 182.994 m.p.h. in his Roush Fenway Racing Ford to bump Johnson from the pole. "It will be cool to lead the pack," Ragan said. "Its an honour to be here and to be the fastest guy at Indy. This is a great track. Any type of accomplishment you get here is cool." Its Ragans second career pole. His first came in April at Texas. "It was a good lap, I didnt make a mistake," Ragan said. "It wasnt as aggressive as I wanted to be. But I knew if I hit my marks, had a conservative lap, Id at least have a top-five." Kasey Kahne made his qualifying run after Ragan and jumped in front of Johnson with a lap at 182.927 m.p.h. in a Toyota from Red Bull Racing. "We just have to be there at the end," Kahne said. "It seems thats how this race is won, being up front at the end. Youre not just going to pass five, six cars. When you get to turn one, youve got to be one of those top couple of cars more times than not." Johnson, the five-time defending series champion, fell to third. His lap of 182.801 m.p.h. in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet had led the qualifying session until the late runs by Ragan and Kahne. He wasnt upset though, and knows his past success at Indy will come into play on Sunday. "This track is clearly unique and we dont race on anything else like it," Johnson said. "When you get it right, you have an advantage." Penske Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski qualified fourth and fifth in their Dodges for Sundays race, and the drivers have already heard from team owner Roger Penske on what theyll need to do to win. "He made a phone call last night and reminded us that we needed to try two tires in practice," Keselowski said. "Hes got this whole game plan and how the strategy is going to play out. He definitely studies this race. He loves coming here." AJ Allmendinger, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and series points leader Carl Edwards rounded out the top 10. David Stremme, Travis Kvapil, Erik Darnell, JJ Yeley and Scott Wimmer were the five drivers who faiiled to qualify for the race. cheap jerseys. Denny Hamlin qualified 14th, but hell have to drop to the back of the field at the start of the race as a penalty for changing his engine. The move was necessary because the engine in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota blew up late in Fridays final practice. Its at least the 11th engine failure by a JGR car this season, and comes as speculation mounts that the team will close its engine shop and lease engines next season from manufacturer Toyota. Dropping to the back of the field probably wont work to Hamlins advantage, either. Only four of the previous 17 Brickyard winners started worse than 15th, and the farthest back a winning driver has started was Jeff Gordon at 27th in 2001. "Its just going to be a tough task coming from the back," Hamlin said. "Everybody runs the same speed, so its fairly impossible to pass. You can have a 20th-place car, and transplant that guy to coming out of pit road first and go win the race. Its just one of the deals where we know were going to fight track position." It may not be much easier at the front for Ragan: The pole-winner has only gone on to win Indianapolis twice before, Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Johnson in 2008. "I think youve got to be fast to sit on the pole, and to win the race, youve got to be fast 400 miles worth," Ragan said. "Youve got to be good throughout the afternoon when its hot and slick and rubber builds up and you have to make changes. Theres a lot that goes into a race than just being fast ... but leading the first lap is certainly a start. "Im not saying were the No. 1 contender, but if we go out and win, I certainly wouldnt be surprised." It would be a huge victory for Ragan, who suddenly finds himself in contention for a spot in the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Hes currently 13th in the standings, but the final two spots in the Chase field will go to the drivers ranked highest in points who also have a win. Ragan has that with the Daytona victory, and three drivers ranked ahead of him are currently winless. Ragan likes his current position, but is hesitant to get too excited because hes sandwiched between Clint Bowyer in 12th place and teammate Greg Biffle in 14th. "I think about that and I want to get happy, but then I look to my left, I see Bowyer. I look to my right and I see Greg Biffle, (Juan Pablo) Montoya. That puts me down to reality pretty quick. A lot of good race car drivers around me and my team -- we cant get confident that were just going to get in because weve got a win. "We can make the Chase, no doubt about it. Were prepared for the fight and cant wait." ' ' '
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| Beitrag vom 16.11.2014 - 04:28 |
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