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VANCOUVER -- Canada has set a goal of finishing first in the overall medal standings at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Snowboarders will in all likelihood have to play a key role if theres any chance of meeting that lofty target. The first five members of the Canadian contingent heading to Sochi next month were unveiled Friday, led by a three-time Olympian and an unlikely superstar from the Prairies. "We definitely have an amazing group and an amazing team and to be a part of it is great," said Maelle Ricker, who won gold in snowboard cross at the 2010 Olympics. "We have strong athletes in all the disciplines and Im very honoured and excited." Sochi will be Rickers third Games, but at age 35, the West Vancouver, B.C., native is still seen as a favourite in her event where competitors race down a course side-by-side. "I would love to perform at my best (again)," she said after Fridays news conference. "Definitely every time I put my snowboard on thats what Im aiming to do and hopefully we get some good results because of it." Apart from Ricker, another Canadian expected to contend for a medal is Mark McMorris. The 20-year-old from Regina is the two-time defending Winter X Games champion in slopestyle, an acrobatic snowboard discipline set to make its Olympic debut in Sochi. "It feels amazing," McMorris said of being named to the Canadian team. "Its going to be a fun time. Ive been preparing like a mad man and I think Im ready." Other rookie Olympians named to Canadas squad were Sebastien Toutant of LAssomption, Que., Spencer OBrien of Courtenay, B.C., and Calgarys Chris Robanske. Toutant and OBrien will compete in slopestyle, while Robanske is entered in snowboard cross. The rest of the team will be named Jan. 21. Canada won 26 medals -- including three in snowboard -- at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, good for third behind the United States (37) and Germany (30). An even bigger performance will be required in Russia to accomplish the Canadian Olympic Committees goal of finishing first. "If we say we dont want to be No. 1, were striving for mediocrity and were not going to do that. We will strive to be the best," said Canadian chef de mission Steve Podborski, who won bronze in mens downhill skiing at the 1980 Olympics. "When we went into (the 2006 Games), we had no notion that we could strive to be No. 1 and now we are looking at that. "So why not? Its going to be tough, maybe impossible, but you strive for impossible dreams." The laid-back McMorris doesnt put any added emphasis on his own performance when overall team goals are mentioned. "Whenever anybody looks at you to win theres pressure," he said. "Ive been able to have a lot of success over the last three years and consistently podium or win events. "Im in one event and my goal is to win a gold medal and if I do so, that will be a big help." With the Olympics set to begin Feb. 7, OBrien said shes looking forward to being part of a team after competing for years as an individual. "Theres definitely a lot of expectations, especially on me, Mark, Seb, Maelle, everyone thats been performing so well these last of couple years," said the 25-year-old. "I think its really special. Its a unique experience to have your country behind you." OBrien won gold in womens slopestyle at last years world championship, but added the Games are on another level. "An Olympic medal, youre winning it for your country, youre not just winning it for yourself," she said. "Its such a special opportunity and Id like nothing more than to bring one back to Canada." The Olympics werent even on the 21-year-old Toutants radar until it was announced that slopestyle would be included at Sochi. "Were used to competing in front of a lot of people and a lot of cameras, but we compete for sponsors and we compete for ourselves," he said. "To be able to compete for your country is huge. "The world is going to be watching." Podborski said there will be "enormous challenges" facing athletes in Sochi, but stressed the level of Canadian sport has come a long way since he competed more than three decades ago. "These athletes are the finest our country can produce," he said. "These are sophisticated, world-class athletes and I expect them to do very, very well." Kevin Plawecki Jersey .NYCFC confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that this week Lampard signed a contract to start in July — midway through the new teams first season in MLS. Cory Snyder Jersey . The senior threw for 319 yards and no interceptions in his final college game, leading No. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/318u-...ey-indians.html. Three days after falling to Hamilton, Abbotsford scored three goals in 53 seconds en route to a convincing 5-1 win over the Bulldogs Saturday in American Hockey League play. Dennis Eckersley Indians Jersey . Pominville scored in all three of Minnesotas games last week to help the Wild (8-4-3, 19 points) earn four out of a possible six points. His best performance was in a 4-3 win over Montreal on Friday, where he posted a season-high three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal. Nick Goody Indians Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Watch the 2014 NBA Draft on TSN, Thursday at 7pm et/4pm pt.EUGENE, Ore. -- Even a driving rain couldnt rattle Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and No. 2 Oregon defeated California 55-16 on Saturday night in a drenched Pac-12 opener for both teams. "Ive been playing in the rain since I was a little kid. Hawaii has its passing showers," the sophomore quarterback said. "So it really doesnt bother me." Bralon Addison returned two punts for touchdowns and Byron Marshall ran for 130 yards and two more scores for the Ducks (4-0, 1-0). The game was played as a strong storm swept across the Pacific Northwest, cutting power to more than 26,500 customers in Oregon. It was a sloppy mess on the field, with eight fumbles -- four for each team -- in the first half alone. The Ducks handled the soggy conditions better, building a 41-3 halftime lead. The wind and rain all but shut down the "Bear Raid" offence that new head coach Sonny Dykes has installed at Cal (1-3, 0-1). Cal freshman quarterback Jared Goff went into the game as the national leader with an average of 435.3 yards passing a game. He completed just 3 of 6 passes for 11 yards in the first quarter before he was replaced with backup Zach Kline. Goff, making his first start on the road, simply couldnt grip the ball. "The ball was slipping out of his hand. Were not quite sure why but it was," Dykes said. "So we felt like were having a hard time getting anything done. Couldnt throw it at all. We needed to make a change and it felt like it gave us a better chance to move the football and score some points." Mariota, whose name is mentioned as an early Heisman Trophy candidate, completed 11 of 24 passes for 114 yards and ran for another 33 yards before coach Mark Helfrich sat him during the third quarter. Oregon coach Mark Helfrich also suggested Mariotas Hawaiian upbringing had something to do with his ability to shake off the storm. "Playing on the beach as a kid, I thing, was paying off," Helfrich said. Oregon opened the game with Marshalls 14-yard scoring run. Mariota threw two touchdown passes, a 19-yarder to Josh Huff and a 14-yarder to Daryle Hawkins before Marshall ran for a 25-yard score to make it 27-0. But the start of the game was also costly for Oregon. Running back DeAnthony Thomas was hurt while returning the opening kickoff. He grasped hiss lower right leg and had to be helped off the field.ddddddddddddHe reappeared after the half on crutches, but because Oregon does not discuss injuries it is unclear how serious it is. Afterward, Thomas said he hurt his right ankle, but it had not been X-rayed. He said he was trying to make a move but "it was slippery out there." "Im very focused," said Thomas, who was uncertain about his status for next weeks game at Colorado. "Ill get back there when I can." The speedy junior leads the Ducks with 338 yards rushing and six touchdowns. He has 485 all-purpose yards through Oregons first three games. Mariota ran 2 yards to score in the second quarter before Addisons 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. Cal finally got on the board as time ran out with Vincenzo DAmatos 46-yard field goal. Addisons 67-yard punt return for a score early in the second quarter made is 48-3. The only other Duck with two punt returns for touchdowns in a game was Cliff Harris against New Mexico in 2010. Thomas Tyner ran for a 21-yard touchdown for the Ducks before Jeffrey Coprich pushed in a yard for a TD for Cal to make it 55-10. Kline hit James Grisom with a 7-yard scoring pass for the final margin. Kline completed 18 of 37 passes for 165 yards. Ducks defensive co-ordinator Nick Aliotti likened the weather to the so-called "Toilet Bowl" between Oregon and Oregon State in 1983, the last college game to end in a scoreless tie before the NCAA changed its rules. "Those conditions were pretty terrible," Aliotti said. "But I dont know if it was as windy." Both teams were coming of bye weeks. The Bears last outing was a 52-34 loss to No. 4 Ohio State on Sept 14. The Ducks are the third ranked opponent that Cal has faced; the team also lost to then-No. 22 Northwestern in the season opener. All three teams are undefeated. Oregon put up easy nonconference victories over Nicholls State, Virginia and Tennessee. The Ducks have averaged 61.3 points per game, ranked second nationally, while allowing opponents just 9 points a game. Cal hung close with Oregon for a good part of their last meeting, trailing just 24-17 midway through the 3rd quarter last year. But Mariota led the then-No. 3 Ducks on a 35-0 run for a 59-17 victory in Strawberry Canyon. He matched a school record with six touchdown passes in that game. ' ' '