The thing about being granted exceptional player status is people expect immediate exceptional results.For Sean Day, those results did not materialize last season.Day, who was born in Belgium, played most of his minor hockey in Michigan and is a Canadian citizen, scored six goals and had 10 points in 60 games with the Mississauga Steelheads. He was a chilly minus-35.Day was the fourth player awarded exceptional status — which allows a player to enter the OHL draft before reaching the minimum age of 16 — following John Tavares (2005), Aaron Eckblad (2011) and Connor McDavid (2012), but the first not to be chosen first not to be chosen first overall in the Ontario Hockey Leagues Priority Selection.Day slipped to fourth overall, chosen by Mississauga behind Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67s), Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) and Matthew Spencer (Peterborough Petes).So you might think at the ripe old age of 16, Day is feeling pressure to have a breakout year.Not at all, said the six-foot-two, 225-pound defenceman. I still have another season before my draft year. I think its good for me that I played in the league last year and to still have this season to work on my game before my draft year.When Day first joined the Steelheads he played the way he did in minor hockey, which was to get the puck and take off with it. He was always bigger, stronger and faster than the majority of his opponents. Suddenly up against older players who were just as big and quick, Day found himself overmatched and his mistakes often ended up in the back of his teams goal.So when he returned to the Steelheads after participating with Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Day dialled back on his offence and started concentrating on being a more competent defensive player.Mississauga coach-GM James Boyd was impressed with Days development. Boyd said the Steelheads traded their top two scorers at mid-season and thus did not score as often, so Day was given more defensive responsibility and reacted favourably.His plus-minus improved dramatically and that was with his ice time going up, Boyd said. In the playoffs against a really good Oshawa team he played extremely well. There were times during the year I would scout a minor midget game in the evening and I just couldnt imagine Sean playing at that level. I couldnt picture him with his peers. I think it was a very good decision for him to play in the OHL.One problem with playing three years in the OHL before being eligible for the NHL Entry Draft is scouts have lots of time to dissect your game. In Days case, some scouts have questioned his hockey sense.Boyd is not only convinced Day will improve his decision making with experience, he believes Day is well on his way to becoming an impact player. Boyd said critics of Day should understand that when he joined the Steelheads, he basically had to learn the defensive game from scratch and there was steady improvement in his game.Boyd said Day will play in the Steelheads top four on the blue-line this season and will get plenty of time on special teams as well.This year Sean has really embraced the physical part of the game, Boyd said. Hes a big guy — really big guy — who skates extremely well and he has been finishing his checks. He is a lot more constant and assertive defensively.Day is a quiet kid who does not seek attention and takes things in stride. Asked about not being the first overall pick in 2013, Day suggested the teams that drafted ahead of Mississauga may not have needed a defenceman or perhaps they didnt like his game. No big deal, really. And how exactly did a 15-year-old fit in with his older teammates?I never really thought of myself as being younger than everyone and I dont feel they treated me differently, Day said. I came into the league thinking I was a rookie like every other rookie. I didnt use my age as an excuse if I made a mistake.Taking a more assertive role on the Steelheads, Day is excited for his sophomore season.Hopefully I can get more points, but still be a defensive threat, Day said.Sounds like an exceptional plan. Anthony Munoz Jersey . - Vince Wilfork has played only two career games in Kansas City. Drew Sample Jersey .com) - A pair of programs shooting for their 10th win of the season get together at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, as the NC State Wolfpack tangle with 22nd-ranked West Virginia during the challenge round of the Gotham Classic. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseysauthentic.com/. The third-ranked Buckeyes were down eight points to Notre Dame with less than 2 minutes to play and their offence was nowhere to be found. Wholesale Bengals Jerseys Authentic . What they did need, the Devils got from Patrik Elias. Elias scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Renell Wren Jersey . Helwani said that Weidman has been dealing with recurring swelling and pain in his knees related to torn meniscus he suffered as a teenager and the problems came to a head last week when he suffered prolonged swelling and pain in his left knee, resulting in the decision to undergo an arthroscopic scope procedure to clean up the tear in both knees. TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is set to play Tuesday night in his first minor league game on a rehabilitation assignment. And this time, all sides agree hes ready to go. Rodriguez said he felt fine and was eager to get on the field for Class A Charleston. "Awesome," he said Monday at the Yankees spring training complex. "Im really excited." Rodriguez said he didnt have a timetable for rejoining the Yankees, a team in desperate need of hitters. He was on a conference call with team officials earlier in the day. "I have no idea," he said. Last week, Rodriguez posted on Twitter that his hip surgeon had cleared him to play in rehab games. That upset Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who said Rodriguez hadnt been OKed by team doctors. Cashman lashed out at Rodriguez with a profanity, then said the next day that he regretted his word choice. Rodriguez later spoke with owner Hal Steinbrenner, with the executive reiterating that injury news should be announced by the team, not players. Now, no problems. "Its all been very positive. Were all looking in the same direction: ... Get back to New York as soon as possible, and tomorrow is the first big step," Rodriguez said. "Weve talked to all our doctors. Everyone has approved it." The Yankees rank near the bottom of the American League in runs and home runs. Minus Rodriguez, the Yankees have especially struggled at third base. Rookie David Adams is hitting under .200 and Kevin Youkilis, signed in the off-season to hold the job until A-Rod returned, was batting only .218 before he went on the disabled list with back problems. Rodriguez and Youkilis are among several injured players on the Yankees, who began the day in fourth place in the AL East. Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira are also sidelined, as are others. Manager Joe Girardi called the rehab assignment "a step in the right direction." "I expect him to be a productive player," Girardi said before the Yankees opened a series at Minnesota. "The last time he got his hip fixed, he came productive. Hopefully this will solve some of the things he was dealing witth last year and I expect him to be productive.dddddddddddd "I cant tell you exactly what hes going to do, but I think hes going to be a good player," he said. The Yankees said Rodriguez was scheduled to start for Single-A Charleston in the South Atlantic League. Rodriguez was supposed to play at least three innings against Rome during the game in South Carolina. "It will be the first game that I play in, in maybe over eight months. Its been a long time. Its going to be great to suit up again. It gets me one step closer to helping my team win in New York," he said. Rodriguez has been working out in Florida this year while recovering from surgery on his left hip on Jan. 16. The three-time AL MVP turns 38 later this month. Many rehabbing Yankees play for the minor league team in Tampa, but lately the weather has been rainy. The inclement forecast prompted the Yankees to have Rodriguez start with Charleston. "Two things -- were working with the scheduling, where all these teams are at. Theres rain all over the East Coast. So, were just going to try and run away, try to find some good sunshine." "It has to do more with the weather. In an ideal world, we would always play at home because we can do more work, but if the weather is bad, we may have to jump over at X, Y or Z, depending where the sunshine is," he said. Rodriguez walked out of the camp carrying an equipment bag while a clubhouse assistant brought a box of bats. They put them in Rodriguezs car, and he signed several autographs before driving off. Rodriguez has 647 career home runs. The Yankees have struggled this season while Rodriguez and several other stars have been on the disabled list. Rodriguez has 20 days on this assignment to get ready to play. Once he is ready, Girardi said he still envisions Rodriguez as an everyday third baseman with no plans to make him a primary designated hitter. "Weve had trouble scoring runs," Girardi said. "Thats no secret. So itd be nice to get some big bats back." NOTES: SS Derek Jeter (ankle) ran the bases for the first time during his recent recovery. ... 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