catching knuckle-ball punts and seven of them would catch it

TORONTO - NHL participation in the 2018 Olympics is on the back burner until the league, Players Association and International Ice Hockey Federation firm up plans for the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.After a meeting during Hockey Hall of Fame weekend in November, the sides still have some things to iron out before this is a done deal.IIHF president Rene Fasel said one of the open questions had to do with the seventh and eighth teams that will take part. Beyond Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, the plan appears to be to have a European all-star team and another made up of North Americans— perhaps younger players.To be very honest, I like the idea, Fasel said. That can be really very, very interesting, for the hockey fans. That could be something. We dont know yet what were going to do, but personally I like it very much.Fasel said having the No. 7 and No. 8-ranked national teams (in 2014 it was Switzerland and Slovakia) would be deja vu because thats how it is at the Olympics and world championships. There were 12 teams at the Sochi Olympics: the so-called big six, and Switzerland, Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, Slovenia and Austria.There were 16 teams at the 2014 world championships: Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, host Belarus, Latvia, Germany, Norway, France, Italy, Denmark and Kazakhstan.The World Cup of Hockey would be an NHL production, held in Toronto in the fall of 2016. The tournament will reportedly have eight teams, but questions remain about how the seventh and eighth would be determined.Sportsnet.ca reported in November the notion of a European all-star team from those countries not involved and a young guns team from North America. At the NHLs board of governors meeting last month, commissioner Gary Bettman would neither confirm nor deny but encouraged reporters to wait until theres an announcement.If youre baking a pie, and you see one of the elements is something you dont like, but you happen to like the pie, youve got to look at the whole mix, Bettman said. So when we get to the point where we make an announcement people will either say this is outstanding, we love it, or theyll say we dont like this, we dont like that. Well see.The debate on the seventh and eighth teams pales in comparison to what discussions might be like in regard to the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Bettman said last month there were still open issues as far as accommodations and arrangements from Sochi that are still an unknown for Pyeongchang.The NHL, International Olympic Committee, IIHF and NHLPA have different issues and priorities. Fasel brought up the time zone in South Korea, which is 14 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone in Canada and the U.S., as one problem.That issue extends to 2022, when the Winter Olympics will be either in Almaty, Kazakhstan or Beijing. Fasel tipped the IOCs hand Sunday.I think China is favoured there to win that race, so 22 will go to China, said Fasel, who is on the IOC executive board. So to be very honest, after five times participating in the Olympics, this one will be a bigger challenge.There are a total of 109 registered adult male hockey players, 38 indoor and four outdoor hockey rinks in South Korea, according to the IIHF. China has a total of 118 adult male players, 58 indoor and 43 outdoor rinks.Fasel and the IIHF are interested in growing the game. Having NHL players in those non-traditional countries couldnt hurt.(NHL) players want to go to the Olympics, Fasel said. We definitely need players there. They want to go to the Olympics.Bettman said last month that the board of governors did not have any meaningful discussion about the Olympics. Thats an issue for tomorrow because the World Cup is the issue for today.Were focused more from an international standpoint on getting final arrangements in place so we can announce a World Cup, Bettman said. Thats getting our attention right now.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Discount Shoes China . - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Air Max 270 Discount . 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And the 35-year-old former league MVP says he is hoping to making 2014 a memorable year.BEREA, Ohio -- As his teammates sweated through another training camp practice, Josh Gordon was in a New York office building where his career -- and Clevelands season -- were in jeopardy. Gordon met Friday with NFL officials to appeal a possible indefinite suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. Gordons attorney, Maurice Suh, and other members of his legal team were expected to argue that Gordon tested positive for marijuana because of secondhand smoke, a defence they planned to augment with witnesses. No decision on Gordon is expected for several days, and the Browns are keeping their fingers crossed the outcome will be favourable. According to ESPN Cleveland, it is believed a verdict may be reached on Monday, once commissioner Roger Goodell returns from Canton, Ohio. "Im an optimistic guy," said wide receiver Nate Burleson. "Im a glass half-full guy, so Im always hoping and expecting the best-case scenario." Until they hear from the league, the Browns are going about the business of getting ready for the upcoming season. Theyd love to have Gordon for as many games as possible. After all, hes the clubs top playmaker, one of the leagues elite receivers and an offensive threat who keeps defensive co-ordinators awake at night. To be without him for any time will drastically change Clevelands offence. Gordon has not been at training camp the past two days, and Browns coach Mike Pettine said he didnt know if the Pro Bowler will be on the field for Saturdays scrimmage in Akron. Gordons situation is one of many cases on the leagues legal itinerary. Commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking at the Hall of Fame in Canton, addressed the leagues recent decision to suspend Baltimore running back Ray Rice two games for domestic violence, a ruling met with public outrage. Goodell defended the leagues actions and said each case must be judged on its own merits. "You have to deal with the facts," he said. "We have a drug program that is collectively bargained and it has a step process. It takes four incidents before you actually reach a suspension in a drug-related case. You have to respond to facts here. You have a lot of people voicing their opinions, but what you have to understand is that this is a young man (Rice) who made a terrible mistake -- its inconsistent with what were all about. "We have deallt with it in a serious manner, and were very confident that this young man understands where he is and what he needs to do going forward.dddddddddddd" Goodell did not offer much information on Gordons case, saying a decision will be based on the information at the hearing. "Josh is going through a process right now, and Im not part of that process," Goodell said. "At some point in time I may have an opportunity to be involved, and when I am, I look forward to meeting him." Gordons list of off-the-field issues is lengthy, which may hinder his argument. He failed at least three known drug tests in college and he was suspended two games last season for a drug violation. Separate from his appeal, Gordon could still face league discipline under the leagues personal-conduct policy for his arrest last month on a DUI charge in Raleigh, North Carolina. Gordon reportedly checked himself into a rehab clinic in California following the arrest. Pettine has said the Browns will have to go with a receiver-by-committee approach if Gordon cant play. Slot receiver Andrew Hawkins is confident he and his teammates can pick up the slack. "We have a bunch of hard-working guys with chips on their shoulders who are going to come out here and bust their butts every day," he said. "And Ill take that 10 times out of 10." NOTES: Starting free safety Tashaun Gipson walked off the practice field with an apparent left knee injury. Pettine said Gipson, who started 15 games last season, was being evaluated. ... Pettine ended practice by having members of his staff catch punts. Pitting the offensive assistants against the defensive assistants, the competition energized the players, who engaged in some spirited trash talk and finger pointing before offensive intern Mike LaFleur caught the final punt, meaning the offence will wear orange jerseys Monday. "I would of lost a lot of money if you would have said wed put eight coaches out there catching knuckle-ball punts and seven of them would catch it," Pettine said. "Those guys stepped up. It was impressive." ... Several offensive players celebrated touchdowns, none more demonstratively that Anthony Armstrong, who threw the ball into the second level of the VIP hospitality tent. "It was strictly spur of the moment," he said. "Your emotions take over." ' ' '