. 26, 2009, to Jan. 5, 2010. NCAA Division I hockey will be well represented on Team USA, with 15 college players on the roster as of Wednesday. Tony Romo JerseyMathew Dumba confronted his fair share of setbacks this season. Victor Butler Jersey . The Red Deer Rebels defenceman started the year slow. Then, in December, he failed to make the Canadian world junior team. And, a few months later, his Rebels failed to make the Western Hockey League post-season. Dumba proved to be his own worst enemy at points during the tumultuous campaign. “In mid-November he really started to struggle,” said Rebels head coach and general manager Jesse Wallin. “We had a few players go down with injuries and Matty is one of those guys who wants to make a difference every time hes on the ice. He just tried to take everything on his own shoulders and do too much, forcing plays, rushing the puck when he didnt need to and really pressing the play as opposed to letting it come to him.” The hard-hitting teenager from Calgary was eventually able to get back on track thanks to his teams sports psychologist, Derek Robinson. MASTERING THE MENTAL GAME “He helped me a lot,” said Dumba, who is expected to be a first-round pick at the NHL draft on Friday. “Im an intense guy. I like to please everyone. He wanted me to relax and focus on school, my family and let other stuff come and go. He told me to enjoy it, lay back and watch TV and hang out with the boys and just enjoy this whole experience Im going through as a 17-year-old.” Players on the Rebels dont have to talk to Robinson, but Dumba recognized how important it was to have a clear mind on the ice. “I chose to do it to help with my game mentally. Its a huge part of the game. Its probably 50% physical and 50% mental. You have to be able to channel both and have them work together. Thats what the great players do.” “The mental side of the game is so important in this day and age with the parity among players,” said Wallin. “Everybody trains, everybody has developmental opportunities through the summer and through NHL teams and everything else. The mental side of the game is such a huge component and yet it may be the most under-utilized.” VOICE CRACKING Dumba was emotional in the moments after he was cut by Team Canada in December. Voice cracking he insisted he expected to make the team despite being among the few draft-eligible players at the tryout. Dumba did earn positive reviews from the Canadian coaching staff, but there were simply too many more experienced players to choose from. Among those who liked what they saw at the selection camp was Wallin. “I watched him play one game down there and I thought he was outstanding,” said Wallin, a defenceman who twice played for Canada at the world junior event winning gold in 1997. “It was one of the best games Id seen him play in six weeks. I really think the biggest part of that was that he got out there with guys who were the top players in our country and they were all a year or two older than he was and he realized he had to keep it simple in order to survive and he did.” GETTING BACK ON TRACK But Dumba initially failed to gain momentum from the strong camp showing. “When he came back to Red Deer he was wound up and wanted to prove everybody wrong and he went, kind of, right back into that trying-to-do-too-much mode,” said Wallin. “We lost three defenceman for the season at the start of January and he really had to simplify his game just because of the sheer number of minutes he had to play and I think when he simplified his game it started to come back to him.” Dumba helped the Rebels make a playoff run, which came up just short. “In Red Deer, if anybody watched our season, it was tough,” said Dumba. “We went through a lot as a team with a ton of injuries, more than 300 man games lost. Thats not an excuse by any means its just a fact. Its tough to play like that, but its a real testament to our team how we battled out of that situation and made a playoff push.” OPEN BOOK Dumba openly talks about his relationship with Robinson and how it was beneficial. And while some players are hesitant to speak candidly about using a sports psychologist its really not a big surprise that Dumba would be forthcoming. “Im a guy who likes to talk,” Dumba said with a laugh during the NHL combine earlier this month. And thats another reason why he may be an attractive pick for teams at the draft in Pittsburgh. “At the top of the list would be his personality,” said Wallin when asked what is most impressive about the young blueliner. “Hes a great kid, very outgoing, has a real genuine passion for the game. He brings a lot of energy to the rink and he plays with a lot of energy, a lot of passion. “Hes one of those guys you genuinely enjoy being around.” Troy Aikman Jersey . — All Edwin Encarnacion wants is an injury-free season to show what he can do. Dante Hughes Jersey . But a day after winning their second world title and reclaiming their spot on top of the ice dancing world, the Canadians certainly sounded more positive than ever Friday.Jason Pierre-Paul Youth Jersey . Napoli matched career-highs with four hits and three runs scored for the Angels, who pounded out a season-high 18 hits in their fifth straight win to move three games above .500 (31-28) — the teams best record in 2010. Larry Fitzgerald Jersey . – John Skelton made the most of a brief opportunity. DeMarcus Ware Elite Jersey . — Athletics reliever Andrew Carignan said Wednesday night he needs elbow ligament replacement surgery and is in the process of deciding which doctor will do it.SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — It was a day of redemption for Mike McEwen and his Winnipeg rink on Thursday at the Grand Slam of Curlings Players Championship. After going 0-2 on Wednesday, McEwen rebounded with wins of 4-3 over Winnipegs Jeff Stoughton, and a 7-6 extra-end win over Brad Gushue of St. Johns, N.L. “We had to dig deep today,” said McEwen. “The curling gods were not shining on us yesterday, and we probably deserved a better fate than 0-2.” Edmontons Kevin Martin defeated Gushue 4-2 and the Niklas Edin rink of Sweden 6-4 to remain the only undefeated mens team at 4-0. Torontos John Epping, who is seeded eighth in the eight-team field, and Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont., are tied for second at 3-1. Epping defeated Howard 6-3, and then drew to the four-foot to get by Edmontons Kevin Koe 7-6 in an extra end. Howard rebounded from the early-afternoon loss to beat Stoughton 6-4 in the evening. McEwen credited lead Denni Neufeld with setting the stage for the game-winning point. “Our lead almost won the game for us on his first two shots (of the extra end),” said McEwen. “Brads last shot may have picked a bit because it had perfect weight and perfect line, or I would have had to draw to a decent piece of the button.” McEwen did not have to throw his final rock. In womens play, Winnipegs Cathy Overton-Clapham clinched first place in the round robin, and a semifinal berth. Overton-Clapham, third stone Jenna Loder, second stone Ashley Howard and lead Breanne Meakin won twice on Thursday to remain undefeated. “Being 6-0 in this competition is something we couldnt hhave asked for,” said Overton-Clapham, who is a fan favourite at EastLink Arena. Frank Gore Jersey. Five other teams Overton-Clapham edged Winnipegs Chelsea Carey 4-3 in the morning draw, and then outlasted Switzerlands Tirinzoni 6-4 in a late-afternoon game. Overton-Clapham took a 5-4 lead into the final eighth end, and made a tap against two to sit for shot rock. Tirinzonis hammer shot for a deuce did not curl enough, allowing Overton-Clapham to steal a single point. While the game will mean nothing to Overton-Clapham as far as the standings are concerned, Jones can clinch a berth in Saturday mornings semifinals with a win. “I am not sure of the standings, but it is a game we will likely have to win,” said Jones after defeating Scotlands Eve Muirhead 6-1 in the afternoon to improve to 4-2. “We will come out and try to play our best.” Jones, who struggled with consistency early in the week, liked the play of her rink on Thursday. Lawton came through under pressure on the games final shot for an important 6-5 win over Middaugh. “I had to play lighter weight, I came off a rock, tapped one of our other rocks sideways onto the button for two,” explained Lawton. “There wasnt really that much risk to it, but I wanted to take advantage of that second point and not have to go an extra end.” Middaugh kept her playoff hopes alive with a 4-2 win over Nedohin in the evening draw. ¡ Jennifer Jones (4-2), Stefanie Lawton (4-2), Sherry Middaugh (3-3), Silvana Tirinzoni (3-3) and Heather Nedohin (3-3) ¡ are in the hunt for the final three semifinal berths. ‘ ‘ ‘
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