Canadian pairs and dance duos are at the top of their game early in the season at Skate Canada International. World bronze medalists and Canadian pairs champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford posted the highest total score of the season and won their first-ever Grand Prix gold at the recent Skate Canada International in Kelowna, B.C. Once again they challenged themselves this season by upping the ante technically, with the addition of a throw quadruple salchow. Only one team tried the risky throw in competition last year with no success and Meagan and Eric are one of only two teams that are likely to include it this year. Their strategy is unapologetically athletic and they are hoping that if they keep raising the technical bar higher and completing their elements well enough, the risk will produce big rewards and make them world title contenders along with the artistic Russian teams. Early in the season added technical risks tended to be their undoing as their dividends werent seemingly apparent until later on at Nationals and Worlds. This year, however, they have started out on fire and already look to be improving on last years World bronze win. In regard to their long program, I think this years routine is the perfect vehicle for them to showcase their athleticism while drawing in and engaging the audience in their performance. Canadian ice dancers were impressive in Kelowna, winning gold and silver. World silver medalists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje won gold by a comfortable margin and received instant standing ovations. While they delivered a convincing win, coupled with crowd pleasing performances on home ice, their real test will come in December at the Grand Prix Final where they will face off against the worlds best. It was an impressive first outing but what matters now is where they take the material from here. Past seasons have shown us that they are tenacious in their pursuit of improvement and refinement, so stay tuned. Silver medalists in the dance, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are off to a terrific start this season and made their eighth place finish at Worlds look like simply a stepping stone to bigger and better things this year. Their new material was well received and well rewarded, including that of their free dance, which I see as the best work they have done to date. Its inviting and easy to like while also showcases their innovative and superior skating quality. Results for Canadian skaters in the singles events were slightly subdued at Skate Canada due to the withdrawals of Kevin Reynolds, Elladge Balde and Kaetlyn Osmond due to injury. The big news for Canadians on the mens international stage is the emergence of 16-year-old Nam Nguyen on the Senior Grand Prix circuit. He shocked more seasoned competitors at Skate America, the season opener, with his bronze medal win. On his way to the bronze he defeated the current Olympic bronze medalist, Denis Ten and also finished ahead of U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott with a flawless long program. What was most impressive was the fact that it was Nguyens senior Grand Prix debut and he managed to nail a quad salchow in the free skate. Coming into this season Nam was not a skater who the contenders would figure into the mix. Now hes got the top guys glancing sideways at him, knowing that with the newfound quad and the impressive technical scores he has put up in the free skate, he can surely be a fit to play spoiler at any upcoming event. Nguyen will compete at the Cup of China this weekend alongside his training mate, Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan. Japanese men have won the first two Grand Prix events and Yuzu has said hes hoping to ride the wave to gold at the Cup of China. As strong as the Japanese men are, its the Russian women who are dominating the ladies events this season. It is possible - in fact quite likely - that the Russian women could win all of the Grand Prixs and qualify four or five spots out of a total six spots at the final. Thats how deep their women are. With the National Champ on the sidelines, Canadian hopes in that event shift now to the national silver medalist Gabrielle Daleman who begins her quest this Grand Prix season in China. She is young, a capable jumper and a determined competitor who is looking to move from her 13th place finish at worlds. She will be up against a tough field so will need to be at the top of her game to be in contention. Air Max 95 China Wholesale . "He came up to me and said, I want to train," said Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen. The 26-year-old midfielder is expected to play Saturday night when Toronto hosts D.C. United, returning to his Major League Soccer squad with mixed feelings about the Americans World Cup run -- sad that it ended when it did but proud of his teams performance. Brand Shoes Cheap Online .ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/who...rmax-china.html. Hes coming back to fulfil them. One of Europes top coaches, Blatt was hired Friday by the Cavaliers, who ended a sweeping, 39-day search with an out-of-the-box selection they hope changes their fortunes. Cheap Air Jordan 1 China . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. Cheap Vapormax China . In the calls, Hernandez discussed the murder of Odin Lloyd, including his "belief about his criminal liability" and the "extent of his control over persons charged as accessories," according to the request filed Thursday in Fall River Superior Court.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays turned the tables on C.J. Wilson. Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer, Ben Zobrist got four hits and the Rays roughed up the left-hander and the Los Angeles Angels 10-3 on Saturday night. Longoria put the Rays up 2-0 with his 13th homer of the season, connecting in the first inning off Wilson (8-7). Longoria became the first Tampa Bay player to reach 600 career RBIs. Brandon Guyer hit a two-run single that ended Wilsons night during a four-run second that put Tampa Bay ahead 6-0. "Whenever we played Wilson, hes normally got the better of us," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It was kind of unusual to see that moment. I know he had struggled a bit before he went on the DL, but nevertheless its still awkward because this guy is so good." Wilson made his first start since July 9 because of a sprained right ankle. He threw a complete game five-hitter to beat the Rays 6-0 on May 17. Over his last five starts, Wilson is 1-1 with a 12.50 ERA. "The overriding theme weve seen with C.J. is just controlling counts and missing spots and not being able to put hitters away," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think we saw some of that tonight. He was struggling to find his release point. We need him to figure it out." Chris Archer (7-6) struck out nine over six innings. Logan Forsythe hit a solo homer and Zobrist had an RBI double during a four-run eighth. "The team gave me some wiggle room," Archer said. Howie Kendrick and Hank Conger had RBI doubles in a three-run fourth that cut the Angels deficit to 6-3. Los Angeles had two on with one out in the eighth, but failed to score when Kendrick and David Freese struck out. Angels slugger Josh Hamiltoon went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and a walk one day after being hit on the left middle finger by a pitch.dddddddddddd Los Angeles reliever Joe Thatcher left in the fourth with a sprained left ankle, which occurred while fielding Guyers bunt single. Scioscia expects Thatcher will be placed on the disabled list. The Rays are 5-3 on a current nine-game homestand. Its their first winning homestand since May 20-25. James Loney added three hits and has reached base in 21 consecutive games. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Outfielder Collin Cowgill, sidelined by a broken nose, has started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake. Rays: Right fielder Wil Myers, on the disabled list since May 31 because of a broken right wrist, hopes to start a rehab assignment next Saturday at Triple-A Durham. Catcher Ryan Hanigan, out with a strained left oblique, started a rehab assignment with Single-A Charlotte. ON DECK Angels right-hander Jered Weaver (11-6) is looking to improve on a 4-4 record in 10 starts against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (7-8) has allowed three runs or less in nine straight starts. SMYLY TIME Drew Smyly joined the Rays on Saturday, two days after being acquired as part of a three-team deal that sent ace David Price to Detroit. The former Tigers left-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday at Oakland. MR. POTATO HEAD BP Scioscia wanted a Maddon "Mr. Potato Head" to see what Saturday nights giveaway looked like. The Rays manager, a long-time coach for Scioscia, sent over a full box. Scioscia then sent Maddon a funny video of the Angels skipper using a fungo bat to hit soft tosses of "Mr. Potato Head," around the office. "Mashed potato heads," Maddon said with a smile. ' ' '