looking toward a shot at the national championship

To put it bluntly, were spoiled. We really are. There have been 36 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships and Canada has won gold 15 times. No country has won more. We are used to greatness. We expect it as Canadian hockey fans. In the 10 years from 1988 to 1997, led by the likes of Eric Lindros, Scott Niedermayer and Jarome Iginla, Canada won eight gold medals, including five straight. Then, from 2005 to 2009, Canada won another five straight with teams featuring future NHL All-Stars in Dion Phaneuf, Carey Price and Sidney Crosby. But heres the rub: since that gold medal triumph in 2009 won by a team coached by the Pat Quinn and including PK Subban, John Tavares and Evander Kane, Canada has not won the tournament again. Sure, Canada has medaled in three of those four years (silvers in 2010 and 2011 and a bronze in 2012,) but for a country where hockey is king, you dont celebrate being anything but the best. Is it time to worry? Yes, there have been droughts before. Upon the WJHCs inception in 1977, Canada didnt win gold until its sixth year. Granted, in those days, Canada typically sent that years Memorial Cup champions to the tournament, rather than the teams filled with the nations best junior players that were used to seeing now. After Canadas five straight triumphs ending in 1997, the country went seven years without a gold. Even players the calibre of Vincent Lecavalier, Roberto Luongo and Rick Nash couldnt bring home the title. The nation fretted then and that unease is starting to return with this current dearth of titles. Is that fair, though? Every December, many assume these young men will bring home the gold. But if Brent Sutters team doesnt hear "O Canada" on January 5th of next year, it will be another six-year drought. As a Canadian hockey fan, how concerning is it that Canada hasnt won world junior gold recently? As always, its Your! Call. Air Max 95 Sale Canada . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2. Air Max 270 Mens Canada . In a series of tweets, it is explained by the Department of Player Safety that Niederreiter makes full body contact with Burrows and although there is head contact, he does not "pick" the head in the course of making the hit. http://www.clearanceairmaxcanada.com/. - First-timer Chris Harris Jr. Air Max 180 Canada . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. Air Max Deluxe Canada .J. - Percy Harvin is ready to go, and theres no question in his mind hell be playing Sunday.EUGENE, Ore. -- Quarterback Marcus Mariota has announced that he will return to Oregon for his junior season. There had been speculation that Mariota might declare himself eligible for the NFL. Following Oregons 36-35 victory over Oregon State in the Civil War last Friday, he said he hadnt yet made a decision. But on Tuesday the school announced on its website that Mariota would stay, along with junior Hroniss Grasu, a three-year starter at centre. "It is an honour to be a student at the University of Oregon and to have the opportunity to represent our institution on the football field alongside my teammates," Mariota said in a statement. "I look forward to earning my degree next year and to the rest of my career at this great University." Mariota has thrown 30 touchdowns this season for the Ducks, who finished the regular season 10-2. Oregon will know its post-season fate on Sunnday when the bowl pairings are announced.dddddddddddd He has thrown a touchdown in all 25 games hes played in as a Duck, the third-longest current streak in the nation. His 39 touchdowns this season -- 30 passing, 9 rushing -- and 3,994 yards of total offence are the most in a single season at Oregon. Widely considered a top Heisman Trophy candidate this season, Mariota was hampered by what appeared to be a left knee injury the last five games of the season. Oregon doesnt discuss injuries as a policy so it was difficult to determine how serious it was. The Ducks won their first eight games and were looking toward a shot at the national championship but they lost to Stanford in Palo Alto. Oregon lost again two weeks later at Arizona, which took the Ducks out of the Pac-12 championship game. Stanford and Arizona State play for the league championship and a Rose Bowl berth on Saturday. ' ' '