COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A year after Patrick Kanes career appeared in jeopardy because of a sexual assault claim, the Chicago Blackhawks star was named one of the alternate captains for the United States for the World Cup of Hockey.Its a huge honor for sure, Kane said. Its one of those things I dont know if I was expecting to receive that, but at the same time, I still think its a responsibility I can handle and hopefully take somewhat of a leadership role and take charge.The sexual assault case in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, was dropped Nov. 5 for what the prosecutor said was a clear lack of evidence, and Kane quickly put aside the off-ice troubles. He had an early 26-game points streak and became the first American-born player to win the Art Ross (top scorer) and Hart (most valuable player) trophies.Sometimes you look back, its almost like a blur, it went by so quick, he said. It didnt seem like it at the time, but it was a really fun year.Kane had 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists) to become the first player to crack the 100-point mark in four seasons, and he finished 17 points ahead of runner-up Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars.He was on a roll early, got his confidence going and never looked back, said David Backes, the Boston Bruins center and U.S. teammate.Along the way, Kane might have grown up as well. The incident in Buffalo was the latest of several brushes with the law in his career.Im 27 years old. Im going to be 28 later this year; you want to maximize your potential, he said. You want to get all you can out of your prime while youre still young, maybe advance that prime into your later years, too. Thats where my thinking is now.U.S. and Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella knew Kanes reputation but did not know him before the Americans training camp opened Monday in the Ohio city.He has matured. We all see that, the coach said. A lot of things have gone on with him obviously. Just talking with him one-on-one here in the past couple of days you can see the maturity.Thats why Kane was named an alternate captain, along with the Minnesota Wilds Ryan Suter, to captain Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks.I want [Kane] to take more responsibility now, Tortorella said. Hes ready for more responsibility as a leader of a U.S. team where before it was Kaner, go play, and hes really good at it. I think hes ready for more responsibility, and Im ready to give it to him because he deserves it.The game has always come easy for Kane, who has won Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in 2010, 13 and 15 and a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. But last season, he ascended to a different level.He was the best player in the league last year, said?Montreal Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty. Not many people can play the game the way he does. Hes special.Pacioretty, Kane and Pavelski form the top line for the U.S., and they need to come through for any chance of winning the eight-team tournament. The U.S plays World Cup favorite Canada in exhibition games Friday in Columbus and Saturday in Ottawa.The focus will be on Kane, but this time, for a good reason.I sometimes catch myself over the summer saying, OK, you did it once but can you do it again? Can you prove yourself again? Kane said. It gave me a little bit of motivation over the summer, a lot of motivation. I want to get back to the level, stay there and do it as long as I can. Its fun when youre producing like that on the ice. You feel awesome. Dries Mertens Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Divock Origi Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Laurent-Ciman-Belgium-Jersey/ . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Leander Dendoncker Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Kevin Mirallas Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. The San Jose Sharks are intent on defending their Western Conference title, but to get the chance to do so theyll need to keep collecting points against the NHLs weaker teams.That means beating the Arizona Coyotes for the first time in 2016-17.The Sharks will try to close a lengthy homestand on a positive note Tuesday night, when they welcome the last-place Coyotes to the SAP Center for the first time this season.San Jose (12-9-1) dropped the first two meetings with the Coyotes, 3-2 in regulation on Nov. 1 and by the same score in overtime on Nov. 19. In northern California, however, the Sharks won four in a row from Arizona -- including two straight by shutout -- and picked up at least one point in 11 straight matchups (8-0-3).For them, in this building, they just want to pound shots on net, kind of create some chaos down there, so we have to be aware of that, Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski told the teams official website after Mondays practice.San Jose won three of four on its current homestand to improve to 7-3-0 at SAP Center. The defending West champs begin play Monday tied with the Los Angeles Kings for second place, one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers.The Sharks fell to 1-1-0 in the second games of back-to-back contests with Saturdays 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. San Jose coach Peter DeBoer wouldnt say that the quick turnaround was the reason for the defeat.I dont think its as much the back-to-back as the last seven, eight, nine days, he said. Theres no doubt it takes a toll. Logan Couture has been a sparkplug for the Sharks at home so far. His goal versus the Ducks was his fourth of the season on home ice -- all on the power play.Brent Burnss streak of three straight multi-point games ended in the loss, but hes also scored four times at home to tie Couture for the team high. Burns, named the leagues third star of the week on Monday, leads all NHL defensemen in scoring (eight goals, 12 assists), and posted six assists in his last six home games against Arizona.Joe Pavelski comes into this contest on a six-game points streak (two goals, four assists). Hes the Sharks top scorer at home with 10 points (three goals, seven assists), and is especially productive at home against the Coyotes with six goals -- four coming with the man advantage -- and eight assists over the last 11 matchups.ddddddddddddPavelski and Burns are also tied for the Sharks scoring lead with 20 points each.Martin Jones was in net Saturday, and is 2-1-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average, a .953 save percentage and a shutout during the homestand. While Jones has yet to beat Arizona this season, hes turned away 42 of 43 shots in two career home starts against them.Though theyre bringing up the rear in the conference, the Coyotes (8-10-2) are in search of their season-high third straight win after topping the Oilers 2-1 on Sunday to complete a home-and-home sweep. Radim Vrbata and Jamie McGinn scored for the Coyotes, who are 3-1-2 in the last six on the road after opening that portion of their schedule with five straight losses.I think weve definitely improved. The early road trip hurt us and we learned some lessons from that. The last little while here our games have looked better ... weve just got to keep building every day, Goligoski said.Vrbata and Max Domi spearhead Arizonas offense with 14 points apiece. But both players have proved to be more production on the road -- Vrbata with four goals and four assists and Domi with a goal and seven helpers.Vrbata scored four goals in a three-game streak at SAP Center, and five in his last six games in San Jose. Domi is still in search of his first career point on the road against the Sharks.Another player San Joses defense will want to look out for is Jordan Martinook, whos scored all five of his goals this season on the road.Mike Smith stopped 41 shots Sunday for his first win three tries on the road. He made a season-high 43 saves in the win over the Sharks on Nov. 19.As a member of the Coyotes, Smith is 3-4-1 with a 2.09 GAA, a .946 save percentage and two shutouts over his career in San Jose. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '