~~**PINNWAND**~~ » rik Elias registered the winner in the shooto

TORONTO -- The Maple Leafs boast a predominantly Canadian roster with 20 players holding Canadian passports; however, many are struggling when it comes to deciding who to cheer for come Fridays semifinal of mens hockey at the Olympics, which features Leafs teammates Phil Kessel and James van Reimsdyk against the Canadians. The Leafs were back on the ice Wednesday following an 10-day break. It apparently wasnt long enough, as Team Canadas 2-1 win over Latvia didnt conclude before the Leafs began practice. "I was thinking we might get a little delay, but it was nice to get out there," said Tyler Bozak of watching Wednesdays game." Bozak, a native of Regina, Sask., centres a line of Kessel and van Riemsdyk. He also shares an apartment with Kessel in Toronto. He has been in touch with his linemates during the break. "Theyre enjoying it, they said everythings great," said Bozak. "The village is nice, theyre meeting lots of new people and having fun. Theyre winning lots of games and playing really well." When asked who hed be cheering for in Fridays rematch of the 2010 gold medal game, Bozak appeared on the fence. "Its going to be an exciting game to watch for sure. I really cant make any predictions," he said. "I dont knowa the U.S. has been playing great. Canadas kind of snuck by with a few wins, but every games different and it should be a fun one to watch. "I just hope Phil and JVR play really well and maybe Canada wins, I dont know." Nazem Kadri, who spent his break along with Bozak and Frazer McLaren in the Caribbean, isnt sure of Canadas chances. "I want to say Canada, but to be honest, I think the U.S. looks a little bit better," said the London, Ont. native. "In tournaments like these, its all about one game, one period swing where that could be the difference." Sudbury, Ont. native, Randy Carlyle admitted cheering for Canada isnt as easy as it may appear. "I wish our players all the success in the world and I think its important for us to never lose sight of the fact that youre part of a team, but again, I am Canadian," said Carlyle, who spent his break in California. "There is things pulling at your heart strings in different directions thats for sure." Kessel has been the talk of the tournament leading the way with five goals and eight points heading in to Fridays game. He was also the topic de jour at the Leafs practice facility in Etobicoke Wednesday. When asked if Kessel, who is second behind just Alexander Ovechkin in regular season scoring with 31 goals, has put himself amongst the best players in the NHL, Carlyle was quick to pump the breaks. "Thats a big statement for anybody to come out and proclaim on any player. It takes a longer period of time than just five years (or) six years," Carlyle said. "Hes not a one-dimensional player as people described him previously. Hes a guy who still has some things that wed like him to stop doing, but hes become more of a two-way player." Kadri, who according to Carlyle returned with the best-looking tan on the team, isnt surprised at Kessels success in Sochi. "I think we all knew Phil was going to achieve more especially on that big ice," he said. "Not too many players in the league can skate with him so. Phil does a great job finding areas to get open." Carlyle admitted one player he is concerned about is Nikolai Kulemin. Kulemin was part of the Russian team, which fell 3-1 to Finland in the quarter-finals. "Nobody asks questions about how youre going to feel about Nikolai Kulemin coming back and thats a tough one," said Carlyle. "Host country and the way their tournament unravelled. "Hes part of our hockey club and weve got to find a way to build him back up and get him going again." Notes: Injured forwards David Bolland (foot), Peter Holland (lace bite), Carter Ashton (hand) and Trevor Smith (undisclosed) were all participants in Wednesdays 50 minute skate at the MasterCard Centre. Once Bolland, Smith and Ashton return from injured reserved, the Leafs will have 25 players on their active roster and will require some moves. Cheap Air Max Plus Mens .com) - Patrik Elias registered the winner in the shootout as New Jersey nipped Toronto 2-1 at Prudential Center on Wednesday. Wholesale Air Max Plus . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick. http://www.cheapairmaxplus.net/. Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Cheap Air Max Plus China . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. Air Max Plus Cheap . However, the intensity and physicality that has characterized the postseason so far has caught Gretzky by surprise. "Its a little bit risqué right now," Gretzky told Philadelphia radio station 97.Beijing, China (SportsNetwork.com) - U.S. Open champion Serena Williams and Wimbledon titlist Petra Kvitova moved into the quarterfinals at the star-studded $5.4 million China Open. The world No. 1 two-time China Open champ Serena outlasted 13th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1, 1-6, 6-2, while the third-seeded Kvitova received a walkover into the quarters when 16th-seeded former No. 1 Venus Williams pulled out of the draw, citing a viral illness, at Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center. Serena retired from a match last week at the Wuhan Open, citing a virus, as well. Serena, who captured her 18th Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open last month, beat Jelena Jankovic for last years Beijing title and also captured this event in 2004. The hot Wimbledon champion Kvitova is fresh off her title in Wuhan, China. The reigning U.S. Open champion Serenas quarterfinal opponent will be former U.S. Open champ Sam Stosur, while Kvitova will face Italian Roberta Vinci on Friday. Stosur stunned Serena in the 2011 U.S. Open final. Second-seeded French Open runner-up Simona Halep advanced with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-6 (7-1) victory ovver 15th-seeded German and 2011 Beijing runner-up Andrea Petkovic.dddddddddddd. But following the victory, Halep pulled out of the tournament due to a hip injury, thus giving ninth-seeded former world No. 1 star Ana Ivanovic a walkover into the semifinals. It was a tough match against Andrea today, and I had to fight a lot. Im happy I was able to win and finish the match in the right way, but I have a hip injury and it would be risky for me to play again tomorrow, Halep said in a statement. In other third-round action, Svetlana Kuznetsova took out seventh-seeded German Angelique Kerber 2-6, 6-4, 6-3; Ivanovic beat last years Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 7-5; Vinci upset 12th-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 0-6, 7-5; and Stosur stopped Frances Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-2 on Day 6 at this hardcourt event. Fridays other quarterfinal will pit fourth-seeded former No. 1 Maria Sharapova against fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. Sharapova was a Beijing runner-up two years ago. The two-time Grand Slam champion Kuznetsova is a two-time China Open winner and two-time runner-up. This weeks big winner will claim $918,000. ' ' '