WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are hoping their third quarterback of the season will lead them to their second victory of 2012. Joey Elliott, out last season with a torn knee ligament, will start Thursday in place of Alex Brink when Winnipeg (1-5) hosts the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3). Watch the game live on TSN Thursday at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. "Its a great opportunity," Elliott said after practice Monday. "Your familys been backing you through a long injury, a lot of ups and downs with an injury, and to be able to come back and be able get a start under your belt, it feels really good." Offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton and head coach Paul LaPolice say there wasnt a lot separating Brink and Elliott in training camp this year. Elliotts injured leg (he still wears a brace) had to be a factor but he insists it should not be an issue. "I feel like the knees doing perfectly fine," Elliot said. "Ive ran around, feeling perfectly confident on it." Both Crowton and LaPolice are careful not to put any blame on Brink, who was 1-2 as a starter. He did manage to deliver their only win in 2012, a 23-22 nailbiter against the Edmonton Eskimos. "Neither guy has earned two and neither guy doesnt deserve two, if that makes sense," LaPolice said of the slot behind injured starter Buck Pierce. Brinks two losses bookended his win -- 25-22 defeat July 18 in Toronto, where he completed only 9-of-34 passes, and an Aug. 3 home loss where he hit on 25-of-39 throws, but still lost 36-26 to Montreal. "Alex was behind Joey last year (on the depth chart)," said Crowton, a former U.S. college and NFL coach in his first season guiding the Bombers offence. "This year it was neck and neck, so we felt like Alex did some good things but we want to see what Joey can do. And Joeys really worked hard, looked pretty good in practice, so were going to give him that opportunity." This is Elliotts third year in the CFL, all with the Bombers. In all that time hes started only two games, in 2010, when Pierce was out for most of the season and the Bombers finished dead last in the CFL at 4-14. Brink and Steven Jyles, the clubs backup at the time, were also injured. Last season, that torn ACL cost him his shot and Brink filled in, getting more experience. Now, the young product of Purdue, who celebrated his 26th birthday just two weeks ago, is finally getting another chance. The Bombers are in need of something fast to shake off their worst start since 2008. "I think Joey Elliott has some tools that are very good. He anticipates throws," LaPolice said. "He gets the ball out of his hands quickly. Hes as accurate a passer as have." Despite the change, LaPolice wont say quarterback is his weakest offensive link. "Thats hard to say because throwing the football is built into so many things, whether its dropped passes or protection, being able to run the ball and keeping people off balance. "I wouldnt characterize that as the weakest part. I just think our offence has to get better." Elliott, meanwhile, isnt short on confidence. "Ive been here for a few years," said Elliot, who has completed just 51.4 per cent of his passes in the CFL. "Its not like theyre going with a rookie." wholesale jerseys . The Clippers (5-3) open the regular season on Wednesday against Memphis. Denver (3-3) plays its exhibition finale Friday night against Phoenix before opening the season at Philadelphia, also on Wednesday. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Defenceman Dougie Hamilton scored 9:03 into the second overtime Thursday as the Niagara IceDogs took Game 1 of the Ontario Hockey League final, 3-2 over the London Knights. http://www.cheapauthenticjer... . The league said in a statement the Spitfires admit violating the leagues recruitment policy and as a result of their co-operation in this matter commissioner David Branch was reducing the penalties against the club. [url=http://www.cheapauthenticjerseysfromchina.com/]cheap jerseys . According to the Nashville Tennessean, Predators general manager David Poile will try to trade the Russian forwards rights or allow him to return to the Kontinental Hockey League. cheap jerseys from china . Zeeman, a Laurentian University student from Cambridge, Ont., finished third in 08:20.76. Germanys Julia Lier won gold in 08:17. MILAN, Italy -- Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice to help crisis-ridden AC Milan to a much-needed 2-0 win against 10-man Cagliari in Serie A on Wednesday. El Shaarawy, who also scored in the loss at Udinese on Sunday, netted in each half and also had an effort deflected onto the crossbar as Milan ended the jinx of the new San Siro pitch. It is the teams first goals at home in any competition this season and the first time either of the Milan teams has won there. Cagliari had several opportunities to score but had Daniele Conti sent off in the 66th minute to hurt its chances. "We are all with him (coach Massimiliano Allegri), he has our confidence," El Shaarawy said. "We continue like this. I am young but I always try to give my maximum, today I think I succeeded. Today we had the right spirit, we attacked from the start. We suffered a bit but together we managed to win. "Ive had a lot of confidence from Allegri this year. Hes allowing me to play. Im really happy with the win, which will really boost our morale. Elsewhere, Edinson Cavani missed a penalty but scored a hat trick as Napoli beat title rival Lazio 3-0 to move level on points with defending champion Juventus at the top of the table. "I dont know if its a two-way fight with Juventus for the title, its way too early to say so," Cavani said. "The only thing we know is that we have a good group and the best staff. We hope to continue like this, like we did tonight. "Im happy for the three goals, but what matters here is the squads aims. We are all happy because we had a great match and there is so much desire to do well, even from those that arent on the pitch. We always have to give our maximum." Napolis game was also a fantastic advertisement for fair play after Miroslav Klose appeared to put the home side ahead in the fourth minute. However, the German striker admitted to the referee that he had palmed it into the net and the goal was rightly ruled out. Milan badly needed a victory but came into the game in the worst possible condition. Allegri was forced to watch the game from the stands after being banned for one match for insulting officials, while Kevin-Prince Boateng and Cristian Zapata were also serving suspensions. Alexandre Pato, Mathieu Flamini and Sulley Muntari are all still injured, but Robinho made a return following a long layoff and played 25 minutes. El Shaarawy slotted home the opening goal in the 15th minute following a brilliant through ball from Riccardo Montolivo. It was the Italy strikers first league goal against a team other than Udinese -- against which he has scored three times.dddddddddddd. Cagliari was unlucky not to get a penalty when Bakaye Traore -- who was making his debut for Milan -- shoved Francesco Pisano in the area. Milan could have doubled its lead three minutes before the break. El Shaarawys effort was deflected by Davide Astori onto the crossbar and it came out to Giampaolo Pazzini, who headed it goalward from seven yards, only for Astori to clear off the line. Conti was sent off for an arm across Pazzinis face halfway through the second period, and El Shaarawy scored his third goal in two games eight minutes from fulltime. There was more disappointment for Roma as it was held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Sampdoria. Francesco Totti opened the scoring in the 35th minute with his 216th Serie A goal, a day before his 36th birthday. Sampdoria midfielder Enzo Maresca was sent off in the opening minute of the second half after picking up his second yellow card. However, despite the numerical disadvantage, Sampdoria levelled shortly after the hour mark following a horrendous error from Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who dropped the ball straight at the feet of Gianni Munari for the easiest of tap-ins. Elsewhere, Inter Milan strolled to a 2-0 win at Chievo Verona, courtesy of goals from Alvaro Pereira and Antonio Cassano. It was a comedy of errors at Catania as the home side beat Atalanta 2-1. Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar kicked a harmless back pass straight at Atalantas Maximiliano Moralez, who was just yards away. Moralez rounded the shot-stopper and fired home. Atalantas lead lasted just three minutes before Nicolas Spolli levelled with a header that crept in between Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consiglis legs. Pablo Barrientos scored the winner for Catania. Genoa drew 1-1 with Parma. Alessandro Lucarelli gave Parma the lead, but Marco Borriello levelled from the spot two minutes from time. Borriello had sent an earlier penalty crashing off the left upright. Meanwhile, Torino hit the goal frame three times as it drew 0-0 with Udinese. In the earlier game, Vladimir Weiss scored a stunning 87th-minute goal to give Pescara its first Serie A win in 20 years, a 1-0 victory against 10-man Palermo. Palermo went close several times in the first half but defender Steve von Bergen received a straight red card in the 35th minute. He used his hand to stop Ante Vukusic from going clear through on goal just outside the area. It is Gian Piero Gasperinis second loss in charge since taking over from the fired Giuseppe Sannino just over a week ago. ' ' '