REGINA -- Theyre the overwhelming favourite as Grey Cup hosts and are carrying the weight of an entire provinces expectations. But the presssure is off the Saskatchewan Roughriders, according to head coach Corey Chamblin. He says getting to Sundays CFL championship was the real challenge. "The biggest pressure for our team was making sure no one else sat in our locker-room," Chamblin said Wednesday at the annual Grey Cup coaches news conference. "Its about working all off-season, all year to protect your house and that was the biggest thing and the biggest pressure we had. "Were in it now and as I tell the guys, if were good enough to be in it were good enough to win it. Its time for it to be decided now on the football field, not in the media, not with trash talking." Riders general manager Brendan Taman made it clear early this off-season he was serious about fielding a Grey Cup contender with Regina hosting the big game. He acquired receiver Geroy Simon from the B.C. Lions before adding defensive linemen Ricky Foley and John Chick and defensive back Dwight Anderson in free agency. Not only are Simon, Foley, Chick and Anderson all CFL veterans but each has a Grey Cup ring, Chick earning his with the Riders in 07 before heading to the NFL. However, adding experienced performers to an already solid core only served to jack up expectations in football-mad Saskatchewan, especially after both B.C. and Toronto had captured Grey Cup titles as the host city the past two years. The Roughriders, who will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Moasic Stadium on Sunday, lived up to that billing, winning its first five regular-season games and eight-of-nine before suffering three straight losses. After rebounding with three consecutive victories, the Riders were relegated second in the West Division behind Calgary after dropping a 29-25 decision to the Stampeders on Oct. 26. Saskatchewan (11-7) lost its final two-regular season games before beating B.C. 29-25 in the West semifinal, then emphatically dispatching Calgary 35-13 at McMahon Stadium in last weekends division final. "The thing about pressure is how you deal with it," Chamblin said. "By having some of the veterans we added and just having the core of our football team, we took that pressure and applied it to ourselves. "Were extreme competitors in our room and we use all the outside pressure to help make sure were where we want to be." To claim Saskatchewans fourth Grey Cup title, Chamblin will have to beat someone who was instrumental in leading the franchise to two championships. Hamilton coach Kent Austin guided the Riders to the 89 crown as the clubs starting quarterback, then in 07 as its head coach. The Riders clearly havent forgotten -- a large banner of Austin hangs outside of Mosaic Stadium and a parking lot still bears his name. "I actually come in the other way," Chamblin said when asked about seeing Austins banner every day he comes to work. "Theres great history here in Saskatchewan and Kents been part of that and the one thing I never want to do is remove those ancient landmarks. "Thats part of the foundation . . . so for me to see that is an honour and I try to build on all the things those guys did in the past." Austin will forever be associated with Saskatchewans Grey Cup success, but he has also jilted the teams loyal fans. In 94 while mired in a contract impasse with the club, Austin demanded to be traded and was to B.C., helping the Lions win the Grey Cup. In 07 after leading the Riders to their CFL title, he abruptly left Regina to become the offensive co-ordinator at Ole Miss, his alma mater. In 2012, he was mentioned as a head-coaching candidate with both the Riders and Ticats but opted to remain at Cornell before ultimately returning to the CFL a year later with Hamilton, again drawing the ire of some Saskatchewan football fans. But Austin said he will forever cherish his memories of playing and coaching in Regina. "Im very honoured to be recognized," he said. "This organization has meant a lot to me and my family and were proud to have had a history here both with the team and the community. "Its hard to get here and every one of the Grey Cups are special but that being said, its best to face Saskatchewan. If I was going to play a team, it would be Saskatchewan. If were not going to win it, which we hope very much that we do, it will be good to see Saskatchewan in there." Austin led Hamilton to a 10-8 record and second in the East Division in his first season as the clubs vice-president of football operations, coach and GM. The Ticats are in the Grey Cup for the first time since 99, but Austin said thats more a testament to the clubs players and not its coach. "This is a team game and there a lot of people you need to do things at a very high level to win championships across the board," he said. "We (head coaches) are just a part of it, a small part of it. "Players win football gams, not coaches." The Riders might be playing on their home field but Chamblin is attempting to reduce distractions by putting players in hotels and imposing a nightly curfew. "When you look at the Grey Cup, its a championship game (involving) the two best teams in the league," he said. "The biggest thing is I want them to stay in the routine theyve been in, that they only think football. "I just dont want them to deviate from the norm of what theyve had." . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. [url=http://www.officialmlbshoponline.net/New-York-Mets-Cyber-Monday-Yoenis-Cesp... Cespedes Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. [url=http://www.officialmlbshoponline.net/Chicago-Cubs-Cyber-Monday-Kris-Bryant-... Bryant Cubs Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34.FIVE NBA THOUGHTS: 1. DEMAR DEROZAN (Raptors): His numbers of late are quite impressive, but more importantly to me, I see a guy who has matured and is very professional. Hes prepared to play and he hates to lose. He has good competitive spirit. His confidence is growing and he knows now what works for him and what doesnt. There have been some stretches this year where I look out on the court and see a guy who is the best player on the court on either team. Can he build that into being a guy who is at that level consistently game to game? Only time will tell, but Im definitely seeing a guy this season from the start of training camp until now who is totally engrossed in his craft and has paid the price in the off-season working on his skills, strength and conditioning to move himself to another peg in the progression of his game. 2. DERRICK WILLIAMS (Kings): The former second-overall pick of the Timberwolves (2011) is shipped to Sacramento. Maybe a fresh start will help him. Hes a combo 3-4 or 4-3, whichever way you want to put it. Hes a guy more comfortable with his game working 15 feet and in, though hes capable of making threes. The bottom line is, when a team that invested heavily in you gives up on you so early, youve got to look in the mirror and ask why and make the adjustments in your game and approach to improve. The Kings need scoring and hell be able to provide that. It goes to show that in todays NBA, you need to bring at least one or two discernable high-end skills to the table and excel at those to carve out your niche. If youre pretty good-to-average at everything and are stuck between positions, you kind of get caught in no mans land. Williams is young player who still has plenty of time to figure it out. This is a wake-up call though. 3. ERSAN ILYASOVA (Bucks): Hes haad a disappointing season so far, only averaging nine points per game and four boards per game, but injuries have been a factor.dddddddddddd Ive always been a fan of his game because hes a tough competitor who battles on the glass, plays hard and shoots it well from distance. It just seems something always gets out of kilter for him with Milwaukee. Hes a guy, if they sour on him, whos worth a look from a bunch of teams if he gets dangled out there on the market. I firmly believe that hes a good player and with the right point guard situation, could thrive. 4. BRADLEY BEAL (Wizards): Hes now out for a few weeks with a leg injury. I saw him on Friday night in Toronto and I gotta tell you: I love his game. Hes got a beautiful stroke. When I watch him and John Wall together, Im fascinated by their potential as a back court. Hes greatly developed the ability to create his own shot and he and Wall could be an intriguing duo for a long time. Hopefully, this injury doesnt set him back too far, as hes really starting to come into his own. 5. 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