WINNIPEG -- Glenn Howard played a game that was memorable for all the wrong reasons at the Canadian curling trials Tuesday night. The four-time world champion from Penetanguishene, Ont., allowed 2010 Olympic gold medallist Kevin Martin to score four in the ninth end in a 9-7 come-from-behind victory. "Thats the worse loss of my life, right there," said Howard, 51, whos also won four Briers. The victory lifted Martins record to 4-0, keeping the Edmonton skip as one of only two undefeated rinks at the trials, which will determine Canadas mens and womens teams at next years Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Howards rink drops to 1-3. Reigning Canadian champion Brad Jacobs from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has also yet to lose a game after he beat Calgarys Kevin Koe 9-4. Koe is at the bottom of the field with a 0-4 record, while hometown favourite Jeff Stoughton is 1-3 following an 11-5 loss to B.C.s John Morris (3-1). Mike McEwen, Manitobas other mens rink, defeated Torontos John Epping 10-7. McEwen improved to 2-2 and Epping is 1-3. "Its just hard out there," Martin said after a game he described as making him feel "spent." "Its a very emotional day, and games. Every one so far, all four, have just been battles to the last inch." Just over 7,430 fans at the MTS Centre witnessed Howards defeat, which the veteran said came at the hands of some unpredictable ice. That was especially true in the ninth end, when Martin scored the deadly four points to move ahead 8-7. "(Second) Brent (Laing) missed a peel and then the ice got unbelievably straight in the last two or three ends," Howard explained. "I threw a real good shot in my last one in nine and for some reason it didnt curl. I have no idea why. "I was happy with the way I let it go and it ends up being six to eight inches too much ice, which is unreal. Why? Why doesnt it curl there?" The killer in Koe and Jacobs game was the eighth end, when Jacobs was sitting four and Koe, the 2010 world champion, had the hammer and missed. The steal of four ended the match. Competitors have said this week its doubtful any team will go undefeated, and Jacobs was still believing that. "Obviously, anybody can beat anyone out there and its happening," said Jacobs, 28, who got his spot in Winnipeg out of the pre-trials event. "Everyone sees it, so real tough to go undefeated. I totally agree with that statement. Its virtually impossible, Id say, but there is a slight chance and right now were undefeated." Stoughton was discouraged after his loss, which included a bad fourth end. He flashed on his first throw and his second hit a Morris rock and then rolled out. That left Jim Cotter a draw to anywhere in the 12-foot for three and a 4-2 lead. Morris is skip, but throws third rocks. Stoughton looked mad at himself and briefly left the ice. He also failed to blank an end and then Morris went up 6-3 with a deuce in the sixth. "We need a lot of help, and thats too bad," said Stoughton, a 2011 world champion whos making his fifth and last try to get to an Olympics. "We had our fate in our own hands playing John because it would have brought everyone down to two losses and (then) youre basically in a playoff spot." http://www.leaf... . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. [url=http://www.leafshockeyfanstore.com/Darryl-Sittler-Jersey/]http://www.leafsh... . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. [url=http://www.leafshockeyfanstore.com/James-Van-Riemsdyk-Jersey/]http://www.le... . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. [url=http://www.leafshockeyfanstore.com/Shawn-Matthias-Jersey/]http://www.leafsh... . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. [url=http://www.leafshockeyfanstore.com/Tim-Horton-Jersey/]http://www.leafshocke... . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action.TORONTO - Not surprisingly, Terrence Ross rookie year was filled with the highs and lows you would expect from a 21-year-old. At times he dazzled, usually with his undeniable athleticism - winning the slam dunk contest at All-Star weekend - but just as often, if not more often, he would come back down to earth with the inconsistency and mental lapses associated with most first-year players. The Raptors eighth overall pick in 2012 averaged 6.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 73 games but shot just 41 per cent from the field and saw his role minimized following the midseason trade for Rudy Gay. To his own admission, the guard was not physically or mentally prepared for the grind of an NBA season; that realization hitting him immediately in training camp a year ago. "I didnt know what to expect," he said of last years camp. "I didnt know how hard it would be, I didnt know how it would wear on your body. I think I was just kind of warn down from the whole draft process so I think that kind of took effect but this year I took time off, relaxed and came back prepared and ready to play." Now a 22-year-old sophomore, Ross knows what to expect three days into his second camp as a professional. "I feel like its easier now," he admitted Thursday after practice. "I havent been getting sore, I feel fresh, Im always loose, always ready to go [and] Im in great shape so I just feel good to go." His coaches have noticed the change but are still mindful of the challenge that faces Ross going into his second year; a challenge that will determine if hes ready to take his game to the next level. "Defensively he was competing [and] offensively he was knocking down shots," Dwane Casey said of Ross stand out practice from Wednesday. "So his thing is being consistent, bringing the consistency to his game. Thats his next step because last year was a typical rookie year, up and down." "[He] had a great start then tailed off, then bounced back again," Casey continued. "So his thing is bringing it every day and every time he steps on the floor." "But hes a great kid, hes giving everything he has, its just [the] consistency." Open Competition After three days back at the Air Canada Centre, Casey continues to rave about his teams effort level and competitive spirit early in camp. Although the Raptors third-year head coach spotted some tired legs in Thursday mornings practice - following two long days and heavy conditioning drills Wednesday evening - he has been impressed with the focus of his players. For many of them, their roles - and in some cases their jobs - are at stake.dddddddddddd Although Casey has mixed up units over the first few days, the incumbent starting five of Gay, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas is fully expected to reclaim their spot above the teams depth chart. Of the 12 other players in camp, only four are holdovers from last season and with an infusion of added depth comes an open competition for second-unit minutes. "Its open," Casey stated. "Were looking for those spots. We have a lot of people who can step in and take that opportunity. There are going to be minutes there, [the starters] cant play 48 [minutes]." The Raptors ranked eighth in bench scoring for the first half of last season, getting 37.5 points per game from their reserves but dropped to 25th (27.3 points per) after the acquisition of Gay, as the starters were asked to eat up more minutes. "Were looking for that second unit and that was our nemesis [last year]," said Casey. "So whoever that second group is has to create an identity to come in and score and defend, either hold serve or increase the score, you cant go the other way." Veteran D.J. Augustin is battling rookie Dwight Buycks for the backup point guard job behind Lowry - although Augustin should have a leg up going into the season based on experience - while Ross, Landry Fields and new comers Steve Novak and Austin Daye should push for minutes behind DeRozan and Gay on the wing. Up front, Tyler Hansbrough - who has been a standout early in camp - should be the first big off the bench while Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray return but may only factor in should injuries or foul trouble occur, or if Casey chooses to stay with a big lineup. The Raptors have one final roster spot available and three camp invitees - forward Chris Wright, guards Julyan Stone and Carlos Morais - vying for it. Its still too early to say whether one has stood out above the rest, per Casey, but the performance of those three players - all on non-guaranteed deals - should determine whether the team chooses to fill that 15th spot. Off To Halifax The team will continue training camp on the east coast as they return to Halifax for two practices on Friday and an intrasquad game Saturday. Unlike last fall, when they held five days of camp in Halifax, the team wont have time for much sightseeing this time around. Aside from a players-only dinner planned for Thursday evening it will be strictly business before they head to Boston for their first of eight preseason games Monday. [url=http://www.cheapnflauthenticjerseys.cc/]Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '