TORONTO -- Jon Cornish doesnt like his chances of being the first Canadian in 34 years to be named the CFLs outstanding player. J... Lens Netherland Jersey . The Calgary Stampeders running back is the West Divisions nominee for the award but is up against the versatile Chad Owens of the Toronto Argonauts. Cornish, a native of New Westminster, B.C., is attempting to become the first Canadian to capture the honour since tight end Tony Gabriel, a native of Burlington, Ont., did so in 1978 while with the Ottawa Rough Riders. The CFL will honour its top individual performers at its awards banquet Thursday night. "Ive always been just trying to help my team," Cornish said. "But in this particular case, youre up against a player as great and game-changing as Chad Owens, I wouldnt speak too highly of my own chances." Owens, 30, was the CFL leader in receiving (94 catches for 1,328 yards and six TDs) and return yards (2,510) and accumulated a league-record 3,863 all-purpose yards. Owens, a native of Hawaii affectionately dubbed The Flyin Hawaiian, is a big reason why Toronto is making its first Grey Cup appearance since 04. But the six-foot, 217-pound Cornish had a record-setting season of his own. He led the CFL in rushing with 1,457 yards, becoming the first Canadian to do so since Orville Lee achieved the feat in 88 with Ottawa. But Cornish also broke Norm Kwongs 56-year-old record for most rushing yards in a season by a Canuck of 1,437. "It would be a huge honour (to win outstanding player) and it would really be a testament to how far Canadians have come," Cornish said. "I really think Canadians can bring the C back to the CFL. "I would say this is a start, as a nation weve been building up our football program. Coaches are getting better, the programs have more money, so I think over time that will improve. So with us, (B.C. Lions running back) Andrew Harris, (Hamilton slotback) Andy Fantuz, (Montreal linebacker) Shea Emry, all the great Canadians in this league, were just a start." Even if Owens is named the outstanding player, chances are good Cornish wont leave the awards banquet empty-handed. Hes also a finalist for outstanding Canadian, a heavy favourite for the award against Emry, a native of Richmond, B.C., who had a career-best 87 tackles this season with seven sacks. Emry is also a finalist for the top defensive player award, the first Canadian to do so since 2006 when B.C. Lions defensive end Brent Johnson, a native of Kingston, Ont., won it. Trouble is, Emry is up against Edmonton linebacker J.C. Sherritt, who had a league-record 130 tackles along with three sacks and five interceptions. The other nominees include: Hamilton receiver Chris Williams and B.C.s Tim Brown (top special-teams player); Lions offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye and Montreal tackle Josh Bourke (outstanding lineman); and Winnipeg receiver Chris Matthews and Lions defensive lineman Jabar Westerman (top rookie). The five-foot-nine, 155-pound Williams -- the CFLs top rookie last season -- had a league-record six return touchdowns in 2012 (five punts, one missed field goal). He was tops in punt returns (78 for 1,117 yards) and second in missed field goal returns (five for 256 yards). Brown finished second to Owens in all-purpose yards (2,687), was second in punt returns (72 for 914 yards, two TDs) and third in kickoff returns (55 for 1,303 yards). Bourke and Olafioye are outstanding lineman nominees for the second straight year. Bourke won it last season. The six-foot-seven, 315-pound Bourke anchored an offensive line that surrendered just 30 sacks as Montreal finished tied for first in the CFL in both touchdowns and fewest sacks allowed as well as second in passing. The 30-year-old Windsor, Ont., native was a 2011 league all-star. The six-foot-six, 346-pound Olafioye helped B.C.s offence lead the CFL in yards per game and rushing. The 24-year-old Detroit native hasnt missed a start in three seasons with the Lions. The six-foot-five, 229-pound Matthews was Winnipegs leading receiver as a rookie, sixth overall, with 81 catches for 1,192 yards and seven TDs despite the Bombers using three different quarterbacks this season. Westerman, a native of Brampton, Ont., was selected second overall in the 2012 CFL draft and recorded 14 tackles and four sacks for a defence that led the league in 18-of-25 categories, including sacks (47). .J. -- Rex Ryan is sticking with Geno Smith. [url=http://www.officialmlbclub.com/Baltimore-Orioles-Matt-Wieters-Jersey.html]M... Wieters Jersey . The Rangers moved a step closer to the top spot in the division on Friday, as Elvis Andrus homered and drove in two, helping Texas to a 4-1 win. Adrian Beltre also hit a home run and Michael Young added an RBI for the Rangers, who have won two straight. Jean Segura Brewers Jersey . -- Tiago Splitter tipped in a rebound with 2. George Brett . A trip to the Santiago Bernabeu looked to have consigned City to the harshest of starts to the continents premier club competition but the English champions will be relishing the chance to pile more misery on Madrid. The Spanish giants have dropped eight points from a possible 12 in the defence of their La Liga title, leaving the team in the unusual position of mid-table and prompting heavy criticism from coach Jose Mourinho about the players lack of commitment and spirit.TORONTO -- Dave Bolland is skating again. Thats significant progress more than two months after Zack Kassians left skate blade severed a tendon in the back of Bollands left ankle. But the Toronto Maple Leafs centre still doesnt know when hell return to practice, let alone game action. "Who knows?" Bolland said Saturday after skating solo for the fourth time this week. "I want to be out there with the guys, and I want to skate with them. Thats the next goal." Thats a reasonable goal but not one the Leafs are going to rush toward, even though Bolland will miss his 35th game Saturday night and likely several more. Toronto is 14-15-5 since Bolland went out, but coach Randy Carlyle affirmed that the 27-year-old wont be back until hes 100 per cent. "We cant afford to take any type of risk with this type of injury," Carlyle said. "We all know that its a tough one to come back from. Its a long, tedious process, and specifically where it was in the tendon that was injured, its pretty dramatic." Bolland knows all too well just how long and tedious this process has been. He wasnt able to put weight on the ankle for a long time and only this week was able to get his foot in a specially-designed boot and get back on the ice. "Its a slow rehab," Bolland said in his first comments to reporters since November. "Its not like any other rehab when you break an ankle and you can just say six weeks and youre back and its healed. You cut a tendon and its got to re-heal itself. Youve got to do the rehab, do the movements in with the trainers and in at the gym. Its not fun. Its gruelling." The gruelling part isnt just physical pain, its the mental anguish of the man who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Chicago Blackhawks knowing he cant help his hometown team while sitting out. Bolland said he has gotten "a little mentally broken down" along the way. "When youre watching and youre off the ice it does screw with your head a lot, mentally, beccause I think when you cut a tendon, its a big deal," he said. [url=http://www.nhlblackhawkshockeystore.com/red-39-nikolai-khabibulin-womens-je... Khabibulin Blackhawks Jersey[/url]. "You never know." Bolland still doesnt know. All that he can recall is how Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson returned 10 weeks after having his Achilles tendon sliced and the struggles Mike Modano dealt with when he had a similar injury. The Toronto native didnt consult with Karlsson or Modano about their experiences, but he knows what they went through. "I remember (Modano) saying that it wasnt fun coming back from that," Bolland said. "I could feel that pain, too." Physically, Bolland still feels the pain. He hopes the good days outweigh the bad as he works back. "It gets sore once in a while when Im on the ice," Bolland said. "When youre skating, youre doing cross-overs, youre stopping, when youre using that tendon, youre going to feel the pain and youre going to have some situations like that." Bolland said hes learning how to do everything all over again because of how long he has been kept off the ice. While away, he was able to do off-ice workouts, but nothing compares to skating. Skating with teammates would put him another step closer. Its possible Bolland goes on the Leafs upcoming Western Conference road trip, but Carlyle said that decision had not been made yet. Bolland, who had six goals and four assists in his first 15 games with the Leafs, wants to go. But he understands the need for caution. "You want to be out there," he said. "You think some days you can push it and you push it too much and you set yourself behind. Youre just hurting yourself. I think for myself its being patient and being ready when Im ready." Notes -- Leafs centre Peter Holland wasnt feeling well and was given Saturdays morning skate off. Carlyle said he expects Holland to play against the Montreal Canadiens. ... Toronto recalled forward Troy Bodie from the AHL, and hes expected to replace the injured David Clarkson in the lineup. ' ' '