The subject of the NHLs participation in future Olympic Games came up at a join media conference Tuesday in Sochi featuring NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players Association executive director Donald Fehr and IIHF president Rene Fasel. RaShede Hageman Falcons Jersey . The NHL has not committed to sending players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman continued to throw his support behind the NHLs participation in the Olympics when asked about it in a press conference last week. But, as expected, Bettman said this will be something addressed down the road. "The primary building blocks are logistics of travel, to and from the Olympics," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said afterwards. "It was a big challenge coming to Sochi and it certainly would be a big challenge if we were to go to South Korea. Player insurance is always a factor with the magnitude and length of player contracts these days, an incredible number of assets at risk. "So those were two of the most fundamental things we talked about." Daly added that the NHLs participation this time was helped by the fact that NHL broadcasters CBC and NBC also were Olympic rights holders. But the rights holders have yet to be determined for 2018. "So we havent really given any serious consideration to South Korea at all," Daly said. The players will have a big say on this issue. Fehr promised a full and thorough investigation as to whether continued Olympic participation is what the players want. The NHL players volition to compete in the Olympics has been the main driving force behind their participation in the Winter Games. World Cup closer to return Fehr hinted that the two sides are closer to announcing details on a World Cup of Hockey. There hasnt been one played since 2004 and the speculation continues to be the next World Cup could happen as soon as 2016. There was the usual playfulness between Bettman and Fasel. At one point Fasel said there is nothing like seeing the smile of a hockey player when he wins a gold medal. To which Bettman was quick to reply, "Except winning the Stanley Cup." Finally, Daly was asked about expansion. There was a recent newspaper story in Seattle that said the NHL has targeted the city for an expansion team. "I think whenever Im asked that question, I make the same comments," he said. "The Pacific Northwest, we think is a good hockey area. I think the Vancouver Canucks have done extraordinarily well in developing that area as a good hockey market. Doesnt mean were going to expand there, doesnt mean weve made any decisions in that regard. "I said the same thing about Quebec City. I also believe its a very good hockey market with a very strong and passionate fan base. So theres nothing more I can say on expansion than we did [at the NHL Board of Governors meetings] in Pebble Beach, which is at some point in time it might be an appropriate consideration for us to bring to the board. But we havent reached that yet." Lamar Holmes Falcons Jersey . Canada opened Saturdays play with a 52-0 thumping of Japan, and followed with a 28-12 win over France. That was enough to guarantee them a spot in the quarter-finals of the Cup competition.Matt Bosher Falcons Jersey . -- The Grenadiers de Chateauguay will play for gold after defeating the Toronto Young Nationals 6-1 on Saturday in the Telus Cup mens midget hockey championship semifinal. MIAMI -- Reggie Bush scored the clinching touchdown, then happily heaved the ball into the stands, and the cluster of fans scrambling for the souvenir included a man in a Miami Dolphins jersey holding a baby. The scrum was understandable, given that victory keepsakes have been a rarity lately for Dolphins fans. Bush scored two TDs and the Dolphins twice intercepted Rex Grossman to earn their first home victory in nearly a year by beating the Washington Redskins 20-9 Sunday. The Dolphins (2-7) ended a franchise-record streak of seven consecutive losses in Miami since last Nov. 14. They won for the second week in a row after starting 0-7. "It was nice to come in this locker room and celebrate a win," coach Tony Sparano said. "I see 2-7 now as a hill but not a mountain. Thats how our players see it, too." The Redskins (3-6) dropped their fifth consecutive game, the longest losing streak of Mike Shanahans career as a head coach. They havent held a lead since Oct. 2, when they beat St. Louis. "Its frustrating being 3-6," Grossman said. "Were better than that." Grossman threw for 215 yards but was sacked three times and had a passer rating of 58.7, lower than his NFC-worst season figure. Possessions by Washington reached the Miami 20, 26, 5 and 10-yard lines, but those threats produced only three field goals. Grossman was a surprise starter, replacing John Beck four weeks after being benched. Shanahan said he decided to go with the more experienced quarterback because of a wave of injuries to the Redskins offence. "I thought Rex gave us a chance to win," Shanahan said. "If you have this many guys go down, I didnt want to go with the inexperienced guy and throw him to the wolves." The Dolphins led 10-6 at halftime, then mounted scoring drives of 70 and 81 yards to seal the win. After blowing fourth-quarter leads in three earlier losses, this time they held on. "The first seven games we were kind of in disarray," Bush said. "We were trying to find our identity. The difference now is were playing 60 minutes and finishing at the end of games." Miami was clinging to a 13-9 lead when Grossman drove his team 49 yards to a first down at the 10 early in the fourth quarter. He then threw a pass directly to linebacker Karlos Dansby, whose interception ended the threat. "I have to be more careful in a crucial point in the game," Grossman said. Vontae Davis also had an interception for the Dolphins, who doubled their season total. Peter Konz Falcons Jersey. After Dansbys takeaway, Miami drove 81 yards and scored the clinching TD on Bushs 18-yard run. He crossed the goal line standing up and heaved the ball into the stands in jubilation. "We made plays that winners make at the end," Sparano said. The Redskins three scoring drives totalled only 48 yards. They twice took over deep in Miami territory thanks to an interception and a fumble recovery, but each time settled for a field goal by Graham Gano. He also missed from 50 and 49 yards, and Washington netted only 61 yards rushing. Miamis Matt Moore, the AFC offensive player of the week last week, threw an ugly interception and lost a fumble but completed 20 of 29 passes for 209 yards. The Dolphins, who came into the game last in the NFL in third-down conversions, went 8 for 14 in those situations. They started the game in the wildcat -- the first time theyve used the package this season. Running back Daniel Thomas took the snap and pitched to Moore, who threw deep and incomplete to Brandon Marshall. Miami tried another trick play later in the drive, with Thomas throwing incomplete. More conventional was the final play of the series, a 1-yard touchdown run by Bush. After that, Sparano went conservative. The Dolphins drew boos when they ran out the clock at the end of the first half rather than trying to score. But nursing the early lead paid off because the Redskins couldnt cash in on their chances. Kevin Barnes interception in the first half gave the Redskins the ball at the Miami 5, but three plays lost 3 yards and they kicked a field goal. Washington started at the Miami 24 after Ryan Kerrigans sack forced a fumble by Moore, and again the Redskins came away with only three points. "You get into the red zone three times, youve got to make plays to win the game," Shanahan said. Dansby, Jason Taylor and Jared Odrick had the Dolphins sacks. Taylor increased his career total to 135 1/2, most among active players. Notes: Washingtons Leonard Hankerson left the game with a strained right hip with four minutes left. He said the injury wasnt serious, but he wasnt sure whether he would be able to play in the next game. ... Redskins defensive lineman Kedric Golston left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. ... Hankerson had eight catches for 106 yards and became the first Washington rookie since 2001 with 100 yards receiving. ... Bush rushed for 47 yards and has 242 in the past three games, a career best. cheap jerseys ' ' '
