TORONTO -- The upcoming World League event at the Ricoh Coliseum will be a significant event for the Canadian mens volleyball team as it returns to the elite 16-country tournament for the first time since 2007. Greg Olsen Panthers Jersey . Theres a chance it could also serve as an Olympic warmup. Canada can qualify for the London Games with a victory in the eight-team NORCECA (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) mens continental Olympic qualification tournament May 7-12 in Long Beach, Calif. "Ten years ago I never believed that wed qualify," Canadian libero Dan Lewis said Tuesday. "Now its completely different. We can do it, its just whether we do it or not. "We really have the talent and the capability now." The 18th-ranked Canadians will have a challenging road to get there. Joining them in Pool A will be Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Pool B includes the host Americans, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica. Fifth-ranked Cuba should be Canadas toughest pool opponent. If Canada can pull out an upset win in pool play, its likely that Cuba would have to face the powerhouse Americans in one semifinal while Canada would have an easier opponent, likely Puerto Rico. The winner of the final would earn an Olympic spot. "Were in the top 20 but from No. 5 to No. 25, anybody can beat anybody," he said. "So you need your best couple of games right on that weekend or youre not going anywhere." The Canadian mens team hasnt played at the Olympics since recording a ninth-place finish at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. Canadas womens team will play its Olympic qualifying tournament April 29 to May 5 in Tijuana, Mexico. Lewis, from Oakville, Ont., has played 134 career matches for Canada since joining the senior national team since 1999. He said head coach Glenn Hoag has helped take the squad to a higher level. "Probably one of his best qualities is his honesty and his ability to come into a gym with new athletes and get everybody rowing in the same direction," Lewis said. "Everybody will die for this coach." Lewis, who plays pro volleyball for ACH Volley Bled in Slovenia, was joined by Canadian teammate Louis-Pierre Mainville, Minister of State for Sport Bal Gasol and others for the official launch ahead of the World League matches May 18-20. Canada has drawn world No. 1 Brazil, No. 4 Poland and No. 27 Finland. Brazil and Poland have already qualified for the London Games based on their finishes in the 2011 World Cup last November. Notes: The May 17-22 Canadian Open volleyball championships will be held in conjunction with the World League event. The national sitting teams will also hold an international competition called the Canada Cup. ... The FIVB World League is in its 23rd year. Star Lotulelei Womens Jersey . Hes much more intrigued by the possibilities in the Cleveland Cavaliers future after a breakout game by their newest acquisition. Luol Deng hit five 3-pointers while scoring 27 points, Anderson Varejao added 18 points and 18 rebounds, and the Cavaliers beat the spiraling Lakers 120-118 Tuesday night. Ryan Kalil Jersey .J. -- A good start is what is on the line this time when the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL season opener.Never underestimate the keen-mindedness of the NHL tough guy. During Thursdays preseason game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils, Islanders forward Brett Gallant and Devils enforcer Krys Barch fought three times, with both players circumventing a league rule that would have penalized them further. In their second fight of the game, the two fighters took each others helmets off, getting around Rule 46.6 which gives an additionaal unsportsmanlike conduct penalty if a player removes his own head wear before he goes at it. Tiquan Underwood Womens Jersey. Both Barch and Gallant earned automatic game misconducts after the third fight. Gallant, 24, has played parts of the last four seasons in the American Hockey League, tallying 360 penalty minutes in 85 games. Barch, 33, has played 326 career NHL games with the Devils, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars, totalling 713 penalty minutes. ' ' '
