in seven major league seasons

Kevin Dineen has been named head coach of Canadas National Mens Under-18 Team for the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. Toronto Raptors Store . Trevor Letowski and Gord Murphy will work with Dineen as assistant coaches. "Representing Canada at any level is a great honour and a tremendous challenge," said Dineen. "I am excited to work with Trevor and Gord, and assemble a team that will make Canada proud at the world championship." Dineen was most recently head coach of Canadas National Womens Team, winning a gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Prior to working with Team Canada, he was head coach of the NHLs Florida Panthers for parts of three seasons (2011-13), winning the franchises first-ever Southeast Division title in 2011-12. Dineen was also head coach of the AHLs Portland Pirates for six seasons (2005-11), winning the AHLs coach of the year award in 2005-06. As a player, Dineen represented Canada on six occasions, winning silver medals at the IIHF World Championship in both 1985 and 1989, and winning the Canada Cup in 1987. He also represented Canada at the world championship in 1987 and 1993, and at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games. He played 19 NHL seasons from 1984-2003 with Hartford, Philadelphia, Carolina, Ottawa and Columbus. Letowski will serve on a Team Canada coaching staff for the first time. He has spent the past four seasons on the coaching staff of the OHLs Sarnia Sting, spending three seasons as an assistant coach (2010-13) before taking over as head coach prior to the 2013-14 season. Murphy will also serve on a Team Canada coaching staff for the first time. He served as an assistant coach with the NHLs Florida Panthers for parts of three seasons (2010-13) after spending eight years (2002-10) in the same role with the NHLs Columbus Blue Jackets. Canada is a three-time gold medallist at the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, winning in 2003, 2008 and 2013. The 2014 IIHF Hockey U18 World Championship opens for Canada on April 17 when it faces Sweden in Lappeenranta and Imatra, Finland. Canada will also face Germany, Slovakia and Russia in the preliminary round. TSN will broadcast Canadas final preliminary round game against Russia on April 22, as well as both semifinals on April 26 and both medal games on April 27. Toronto Raptors Shirts . Jurrjens signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in May, and was 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA at Triple-A Louisville. He has a 53-37 record with a 3.63 ERA in seven major league seasons, including five with Atlanta. Stitched Raptors Jerseys .C. - Canadian ice dancing, it seems, is in good hands. https://www.cheapraptors.com/ . -- For one night, Nick Calathes provided a big reason to believe the Memphis Grizzlies might be able to withstand the loss of Mike Conley on a short-term basis.TORONTO -- Players arrived a few at a time from across Canada on Thursday to begin preparations for a three-day camp at the Mastercard Centre before heading for Sweden for more practice and three pre-tournament games. What wasnt known is whether Halifax Mooseheads forward Jonathan Drouin, projected to be a top points producer, will be able to skate. He suffered a concussion last week after being hit from behind in a game against the Quebec Remparts. He was to be evaluated by team doctors Thursday night to see if he is ready to resume skating. Drouin said he feels better, but its up to the doctors to say if he can skate. "I want to get on the ice with the guys as soon as possible, but its my health and Im not going to push it," said Drouin, the third-overall pick in the NHL draft in June by the Tampa Bay Lightning. "But its not me deciding those things. Its more medical testing to make sure Im fine in my head." Coach Brent Sutter doubts that Drouin will skate this week, but it wont disrupt the teams preparations either way. "Well monitor him," said Sutter. "Theres no rush or panic. We have a few days before we need to be concerned about it." Drouin played well at last years world juniors, when Canada was shut out of the medals after losing to the United States in the semifinals. And he was a force as Halifax won the Memorial Cup. He was disappointed that the Lightning didnt keep him in the NHL after training camp, but since then he has been tearing up the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 17 goals and 50 points in only 23 games. Ryan Jankowski, the junior teams top scout, said the experience Drouin acquired last season has made him a better player. "Hes been through a lot," said Jankowski. "Winning a Memorial Cup and being part of the world juniors was huge for him, but now hes taking his game to the next level. "His game has changed. Hes more complete,, but he has also raised his offensive game to dominate more than he did last year, if thats possible. Wholesale Raptors Jerseys. " Another returning player is Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Griffin Reinhart, who was slapped with a four-game suspension for slashing an American player in last years world juniors. He sat out one game in that tournament, but is to miss the first three games this time. Sutter shot down any notion that the suspension would play any part in the decision on whether to keep the big and gifted rearguard. "Were not going to be worried about the suspension he has," said Sutter. "If we have to carry six defencemen to start the tournament, well do so. "You look at the youth on our team, it outweighs the three games he still has to serve." He said the experience and leadership of players like Reinhart is even more important on a team that has three "underage" players in camp -- 16-year-old phenom Connor McDavid, as well as possibly the two top picks in the 2014 NHL draft in defenceman Aaron Ekblad and Reinharts younger brother Sam. There are three cuts still to be made -- five if Monahan and Rielly join the squad -- and it is uncertain if the three youngsters will make it. Sutter is high on all three, but there is only room for two goalies, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. McDavid said hes ready to accept any role, if it means making the team. "Theres a little pressure I guess, being that I am 16, but I dont think they would have brought me here if they thought that was going to be a big deal," he said. "So I just try to put it out of my head and focus on the task at hand." Sutter set no timetable for the cuts, which could come at the end of the camp but may come after the first exhibition game in Sweden. They hope to have their 22-man squad set at least for the last two pre-tournament games. The deadline to declare rosters is Dec. 25. ' ' '