As NHL teams prepare for training camp in September, a lot of the hockey talk always revolves around new faces we may see opening night. Tristan Thompson Jersey . For the Jets, one of the names that kept popping up was Adam Lowry. There was a spot up front and he was going to be given the opportunity to grab it. Adam approached camp with this in mind: When you come in, you know how many guys are coming back and whenever a team doesnt make the playoffs, you know there is going to be a chance they are going to be willing to make changes. So as long as I pushed and I showed well, I knew Id have a chance to push my way into the lineup. Lowry had a very good second half with the St. Johns IceCaps in their run to the Calder Cup final last sprng. It was also an opportunity for Kevin Cheveldayoff, Craig Heisinger, Paul Maurice and the rest of the Jets management group to get a real good look at him in pressure situations. But knowing who was watching was not the focus. We were focussed on winning the Calder Cup. It was disappointing to lose. For me in the developmental stage, going through that was huge. Playoffs is another level. To be able to do that, it was a short summer but a lot of valuable experience was gained. At 65 and 207 lbs, the 21-year-old has the size to be able to compete in the tough Western Conference. He also has the pedigree, with his father Dave having played 1,084 NHL regular season games. And when the Jets made him their second selection in the 2011 draft, family was part of it. Dave was well respected, both as a player and a person, said Marcel Comeau, Director of Amateur Scouting for the Jets. We were hopeful the apple didnt fall too far from the tree and that has certainly come to pass. When it came to making the selection, there was no debate, continued Comeau. We had him and another player in mind, a player that went a few picks earlier. When that guy went, Adam was our guy. We liked his size, his effort, physical play, his two-way game and he led by example. He was a little raw at that point, but we felt he had big upside. In the 2008 Western Hockey League bantam draft, a VERY much smaller Lowry (59, 135 lbs) did not go until the fourth round, 78th overall, taken by the Swift Current Broncos, a place where he grew both on the ice and off the ice. I went to my first camp at 15, I measured in at 511, 141 lbs, and started my first junior year at 61 1/2. They gave me 163 but I was probably 150-155 lbs. He went on to being named WHL Player of the Year after scoring 45 goals and 43 assists for 88 points in the 2012-13 season. Lowry was born in St. Louis where his dad was playing with the Blues. We were only there nine months and Dad got picked up by Florida in the expansion draft. There until I think five and we moved to San Jose until I was eight and then Calgary ever since. I remember the first time in Calgary, it snowed first week of September and I was terrified. Lowry learned plenty from his dad, and from just being around the game. Dad had to go to the rink and work hard every day. He was never guaranteed a spot. He was always on the third and fourth lines and always battling with someone else to stay in the lineup. I saw how hard he worked in the summer and how hard he worked during the season. Even when he was injured he would be in the gym and doing everything he could to get back into the lineup. Hes been huge help. Adam also learned by just hanging around and watching. You pick up things that a lot of people dont if you are not around it. Id watch practices, and at a young age, you are watching some of your heroes but you are also watching coaches implement systems and at eight, nine, 10-years-old, you are starting to understand things that are not being taught until 13, 14. It really helps you push your hockey sense to another level at a young age. Lowry is a perfect example for the Jets plan of draft and develop. As general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff put it to Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press the morning of Lowrys first NHL game, opening night in Arizona, Its something that when we set out on this trek, this journey from Atlanta to Winnipeg, we knew the process and the painstaking way we were going to have to build the franchise. So when you draft a player and he goes through the process, the gratifying thing to me personally is that youre not really doing it, its the way the organization is set up, the people youve entrusted to do their jobs. You know the prospects are in good hands, but at the end of the day, its up to the prospect. They have to take possession of their own career and Adam has certainly done that. There is an interesting connection with teammates T.J. Galiardi and Paul Postma. Dave Lowry coached the two when they played for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. For Postma and Galiardi to make hockey comparisons is not possible, but there are similarities in personality. Both have a lighthearted, dry sense of humor, stated Galiardi. Dave ripped me a few times when he coached me, Adam hasnt ripped me – yet. He added jokingly. Postma notices how both love to compete. They both hate to lose, very competitive. On the ice, Lowry has been moved from left wing to centre because that is where Coach Paul Maurice sees him playing long-term. Lowry grew up a winger, but was moved to centre for his final year of junior and also played the middle last year. Biggest adjustment to the NHL, pace, stated Lowry. Everything happens quicker. Lowrys first NHL goal came on a deflection in the sixth game of the season. It turned out to be the winner in the Jets first home win of the year. Every game, he seems more comfortable starting a road trip on a line with Chris Thorburn and Dustin Byfuglien. And the final word will go to Byfuglien, He is fun to watch. Keeps it simple and doesnt want to get out of his comfort zone, but I cant wait until he does. Jose Calderon Jersey . The lightning strike was in the parking lot of Crew Stadium on Saturday night, but its not known if the off-duty lieutenant was struck directly, Columbus Fire Department Battalion Chief Tracy Smith said. The firefighter, identified as Lt. Kyle Korver Jersey .com) - Nate Buss 3-pointer with 5. http://www.cavaliersbasketballpro.com/rodney-hood-cavaliers-jersey/ . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Missouri All-American Michael Sam says he is gay, and the defensive end could become the first openly homosexual player in the NFL. In interviews with ESPN, The New York Times and Outsports that were published Sunday, Sam said he came out to all his teammates and coaches at Missouri in August. "I am an openly, proud gay man," he said. Sam will participate in the NFL combine later this month in Indianapolis and is currently projected to be a mid-round draft pick in May. "Its a big deal. No one has done this before. And its kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL," he told ESPN. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Sam participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., last month after leading the Southeastern Conference in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (19). He was the SEC defensive player of the year. There have been a few NFL players who have come out after their playing days, including Kwame Harris and Dave Kopay. Last year, NBA player Jason Collins announced he was gay after the season. Collins, a 35-year-old backup centre, was a free agent when he came out and has not signed with a new team this season. MLS star and U.S. national team player Robbie Rogers also came out a year ago. "His courage will inspire millions to live their truth," Rogers tweeted about Sam. Division III Willamette kicker Conner Mertens, a redshirt freshman, said last month he was bisexual. "We admire Michael Sams honesty and courage," the NFL said in statement. "Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014." Sams announcement comes at a time gay rights issues and sports have collided at the Olympics in Sochi. Russias anti-gay law has received much attention, and criticism, because of the games. "By rewriting the script for countless young athletes, Michael has demonstrated the leadership that, along with his impressive skills on the field, makes him a natural fit for the NFL," said Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD, a leading lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender media advocacy organization. "With acceptance of LGBT people rising across our coasts -- in our schools, churches, and workplaces -- its clear that America is ready for an openly gay football star." The NFLs sexual orientation, anti-discrimination and harassment policy states: Coacches, General Managers and others responsible for interviewing and hiring draft-eligible players and free agents must not seek information concerning or make personnel decisions based on a players sexual orientation. Brad Daugherty Cavaliers Jersey. This includes asking questions during an interview that suggest that the players sexual orientation will be a factor in the decision to draft or sign him. Examples: Do you like women or men? How well do you do with the ladies? Do you have a girlfriend? Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams tweeted: "I could care less about a mans sexual preference! i care about winning games and being respectful in the locker room!" Williams teammate, cornerback Drayton Florence, posted on his Twitter account: "No comment but it can be a distraction in the locker room. At least hes open with it much respect!" Sam said many people at the Senior Bowl, an all-star game for NFL prospects, seemed to know he was gay. "I didnt realize how many people actually knew, and I was afraid that someone would tell or leak something out about me," he told ESPN. "I want to own my truth. ... No one else should tell my story but me." Sam told the Times he dated a man on the Missouri swim team and came out to teammates LDamian Washington and Marvin Foster about a year ago, before letting the whole team know during last preseason. "Coaches just wanted to know a little about ourselves, our majors, where were from, and something that no one knows about you," Sam told ESPN. "And I used that opportunity just to tell them that I was gay. And their reaction was like, Michael Sam finally told us." Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said in a statement Sunday night he was proud of Sam and how he represented the program. "Michael is a great example of just how important it is to be respectful of others, hes taught a lot of people here firsthand that it doesnt matter what your background is, or your personal orientation, were all on the same team and we all support each other," Pinkel said. "If Michael doesnt have the support of his teammates like he did this past year, I dont think theres any way he has the type of season he put together." Missouri linebacker Donovan Bonner was a teammate of Sams for five years. 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