play, Chris Butler fired a shot from the blue-line that Widem

VANCOUVER -- In the case of this years edition of the B.C. Lions, familiar faces can fool you. The veteran core remains intact and, for now, only two newcomers -- one on offence and one on defence -- have won jobs as starters. But the Lions have made several significant changes since they placed first in the West Division with a 13-5 mark and were upset in the 2012 West final by the Calgary Stampeders. "Theres a lot of different kinds of mixes, and its an entirely different team," said coach Mike Benevides. Most of the changes involve holdovers assuming new and expanded roles, including new positions, as Benevides and general manager Wally Buono follow through on their plan to make the team younger and stronger. "Right now, if I have to look at it and be honest, we have greater depth," said Benevides. "Theres more depth than we know about." The most prominent changes are on offence, where second-year quarterback Thomas DeMarco will back up starter Travis Lulay. DeMarco assumes Mike Reillys former backup role following his trade to Edmonton as a result of Lulays new contract. The Lions have also brought in former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Joey Elliott as quarterbacking insurance. In other prominent offensive revisions, slotbacks Nick Moore and Courtney Taylor replace all-time leading CFL receiver Geroy Simon (traded to Saskatchewan) and Arland Bruce (released and signed by Montreal). Wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux returns after two years in the NFL, giving the Lions a deep threat that they have lacked. Other changes on offence are less eye-catching but still significant because they involve an offensive line that was decimated by injuries at the guard position last season. Rookie Kirby Fabien, previously a tackle who was chosen seventh overall in the 2012 CFL draft but returned to the University of Calgary for another season, will start at right guard while Patrick Kabongo, 33, gets the call at left guard. Matt Norman, a second-year guard who is being groomed as Angus Reids eventual replacement at centre, could start the season in the middle as the veteran recuperates from a back injury. Norman is slated to move to the starting left guard spot once Reid is healthy. On defence, things are likely to be less animated following eccentric lineman Khalif Mitchells trade to the Toronto Argonauts. Key defensive-line changes include Keron Williams moving inside to Mitchells former tackle spot from defensive end, and second-year pro Jabar Westerman, the West Divisions top rookie in 2012, getting a starting job at end. The linebacking corps has also experienced change as 2012 CFL all-star Adam Bighill moves to the outside from the middle, where he ranked second in the league in tackles last season with 104. The move accommodates Solomon Elimimian, who returned from the NFL in the second half of 2012 and is more comfortable playing middle linebacker. Bighill is well versed in the outside spot, having played there as a rookie in 2011. The secondary has also undergone a shuffle as Korey Banks moves to nickelback, acting as a hybrid linebacker-defensive back from halfback, and J.R. LaRose takes over at safety. Cord Parks becomes the other newcomer to grab a starting spot at cornerback. In arguably the most dramatic change, veteran kicker Paul McCallum, the CFLs oldest player at 43, will focus on field goals in his 21st CFL season. Hugh ONeill, who spent the past two seasons serving as his understudy, is expected to handle kick-offs and possibly punts. "Certainly, there is tremendous value to having two (kickers) on the roster --for depth, for leg strength on kick-offs, for accuracy from (McCallums) placekicking, and punting," said Benevides. In another special teams adjustment, newcomer Korey Williams could feature prominently as a punt and kick-off returner. The Lions assigned him to active duty to prevent another club from plucking him off the practice roster. "Were a good, solid team," said McCallum. "Weve got a good core group of players. We work hard, are very talented, have lots of depth. So for me, if I have to say expectations as far as wins and losses, and expectations as far as going out and playing hard, we should be successful." The Lions will open the season Friday in Calgary, hoping for a chance at some revenge after last years West final loss. However, Benevides said the Lions have to put the bitterness of that setback behind them. "Really, lets make sure we learned some lessons," he said. "But, really, we cant live with that. This is a whole different team, a whole different year. The league is different. "So, for me, the approach is: Lets move on." Cheap Shoes Australia Free Shipping . Charlottetown scored four times in the third period en route to a 5-2 win over the defending champion Halifax Mooseheads on Friday. Cheap Nike Shoes Australia . LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. https://www.shoesaustraliaonline.com/ . That little deal worked out in a big way for the Mavericks. Nowitzki had 21 points Tuesday night to pass Oscar Robertson for 10th on the NBAs career scoring list, leading the Mavs to a 95-83 victory over the Utah Jazz. Shoes Australia From China . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Wholesale Shoes Australia . Its the second of three meetings between these teams this season. Vancouver was a 2-1 winner on home ice December 22nd.CALGARY -- Mikael Backlund scored twice, including the winner, as the Calgary Flames edged the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime on Saturday. Backlund took the puck to the net and sent a pass to Sean Monahan, whos shot was stopped by Wild netminder Darcy Kuemper. The puck, however, bounced into the air and Backlund batted it down and past Kuemper at 2:25 of extra time. Its Calgarys fifth straight victory and also completes a perfect 5-0-0 homestand. The last time the Flames swept a homestand of that length was in 1997 - Jarome Iginlas rookie season. TJ Galiardi, with his first goal in 38 games, and Dennis Wideman also scored for Calgary (21-27-7), which last won five games in a row in March 2012. Mark Giordano had two assists to extend his career-high point streak to nine games, which includes four goals and six assists. Matt Cooke, Dany Heatley and Keith Ballard scored for Minnesota (29-21-7). Trailing 3-1 halfway through the third period, the Wild drew to within one on Dany Heatleys power-play goal at 10:31. Ballard then silenced the Scotiabank Saddledome sell-out crowd of 19,289 with the tying goal at 15:55. On a Minnesota rush, Ballard got caught up with Wideman as he drove the net. With Wideman tangled up with goaltender Reto Berra, Ballard backed away just in time to one-time a centring pass from Kyle Brodziak into the top corner. It was back on Oct. 4 in the Flames second game of the season in Columbus when Galiardi, acquired in an off-season trade with San Jose, scored his first goal as a Flame. Little did the Calgary native know at the time it would take nearly four months for him to score again. However, he did make it a beauty when he finally ended the drought at 12:36 of the first period to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. After getting a pass from Kevin Westgarth, Galiardi spun and quickly sent a backhand into the top corner. Immediately, the 25-year-old loooked skywards in a show of both relief and shock that he finally scored.dddddddddddd That lead would hold up until 14:03 of the second period when Cooke tied it for the Wild while shorthanded. Cooke burst down the left wing and from just inside the top of the face-off circle blasted a slapshot over the shoulder of Berra. Berra did not start the game for the Flames. He entered with 2:28 left in the first period when Karri Ramo left with a lower-body injury. The Flames regained the lead with 1:36 left in the second on a nifty deflection from Wideman. Shortly after failing to score on a power play, Chris Butler fired a shot from the blue-line that Wideman redirected thigh-high from the high slot and past Kuemper. Calgary surged in front 3-1 one minute into the third period when Backlund finished off a three-on-one for the Flames. The shorthanded goal was the third of the season for Backlund, moving him into a tie for second in the NHL behind Bostons Brad Marchand. While most of the season has seen Calgary equally divide up the starts between Ramo and Berra, Ramo (11-10-4) had been the better of the two in recent weeks and had been getting the majority of the playing time with Saturday being his sixth start in the last seven contests. Berra had 14 saves to improve to 7-14-2. He has yet to win in regulation, with four shootout victories and Saturday being his third overtime win. Kuemper made his 10th straight start in net for the Wild. He had 28 saves to fall to 6-4-1. Notes: The Flames final three games before the Olympic break will be on the road beginning in Montreal on Tuesday... Minnesota plays twice at home before its break begins... The Flames have eight shorthanded goals, which is second in the NHL behind Carolina (9)... Flames D Kris Russell (upper body) did not play. Taking his spot was Chris Breen, who played for the first time since being recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) on Jan. 26. ' ' '