Regeln » ntil the age of 50. Messier retired at 44 -- the same age Jagr is

ST. ALBERT, Alta. -- Andrew Ference remembers what it was like when he arrived in Boston in 2007, before the Bruins run of six straight playoff appearances, when fans werent hockey crazy and players hadnt proven anything. "It was a bunch of guys with no playoff experience -- hadnt been in the playoffs for a number of years," Ference said. After signing a four-year deal with his hometown Edmonton Oilers earlier this month, the veteran defenceman is back in a similar position on a team that hasnt made the playoffs since 2006. Ference hopes he can help orchestrate a similar turnaround. "You realize how easy it is to build on potential and have the tide turn fairly quickly," Ference said. "You look at this team and how close it is to kind of getting over that hump, its exciting. Its really neat to be a part of that, and to see potential turn into reality is a pretty special thing to be a part of." The 34-year-old Ference brings Stanley Cup-winning experience to a young Oilers team that features a core of No. 1 picks Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov. Ference wont be counted on to be a star, but he has expectations for himself to end the post-season drought. "Of course I come in feeling a huge responsibility, just like I think every guy on the team probably should," he said. "Thats the only way to take the next step forward." Ference grew up in the Sherwood Park area of Edmonton and his parents were season-ticket-holders, so he witnessed first-hand the Oilers glory years, when they won five Cups in seven years. Coming back to "familiar surroundings" helped make his decision, as did playing in another hockey-centric market. Hes at a different stage of his career than he was when he was in Pittsburgh with Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr or in Calgary with Jarome Iginla and Martin Gelinas. Now Ference is considered a leader. Ference knows what it takes from his time with the Bruins but also understands winning begins with management and coaches. "Then it filters down to the team itself," he said. "One of the biggest things we had (in Boston) was a huge sense of accountability where everybody demanded the best out of each other." Ference spoke to coach Dallas Eakins during a two-day interview period before the start of free agency and felt like they saw the game the same way. Once he considered the raw talent the Oilers had, he realized this mix could do more next season and beyond. "From an outsider looking in you can tell that it gets old when people talk about potential and talk about just young guys all the time," Ference said. "Im sure theyre eager to shake off that label of potential. It gets old for players, and you want to be able to take that next step eventually."LeSean McCoy Bills Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Josh Allen Youth Jersey . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.authenticbillsfanaticfootball.com/customized/ . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Jim Kelly Bills Jersey . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Thurman Thomas Bills Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach.TORONTO -- Jaromir Jagr has impressed NHL great Mark Messier for more than a quarter of a century.When [Jagr] came into Pittsburgh he dazzled us with his power and his skill and his overall game, Messier said. Later on in his career hes kind of inspired us with his passion and dedication. Hes played long enough to understand what the game means to him as a person and as a player.Poised to be overtaken by the 44-year-old Jagr for second place on the NHL points list, Messier reflected Thursday on the Czech stars accomplishment in what has become increasingly a young mans game.The only way you can play, and do what hes doing right now, is to make sure you are putting in the time for your conditioning and taking care of yourself, Messier said. The game has to be the No. 1 priority in your life because it takes a lot of time to prepare each and every game, let alone each and every season. Youve got to give Jaromir a lot of credit for what hes been able to do early in his career, and then maybe even more credit for how hes been able to sustain himself.Jagr has six goals and 10 assists this season for the Florida Panthers.Messier, who passed Gordie Howes point total of 1,850 for second place in his final NHL season back in 2003-04, finished with 1,887 points. Jagr grabbed third place from Howe in March and has 1,884 after assisting on a goal in Floridas 4-3 shootout loss at Winnipeg on Thursday night. Wayne Gretzky holds the record with 2,857.Im still the most surprised person that I have been sitting at No. 2 for this amount of time, Messier said on a conference call. I didnt really consider myself an elite scorer like a Mario Lemieux or a Wayne Gretzky. I never considered myself that kind of player. It was quiite humbling for me to be passing some of those names on that top 10 list.dddddddddddd I actually couldnt believe it.Jagr joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990 and won two Stanley Cups alongside Lemieux. He has gone on to play for seven more NHL franchises, but also spent three seasons in the KHL, where he amassed 146 points.Messier scored his 1,887 points in 1,756 NHL games, while Jagr has suited up 1,660 times in North America.This is kind of anticlimactic for me in a way, Messier said. I understand the amount of time he put in overseas. In my own mind he surpassed me a long time ago.Jagr has mused about playing until the age of 50. Messier retired at 44 -- the same age Jagr is now -- and said theres no sign Jagr is slowing down.Hes still hustling to get the puck and retrieve the puck, said Messier, who spent half a season as Jagrs teammate with the New York Rangers. Hes still covering a lot of ice when hes out there. Hes still very powerful.His down-low game, his cycle game, I dont know if theres been anyone ever better. As a superstar you think of a dynamic, open-ice player that can beat you one-on-one. He does that ... [just] in smaller areas.Messier has occupied the top of the points list with Gretzky, his friend and teammate with the Edmonton Oilers, for more than a decade, but added theres nothing bittersweet about Jagrs inevitable move into second.To be anywhere in that top echelon of players is incredible, Messier said. I look at it as an opportunity for me to pass the baton on to Jaromir and hopefully now with the rest of the players to inspire the next generation. ' ' '