COPENHAGEN - They were the two toughest moments in Mathew Dumbas young hockey career. Adidas NMD Australia . "I really wanted to make this team," a glassy-eyed, 17-year-old Dumba said back in December of 2011 when he was cut by the Canadian national junior team. "It was hard for me to wake up this morning and pack my stuff up. Its emotional, but Ill get through it, but just the experience was great. I had trouble sleeping for sure, I was up every hour and it was just one of those things. Its on your mind constantly. Its tough to go through." One year later he was back in front of the cameras and microphones as one of the final cuts. "I thought I played alright the first two games," an 18-year-old Dumba said then. "I felt I played pretty good the last one. Its tough; its a tough team to make. Im disappointed, but I understand at the same time." A trip to the world junior championship was so close and yet so far. WATCH: Thats Hockey profiles Dumba "Those were my first two times being cut so it was kind of an eye-opener for me, but made me a better player and made me who I am today," said Dumba, who will play a key role on Canadas team this year. "Its tough. Even as a 17-year-old your expectation is to go into camp, play your best and hopefully make the team and thats what I thought I did. Just unfortunate the last two years. Hopefully this years my chance. I have a great opportunity and Im just trying to seize it." "Any time any player goes through that, for two straight years, its always difficult on you and it leaves, maybe, some scars on you," said Brent Sutter, head coach of the Canadian junior squad, who also coached Dumba in Red Deer of the Western Hockey League. MIXED EMOTIONS Dumbas spot on this years Canadian junior team was in jeopardy not because he was on the roster bubble, but because he was in the NHL. The 19-year-old, picked seventh overall by Minnesota in 2012, was struggling to crack the lineup consistently so the Wild loaned him to Hockey Canada. "Even though I felt I should be in the lineup its all based on what the coaches think and what their choices are so as a younger guy Ive just kept with the workouts and the skates and did everything I could to get back in there," said Dumba, who has played 13 games this season, but hasnt suited up since Nov. 23. "Im fortunate enough to have this opportunity and come here and maybe have a lot more minutes than Id have in Minnesota." Dumba is averaging 12:26 of ice time a game with the Wild. "My emotions were a little mixed," he admitted, "you know, you want to be in the NHL and playing every night, but the reality was I wasnt and its awesome to be here and I know Ill have an awesome experience here." "I cant tell you what the conversation was that Minnesota had with Matt when they told him they would assign him to the world junior team," said Sutter, "but Id like to think Matt was pretty excited about that and the fact that now, in his third year, he gets that chance." Dumba insists the feedback from the Wild has been positive. "They really liked my play and thought I was strong as of late. This was purely based on what they thought was best for me and going out and getting that extra experience." The experience in the NHL so far this season has certainly been beneficial to Dumbas evolution. "The consistency day in and day out," said Dumba when asked what has stood out. "They come to practice every day and guys are on their game. You dont really see a guy have a bad game. At most, he has an OK game and he gets better the next game. Its just that consistency. Thats the biggest thing Ive taken away from being a pro." The Regina native has had an opportunity to watch Ryan Suter, the NHLs ice time leader at 29:37 a game, up close. "I think the other night he may have played 35 minutes or something," Dumba said. "I was checking the box score. Its crazy watching those guys and how they play so many minutes at such an elite level. I think its crazy. I got pretty good role models there." And those role models had a message for Dumba as he departed for the world juniors. "All the Canadian guys said, Bring back the gold, but the Americans had a bit of a different conversation with me," Dumba recalled with a chuckle. Canada will wrap up the round robin with a game against the United States on New Years Eve. HE DESERVES IT Its possible Dumba wouldnt be at this point without the influence of Sutter, who twice led the Canadian juniors to gold in 2005 and 2006. "Hes played a huge role, especially last year," said Dumba. "He really pushed me to the limit and made me more reliable, more responsible in my own zone and all over the ice in terms of understanding the game and being an elite player in all areas of the ice." Asked to describe Sutter in one word, Dumba pauses for a few second, laughs, and says, "intense." "I think we both know each other so he knows what I can bring and I know what he expects so I think everything will got smooth." As for Sutter, the no-nonsense taskmaster allows for a moment of sentimentality when talking about how Dumba will finally get a shot at wearing the Maple Leaf at the world juniors after so much heartache. "He deserves it," said Sutter. "Hes been one of the best defencemen not only in the Western Hockey League, but in our country for the last year. Were leaning on him to be a big part of this team." Air Force 1 Low Sale Australia ." Bach is in Rome for the European Olympic Committees general assembly and meetings with Pope Francis. He also visited with Italian Premier Enrico Letta. "The prime minister appeared to be interested in a bid from Italy for 24, because he has realized that the games can serve as a catalyst for development for a city and a country," Bach told The Associated Press on Saturday. Vans Old Skool Australia Cheap . Pominville scored in all three of Minnesotas games last week to help the Wild (8-4-3, 19 points) earn four out of a possible six points. His best performance was in a 4-3 win over Montreal on Friday, where he posted a season-high three points (two goals, one assist), including the game-winning goal. http://www.salenikeshoesaustralia.com/air-max-90-clearance.html .Y. - The Philadelphia Eagles game at Green Bay against the Packers on Nov. WASHINGTON -- Jayson Werth entered Washingtons eighth game of the season with zero homers and a grand total of one RBI. Bryce Harper? He also came into Wednesday without a long ball and hadnt driven in a run. He was hitting .160, had nearly three times as many strikeouts as hits and was dropped to seventh in the batting order. They both got going in a hurry. Werth delivered a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning off Carlos Marmol after Harpers upper-deck, three-run homer started a comeback from an early deficit, and the Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 10-7 Wednesday night. "Crazy game. Back and forth," said Werth, who violently tossed his bat after making contact on his homer. "One of those games where you play that long, you want to win." Helped by 3 1-3 innings from Craig Stammen after Jordan Zimmermann produced his shortest start in the majors, Washington overcame deficits of 5-0 and 7-6. Werths shot off Marmol (0-1) came with one out, after the reliever allowed a single, hit a batter, then intentionally walked Anthony Rendon to load the bases. "Knowing Jayson, if the pitcher looks at him wrong, hell take that personally," Stammen said. "So them blatantly walking to get to him -- typically they dont walk to get to your 3-hole hitter, especially a veteran guy thats proven he can get big hits. But they chose to, and it worked out in our favour this time." Explained Marlins manager Mike Redmond: "We were trying to win the ballgame there. We were trying to get a ground ball," hoping Werth might hit into a double play to end the inning. But Werth helped make a winner of Tyler Clippard (1-1), who yielded Garrett Jones tiebreaking RBI double in the top of the eighth after walking a pair of batters. Rafael Soriano, Washingtons sixth pitcher, worked the ninth for his second save. Jones hit put Miami ahead 7-6, but Giancarlo Stanton was thrown out at the plate on Rendons relay of Werths throw from right on the play. Werth then came through with his fourth career grand slam, and first with the Nationals. He drove an 0-1 pitch into the visitors bullpen in left-centre, then acknowledged the fans cheering with a curtain call. Vans Old Skool Australia Sale. "I was trying to go in and get a ground ball. Thats what Im trying to do," Marmol said. "The ball stayed a little in the middle and he hit it good." Werth was responsible for five RBIs Wednesday, including on a groundout in the fifth after Rendons triple to pull the hosts within 5-4. The comeback had started when Harper, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, had a successful 10-pitch at-bat -- including five consecutive fouls -- against left-hander Brad Hand in the fourth inning. Harper turned on a 94 mph offering and hit it over the foul pole and into the fifth row of the third deck beyond right field. That last pitch, Hand said, "kind of went down and in, right into his happy zone." Harpers homer trimmed what had been a five-run Marlins lead to 5-3. "Completely different down two, as opposed to down five," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Thats a big swing for him, confidence-wise. Its a big swing for us." Zimmermann, who won 19 games last season, left after allowing five runs in 1 2-3 innings. Derek Dietrich was awarded a two-run homer after a replay review in the second inning, and Christian Yelich wound up with three hits and two walks. "Just wasnt crisp tonight with his command," Williams said about Zimmermann. But the Marlins allowed the Nationals to rally, helping the hosts by making three errors, raising Miamis total to 11 through nine games. Washington improved to 6-2, and it has trailed in four of those victories. "I never felt out of this game," Werth said, "thats for sure." NOTES: Zimmermanns previous shortest outing was two innings, on July 21, 2013, against the Dodgers. ... Washington 3B Ryan Zimmerman returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Saturday after sitting out with a sore throwing shoulder. ... Marlins RHP Arquimedes Caminero threw 1 2-3 hitless innings. He was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans before the game to replace RHP Jacob Turner, who went on the 15-day DL with a strained right shoulder. ' ' '
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