That wouldnt give Rodgers much on-field work

[cherry452]

CALGARY -- A big NHL name with no previous experience coaching international hockey has stepped behind the bench of Canadas Olympic womens hockey team. Kevin Dineen was introduced Tuesday as the replacement for Dan Church, who abruptly resigned last week. Dineen was fired last month by the NHLs Florida Panthers. Hes represented Canada as a player six times, but the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, will be the first time hes coached a Canadian team. Dineen called his hiring "hopping on a moving train" as the Sochi opening ceremonies are less than two months away. Two forwards and a defenceman must be released before the 21-player Olympic roster is named. Dineen was born in Quebec City, but grew up in Toronto. The 50-year-old played in 1,188 NHL regular-season games, scoring 355 goals and adding 405 assists for the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators. He also played for the Canadian team that finished fourth at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. "That stuck with me a long time, not to come out of there with a medal," Dineen said. "I may have a little unfinished business from my Olympic experience." Dineen was in his third season coaching the Panthers when he was dismissed Nov. 8. Looking for hockey work, Dineen said he contacted Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson early last week about the possibility of coaching at the mens world championship in April. Church returned home to Toronto last Thursday without addressing the players. Hockey Canada said he left for "personal reasons." Churchs explanation before boarding the plane was he felt there was a lack of confidence in his ability to coach Canada to Olympic gold. The women lost 5-1 that evening to the United States with assistants Danielle Goyette and Lisa Haley co-coaching. The women went 1-1 in weekend games against male midget triple-A teams. Dineen flew to Toronto on Sunday to meet with Nicholson, chief operating officer Scott Smith and womens team scout and general manager Melody Davidson. "I was not expecting this opportunity," Dineen said. "This has been a whirlwind few days but when this opportunity presented itself I immediately jumped at it. "You end up getting fired and you go through a range of emotions. Sometimes things happen for a reason. I think this may be my reason." Dineen ran his first practice with the women after he was introduced to the media at a news conference. The Canadian women have been training full time in Calgary since August and have already played more than 30 games. The players were informed who their new coach would be just a few minutes before the news conference. They taped their names to the front of their helmets for practice so Dineen would know who they were. "It was typical hockey school, trying to help him out a bit," goaltender Charline Labonte said. "Right now, moving forward I think if we have the opportunity its nice to have someone who played the game. No, he doesnt know much about womens hockey. He seems interested and I know hes watched a lot of tapes. I know hell do anything to be ready and to learn about our game." Canada and the U.S. will clash three times over the next two weeks in their final exhibition games prior to the Olympics, starting with Fridays matchup in Grand Forks, N.D. Canada won womens Olympic hockey gold in 2002, 2006 and 2010, but has lost four of the last five world championship finals to the U.S. Hockey Canadas plan was to announce the Olympic roster prior to their holiday break next week, but the timetable is murkier with the coaching change. Five-time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser says Dineen will have to adjust to dealing with female athletes, but she didnt feel his lack of international coaching experience would hinder his ability to coach the Canadian women. "Hes played for a long time and coached in the NHL and has a good track record of coaching experience and also playing internationally, so Im not too concerned about that," Canadas all-time leading scorer said. "Its different than the mens game, how you handle players, the way you approach team concepts and put the team together. Aside from that, the game on the ice, I dont think its too complicated to what goes on the mens side. "Men and women are different in the way they function and thats probably going to be the biggest adjustment for him." Dineens daughter Hannah is a freshman forward for Colby College in Maine and another daughter Emma is a soccer player. Dineen says hes coached Hannah and a team of Maine selects the last five years. "Ive been exposed to the intense, committed female athlete," he said. Dineen says hes already asked his daughters for advice and theyve told him to watch his language. "Dads vocabulary is sometimes . . . I think Ive been in enough womens locker-rooms over the year to know exactly how they speak so I dont have a lot of concerns on that," Dineen said. Davidson coached the Canadian women to gold in 2006 and 2010, but was adamant she would not step into the breach. McGill Martlets head coach Peter Smith and former NHL players Doug Lidster, Ryan Walter and Tim Bothwell have all served as either head or assistant coaches of the Canadian women at previous Olympics and world championships. But Hockey Canada went off the board to recruit a man fresh from the NHL ranks. "The biggest thing is we needed a new voice overall and in the end it didnt come from within our program," Davidson said. "Thats why I wasnt in the running, why I didnt want to be in the running. "Kevin brings forth a lot of the qualities we wanted: a good communicator, has a history of building a good team environment, has international background, sincere. "Even though he hasnt coached high-level, international women, when you have two daughters and a wife, you get a good touch of what its like to work with females as well." As it would be in the NHL when theres a sudden coaching change, Dineen had the womens full attention in Tuesdays practice because he is someone they need to quickly impress. The women had spent the days since Church departure in limbo and were relieved an important question had been answered. "Everyone has different feelings probably on what happened," forward Jayna Hefford said. "Its tough to see someone go who has invested so much in the program and Dan did that. "Its been a challenging week for us. A lot of emotions and I think until this was put in place, it was hard for us to move on. Now, I think were excited. Weve got someone who has played the game at a high level and coached the game at a high level and has a passion for the game." Dineen is the son of former NHL player and coach Bill Dineen, and his brother Gord also played in the NHL. The Panthers made the playoffs in 2011-12 when Kevin Dineen made his NHL coaching debut. Florida was 3-9 when he was fired. "Theres no doubt in my mind that hes going to bring a lot of success to that team and they should do well," Panthers defenceman Erik Gudbranson said. "Its a different game. But good hockey minds figure stuff out." Wickenheiser is day-to-day with a lower ....... injury she suffered in the first period of last weeks game against the U.S. when she collided with a teammate. She participated in the first half of Tuesdays practice wearing a yellow no-contact jersey. Forward Marie-Philip Poulin has played in only three games since September with a high ankle sprain. She skated prior to practice, but did not join her teammates for the full session. Poulin scored both goals for Canada in a 2-0 win over the U.S. in the 2010 Olympic final. "Well have her back in the New Year," Davidson said. "Whether well have her back earlier than that only the rehab and the time she puts into us well tell us that." Authentic Kelly Oubre Jr. Jersey . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form. John Wall Wizards Jersey . -- A second straight complete game was not needed from C. http://www.wizardsauthenticproshop.com/marcin-gortat-wizards-jersey/ .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season. Kelly Oubre Jr. Wizards Jersey . Top Picks: While the Bruins arent a high-flying team, but because of the strength of their top lines, they present a lot of players worth taking relatively early in drafts. Authentic Ramon Sessions Jersey . Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in a 10-minute span in the second half, dooming a talented Croatia side to elimination from the group stage.GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers got back to work on Friday without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Even though he wasnt there, teammates still began getting ready for their playoff opener.We all have work to do ourselves, and we have to go out to practice, and weve got to make sure that were crossing our Ts and dotting our Is so that if and when he does come back we wont miss a beat, fullback John Kuhn said.Rodgers, selected to the All-Pro team on Friday, was held out of practice as he recovers from a calf injury.Its going all right, Rodgers said after practice. The calf is slowly progressing. I wasnt out there today, but were right where we need to be in getting ready to hopefully get on the field next week.The Packers practiced after coach Mike McCarthy gave the players most of the week off with having a bye in the first round of the playoffs.Rodgers injured his left calf late in the first half of Green Bays final regular-season game last Sunday, then returned to the game midway through the third quarter to lead the Packers to a 30-20 win over the Detroit Lions.The victory earned Green Bay a fourth straight NFC North title and the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC.Aarons doing well, McCarthy said. Hes been in treatment during the practice period, will do the same tomorrow, and I really dont see him getting on the practice field till Thursday, probably at the earliest.As the Packers await their next opponent, they have another practice Saturday and then will shift to a normal week of game preparations starting Monday.Going by McCarthys timetable, Rodgers would miss Green Bays first of three practice days next week on Wednesday. That wouldnt give Rodgers much on-field work before the Packers division round game Jan. 11 at Lambeau Field.Im not concerned, McCarthy said. Hes already started thee preparation process.ddddddddddddAt least a few players echoed the sentiment after veteran backups Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien took the snaps at quarterback Friday.I think hes good enough to do without (the practice time), rookie centre Corey Linsley said about Rodgers. Were going to prepare regardless for the same opponent, so I dont think it should hamper us too much.Rodgers is confident his extended absence in practice wont disrupt the continuity of Green Bays potent offence. The Packers scored a league-high 486 points in the regular season, second highest in team history.The rhythm is established. The play style is established, Rodgers said. Its just about working on checks and kind of going through the plan. Thats why you need to practice.NOTES: WR Jordy Nelson, an All-Pro second-team selection, also missed practice Friday for what McCarthy said was a personal matter. McCarthy said Nelson will rejoin the team this weekend. Also not practicing were LB Sam Barrington and rookie CB Demetri Goodson because of illness. CB Davon House returned to practice after being out the last three games with a shoulder injury. . Rodgers and Kuhn were Green Bays first-team honorees in the All-Pro voting. Since I was a kid, Ive been looking at people who have been All-Pro and saying, Wow, man, theyre really good. Theyre the best at their position. To have that side by side with my name, it truly is a blessing, said Kuhn, a nine-year pro who was a second-team choice in 2011. LG Josh Sitton repeated as a second-team selection. . The Packers promoted Eliot Wolf, son of retired general manager Ron Wolf, to director of player personnel. The younger Wolf has worked 11 years for the team and previously was its director of pro personnel.___AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '