Just 23, Tyler Ardron has big shoes to fill as Canadian rugby captain. [url=http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-maury-wills-jersey/]Maury Wills Dodgers Jersey[/url] . Hans de Goede, Gareth Rees and Al Charron are just some of the rugby icons to lead Canada to battle. Other Canadian skippers of note inc

Just 23, Tyler Ardron has big shoes to fill as Canadian rugby captain. Maury Wills Dodgers Jersey . Hans de Goede, Gareth Rees and Al Charron are just some of the rugby icons to lead Canada to battle. Other Canadian skippers of note include Mark Wyatt, Spence McTavish, John Graf and Mike James. More recently, Morgan Williams, Pat Riordan and Aaron Carpenter have captained Canada. Ardron, who has got congratulatory emails offering advice and support from many of those captains, really is the new kid on the block. "I know it is a great honour and its great to be able to follow up in those guys footsteps," said Ardron, who turned 23 on Monday. It speaks volumes that after being named captain, Ardrons thoughts were not about himself but of those who helped him along his rugby road. "Theres so many things that if they hadnt happened right, I wouldnt be here now," said the willowy back-row forward from Lakefield, Ont. With Carpenter transitioning to a new position -- from No. 8 to hooker -- Canadian coach Kieran Crowley opted for a new leader ahead of the June internationals. His choice was Ardron, who is coming off his first pro season in Wales with Ospreys. While young, with just 15 caps going into Saturdays Pacific Nations Cup match against the U.S. Eagles in Sacramento, Ardron is no stranger to leadership. He captained the McMaster University team, as well as Canada at the IRB Junior World Trophy. Ardron, who made his national team debut in June 2012, also led Canada twice in 2013 before Crowley made it permanent this year. "Hes a good player, he knows the game," said Crowley. "His year at Ospreys has really helped him. Hes even being brought into the leadership group in the Ospreys camp. So that just shows you what their opinion of him is. "I see him as a leader who could be a leader for Canada for a long time to come. Hes grounded, he has good character. Hes still obviously learning the whole leadership role of it but Ive been very impressed with him." The six-foot-four 242-pounder showed his commitment to the team last November in Tbilisi when Georgian flanker Vito Kolelishvili clotheslined Canadian fly half Liam Underwood. Ardron, who was captain on the day, confronted the Georgian and a brawl began, with several Canadians engulfed in packs of Georgia players. Almost every player on the field got involved, with several mini-clashes breaking out as Canadian trainers tended to the prone Underwood. Kolelishvili and Ardron were both red-carded when peace was restored. The Canadian forward escaped further sanctions because he did not throw a punch. Rees, currently manager of the national mens program, says Ardrons rugby story is one of a "meteoric rise." "For me one of the most important things with a captain is his name is one of the first on the team sheet, from the selection point, and it is in his case," said Rees, a member of the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame. "By no means a finished product in terms of captaincy but a really good head on his shoulders. Hes very open to using and engaging the other senior players which is something that I learned over my course (as captain) is really important." "A guy who cares about the jersey," said Charron, who like Rees played in four Rugby World Cups. Charron, no stranger to leading by example, likes what he sees on the field with Ardron. "Ive been impressed with his play," added Charron, Rugby Canadas manager of player advancement and alumni relations. Ardron grew up playing hockey, adding rugby in Grade 9. A centre in hockey, he played at the triple-A level and had dreams of playing in the OHL before focusing on university and rugby. He moved to Victoria during his third year at McMaster to take his rugby to the next level. He had already won sevens gold at the 2011 Pan American Games, a squad whose members continues to excel for Rugby Canada. This was the first season he hasnt played a sevens, due to his pro commitments with his Welsh club team. Ardron, who rooms with fellow Canadian Jeff Hassler in Wales, played 22 games for Ospreys in his debut season. "It went really well," he said. "Jeff made the dream (all-star) team of the league and played a ton. As a forward we had a lot more rotation but I still played well over 20 games and had a ton of game time." Nicknames are key on a team that includes five Jones, two Smiths and two named Thomas. There is more to life than rugby, however. Ardron continues his university studies in finance and economics online. An avid reader, he can see a future in real estate. With his growing club and international demands, it makes for a busy schedule but Ardron has no regrets. "Any time you take a step back and think if I had just done the normal thing and finished my degree, Id be sitting behind a desk probably now and wishing I was doing this. So Ive got plenty of time to do that when Im done. I think I just need to always keep that in mind and take a step back and look at it that way." Canada is ranked 16th in the world by the IRB while the U.S. is No. 18. Both teams are coming off earlier losses to Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup. Clayton Kershaw Dodgers Jersey . George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. Chris Taylor Dodgers Jersey . LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-david-freese-jersey/ .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player.Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Love scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in his first game against his former team, as the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 125-104, at Quicken Loans Arena. The win may have been costly for the Cavaliers, who lost center Anderson Varejao to a left foot and ankle injury in the third quarter. Love also exited the contest earlier in the third due to a thumb injury, but returned later in the period. It scared me initially. I had jammed it pretty bad during the Brooklyn game and in practice put it in tape the next day, so I was fortunate that I was able to, I guess, get shots up and some practice time with the tape on, Love said. We came back here and it seems to be just a mild, little thing. I shook it off and went back in there and played. Kyrie Irving scored 29 and LeBron James totaled 24 points for the Cavaliers, who have won three in a row and 12 of their last 15 games. That includes nine wins in their last 10 at home. Love, who played his first six NBA seasons for the Timberwolves, was dealt to Cleveland as part of a 3-team deal in the offseason. Minnesota acquired Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, the last two No. 1 overall picks in the draft. Wiggins scored 27 and Gorgui Dieng had a season-best 20 to go with 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost six in a row and 12 of their last 13 games to fall to 5-22 on the season. Before the game even started when we were in the locker room, it was just a different atmosphere, Wiggins said. Emotions were a lot higher than they usually are. I think its obvious this is a motivation game for me. Bennett missed all four of his shots from the field and was held without a point. Irving scored 11 points during the pivotal third quarter when the Cavs stretched the lead with a late surge. Thaddeus Young made 1-of-2 free throws to get the visitors within 80-78, but the Cavs responded with a 16-1 run to end the period. James nailed a pull-up 30-foot shot from the top of the arc during the flurry, which was capped by five straight points from Dion Waiters. We got stops, were more physical. When we get stops, were very good offensively. Babe Herman Dodgers Jersey. We get rebounds, it allowed us to open up, James said. Cleveland, which scored the initial three points of the fourth, led by double digits throughout the final quarter. We struggled playing from behind because we have a lot of young guys that arent used to doing that, Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. So they have a tendency to get a little bit too anxious, and then we take one or two bad shots and that leads to fast break opportunities. Thats what makes it difficult. The Cavaliers wrapped up a five-game homestand and will play Miami Christmas Day in James first contest against the Heat since leaving them via free agency in the offseason. He won two titles in four finals appearances with Miami. To say I havent thought about going back, Id be lying to you guys, James told reporters after the game. Its going to be great to be back in that building around those unbelievable fans. The memories will definitely come back, being a part of the organization for the four years I was there. When it gets down to it, Im excited about it. Im going to relive a lot of the moments in my head and go from there. Wiggins got off to a hot start with 11 first-quarter points, but Minnesota trailed, 27-26, after 12 minutes. Cleveland led by as many as nine in the second before settling for a 64-56 advantage at the half. The Cavs did not trail in the final two quarters. In a sequence that typified the night for the teams going in opposite directions, Love got the rebound off an Irving missed bank shot and fumbled the ball before managing to get it up and in while being fouled by Bennett. Love completed the 3-point play with 5:13 left in the game for a 114-93 lead. Varejao collapsed under the basket and then had to be helped off the court. He was unable to put any weight on the leg. The injury occurred with 7:24 left in the third quarter. Game Notes The T-wolves are 1-21 when allowing 100 or more points ... Shabazz Muhammad had 18 points and Young 13 for the Timberwolves, while Waiters scored 19 ... The Cavs were 12-of-24 from 3-point range. ' ' '