SOCHI, Russia -- Martin St. Louis is going to get a chance to represent his country at the Winter Olympics after all. Hockey Canada announced today that the 38-year-old Tampa Bay forward will replace injured Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos on Canadas mens hockey team at the Sochi Olympics. "I heard from Stammer that he wasnt going to go, so I knew it was a possibility," St. Louis told reporters in Tampa on Thursday. "So I guess I was prepared for it." St. Louis said he felt bad for Stamkos, who tried hard to come back from a broken right tibia he suffered in a Nov. 11 NHL game before being ruled out of Olympic competition by the Lightnings medical staff on Wednesday. "I think weve got to understand how hard hes tried and worked to put himself in the position hes in and give himself a chance," St. Louis said. "Obviously hes disappointed and Im disappointed for him. Stammers a true professional and hes done everything he can this past month to get back to the lightning first and hopefully to Team Canada." St. Louis was considered one of Canadas most surprising snubs when Canadas team was first announced, along with Philadelphia forward Claude Giroux and Pittsburgh forward James Neal. The Laval, Que., native led the league in points in the 2012-13 shortened season with 17 goals and 43 assists in 48 games. He is having another strong campaign in 2013-14 with 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 56 games, good for 11th in the league. "I dont see this as Marty replacing me, I see it as Marty deserving a spot on this team and going over and hopefully bringing back a gold medal," said Stamkos in the same news conference. St. Louis has won two World Championship silver medals for Canada over his career. He played in the 2006 Turin Olympics, scoring two goals and an assist in Canadas disappointing seventh-place finish. St. Louis went on a 10-game point streak (eight goals, six assists) for the Lightning after first being left off Canadas team, announced on Jan. 7. He said the snub had nothing to do with his increased production, but his play of late might have given him the edge over Giroux and Neal. "I dont think its motivation. Ive been motivated the past four years ... the past 10 years. If youre not motivated, youre not even considered for these things. His speed could be a benefit to Canada, which has struggled in the Olympics when playing on the larger international ice surface. Canada won gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver in 2010 playing in NHL-style arenas, but was left off the podium in Nagano, Japan in 1998 and Turin, Italy in 2006. "Obviously its a bigger ice surface. It think my quickness, my speed ... thats what Im going to rely on," St. Louis said. "Its a different game, but I think whatever game plan we come up with, its going to be well thought-out." Stamkos is confident that his teammate can fill any position on Team Canada. "Hes going to go over there and play whatever role possible. I personally think hes going to play a big role," said Stamkos. "The character that he has, the way hes played in big-game situations in the past. I mean, hes won individual awards, hes won the team championships, hes been in those situations. "Its not like its a young guy thats never been in these situations before filling in for someone. This is a guy who can step in and play any role asked." Grant Hill Jersey .Currently no, Tatjana Haenni, FIFAs deputy director of the competitions division and head of womens competitions, said Tuesday in an interview from Ottawa. Ray Spalding Suns Jersey .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. https://www.thesunslockerroom.com/Leandr...Edition-Jersey/. Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. Custom Phoenix Suns Jerseys . His fellow Finn, 21 years his junior, had just arrived in Anaheim and was hoping to stick with the Ducks. Jalen Lecque Jersey . 8 Sergio Parisse for its penultimate Six Nations match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.CONOVER, N.C. - Jay Haas and Joe Durant shot 8-under 63 on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Champions Tours Greater Hickory Kia Classic.The 60-year-old Haas, the 2005 and 2009 champion, had an eagle and seven birdies on the first 14 holes at Rock Barn Golf and Spas Champions Course, dropped a stroke on the par-4 15th and closed with three pars.Still, it was Haas best single round this season on the 50-and-over tour. It also extended his streak of sub-par rounds in Champions Tour events to 21.I had a great start, said Haas, who won the last of his 16 Champions Tour titles in June 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa. It was pretty magical. I played well all day, expect for the bogey where I three-putted. But overall, I couldnt be happier.Ive been playing well, and still playing well from earlier in the year. I drove the ball well, my irons were good and my putting was good today. It was nice to make those putts, and to get off to that start.The 50-year-old Durant — who teed off on the back nine — rebounded from bogeys on Nos. 14 and No. 17 to shoot a 7-under 28 over his final nine holes.That equaled the tournament record for a nnine-hole stretch, first set in 2011, and the Champions Tour mark for lowest nine-hole score this season.ddddddddddddDurant went on to finish with eight birdies and an eagle, and posted his lowest round since joining the tour in April.Id have a good birdie, then Id three-putt the next hole, said Durant, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour. I kept giving (the birdies) right back. But I was fortunate to make a birdie on No. 18 to turn (his first nine holes) at 1 under.After that, I felt that I was onto something. I made some good putts. The greens were very receptive, and the ball was rolling good. You could do some stuff out there.Roger Chapman and Scott Dunlap shot 65. Kirk Triplett, a two-time winner this season, was another stroke back along with Bill Glasson, Mike Goodes, John Riegger and Rocco Mediate.Colin Montgomerie opened with a 69. A two-time major winner this season, Montgomerie is second in the Charles Schwab Cup standings — 771 points behind Bernhard Langer with three events left.Langer is skipping the tournament after finishing third last year. He has a tour-high five victories, two of them majors. ' ' '