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VANCOUVER -- Three-time Olympian Maelle Ricker will lead Canadas snowboard team at the Sochi Games. Ricker, a 2010 gold medallist in snowboard cross, was among five competitors named to the team Friday. The remainder of the squad will be unveiled Jan. 21 in Quebec City. "We definitely have an amazing group and an amazing team and to be a part of it is great," said the 35-year-old from of West Vancouver, B.C. "The team is doing great. "We have strong athletes in all the disciplines and Im very honoured and excited." Also named Friday were first-time Olympians Mark McMorris of Regina, Sebastien Toutant of LAssomption, Que., Spencer OBrien of Courtenay, B.C., and Chris Robanske of Calgary. "It feels amazing," said McMorris. "Its going to be a fun time. Ive been preparing like a mad man and I think Im ready." McMorris, Toutant and OBrien will all compete in the slopestyle event -- which is making its Olympic debut in Sochi -- while Ricker and Robanske are entered in snowboard cross. Canada won 26 medals at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and has set a lofty goal of finishing first in the overall medal count in Sochi. "If we say we dont want to be No. 1, were striving for mediocrity and were not going to do that. We will strive to be the best," said Canadian chef de mission Steve Podborski, who won bronze in mens downhill at the 1980 Olympics. "When we went into (the 2006 Games), we had no notion that we could strive to be No. 1 and now we are looking at that. "So why not? Its going to be tough, maybe impossible, but you strive for impossible dreams." If its going to happen, Canada will in all likelihood need big performances from its snowboard team. Canadian snowboarders claimed three medals in 2010, with Ricker and Jasey-Jay Anderson capturing gold medals, while Mike Robertston won a silver. "I would love to perform at my best (again)," said Ricker. "Definitely every time I put my snowboard on thats what Im aiming to do and hopefully we get some good results because of it." McMorris, viewed as one of the favourites in slopestyle, doesnt feel any added pressure with Canada looking to top the medal standings. "Whenever anybody looks at you to win theres pressure," said the laid-back 20-year-old. "Ive been able to have a lot of success over the last three years and consistently podium or win events. "Im expecting to go over there and do just that." The 2014 Games begin on Feb. 7. Dave Dravecky Jersey . The Rangers announced after Thursdays 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees that they would purchase Williams contract from Triple-A Round Rock. The 32-year-old Williams was released by Houston earlier this month after going 1-4 with a 6. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic .Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives. http://www.cheapsanfranciscogiantsjersey...-cueto-jersey.A. Dickey, even though he was coming off a Cy Young Award in 2012. Many felt the Jays would regret giving up righthanded pitcher prospect Noah Syndergaard and catcher Travis DArnaud over the long haul. Cheap Giants Jerseys Authentic . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Mark Melancon Jersey . TSNs Farhan Lalji reports the Edmonton Eskimos non-import DT has a workout scheduled with an NFL team next week and isnt expected to sign a deal with any team until then.REGINA - The Friday night lights will shine again on Seth Doege. The San Angelo, Texas product, who was a high school and college quarterback sensation in the Lone Star State, will start his first CFL game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-4) on Friday at Mosaic Stadium against the leagues top team, the Calgary Stampeders (11-2). You can watch the game live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5 and TSN GO at 10pm et/7pm pt. The 25-year-old rookie said his upbringing has prepared him well for his first pro start. The Rider Nation fan base reminds me a lot of big time football in Texas just because people are crazy about it here and they love it and have a lot of passion for it, Doege said. In Texas, all of the movies youve seen, its pretty similar. If youre winning, anyway, thats what its like. Doege grew up in a community in rural Texas where high school football on Friday nights mattered. His father was a high school coach, and that meant the game was introduced to him at an early age. Doege was the starter of his west Texas high school team in his freshman and sophomore years. Knee injuries derailed his junior and senior seasons, but Doege still drew interest from nearby Texas Tech University. Doege blossomed into a star his junior year with the Red Raiders, as he set an NCAA Division I record for completion percentage in a game (90.0 per cent, on 40-of-44 pass attempts). His 4,004 passing yards that year ranked eighth in the nation. His senior season was even better. He was named the MVP of the Meineke Car Care Bowl and finished in the top three in the country in passing yards (4,205 yards) and touchdown passes (39). Doege said he accepts the added pressures and responsibilities associated with being the starting quarterback in a football-crazed community. In college, you get used to it, he said. When you go to a big school, youre playing in front of 60,000 or 70,000 fans each and every week, especially in a big time conference. You get used to the crowd and you love it. Thats part of it, thats part of being the quarterback. You get all the love when things are good and all the blame when things are bad. Thats part of the job description. Its no different in Regina, where fans were left shaking their heads after a 24-0 defeat last week at the hands of the Edmonton Eskimos. Tino Sunseri started that game before Doege entered in the second half. Tino and I want that. We want to be the guy that elevates this team, Doege said.dddddddddddd I think we both have the skill set to play at a high level and I think the guys trust us in the locker-room, regardless whether its Tino or myself. Doege has climbed the Riders depth chart in recent weeks. Starting quarterback Darian Durant went down nearly a month ago with a torn tendon in his right (throwing) elbow, with Sunseri having filled in under centre the previous three games. The Riders have scratched out just 38 points in those three contests, including a pair of lopsided losses on the road to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (28-3) and to the Eskimos (24-0). Sandwiched between those defeats was a second-half rally from Sunseri that led the Riders to 35-32 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Sept. 21. But songs of Sunseris praises quickly turned to a chorus of boos after the Riders beatdown in Edmonton last week. Doege is next in line. For this week, I thought it was a chance to give Seth a chance to show what he has, head coach Corey Chamblin said. They (Sunseri and Doege) have different skill sets for the most part, but when I looked at ita€| (Doege) has good command of the huddle this week and I want to see him go for it. Chamblins decision on Wednesday ended a few days worth of rumours of new quarterbacks coming to Saskatchewan, including a trade for Henry Burris or a return of veteran Kerry Joseph. Durant is still recovering from elbow surgery on his right throwing arm and isnt expected to return any time soon. However, earlier this week, Riders general manager Brendan Taman suggested Durant could rejoin the team for the final week or two of the regular season. Chamblin wasnt as optimistic. Were not even at the point where he can grip the ball and throw it, he said. It doesnt matter what we are told or where we are from there. I will hold those thoughts until we actually see where his progression and rehab is. Burris name popped into the conversation on Monday after reports surfaced the Riders had contacted the Redblacks about a possible trade for the 39-year-old veteran quarterback. Joseph, who led the Riders to the 2007 Grey Cup championship, was also a part of the water-cooler conversation this week. Nothing has materialized with either Burris or Joseph, meaning the Riders plan to stick with Doege and Sunseri for the foreseeable future. Its time to shake things up. Maybe its one of those things we can shake up to get back into the win column, Chamblin said. ' ' '