Das Team » Minors spot in the rotation

MONTREAL -- New Buffalo Sabres signing Sam Reinhart wants to focus on nothing else but making Canadas national junior hockey team. The 18-year-old Reinhart is taking part in Canadas one-week development camp being held just outside Montreal. The squad is preparing for the 2015 world junior championship, which gets underway Dec. 26 in Toronto and Montreal. Reinhart joins 38 other young Canadians vying for a spot on head coach Benoit Groulxs final 22-man roster. "Im here this week trying to give myself the best opportunity to make the team," said Reinhart, who scored in Canadas 6-2 victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday. The game was the first of four exhibition matches involving the Russian and Czech national junior teams. "Its gone well so far," added Reinhart. "Its always tough for a lot of the guys coming in during the summer. After the first two practices, things have really started picking up. There are always going to be a few more mistakes now than when December comes, but were aware of that, and were battling through that." Reinhart has hockey coursing through his veins. His father Paul played 11 National Hockey League seasons with the Atlanta/Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks in the 1970s and 80s. Sams brother Max was drafted by Calgary in 2010, and his brother Griffin was chosen fourth overall by the New York Islanders in 2012. Sam Reinhart did one better, as he was drafted second overall by the Sabres in this years draft. Three weeks ago, Reinhart signed a three-year entry-level contract with Buffalo. The North Vancouver, B.C., native is captain of the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League, where he has scored 101 goals in 203 games. Last season, he was named the WHLs Player of the Year. The six-foot-one centre also captained Canada to a gold medal at the U18 junior world cup in 2012, and again at the U18 IIHF world championship in 2013. At the 2014 world junior championship in Malmo, Sweden, Reinhart scored two goals and had three assists in seven games. Canada ultimately lost 2-1 to Russia in the bronze medal game and finished fourth at the tournament for the second year in a row. If Reinhart plays in the upcoming tournament, which culminates with the gold medal game in Toronto on Jan. 5, Buffalos top prospect says this year is all about redemption. "A lot of the guys who were there feel it," said Reinhart of Canadas tough loss to the Russians. "Its not an easy tournament to win by any means. We felt we were getting better each day throughout that tournament, and it was one slip-up that cost us. We know how fast it can all be taken away, and you cant take that for granted." If Buffalo decides the junior championship is not beneficial to Reinharts development -- or if the forward is already playing for the Sabres at that point -- there wont be any individual redemption for Reinhart after last years fourth-place finish. "Its not really on my mind right now," he said. "Im just trying not to think about it too much. When I have the opportunity to make my name in Buffalo, Ill be focused there as well." Its at each teams discretion whether they want their signings to play the tournament. Hockey Canada will have no choice but to accept the Sabres decision. "Sometimes, when you look at your line-up and you have guys like Reinhart, you realize how good they are when youre on the ice with them," said Groulx. "We want them to be in the show, but in a selfish way, youd like to have them with you at Christmas time." Canada is suffering through a five-year gold medal drought at the tournament after winning five consecutive years between 2005 and 2009. The teams last medal, a bronze, came in 2012. After three exhibition games in mid-December, Canada opens the 11-day tournament with a group game against Slovakia in Montreal. Canada will play its four round-robin matches at Montreals Bell Centre. The Canadians are in Group A with the United States, Finland, Slovakia and Germany. Toronto will welcome teams from Group B, which includes Russia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Switzerland. Groulx knows that Reinharts potential absence will leave a big gap on the team, and will dull Canadas offence. "Sam Reinhart is the kind of player that, when everything is disorganized on the ice, when he touches the puck, everything gets organized again," said Groulx. "Thats a sign that he knows what hes doing, its a sign of maturity, its a sign of a very good hockey player. "Sam is doing everything right. Hes a great young man who loves the game." Notes: Team Canadas second exhibition match is Wednesday versus the Russians in Sherbrooke, Que. à Defenceman Aaron Ekblad, who suffered a concussion in Tuesdays game, did not skate with his team on Wednesday. The Florida Panthers prospect will miss the remainder of the national junior development camp. à With 15 gold medals, Canada is the most successful country in the competitions 38-year history. à Finland won last years tournament, beating Sweden in the final game. Cheap Balenciaga . Dragic was a game-time decision because of a sore right ankle that had kept him out of Wednesdays loss at Utah, but played all but the last 10 seconds of the second half in the first 40-point game for a Phoenix player since Amare Stoudemires 44 on March 19, 2010. Fake Balenciaga For Sale . - The Detroit Lions have 13 takeaways this season — three less than all of last season — and the defence isnt the only unit pleased with the performance. https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/. Gauteng High Court Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled Tuesday that South African media houses will be allowed to install three remote controlled cameras in court for the Olympic athletes trial starting next week to capture images that likely will be seen by millions around the world. Wholesale Balenciaga .com) - The Hatch Attack is back in the Southern Conference. Balenciaga Shoes Sale . Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents cant sign contracts until the leagues moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise.ATLANTA -- Gerrit Cole was so focused on recording 17 consecutive outs, he didnt glance at the out-of-town scoreboard. Cole insisted he didnt know his win over the Braves had clinched a playoff spot for Pittsburgh until he walked into the clubhouse and saw the lockers covered in plastic. The surging Pirates earned their second-straight trip to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the free-falling Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. Cole gave up two runs in the first two innings and then didnt allow another baserunner. The Pirates win combined with Milwaukees loss to Cincinnati assured Pittsburgh of no worse than an NL wild card. "I didnt have any idea until I came in here," Cole said. The Pirates wrapped up their berth exactly one year after clinching a place in the 2013 playoffs. "I think it establishes our presence in this league that were not going to go away," Cole said. The Pirates reacted to the final out on Tuesday with little emotion. Players exchanged high-fives in a line on the field before sharing hugs in front of their dugout. The emotions flowed with champagne and beer in the clubhouse. Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates MVP contender, wore big ski goggles as he held a bottle of champagne in one hand and lit a big victory cigar. McCutchen, who had two hits and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth, already had his focus on bigger goals. "To celebrate is fun, but weve still got to take care of business," he said. Starling Marte gave Pittsburgh the lead with a sixth-inning double that drove in McCutchen. The Pirates, who are still chasing St. Louis for the NL Central title, have won 11 of 13. "We didnt panic," McCutchen said. "Thats whats good about this team." Cole (11-5) trailed 2-0 after two innings but didnt allow another runner through seven innings. That allowed the Pirates to rally against Alex Wood (11-11). Travis Sniders 12th homer tied the game in the fifth. Cole allowed two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts. Jared Hughes pitched a scoreless eighth. Left-hander Tony Watson gave up a one-out single to Phil Gosselin in the ninth, but he got Freddie Freeman to hit into a game-ending double play to earn his second save. The Braves, who fired general manager Frank Wren on Monday, are 4-16 in September.dddddddddddd Atlanta (76-81) has lost five straight to fall five games under .500 for the first time since May 9, 2010. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he admired the Pirates determined approach at the plate. "These guys, they stick their nose in there offensively and they dont give at-bats away. They put the ball in play and they get some results," Gonzalez said. Atlanta loaded the bases with no outs in the second but managed only one run when Andrelton Simmons grounded into a double play. Jason Heyward, who led off the inning with a walk, scored from third. The double play was the key to Coles turnaround. "There was something missing in the first couple of innings," Cole said. "Luckily, they made some good plays behind me. The double play was huge. We knew we were going to come back and score a few. "It was about outs, and we turned a great double play. Then we just got in a rhythm and just kept going." DROUGHT-BREAKER: The Braves scored a first-inning run for the first time since Aug. 27. Freemans double to the right-field wall drove in Gosselin. Freeman was thrown out trying to advance to third base. The run ended a streak of 23 scoreless innings by Pirates starting pitchers. THE CATCH: Simmons added to his already lengthy list of defensive highlights at shortstop in the third inning. He made a leaping grab of Josh Harrisons line drive before landing hard on his chest. He also banged his nose and face to the ground, but held onto the ball as Wood expressed astonishment on the mound. TRAINERS ROOM: Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton has been shut down. He hasnt pitched since he felt discomfort in his groin and midsection late in his five innings of work in a victory over Boston on Sept. 16. Braves: LHP Mike Minor has left shoulder inflammation and has been shut down for the remainder of the season. RHP David Hale will take Minors spot in the rotation on Thursday against the Pirates. UP NEXT: Pirates: LHP Jeff Locke (7-5) is scheduled to face the Braves for the first time this season on Wednesday night. Locke received two no-decisions against Atlanta last season. Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (13-13) will try to match his career high with his 14th win. Teheran was 14-8 for Atlanta in 2013. ' ' '