MONTREAL -- Anthony Calvillo isnt sure where hell be when the Montreal Alouettes
open training camp in June.
Larry Bird Jersey . He just knows that for
the first time since 98 he wont be on the field in his teal-coloured No. 13
practice jersey throwing balls to S.J. Green, Jamel Richardson and the other
receivers. The 41-year-old who rewrote the CFL record book for quarterbacks
announced his retirement Tuesday following an illustrious 20-year career. Its an
end Calvillo knew was coming when he missed the final 10 games of the regular
season with a concussion. "My mind was pretty much made up at the end of the
season that I wanted to retire," said Calvillo. "I went on holidays to think
about it but I was 99 per cent sure. "In my mind Ive moved on. The process of
being hurt helped me go through the transition. So when June comes around, I
dont know where Ill be." Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, who got a crash
course on Canadian football after signing with Montreal in August, is pegged as
the new starter. Thats a position Calvillo held since 2000 after signing with
the Alouettes as Tracy Hams understudy two years earlier. Calvillo leaves as pro
footballs most prolific passer (79,816 yards) and the CFLs all-time leader in
completions (5,892), attempts (9,437) and TD strikes (455). A spot in the
Canadian Football Hall of Fame surely awaits. The five-time CFL all-star also
holds records for completions in one game (44), most 300-yard contests (125) and
4,000-yard seasons (11). Calvillo also holds most Grey Cup game records,
including passing yards (2,470). Calvillo led Montreal to eight Grey Cup
appearances, winning in 2002, 2009 and 2010. Owner Robert Wetenhall called
Calvillo a "good and decent man" who was "arguably one of the great players in
the history of professional football." In a statement, CFL commissioner Mark
Cohon called Calvillo "more than one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play
the game. He is one of the most remarkable people to ever grace our league." The
Los Angeles native who has made Montreal his home wont be going far. Calvillo
has a spot waiting for him on the Alouettes coaching staff, but he plans to take
the summer off before looking at coaching in 2015. For now, he is working on two
online courses to get the final credits he needs to complete the degree he
started at Utah State University before he turned pro. He will also do a
180-hour internship in the Alouettes scouting department and front office for
credit. He wants to finish his BA in general studies by April and bring his wife
and two young daughters to Logan, Utah, for the graduation ceremony. Leaving due
to injury was not how Calvillo expected to end his career but he found he wasnt
enjoying the game or playing up to his own standards in his final season.
Calvillo didnt play after suffering the second major concussion of his career on
what looked like a routine hit by Saskatchewans Ricky Foley in a 24-21 loss on
Aug. 17 in Regina. "The thing that stood out to me is that my tolerance to take
a hit had gone down and the hit that caused it wasnt a hard hit," said Calvillo,
now symptom-free. " That concerned me. "At the end of the day, I just didnt want
to put my head at risk any more." Now, the Alouettes will see what life is like
without the player who has long been the face of their franchise. "This
organization has always put the right people in place, so I feel confident,"
Calvillo said. "To see what Troy Smith did in half a season, not knowing
anything about this league, was very impressive." Jim Popp, who has been general
manager since the team returned to Montreal in 1996, said the Alouettes got a
taste of what life without Calvillo will be like during his injury. "Our locker
room had to learn to function without Anthony," he said. "There was a real
growing process for our veterans and our new players that were looking up to
Anthony. "This is real, and weve got to take a step forward and depend on other
people." Popp stepped in as head coach when Dan Hawkins was fired only five
games into his first CFL season and is expected to remain in his dual role. But
the team put out a release last week saying its still looking at head coaching
candidates. Popp said Calvillo will likely begin as a quarterbacks or receivers
coach in 2015. But Popp sees Calvillo being an offensive co-ordinator and head
coach in the future. Calvillo was very emotional as he addressed the media and a
large group of past and present Alouettes at his farewell news conference. Popp
sobbed even more as he went over what the steady, six-foot-one quarterback meant
to the organization. Calvillo was just 21 when he made his CFL debut with the
Las Vegas Posse in 1994. He went to Hamilton the next season after the Posse
folded but following three struggling campaigns with the Tiger-Cats, Calvillo
joined the Alouettes in 1998. He was considering an offer from the Saskatchewan
Roughriders but opted to sign with Montreal for the chance to learn from Ham.
"The reason I did not sign with Saskatchewan is that I knew if I had another bad
year that my career was over and I couldnt risk that," he said. "I wanted to
take a step back and learn from an experienced quarterback." Injuries that
forced Hams retirement put Calvillo into the starting lineup earlier than
expected and he excelled from the outset. The winning seasons piled up, but it
wasnt always easy. In 2007, he took the final five games of the season off to
tend to his wife Alexia, who was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma only a week
after giving birth to their second daughter. Then in 2010, a cancerous lesion
was found in Calvillos neck. Thankfully, the scare passed with successful
surgery to remove his thyroid gland. Calvillo also endured criticism for not
playing well in championship games. The Alouettes win in 2002 under coach Don
Matthews was largely due to the clubs defence but the repeat championships in
2009-10 under Marc Trestman offered redemption. "I never gave up on myself,"
said Calvillo. "It was tough when you have spectacular regular seasons and then
things dont work out for you in the playoffs, especially in championship games.
"But I never doubted myself or quit. I refocused and got ready for the next
year." Video messages from Trestman and Calvillos long time go-to receiver, Ben
Cahoon, were played during the announcement. Guard Scott Flory said the
Alouettes will have to learn to move on without Calvillo. "I got drafted in 1998
-- Cahoon went first and I was the next pick and we all showed up together,"
said the all-star guard. "When you have an opportunity to play with these
amazing players, its just surreal. "You really appreciate what hes done. The
legend will just grow."
Dennis Johnson Jersey . The Islanders dealt
Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island.
Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators
on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015.
Avery Bradley Jersey . Los Angeles star
goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually
backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his
return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal
with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a
3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
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. Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after
missing two games because of back tightness. VANCOUVER -- Hunter Shinkaruk
earned a chance to stay in the NHL for at least a little while longer Thursday
night. The 18-year-old rookie scored a goal, his second of the pre-season, as
the Vancouver Canucks blanked the New York Rangers 5-0 at Rogers Arena. He
stayed with the Canucks after coach John Tortorella sent three other players
packing to the minors and back to junior after the game. "With that shot, it
just kind of found the net," he said. "I was really fortunate." Shinkaruk, a
Calgary native who was one of Vancouvers two first-round draft choices (24th
overall) this year, put in a shot off Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi in with 44
seconds left in the second period to close out the scoring. "Im just kind of
excited every day I wake up," said Shinkaruk. "Im just trying to do my best when
I come to the rink -- and hope my name is hanging still in my stall. So far, its
been good, but I cant take anything for granted." Shinkaruk finished the
pre-season with three points after also earning an assist in another game.
Although he has been used as a bottom-six forward, he hopes the pre-season
production will bolster his chance to stay in the NHL permanently. "Im
definitely a guy whos been relied upon to shoot a lot and score goals in
junior," said Shinkaruk. "Obviously, its a bit different coming in here with the
high-end guys that (are) on this team. My role has changed a little bit, but
thats still my role -- to try to create a little bit of offence as much as I
can." Due to his age, he must go back to his Medicine Hat Tigers junior squad in
the WHL if he does not last more than nine regular-season games with the
Canucks. If he plays a 10th game, his entry-level NHL contract will kick in. But
with winger Zack Kassian suspended for the first five games of the regular
season and Jordan Schroeder nursing a fractured foot that is expected to keep
him out three weeks, new coach John Tortorella has elected to keep Shinkaruk
around -- for now -- as the regular season approaches. "Hes played well, scored
another goal," said Tortorella. "He scores two goals that are kind of funky
goals, but theyre goals. Hes had a good camp. The suspension with Kass opens up
another spot there. Im not sure what the lineups going to be. But hes certainly
made a case as he played." Henrik Sedin scored two goals as the Vancouver
Canucks finished the pre-season 2-4-0. The goals, his first of the pre-season,
came as he and twin brother Daniel celebrated their 33rd birthday. The Rangers
saw their pre-season record fall to 1-4-0 with one game still to play Friday in
Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Kings. Frank Corrado and Ryan Kesler also
scored for the Canucks. Alex Edler supplied three assists. But Corrados offence
didnt help him because the 20-year-old defenceman from Toronto was sent down to
Utica of the AHL after the game.
Reggie Lewis Celtics Jersey. "Frankie had a
goal and assist, and we just sent him to Utica," said Tortorella. "I thought he
started off (training camp) really well and, the middle part, it looked like he
just lost a little bit of the confidence. But he has to go play. Were not going
to keep a young guy here to be a sixth guy or a seventh guy whos playing eight
or nine minutes. He can go down there and play 25, 30 and, hopefully, maybe
revisit where hes at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and see where we go." Zach Hamill,
a 25-year-old journeyman from Vancouver, was returned to Utica after being
recalled briefly in wake of suspensions and injuries. Brendan Gaunce, 19,
Vancouvers top 2012 draft pick, was returned to the Belleville Bulls of the OHL.
Tortorella said he wants Gaunce, who scored two goals in five pre-season games
but did not play Thursday, to pick up his pace of play. New Yorks Alain
Vigneault and Vancouvers Tortorella coached against their former teams for the
first time. They were replaced with each other after being fired following last
springs playoffs. Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo picked up his second win of
the pre-season. He recorded 41 saves for his first shutout as the Rangers
outshot the Canucks 41-20. Luongo was glad to be tested early and hopes the
effort will help him get off to a good start in the regular season. "Its
definitely a step in the right direction," said Luongo. "We want to keep
building on that. "That being said, it doesnt really translate automatically to
a good start. Ive had some good pre-seasons before, and sometimes it didnt
translate." Rangers starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist took the loss as he
stopped 12-of-17 shots in two periods of work. Vigneault decided to pull
Lundqvist early due to poor play and the possibility he might go with him Friday
in against the Kings. Backup Martin Biron stopped just three shots in a
scoreless third period. Notes: The Rangers signed holdout centre Derek Stepan,
their top scorer last season, to a new US$6.15-million, two-year contract.
Stepan had 18 goals and 26 assists last season. ... Canucks winger David Booth
played his first game since suffering an ankle injury last March. Booth was
scheduled to return Saturday in Edmonton, but he hurt his groin during the
morning skate. He hit the post on a two-on-one with Biron beaten in the third
period, and also saw extensive penalty-killing duty for the first time as a
Canuck. ... Shinkaruk and fellow 2013 first-rounder Bo Horvat were the only
Canucks who played all six of their clubs exhibition contests. Horvat also
remained with the Canucks following the cuts.
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