EDMONTON -- Fresh off her second Olympic gold medal and a practice with the NHLs Edmonton Oilers, goaltender Shannon Szabados will join the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League next week. Vincent Jackson Buccaneers Jersey . The Cottonmouths announced Friday the team intended to sign the Edmonton goalie. Szabados would be the first female to play in the 10-team SPHL since its formation 10 years ago, the team said. Its been an eventful two weeks for Szabados, who backstopped the Canadian womens hockey team to Olympic gold Feb. 20 in Sochi. "When I got home from Sochi, I thought Id be hanging my stuff up for the summer, but definitely excited to get over there," Szabados told The Canadian Press. "Theres three guys that I played college with that play on this team in Columbus and theyve been bugging me for a couple of years to go there." "I had never talked to their head coach and he called me yesterday. Honestly, I thought he was calling to ask me if I would want to go there next year. It happened a little fast, but Im excited." Szabados made 27 saves in Canadas 3-2 thrilling overtime win over the U.S. to defend the gold in Sochi. She posted a 28-save shutout over the Americans in the womens Olympic hockey final in 2010. But the 27-year-old has spent the majority of her hockey career in mens leagues. She played for Sherwood Park, Bonneyville and Fort Saskatchewan during her four years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Szabados was named the AJHLs top goaltender in 2006-07 after helping Fort Saskatchewan to a league-best record of 45-11-0-4. She then spent five years in Alberta mens college hockey with Grant MacEwen and then NAIT. She set a league record in 2012-13 for the lowest goals-against average (1.58) and her NAIT Ooks won their first championship in 16 years. Szabados stopped 30 of 31 shots in the final game. Cottonmouths captain Kyle Johnson, forward Jordan Draper and defenceman Andy Willigar are her former NAIT teammates. She suspects they paved her road to her first pro tryout. "Probably the guys had a lot to do with it," Szabados said. "It probably made the coach feel a little more at ease with the situation." Szabados will head to Columbus on Wednesday and will be introduced at a news conference the following day prior to a game at home against the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Winnipegs Andrew Loewen is the starting goaltender for the Cottonmouths "I am very excited to get a world-class athlete that has competed and has faced, high-pressured situations," Cottonmouths head coach Jerome Bechard said in a statement. "She won a championship with NAIT last year alongside Andy Willigar and Jordan Draper so I know she can compete at this level," Bechard said. "We are working on her immigration, and we are looking to sign her officially Thursday, where she will be backing up Loewen. "She will play when she feels comfortable and situated." The Cottonmouths are 23-22-3 and rank seventh in the league. Szabados participated in an Edmonton Oilers practice Wednesday. The Oilers were short a goalie on trade deadline day awaiting the arrival of Viktor Fasth from Anaheim. Szabados is grateful for that practice now because its the only time shes been on the ice since winning Olympic gold Feb. 20. "I havent been in the gym, I havent been on the ice, I havent been sleeping well," Szabados confessed. "Its been a whirlwind. I told (the coach) Im not going to rush into anything. If I dont feel comfortable I might not even play at all this year. "I want to go there and get on the ice and see how I feel. I still have to unpack from Sochi and pack for this. Im not too worried. Its only been two weeks." No woman has ever played in an NHL regular-season game. Goaltender Manon Rheaume became the first to play in an exhibition game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. Canadian womens star Hayley Wickenheiser has played as a forward in mens leagues in Finland and Sweden. The SPHL also includes the Bloomington Thunder, Fayetteville FireAntz, Huntsville Havoc, Knoxville IceBears, Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi RiverKings, Mississippi Surge and Peoria Rivermen. Szabados is accustomed to joining male teams. She believes her former Ook teammates will help her settle into the Cottonmouths locker room. "With having those three guys that Ive played with and since this has happened, at least a handful have tweeted at me and reached out to me," she said. "The older Ive gotten, the easier the transition has been to a new team. Im honestly not worried at all. They seem like a good group of guys." Doug Martin Buccaneers Jersey . With the players association in the midst of meetings in Las Vegas, a vote will be held on Friday to decide the CFLPAs presidency and other executive positions. Authentic Gerald McCoy Jersey . The veteran wide receiver, who has played 12 seasons in the CFL, spent last year with the Als after stints with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and B. http://www.shoptheofficialbuccaneers.com/Elite-Vincent-Jackson-Buccaneers-Jersey/ . "The highly-anticipated showdown between The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 coaches Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva has a new date and home, as UFC president Dana White announced Thursday that the light heavyweight bout will now headline a show in Brazil on May 31," a post on the organizations website said. TORONTO -- It was a CFL pink night at the Rogers Centre in honour of breast cancer awareness. But you could have coloured a bruising Argos-Bombers game black and blue Thursday. Toronto defensive back Neiko Thorpe was carted off the field early in the Argos 36-21 win after appearing to get his head caught in an awkward position trying to tackle Winnipeg running back Will Ford. Thorpe was taken to nearby St. Michaels Hospital for precautionary evaluation but released later Thursday night after the game. "All I know is that he was moving a little bit and he had a little tingling in his neck," Argos coach Scott Milanovich said at his post-game news conference. Later word was that Thorpe had been released from hospital after all tests were negative. There was a lengthy delay with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter when Thorpe was hurt -- his head appearing to slam off Fords leg -- as the Bombers drove towards the Toronto goal-line. Players watched as trainers worked on Thorpe in the Toronto end zone. The import defensive back was strapped onto a board -- his head immobilized -- and placed on a stretcher before being carted off. Toronto (11-6) led 10-0 at the time. The Bombers scored several plays later to make it 10-7. "The Blue Bomber organization wishes the best for injured Argo Neiko Thorpe," Winnipeg said on its official Twitter account. Thorpe was the second Argo defender to go down in the CFL game. Middle linebacker Robert McCune was hurt in a colllision on an earlier pass play. Mike Evans Jersey. McCune, who was being examined in the dressing room when Thorpe went down, returned to the game despite what he called "a little shoulder issue." "They checked it out and I told them I was good enough to finish the game," he said later. "Ive got two weeks now to try to get it back healthy and get ready for this Eastern final." Asked if it hurt, McCune smiled wryly and said: "Its starting to stiffen up a little but now ... Ill be OK." Toronto receiver Spencer Watt also was sidelined after talking a big hit from defensive back Johnny Sears near the Winnipeg goal-line. Milanovich had no other injury updates. The Bombers (3-14) had their own problems. Quarterback Max Hall had to be helped off in the dying minutes as he tried to scramble for a first down near his goal-line. Linebacker Marcus Ball, who made the tackle, was also shaken up on the play. Hall was said to have suffered a hip injury but there was no other immediate update. Hall was replaced by Jason Boltus, who was saved from being erased by McCune when he fell over as the bruising Argos linebacker steamed towards him. Bombers coach Tim Burke recited a list of players who had taken knocks during the game. Defensive back Desia Dunn (reaggravating an ankle injury) and defensive lineman Michael McAdoo also did not finish the game. The walking wounded included receiver Wallace Miles and defensive back Jovon Johnson. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
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