MOSCOW -- Canadian ice dancer Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje qualified for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Japan with a second-place finish at
the Rostelecom Cup on Saturday.
Johnny Gaudreau Jersey . Weaver and Poje, both from Waterloo, Ont., finished first in the ice dancing free skate with
101.64 points for a combined 163.14 points in the Russian event. The pair scored
61.50 points for their performance in the short program on Friday. Earlier,
Kirsten Moore-Towers of St. Catharines, Ont., and Dylan Moscovitch of Toronto
took bronze in the pairs program to also qualify for the Japan final. Poje says
he and Weaver used their disappointing short dance score as motivation heading
into Saturdays event. "After not having the most positive score on the short
dance we wanted to make sure we came back and showed that we have a strong free
dance ... and I feel like we did that," he said. "We didnt achieve a seasons
best score, but we achieved a season-best performance for us." Weaver and Poje
missed out on qualifying for the ISU Grand Prix Final last year. Now that theyve
secured their spot in this years event, Weaver says that means "everything."
"Its the last time the judges are going to see us before the Olympics," she
said. "We want to leave a lasting impression and show that we are every bit
eligible for that Olympic podium. "The best teams in the world will be at that
final and thats our shot to measure ourselves up against them and see where we
stand two short months before the Games. It will give us a very good judgement
as to what we need to work on and what has gotten better since the last time
weve been up against these teams." Canadas Olympic gold medallists in ice
dancing in 2010, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of London, Ont., have already
qualified for the Grand Prix Final. Ekaterina Bobrova faltered during her free
dance with Dmitri Soloviev, but the Russians held on for the ice dance gold with
a total of 168.32 points. Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates took third
place. Torontos Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier finished sixth with 133.66 points.
In the pairs figure skating event, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of
Germany won gold, followed by Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia and
Moore-Towers and Moscovitch. Moore-Towers fell on her chest coming out of a
lasso lift, which she casually characterized as one of "a couple of little weird
things" in the routine. Despite the fall, the Canadians picked up 123.08 points,
staying in third place overall with 188.73 points. They will join Meagan Duhamel
of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., who have already
qualified for the final pairs program in Japan. "For the most part we were
strong from the beginning to the end," Moore-Towers said. "Our skating skills
are improving every time out. We are excited to have made the final where we
will have better performances." Moscovitch said the pair came into the
competition well prepared after some solid training since Skate Canada a month
ago. "Well definitely be hungry at the Grand Prix Final," he said. "Its always
special to make the final, especially in an Olympic year. Its an opportunity to
be among the top-six in the world and competing there will set us up well for
the second half of the season." Ottawas Patrick Chan will compete in the Grand
Prix Final in the mens program.
Brandon Bollig Jersey . The other team had its playoff hopes on the line and was trying to save its season.
Jarome Iginla Jersey .com) - Speed skating has belonged to the Netherlands at the Sochi Olympics and that did not change on
Tuesday. CLEVELAND -- Josh Reddick knows how to break out of a slump. Mired in
an 8-for-43 skid over his last 13 games going into Friday night, Reddick homered
twice, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs in the
Oakland Athletics 11-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. "I was getting some
pitches to handle and not missing them," Reddick said. "Thats how you keep a hot
streak going, you dont miss pitches." Oakland manager Bob Melvin sure was
pleased to see Reddick pounding out hits. "Its nice to see him drive some
balls," Melvin said. "The first one obviously puts four runs on the board and
opens it up in a hurry. The second one was one of the more aggressive swings Ive
seen him have in a while." Reddicks second career grand slam and Josh Donaldsons
three-run homer sparked an eight-run second inning. Reddick added a two-run
homer in the seventh. Sonny Gray (5-1) allowed one run and two hits with nine
strikeouts in six innings for Oakland, which has won seven of eight. Both homers
in Oaklands biggest inning of the season came off Zach McAllister (3-4), who
struck out the side in the first, but retired only one batter in the second for
the shortest outing of his career. The game-time temperature was announced at 49
degrees, a big difference for the Athletics, who had been playing in warm
weather during a nine-game home stand. "Early on it felt like one of those cold
nights that it was going to be tough to get some good swings," Melvin said.
"Certainly in the second inning we got a lot of good swings." Nick Swishers solo
homer in the first put Cleveland ahead, but Oakland sent 11 men to the plate in
the second, with the first five reaching base. Brandon Moss doubled and took
third on Yoenis Cespedes single. Lowries single got the Athletics even and
Derek Norris walked. Reddick followed by hitting a 1-0 pitch into the seats in
right. Coco Crisp and John Jaso drew one-out walks before Donaldson drove a 3-2
pitch into the home run porch in left field. The ball hit off a souvenir stand
located in front of an entrance gate and travelled an estimated 410 feet. "Thats
probably one of the best swings Ive had this year," Donalddson said.
Joe Nieuwendyk Jersey. Indians manager Terry Francona pulled McAllister for left-hander Kyle Crockett, making his major
league debut. Gray played catch with Jaso in front of Oaklands dugout to keep
loose during the pitching change. "You try to stay in the game," Gray said. "You
do what you can to try to stay loose, especially when its a cold night." Grey
was in control other than allowing Swishers homer. Michael Brantley singled with
two outs in the third. The right-hander retired the final eight hitters,
including five strikeouts. "I felt good, especially later in the game," Gray
said. "I felt like I was getting better and better." Lowrie drove in two runs,
including a leadoff homer in the third, while Donaldson has homered in three
straight games. McAllister allowed eight runs in 1 1-3 innings and threw 38
pitches in the second, in which he gave up two homers, two singles, a double and
three walks. The right-hander hasnt won since April 21, a stretch of five
starts. "Everything went so well for me in the first," he said. "Then in the
second, I fell behind in counts, and they were able to get some balls in play
and hit them hard. I wasnt able to make any adjustments." Crisp was back in the
lineup after missing seven games with a strained neck. Oaklands leadoff hitter
was hitless with two walks in two at-bats. Brantley returned after sitting out
Thursdays game with a sore back. He had one hit in four at-bats. The Indians are
in last place in the AL Central, having lost four of six after winning a
season-high four straight. NOTES: Reddicks grand slam was the first by the
Athletics and the first allowed by the Indians this season. ... Francona said OF
Nyjer Morgan has a sprained ligament in his right knee, but will not need
surgery. Morgan was injured trying to catch a fly ball Wednesday in Toronto. ...
Athletics 1B Kyle Blanks, acquired Thursday from the Padres, pinch hit in the
ninth and singled. ... Francona said 2B Jason Kipnis (strained right oblique)
could begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. ... Oakland LHP
Scott Kazmir (5-1) faces RHP Josh Tomlin (2-0) on Saturday. Kazmir was 10-9 in
29 starts for the Indians last season.
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