ributing members of his unit go on injured

CALGARY -- Bob Nicholsons advice to his successor at Hockey Canada is be as comfortable having a beer with a minor hockey coach in Kindersley, Sask., as you are in the New York office of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. From the 3,500 minor hockey associations across the country to the highest halls of hockey power, Nicholsons ability to establish, build and maintain connections turned Hockey Canada into a powerful sports organization. After 16 years as president and chief executive officer, Nicholsons last day on the job was spent presiding over the organizations annual general meeting in Calgary. "There are so many partnerships you have to work on," Nicholson said Saturday. "Thats how you grow the business side of the game and how you grow the game itself." His successor will be chosen by Hockey Canadas board of directors. Its a job of many moving parts that includes player, coach and official development programs, national teams, corporate sales and marketing, licensing, insurance, regulations and building consensus among 13 provincial branches. Nicholsons parting instructions also included tapping into Canadas multicultural population. "We need to figure out how to deal with new Canadians," he explained. "We need to be more flexible. We cant just register kids from September to April. We should have two or three hockey seasons. "The families are changing. We cant continue to do things we did in the 70s, 80s and 90s. There has to be change." There was a lot of that during Nicholsons tenure. The 60-year-old from Penticton, B.C., started with B.C. Hockey before joining Hockey Canada as vice-president in 1990. Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association merged in 1994 and Nicholson became president in 1998. "The reason there was a merger was both organizations were bankrupt," Nicholson recalled. The non-profit organization is now an operation of approximately $45 million annually due in large part to marketing and packaging of Canadas passion, as well as turning the organization into a brand. "The easiest way to describe that was when I started as president we had 20 staff and we have 127 staff today. Our budgets were $5 million total," Nicholson said. "We just really took the mark and built partnerships." A prime example is the world mens under-20 hockey championship that is a major contributor to the coffers. Hockey Canada parlayed the annual tournaments growing popularity into lucrative sponsorships and a large television contract with TSN. The money goes not only to Hockey Canada, but to the Canadian Hockey League that supplies a large number of players to the tournament as well as minor hockey associations who develop them. Nicholson struck a deal with the International Ice Hockey Federation to bring the tournament to Canada every two years starting in 2015. Its also been held in Canada three of the last five years. "The world juniors and the womens worlds, those are a real staple in this country and theyre a big part of the tradition and also the financial side of it," Nicholson said. Canada has won both mens and womens Olympic hockey gold in back-to-back Winter Games. The 2002 mens hockey team, assembled by Wayne Gretzky, won gold to end a 50-year drought at the Winter Olympics. Canadian teams have won 44 gold at world championships, Olympics and World Cups on Nicholsons watch. "Look at the people hes brought into our organization, whether its high-end professional staff or people like Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman," Hockey Canada chairman Jim Hornell said. "His capacity to bring people into our organization is huge and that will live on." Registration rose from 519,000 in 1998 when Nicholson took over to 634,892 this past season. Much of that growth has come in the female game with an increase from 29,000 to almost 90,000 today. Nicholson has also been front and centre on thorny issues. In the wake of revelations that junior hockey coach Graham James sexually abused players, a Speak Out program was established in 1997 to help prevent abuse and bullying in sport. When to introduce bodychecking in minor hockey has been a source of continual and fractious debate. Concussions in hockey are problematic for the long-term health of players. Nicholson emphasized safety in his final address at the AGM. "Everything you do, do it for the player," he said. "Its not about the turf youre representing or the area of the country you live in. Do whats best for the player. Player safety, those terms are all changing. We have to change with the time. "I really believe when I look back 10 years from now, this organization is going to go to a whole other level. As long as you continue to focus on the players, making sure players play this game safe, Canada will always be the country that carries this game worldwide." Establishing an initiation program to introduce children age five and six to hockey is part of Nicholsons legacy. He also oversaw the move of Hockey Canadas headquarters from Father David Bauer Arena at the University of Calgary to the WinSport at Canada Olympic Park. His first day off the job Sunday was to be spent golfing in Penticton. Nicholson will continue as a IIHF vice-president. Speculation is the NHL will come calling. "I dont know," Nicholson said. "In fairness Ive got a lot of options on my table. I told everyone I wasnt going to speak until June 1. Im going to have to deal with some things and see where it goes." Cheap Wild Jerseys . 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He received plenty of help from the Stars defence and got goals from Ray Whitney and Russias Valeri Nichushkin.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - For a team that wasnt in the playoff hunt for most of the season and has missed the post-season the past three years, the New York Giants are heading into the off-season with a lot of optimism.It didnt make a difference that they posted a 6-10 record, had a seven-game losing streak that made the final month meaningless and had one of the NFLs worst defences.The great equalizer is Odell Beckham Jr. The rookie wide receiver embarrassed opposing defences, created an Internet frenzy with a one-handed catch, re-wrote some franchise records and tied Hall of Famer Michael Irvins NFL record with nine consecutive games of 90 yards receiving.Even more impressive: Beckham did it after missing most of training camp and the first four games of the regular season with a hamstring injury.He is the best rookie I have ever seen, hands down, 35-year-old placekicker Josh Brown said Monday as the Giants cleaned out their lockers. I have never seen somebody as athletic, who does it with such ease.Beckham has all the tools — speed, great hands, leaping ability, a keen mind and an enthusiasm for the game that sometimes gets the best of him.His 63-yard touchdown catch and run in the season-ending 34-26 loss to the Eagles on Sunday included a showboating back-pedal into the end zone and a fastball spike against a nearby wall after scoring his 12th TD of the season, which tied the Giants record for rookies.Hes a very passionate player. Thats just him. He makes plays. Hes very confident, said Eagles cornerback Jaylen Watkins, who played against Beckham in college. Hes thinking hes making the play every time it comes his way. Hes got a great quarterback and theyre on the same page. Hes fast. Hes all in one.Beckham had a lifetimes worth of highlight-reel moments this season and his final statistics were eye-popping. He had team highs of 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games.The growth that he made this season is pretty remarkable, and the impact he had on this offence was a great tribute to him and his work ethic, said Manning, who had 30 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 4,410 yards in the new West Coast offence.ddddddddddddt will be nice to have him for a full year in the mix and knowing that he can make some big plays for us.Beckham admits he has to pick his fights next season, noting he put a target on his own back too many times. The experience has been fun.There is still so much I can look back on and I wish I couldve done that and I wish I couldve done this, Beckham said. It was great to get here and be able to learn and experience things, to get a year of experience underneath my belt and I am looking forward to next year with a smile.The Giants offence finished 10th in the league with a mediocre running game. Rookie Andre Williams led the team with 721 yards, but he did a lot of on the job training after Rashad Jennings was hurt.Rueben Randle had two phenomenal weeks to finish the season, Larry Donnell was a pleasant surprise in his first season as the starting tight end and receiving group will be even better if Victor Cruz comes back from his second knee injury.The future here is just unbelievable, fullback Henry Hynoski said. You just saw flashes of it this year with the playmakers weve got. Its going to be an exciting team to watch in the coming years.What has to improve is the defence. There were just too many big plays by opposing teams and the run defence was ranked No. 30.While it appears coach Tom Coughlin will survive the bad season, defensive co-ordinator Perry Fewell is on the hot seat despite having seven contributing members of his unit go on injured reserve. Overall, the Giants had 22 players on injured reserve.You just cant win that way, said middle linebacker Jon Beason, who ended up on injured reserve. Were not making excuses. Next man up for sure. But you just cant win that way.Cornerback Walter Thurmond III lasted less than two games before tearing a pectoral muscle.We just need to have that time just to gel, he said. There are so many guys who are vital parts that end up getting injured. 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