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Canadas Kevin Reynolds was hoping to use his breakthrough year on the mens figure skating circuit as a springboard for greater success during the current Olympic season. Bradley Roby Elite Jersey . Instead, equipment issues have forced him to withdraw from this weeks Grand Prix event and it remains unclear when hell be ready to make his return to the ice. Reynolds pulled out of the Cup of China because of problems with his skating boots. He has been unable to get them to fit properly this season and it has hampered his training. Not exactly an ideal situation for a potential medal contender at the Sochi Games. "When youre dealing with equipment, sometimes you get a pair of skates and theyre the same make, same model youve used for years and sometimes the fit just isnt right," Skate Canada high-performance director Mike Slipchuk said Thursday. "It just seems that he hasnt had much luck this fall with even a few backup pairs that have come in. Theyve been having a hard time finding a pair that fit like his previous ones did during the (previous) season." Reynolds used a different pair of skates last season when he had his breakout victory against a tough field at Four Continents in Japan. Those skates are too worn to be used again this season, Slipchuk said. Reynolds and coach Joanne McLeod were not available for comment. However, McLeod did discuss Reynolds equipment challenges in early September at the teams high-performance camp in Mississauga, Ont. "One of the boots that he received was twisted to the sole," she said after watching him at practice. "Sometimes boots can warp. It just didnt sit right. He toughed it out. It wasnt like he was complaining. He toughed it out and tried to make it work and I was pushing him hard with that boot. "But it just became complicated and frustrating. And you dont want to have any regrets (in an) Olympic year." McLeod said the issue could present challenges for the upcoming season although she was hopeful they would get past it. "So yes, things might be rocky -- you have to alter, you might have to cancel a couple things," she said. "But you dont want to have any regrets. You dont want to be going into an Olympic year thinking, Darn, I should have switched that boot because it haunted me for the entire season. You dont want that." In addition to his victory last season, Reynolds reached the Four Continents podium in 2010 with a third-place effort. The 23-year-old North Vancouver native was fifth at the 2013 world championships. Although Canadian teammate Patrick Chan has garnered most of the mens figure skating spotlight in recent years, Reynolds has made significant strides and could be in the mix of contenders in Sochi. In addition to the individual competition, Canada is also a medal favourite in the new team event. "The No. 1 priority now is to get into a pair of skates and get out and compete because its a big season and you dont want to be starting in January at (nationals)," Slipchuk said. "The months of January and February are going to come fast. "You need to get those programs out for not only your training, but for the judges to see and prepare for the season. Time is ticking quick. Were hoping this can all be rectified soon and he can get back out and get competing." Some skaters change their skates two or three times per season. When a new pair arrives, it can take anywhere from a day to a week or longer to work them in. Reynolds usually breaks in new skates every six months -- traditionally in early January before the nationals and then again in early July. Slipchuk said equipment choices are primarily left up to the athlete, adding it can be quite common for challenges to pop up. When they do, it can often take time to sort out. "Its not like you can just go down to the corner sporting goods store and pick up a pair," Slipchuk said. "For any elite athlete, its a very highly built and highly tuned piece of equipment and specific for what theyre doing. "Often if a skate has to be remade, it does take a little time for that to happen. The companies are good, they get the equipment out fast and hopefully theyre able to get this all rectified." Slipchuk said he was planning to get an update from Reynolds and his team by the weekend. "If you ask any skater, there is a process for breaking in new skates," McLeod said. "Its not like a car, you get into it and (drive) and everything is just amazing. Its a little bit different than that. "The boots are very hard and it takes the skaters mobility with their ankle and their leg strength to break it in in a certain way." Reynolds is scheduled to compete at the Nov. 22-24 Grand Prix event in Moscow. The national championships are set for Jan. 9-15 in Ottawa and the 2014 Sochi Olympics will be held Feb. 7-23. Steve Atwater Navy Blue Jersey . Centre Samuel Bennett of the Ontario Hockey Leagues Kingston Frontenacs leads the pack among North American skaters, with 26 goals and 66 points this season. Peyton Manning Blue Jersey . The (28-26-6) Jets are three points behind Vancouver for a Western Conference Wild Card playoff spot following the Canucks 1-0 win over St. Louis last night. Ondrej Pavelec will start in goal. BROSSARD, Que. -- Marc Bergevin was a busy man on his first foray into NHL free agency as a general manager, signing three gritty players for the Montreal Canadiens. Bergevin signed rugged left-winger Brandon Prust from the New York Rangers to a US$10-million, four-year contract and inked right-winger Colby Armstrong from the Toronto Maple Leafs to a $1-million, one-year deal. They also brought back veteran defenceman Francis Bouillon from the Nashville Predators for $1 million over one year. The Canadiens only confirmed the Prust signing, although Armstrong announced his contract himself on Twitter and Bouillon spoke about his new deals with various media. Prust said he had mixed emotions in leaving New York after three seasons but joining a team that welcomes a tough forward. The London, Ont., native said he will complement Montreals recent re-signings of physical forwards Travis Moen and Ryan White. And he will have a coach who appreciates toughness in Michel Therrien, who returned to Montreal in May to replace Randy Cunneyworth. "I think having me there is important and will make our jobs easier moving forward," said Prust. "Thats something I got out of our conversations. They wanted to add a bit of grit. "Its good to have a little more team toughness. Other teams coming into our building will know theyre in for a long night." He will also be closer to his girlfriend, who works in television in Montreal. Prust said he spoke to Rangers coach John Tortorella on Sunday and was sad to go, but felt the offer from Montreal was better. "In the end, (the Rangers) werent close to where Montreal was," he said. "Montreal showed a lot more interest. "I felt I fit into their lineup. The team is moving in the right direction and I wanted to be part of that." A team spokesman said Bergevin was still working on deals and would not talk to the media until Monday. The club also signed free agent forward Michael Blunden and goaltender Cedrick Desjardins to one-year, two-way contracts. The Canadiens were looking to add muscle to their checking lines and an extra defenceman, and thats what they got. They are also seeking a forward for their top two lines, amid speculation they may bee interested in former Pittsburgh star Jaromir Jagr. Peyton Manning Alternate Jersey. The six-foot, 195-pound Prust played in all 82 games the last two seasons in New York. His production dipped from 13 goals and 29 points two years ago to five goals and 12 assists last year. The 28-year-old former London Knight, a strong penalty killer, is going into his fifth NHL season. He was drafted 70th overall in 2004 by Calgary. Both Armstrong and Bouillon have a history with Therrien, who coached Bouillon in junior hockey in Laval and Granby as well as during his first stint as Canadiens coach a decade ago. Therrien had Armstrong with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The six-foot-two, 187-pound Armstrong, a pesky, physical forward, became a free agent when the final year of his contract was bought out by the Leafs. He will actually earn $2 million next season, with half paid by Toronto. The 29-year-old broke into the NHL with the Penguins in 2005-06 and played in Atlanta before joining the Leafs two seasons ago. His time in Toronto was marked by injuries as he played only 29 games last season, picking up a goal and a two assists and was minus-8. The five-foot-eight, 201-pound Bouillon, a Montreal native, is deceptively strong and can play a physical game. The 36-year-old played his first 10 seasons with the Canadiens before moving to the Predators in 2009, appearing in 66 games last season with four goals and seven assists. The 25-year-old Blunden, acquired last July from Columbus, had two goals and two assists in 39 games for Montreal last season. He missed 20 games with a knee injury suffered Feb. 2. Desjardins, 26, spent last season with the AHL Lake Erie Monsters, going 16-11-5 with a 2.11 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. He was in the Montreal organization from 2006 to 2010 before moving to Tampa Bay, where he posted two wins in as many games. He will likely fit in behind Carey Price and Peter Budaj in the organizations depth chart. In the days leading up to the opening of the free agent market, Bergevin signed some potential free agents, including Moen, White, depth centre Petteri Nokelainen and defenceman Alexei Emelin. He is working on new deals for a handful of restricted free agents, including Price and defenceman P.K. Subban. ' ' ' |
