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SOCHI — Hayley Wickenheiser not only will carry the Canadian flag in the opening ceremonies on Friday, the hockey legend also carries high hopes for a fourth-consecutive Olympic gold medal and for the womens game as a whole. Black Friday Shoes Free Shipping . But before her work on the ice begins, shes going to savour a special moment at Sochis Fisht Olympic stadium on Friday. "Just going to enjoy it and take it all in and, you know, honour the fact that I have this opportunity and that my family is going to be in the building," said Wickenheiser, who hails from Shaunavon, Sask. "So its going to be a fun night, said the Olympic veteran," who will have 11 family members in Sochi. The 35-year-old Wickenheiser is well aware that if the womens tournament evolves as presumed with a Canada-United States gold-medal final on Feb. 20, the scrutiny will continue as to whether womens hockey belongs in the Olympics. But shes been around the international game for two decades, when she cracked the Canadian roster as a 15 year old in 1994, and she sees progress. Womens game in good shape “I always worry about the future of womens hockey, mainly because of the fact that most of the world pays attention to womens hockey only for two weeks out of every four years,” Wickenheiser said. “I dont worry about the womens game when I look at every game and what goes on internationally. “I look at Team Japan and what [current coach and former Canadian player] Carla MacLeod has been able to do to get that team to an Olympic Games, which is a huge accomplishment for a country. You look at Finland and how they centralize their under-18 and national teams. You look at Sweden and you look at Russia what Alexei Yashin [the teams general manager] has been able to do with his team.” Still, the Russians, Swedes, Finns and Swiss need to exhibit that they have closed the gap. But that wont be easy because Canada and the U.S. continue to elevate its level of play. “This is a dilemma womens hockey is always going to face. But the reality is were so much further ahead in this time span than say where mens hockey was in [after the first five Olympics]. I think the [womens] game has really come a long way in five Olympics.” Will this be Wickenheisers final Olympics? She wont decide on whether to continue or conclude her decorated career, that includes three Olympic gold medals, seven world championships and playing pro mens hockey in Finland and Sweden, until after the final buzzer sounds in Sochi. So what keeps Wickenheisers competitive clock ticking? “The No. 1 thing is a love of sport,” said the six-time Olympian said, who also competed for Canada in softball at the 2000 Sydney Games. “Ive loved hockey since the day I first put on skates when I was five years old. I have had a passion to play all these years. “I love being part of Team Canada and having the opportunity to win, and thats the main driving force now.” Nagano loss still hurts She forgot to mention that shes never been a good loser. At a team gathering on Monday evening, Wickenheiser and Hefford and assistant coach Daniel Goyette described the emptiness and hurt they felt when they finished second in 1998. “The worst thing in the world is to stand on the blue line with a silver medal around your neck,” she said. “It stays with you for a while.” There was some speculation that Wickenheiser wouldnt be around for the Sochi Games. There was some thought her game had dropped off and she was dealing with some injuries. “You battle injuries and you go through a lot of things as an athlete, but I could picture in my mind what I needed to do to get ready to play in these Games,” she said. “I guess its always a fragile existence as an athlete. Any day something can happen and your games are over, like we saw yesterday with the snowboarder (Norway slopestyle gold-medal contender Torstein Horgmo broke his collarbone during a trail run). “Im very grateful to be sitting here … and to have had the longevity Ive had.” (With files from CBC Saskatchewan) Wholesale Black Friday Shoes . Watch all the action unfold live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. You can also watch the game live with the debut of Wednesday Night Hockey on TSN.ca and chat throughout the game with TSN. Black Friday Shoes Store . At 11:06 of the first period, Neal struck Marchand with his knee when Marchand was down on the ice. Marchand remained in the game. Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand. https://www.shoesblackfriday.com/ . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green Bays defence had all it could handle the first time it faced Cam Newton.Three years after Newton had a breakout performance against Green Bay in his second NFL start, the Packers will have to try to contain the Carolina Panthers versatile quarterback without at least one key defensive player.Starting cornerback Sam Shields wont play Sunday, when the Panthers come to Green Bay for a game between division leaders.Shields, who leads Green Bay with two interceptions, sustained what coach Mike McCarthy on Friday called a knee strain in the a comeback win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.McCarthy didnt know if the injury would keep Shields sidelined more than a game.Hes getting better, though, McCarthy said.Tied for the NFC North lead, the Packers (4-2) might also be without their other starting cornerback against the NFC South-leading Panthers (3-2-1).Tramon Williams sustained an ankle injury in the last game. Like Shields, Williams didnt practice this week, but McCarthy said the team isnt counting out the veteran player from playing Sunday. Williams is questionable on the injury report.Were still going through the process, but hes better today than he was yesterday, McCarthy said. The Packers didnt practice Friday, but estimated Williams would have been a limited participant had they been on the field.I think tomorrow will be the biggest indicator, obviously with us going (back) to the practice field, McCarthy said. As I stated earlier in the week, well give Tramon Williams every opportunity all the way up to game time to play.Williams has missed only one game in his eight-year pro career.Thaat came in Week 2 of the 2011 season, when a shoulder injury kept Williams from playing the last time Green Bay and Carolina met. Black Friday Shoes Deals. . Green Bay won that game at Carolina, 30-23.McCarthy referred to Williams as an old-school pro for his high rate of durability, playing in 128 of Green Bays 129 games (including playoffs) since 2007.I dont think theres any question when we got back here Monday that he was going to do everything that he could to play in this game, McCarthy said.Green Bay spent this week preparing the young tandem of Davon House and Casey Hayward to fill in at cornerback if it has to play without both Shields and Williams on Sunday.House and Hayward have played a lot in situational roles on defence this season.House has made two starts as the nickel cornerback, contributing an interception and a forced fumble. Hayward had his first interception of the season in the last game and also has a fumble recovery.That type of production when they have been called on gives defensive co-ordinator Dom Capers comfort if House and Hayward are needed for enhanced roles Sunday.I feel very fortunate, Capers said. I think the depth in our secondary is probably as good as it has been.NOTES: Packers DE Datone Jones is out for a second straight game with an ankle injury. Hes struggling laterally right now, and until he gets that back, it doesnt make sense to push it forward, McCarthy said. ... LB Jamari Lattimore is questionable Sunday after suffering a neck injury in the last game. Brad Jones, who lost his starting job to Lattimore after the first week of the season, is next on the depth chart. ' ' '