TORONTO -- The leadership core of this cool-as-they-come machine called Team Canada was born out of the most pressurized environment one could ever imagine for the sport of hockey.The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, was a must-win hockey tournament for the sports birth nation following Canadas tremendously disappointing flameout at the Torino Winter Games in Italy four years earlier.A silver medal in 2010 would have been deemed a disaster. It was akin to Brazil hosting soccers World Cup. It is beyond belief how much pressure there was in Vancouver.To have been able to come through with a gold medal in that environment six years ago spawned a whole new era for Team Canadas core stars -- led by Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Shea Weber, Drew Doughty and Ryan Getzlaf -- and produced the kind of belief and quiet confidence that has set this team apart on its way to the World Cup of Hockey finals.The best-of-three championship series against Team Europe begins Tuesday.Add in the same head coach since Vancouver in Mike Babcock and youve got the kind of continuity over three best-on-best tournaments that has led to a certain know-how you cant buy.Obviously, its important, Babcock said over the weekend. When we had the graybeards that year in 2010 with Nieds and Prongs and Iggy, I mean, they provided great stabilization for us in the room. And Boiler was on that team, and there was some good, good, good men who had been around a long time to help these kids. These kids now arent kids any more. ... I trust them, and I think they trust me.Babcock was referring to the veteran presence of Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Jarome Iginla and Dan Boyle, which in that frying pan of a tournament in 2010 helped ease the transition to Team Canadas current generation of leaders.It was a pretty jam-packed and pressure-packed moment, and you look at how all those guys performed, it was pretty remarkable, Pronger said Monday over the phone.Dont kid yourself though. The presence of Hall of Famers such as Pronger and Niedermayer helped those young stars handle the moment at hand in Vancouver.I especially remember Nieds, because I was so fortunate to play with him and sat beside him in the locker room, Weber said Monday after practice. He was just a calming influence. He was never a guy that was really that vocal. He said things, but he wasnt always chirping -- just that guy where there was never a doubt in his mind -- and I think that really calms a room. You can learn a lot from those guys in those situations.Reached Monday, Niedermayer, ever humble, downplayed his role.The way Toews and Crosby play, I mean, its impressive, he said. Obviously, extremely talented players, but neither feel theyre too good to do the little dirty jobs that need to be done. Throughout my career, that really impresses me when you see a guy like that thats willing to do that for his team.Those two guys were born leaders. If we happened to pass on a few things that we learned from other guys, great, but I think those two guys were going to figure it out on their own.Babcock is quick to remind people that Weber is just as important in that Crosby-Toews leadership group.Hes as good a human being as Ive ever been around, Babcock said of Weber. He doesnt have to say much. He just has to look at you, and you snap into shape. He cuts a big swath out there. ... What I like about him best is when he walks in the dressing room, you know its business. And so hes a culture-type person. He makes your franchise better when he walks in the door.The fact is, Team Canada has leaders all over the dressing room. Most of them wear a letter on their respective NHL teams, which is why nobody has to stand up and deliver a speech.Theres not one voice thats the most present in the room, I dont think, Doughty said. Everyones kind of got the things they want to say either to the team or just to your linemates or D partners. Everyone is chipping in on that, and we look for that from everyone.Its why when Canada somehow was in a tie game after 40 minutes in Saturdays semifinal despite massively outplaying Russia that you could hear a pin drop in the Canadian dressing room. Been there, done that; the back-to-back Olympic champs just stuck to the game plan and hammered the Russians in the third period.Leadership also is accepting your role. There are star players on Team Canada playing fewer minutes than theyre used to. Nobody is complaining.Its impressive, Niedermayer said. I think this run that this groups been on is amazing and should really be appreciated, obviously by them but also by Canadians and fans. ... I dont see anybody there thats worried about themselves.Theyre there for one reason, to help the team, and I think it really shows. Mack Lee Hill Jersey .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Cheap Chiefs Jerseys . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-jerrel-wilson-jersey-large-666n.html . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Reggie Ragland Jersey .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Buck Buchanan Jersey . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Everyone has a go-to-move during training camp fights.Maybe its a slap to the side of the helmet. Or a tug of the facemask. Or even a quick, efficient jab. Yeah, some guys throw punches. Fake haymakers. But those are a waste of time in August. And roundhouse kicks arent going to fly either.My move? I was a face mask guy. Grab it quickly, and pull that thing down hard. Then use the off-arm to secure the body. Lock that dude up. Now you are in control. Now you are leading the dance until the rest of the guys jump in. Offense versus defense. Everyone meet up in the middle of the field. Pushing. Shoving. Words. A few weak punches might be thrown too. Nothing gets guys going in August like a good scuffle.?Then, suddenly, its over. Coaches bark, players separate, and practice resumes. Back to the drill. Back to the huddle. Line up again.But that simple fight -- or scrum -- serves a purpose in practices all over the NFL. Its a necessary change of pace in the otherwise monotonous slog of training camp. Heck, sometimes these are even scripted or planned before the day starts. Whatever the case, the intensity level of that practice session changes a bit after the scuffle. The team gets a quick jolt of energy. The speed on the field increases. In some ways, that little fight can be looked at as a positive.?I remember a pretty good scrum during the first couple days of camp back in Washington under Steve Spurrier. Its was early too, maybe the second day of pads. During a 7-on-7 drill, a running back got laid out on a checkdown route. His response? Whip a ball at the head of linebacker Jessie Armstead. Nope. Cant do it. We all jumped in and took care of that situation.Players feed off that kind of stuff in August. I know I did. No one got banged up there. And once Spurrier cleared the thing out, we went back to work. It was almost routine. Come together and shove each other for a minute, and then shut it down. Get the next play call, and start rolling.Sure, there are NFL coaches who wont put up with this stuff. Bill Belichick is one of them. Throw a punch, and youre gone. See ya. That happened twice last week in the New England Patriots joint practices with the Chicago Bears. Malcolm Butler and Bryan Stork. Belichick tossed them both.?Other coaches? Many of them wont sweat a fight on the practice field in camp. You might get chewed out after the fight inn front of the team, but youll still get an atta boy from your position coach coach when the headman isnt looking.ddddddddddddWhy do fights start? A lot of reasons. A chop block. A low tackle at the knees. Playing through the whistle. Heck, maybe you lit up an offensive player with a big hit. Do that, and someone is going to come after you. The lick I laid on Trung Canidate during Redskins camp in 2003 (video below) didnt immediately start a fight, but it changed the dynamic of practice, and a scuffle broke out later that day.?One-on-one drills are also prime grounds for fights. Just this past weekend, Seahawks DE Michael Bennett got booted from practice for fighting O-lineman Bradley Sowell after Sowell had taken a few shots at Bennetts position-mate Josh Shirley in one-on-one drills.Thats pro football in August.Remember: These guys have been competing since July, and you get tired of beating on your own teammates day after day.And these joint practices? What do coaches think is going to happen when two teams get together in August? Come on, man. Players are fighting for jobs right now.Yeah, these joint sessions are great if we are talking about the level of competition. Its going to rise. Its another chance for coaches and GMs to evaluate the roster in a controlled setting. Those are very good reps to get on tape.But the fights at these things should almost be expected at this point of camp. Its hot. Its humid. Guys want to get out of camp. They are tired. They want to go home. They arent used to practicing against another team. Hey, everyone has a breaking point, right? All it takes is a quick shove, and everyone starts pouring onto the field. Its a battle royale, WWE-style.Plus, you are going to support your teammates. You dont stand there and watch some dude wrestle your buddy to the ground. Get in there, guy. Mix it up. Then get back to the routine of practice.The majority of these fights, in reality, are pretty lame. And you dont want to see pro ball players swinging on each other every day in August. Thats not going to build a winner. But camps are ultra competitive, and stuff happens. A mini-fight? Thats part of the deal.ESPN.com NFL analyst Matt Bowen played seven seasons as a defensive back in the NFL. ' ' '