Georges, London, Ont.; Nick Blevins, Calgary

There has been much water under the bridge since Derek Daypuck pulled on the Canadian jersey at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.The versatile back has forged another career away from the rugby field. But the 36-year-old Hamilton firefighter is back wearing the Maple Leaf at the IRB Americas Rugby Championship.For me this is a huge honour to get selected again and something that actually I didnt expect, he said. But now that Im here, Im not just happy to be here. I want to help this team be successful and win an ARC for Canada.The four-team tournament features A squads from Canada, Argentina and the U.S., with Uruguay fielding its top team, more or less. Canada A opens Saturday against Uruguay in Langford, B.C., after the U.S. Selects play the Argentine Jaguars.Daypuck is one of nine capped players in the Canadian starting lineup Saturday. Three more capped players are on the bench.The Uruguayans will be somewhat undermanned for the Canada match since the countrys top players will be in Montevideo for the second leg of a World Cup qualifier against Russia. The Russians won the opening game 22-21 in Krasnoyarsk.Uruguay, ranked 20th in the world, will be sending reinforcements to the ARC after the qualifier.For Canadian coach Kieran Crowley, the ARC has been a valuable way to test talent from the Canadian Rugby Championship against international competition. The tournament has served as a bridge to the full national team and some players will likely earn selection to Canadas November Tests against Namibia, Samoa and Romania.Daypuck, of course, has already reached the rugby heights with 17 caps, playing every position in the backline for Canada other than scrum half. His last full cap was at the 2007 World Cup. He left Victoria, where he had been a carded athlete, for Ontario in 2009 to start a career outside of rugby.When I left here and went back to Ontario to get into fire school, I had no idea if Id ever be able to get back into it or even if the opportunity would arise to play provincially, said Daypuck, who calls London, Ont., home.The six-foot 210-pounder took the firefighter pre-service course at Lambton College before getting hired in Hamilton. Rugby was on the back burner as he pursued his career.I know its important when your goals are very big to not chase too many of them, he said. He had to take a year off from the sport during his probation as a firefighter. Then he worked his way back into the provincial scene with the Ontario Blues.Daypuck, the team captain and inside centre, led the Blues to their fourth straight national title in September with a 45-5 road win over the Atlantic Rock. Daypuck was the second-leader scorer in the Canadian Rugby Championship this year.He did not look further afield.I kind of took it on to make the teams goals my personal goals and try to spread that kind of mentality to the guys, he said.The message was if they take care of the team, then their personal goals will likely fall into line automatically.His call-up to the ARC has proved Daypuck right. Seven other Ontario Blues including 18-year-old Andrew Coe made the 26-man Canada A squad as well.Daypuck sees age as just a number. Sometimes I feel like Im 36 going on 20.The Daypuck family runs a long-established dojo in London, Daypuck Sports Karate. These days, Daypuck fits a lot into his schedule. When hes not working a 24-hour firefighting shift, hes playing rugby or coaching the womens team at the University of Western Ontario.The last time he played in the ARC was in Argentina in 2011, before he got hired as a firefighter.Some very good beef, he recalled with a laugh.Rugby has taken Daypuck around the globe. He recalls being away 23 weeks a year when he played for both the sevens and 15-man side, going through a couple of passports.Prairie Wolf Pack flanker Kyle Gilmour will captain Canada A at the ARC. Gilmour is one of 12 capped players on Crowleys roster.Argentina A won the 2013 ARC tournament, winning all three matches. Canada A (1-2-0) was third behind the American entry (2-1-0).a€”a€”a€”CanadaTom Dolezel, London St. Georges, London, Ont., Ray Barkwill, Niagara Wasps RFC, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Doug Wooldridge, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Aaron Flagg, Abbotsford RFC, Abbotsford, B.C.; Kyle Baillie, Edmonton Druids, Charlottetown; Evan Olmstead, Parametta Two Blues, Calgary; Kyle Gilmour (capt.), St. Albert, St. Albert, Alta.; Seb Pearson, London St. Georges, London, Ont.,; Jamie Mackenzie, UVIC Vikes, Oakville, Ont.; Gordon McRorie, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Dan Moor, Balmy Beach RFC, Toronto; Derek Daypuck, London St. Georges, London, Ont.; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Sean Ferguson, UBC Thunderbirds, Vancouver; Pat Kay, UVIC Vikes, Duncan, B.C.ReplacementsRyan Hamilton, Capilano RFC, Vancouver; Pete Houlihan, Edmonton Druids, Edmonton,; James Smith, Shoalhaven RFC, Calgary; Nanyak Dala, Castaway Wanderers, Regina; Admir Cejvanovic, Burnaby Lake RFC, Vancouver; Patrick Parfrey, Swilers RFC, St. Johns, N.L.; Guiseppe Du Toit, UVIC Vikes, Maple Ridge, B.C.; Clay Panga, Calgary Hornets, Calgary.a€”a€”a€”Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Keith Hernandez Jersey . 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Tyutin has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury which occurred while playing for Russia at the Olympics. The top-two defenceman has four goals and 20 assists, 30 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 53 games with Columbus this season. Adam Wainwright Jersey .C. -- Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- LeBron James stripped the ball at midcourt, raced the length of the floor and lifted off for a powerful one-handed dunk. Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, seated on the Charlotte bench, could only look on helplessly. James was taking over and the Miami Heat, well, they were starting to look like the Miami Heat of the past two seasons. Unlike the first two games of the series, James made sure this game wouldnt be close. James had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the Heat easily defeated the Bobcats 98-85 Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first round. Dwyane Wade added 17 points for the Heat, who can close out the best-of-seven series Monday night. "We were locked in on what needs to be done and our keys to win this game," James said. James went 10 of 18 from the field and pushed his record to 18-0 against the Bobcats since joining the Heat in 2010. Miami has won 19 straight overall against Charlotte. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said his players took a "professional approach" following a 101-97 win Game 2 that came down the wire, dedicating themselves to fixing their mistakes rather than being satisfied with the win. Now he said the challenge is closing out the Bobcats. "You dont want a series to go longer than it needs to," Spoelstra said. Al Jefferson finished with 20 points -- 15 in the first quarter -- for the Bobcats, who are still searching for the first post-season win in franchise history. After trailing most of the first half, the Heat took control in the final four minutes of the second quarter. Mario Chalmers gave Miami a 42-40 lead on a 3-pointer, Norris Cole hit a 5-foot bank shot and then another 3 from the left wing helping the Heat close the half on a 16-4 run. Miami made 8 of their first 11 3-pointers. The half, which had started with so much energy and promise for the Bobcats, ended with a colossal mistake by guard Gerald Henderson. With the clock winding down, he turned the ball over in the backcourt with 2 seconds left and then fouled James while the Miami forward was attempting a 3-pointer. James made the Bobcats pay by sinking three free throws with 0.2 left on the clock to give the Heat a 58-46 advantage at the break. "We butchered the last three-and-a-half miinutes of the first half," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said.dddddddddddd Said James: "I put it on my shoulders tonight to close out the quarter the right way. And I think that resulted in the way we started the third quarter." The second half was all Miami. James, who was booed loudly almost every time he touched the ball, hit a key 3-pointer and had the breakaway dunk off a steal from Josh McRoberts in the third quarter to help push the lead to 26 midway through the third. The Bobcats never mounted a series challenge after that point. James has never lost a first-round series with his teams in Cleveland and Miami going a combined 8-0. There was some intrigue entering the game. James was outspoken on Friday after taking an elbow to the throat from McRoberts in Game 2, although no flagrant foul was called on the floor. The two made contact early in the first quarter when James drove baseline and McRoberts attempted to take a charge, but officials called a blocking foul. James made the shot but missed the ensuing free throw. McRoberts walked away after the foul clapping his hands, refusing to get upset by a call that could have easily gone the other way. Slowing down Jefferson was crucial for the Heat. He hit 7 of 9 shots to start the game helped Charlotte take a 27-23 lead after the first quarter. By the middle of the second quarter, Bobcats fans, wearing all white, began chanting "M-V-P M-V-P" as Jefferson shot free throws. But Charlottes enthusiasm was short-lived as James and the Heat began flexing its muscles. Jefferson was held to just five points in the final three quarters in large part due to Chris Bosh. "They just got up in the passing lanes and made it hard for us to get Al the ball," Clifford said. "Youve got to give them credit. Their defence was terrific." The Heat also turned up the pressure on point guard Kemba Walker, trapping him out near half court. The Heat forced 14 turnovers. NOTES: The soldout crowd of 19,633 was the largest ever to see a Bobcats game at Time Warner Cable Arena. ... Bobcats owner Michael Jordan took in the game from the end of the bench. ... James has scored at least 20 points in all three playoff games ... The Heat are 19-7 in the playoffs over the past two seasons ' ' '