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TORONTO - Fans at Air Canada Centre sweated through a tense first period and watched Slovak goaltender Denis Godla make save after save. By the time Canadas world junior team pulled away in the third, the crowd was able to exhale and chant: We Want Russia, We Want Gold and even sing a full rendition of O Canada.In beating Slovakia 5-1 Sunday night in the semifinals, Canada emerged from its first adversity of the tournament to reach the gold-medal game. The showdown with Russia is one the Canadians are more prepared for than they were through the first five games.We thought it was good for us to have that game tonight, coach Benoit Groulx said. Youve got to know how to play in a tournament (in) that type of game. We kept our calm, we made some mistakes but I think we will learn from it.Canada learned any team is vulnerable to a hot goaltender in a single-elimination tournament as Godla was spectacular in stopping 39 of the 44 shots he faced. But Nic Petan had a hat trick, Shea Theodore and Anthony Duclair each added a goal, Connor McDavid recorded three assists and Zach Fucale made 14 saves to ensure the end of Canadas world junior medal drought that dated back to 2012.This is something I dream of, getting this opportunity, said McDavid, who insisted he was fine after colliding with linemate Curtis Lazar in the third period and hesitating to get up. Have this in front of us tomorrow, cant look too far ahead. You have a great Russian team ahead of us.Even though these are teenagers who werent even born when Russia was the Soviet Union, players know full well the history of the rivalry between these two countries. It will get another chapter Monday night.That rivalry thats been together since the 72 Summit Series that Ive been told about and see highlights of all the time, its going to be something special, defenceman Joe Hicketts said. Its an honour for me to get to wear the Maple Leaf in that game.Russian coach Valeri Bragin said facing Canada was the best thing for all of the hockey community and called Russia-Canada a hockey classic.Canada will only get to take part in this classic final because it shook off some early struggles against Slovakia. Players knew their opponent would be much tougher than they were in an 8-0 rout on Boxing Day, and it took some time before Canada was able to assert its talent advantage and physical dominance.They hung around for a lot longer, I guess, than a lot of people would have expected, defenceman Josh Morrissey said. For us, we just kept going, we didnt get frustrated. That was our main focus on the bench was not to get too frustrated and just play. We knew that if we kept doing the right things, they would come.They did, led by McDavid and Petan, who was bumped up to the second line and rewarded Groulx and his staff. Petan said it was an unbelievable feeling to see hats come down from many of the 18,002 in attendance, including his father.Just a half-hour after Canada finished the job against Slovakia, the attention was already on Russia. The Russians, who beat Sweden earlier Sunday, are standing between Canada and its first gold medal in this tournament since 2009 in Ottawa.Thats going to be a tough game, Russias Rinat Valiev said. I saw a couple games, theyre very skilled. But we played against Canada before so Im not scared to play against (them).Canada and Russia last met for gold in 2011 in Buffalo. Russian forward Ivan Barbashev said fans all over that country remember the comeback from down 3-0 for the 5-3 victory, a game Canadians would much rather forget.It was unreal, Barbashev said. We have a pretty good team this year and we can beat anyone.This was the first time in history Canada and Slovakia faced off in the world junior semifinals. When it was still a one-goal game 20 minutes in, Petan wasnt surprised because he and his teammates were prepared for a tight matchup.Some teams do take teams lightly, Petan said. The biggest thing was not taking them lightly. After the first game obviously they got better on in the tournament.This is a better Canadian team, too, even though Petan called the first period the worst of the tournament. After being tied in shots 6-6, Canada put 38 on net to Slovakias nine the rest of the way.By the time Duclair scored early in the third, there was a palpable sense of relief in the arena. Petan completing the hat trick began the series of chants that Morrissey could only describe as inspiring.Canada hopes to have an inspired performance Monday night against Russia with a chance to make history.We have to understand that maybe we didnt play as well as we wanted to today, Hicketts said. (Against Russia) we know were going to have to play a complete 60 minutes of hard-hitting and fast Canadian hockey.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., and Edmontons Barnett used a terrific second run to move up two spots, putting the Canadian duo in medal contention with the final two runs set for Monday (11:15 a.m. ET, streaming live at cbc. Oakland Athletics Gear . Under the deal, the Vikings will donate an undisclosed sum of money to five gay rights-related charities over the next five years. Kluwe said he wont receive any money as part of the settlement. "This will help a lot of people that really do need that help," Kluwe said. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Athletics Jerseys 2019 . This weeks Raptors Report puts a bow on Gays brief, 10-month tenure in Toronto and ponders how his absence will affect the teams offence. Are they a better team without him? In addition to acquiring some valuable cap flexibility, what impact will the four incoming players have this season and beyond? Click here for the Dec. Custom Oakland Athletics Jerseys . However, Jim Popp isnt sure how long hell be able to admire wide receiver Duron Carter.NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Shonn Greene has done enough sitting and watching the past few months. Now the Tennessee running back is back on the field and couldnt be happier at how much better his right knee feels. Greene took the first snaps Saturday in team drills at the Titans initial training camp practice, his first work since having arthroscopic surgery in May on the same knee that cost him five games last season. He said he felt a little rusty. "This being my first day back I was kind of hesitant with it, but it held up for the most part and felt pretty good," Greene said. The Titans need the veteran to show why they gave him a three-year contract in March 2013. Chris Johnson was cut in April and now is with the New York Jets, Greenes old team. Greene must show he can stay healthy in Tennessee as the Titans look for someone to step up in a crowded backfield in training camp. The Titans signed Dexter McCluster as a free agent in March and drafted Bishop Sankey out of Washington in the second round in May. They also have Leon Washington, whos mostly a kick returner, Jackie Battle and undrafted rookie Antonio Andrews among the eight backs in camp. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said their roles have not been determined yet with training camp giving the Titans a better idea of how they will use the running backs. The Titans are limiting Greenes work to ease him back onto the field, trying to prevent the running backs knee from flaring up again. "The first day, its hard to tell anything," Whisenhunt said. "Its good to have him back out there. Well see how he progresses. The big thing is how he responds after practice, but our trainer, Todd (Toriscelli) is watching him. Going in, we had a plan for him, and well see how it progresses." The Titans wanted Greene for his pounding runniing style to complement Johnson, especially in short-yardage situations.dddddddddddd Greene hurt his knee in the season opener and missed the next five games as he recovered from arthroscopic surgery. Greene had only one game all season with more than 10 carries, and he had 91 yards on 19 attempts at Jacksonville on Dec. 22. "Toward the end of the season, I kind of felt like I was getting back in the swing of things," Greene said. "I think this time this surgery went a lot better, so my knees feeling a lot better now." Greene finished with 77 carries for 295 yards and an average of 3.8 yards per attempt. It was the worst of his career and a big drop from the back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Jets. McCluster had the best practice Saturday, using his speed to repeatedly get by defenders, and Sankey had some nice runs as well. McCluster was a Pro Bowl punt returner in Kansas City last year and is coming off a career-best 53 catches. But he combined for only 20 carries over the past two seasons combined. Greene said he thinks opportunities for playing time are there for all the running backs with each bringing a different quality to the Titans. "We can do different things out of the backfield, the harder itll be on defences," Greene said. Notes: Safety George Wilson was excused Saturday because of a death in the family. Whisenhunt said the safety was expected to rejoin the team by Saturday night. ... S Bernard Pollard intercepted Jake Locker twice, once in a passing drill with the second in a team session. Pollard said he planned to go by Whisenhunts office to trash-talk the coach after his big plays. ... Rookie Taylor Lewan, the 11th pick overall, took snaps at both tackle spots and at left guard with Andy Levitre recovering from an appendectomy. ' ' '