CALGARY -- Olympic show jumping champion Eric Lamaze hit the reset button on his career by taking a hiatus from the sport and acquiring some new horsepower. The 45-year-old from Schomberg, Ont., had an emotionally exhausting 2012 following the shocking death of Hickstead, the horse he won Olympic gold and silver with in 2008. A grieving Lamaze scrambled to find a suitable mount for the 2012 Summer Games in London, where he finished 22nd in the individual event and fifth with the Canadian team aboard an inexperienced Derly Chin de Muze. Lamaze announced after the Masters at Calgarys Spruce Meadows in September that he would not compete again for the remainder of the years. Instead, he played golf and went on safari in Africa. "The break was something I really needed," Lamaze said Tuesday at Spruce Meadows. "I was sort of running on empty. It had been quite some time at the top level of the sport and I just was not fired up like I needed to be to compete at that level." Lamaze intended to fly under the radar on his return to competition in 2013 by developing younger horses away from the world spotlight. Two developments changed his mind. The former No. 1 rider in the world realized while watching Grand Prix events in Florida that he wanted back in the game against the best in the world. Then came the opportunity to acquire a pair of elite international horses. "I didnt know if I was really going to miss it or not, but I ended up really missing it," Lamaze said. "These new horses werent planned. I was willing to sacrifice the year at making young horses and coming back next year. "I tried to make the process a little quicker by purchasing some going horses ... horses already competing at the top level. We were lucky enough to find such horses." With Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms as co-investors, Lamaze just recently acquired Powerplay from Swiss rider Pius Schwizer and Quelmec du Gery from co-owner and rider Penelope Leprevost of France. Both are nine-year-old geldings. Lamaze will ride both horses in competition for the first time at the National Tournament at Spruce Meadows starting Wednesday. The annual event offers more than $1 million in prize money and is the first of five consecutive tournaments at Spruce Meadows. The international stars of the sport, including Canadas Ian Millar and Beezie Madden of the U.S., will also compete in the National. Lamaze won the tournaments premiere event, the $400,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix, in both 2010 and 2008. Millar won the Grand Prix aboard In Style in 2009. Even though Lamaze had yet to ride Powerplay or Quelmec du Gery in competition, he already put them at the top of his depth chart in his stable. "Theyre world-class horses and I think they really suit me," he said. "Tomorrow will be my first time in the ring with them. We just received them from Europe a few days ago, so I dont know much about them. "Thats the beauty of Spruce Meadows. Youve got plenty of time to get to know your horse, plenty of height to choose depending on how you feel, so this is a perfect venue to get myself acquainted with them. Obviously I wish I had six weeks prior to Spruce Meadows because I love competing here and I love arriving with my guns loaded ready to fire because I love winning here." Lamaze was twice the No. 1-ranked rider in the world with Hickstead. They won Olympic gold in the individual event and silver with the Canadian team in 2008. They also won approximately $3.7 million in prize money and a large portion of that came at Spruce Meadows. Lamaze once joked Hicksteads name should be "ATM." But at age 15, Hickstead collapsed and died of a ruptured aorta while competing in Verona, Italy, in November 2011, with Lamaze still on his back. While the equestrian world mourned the loss of its superstar, a devastated Lamaze considered retirement. There was little time to get his feet back under him in the rush for London. For Lamaze, the last few months have been about setting a new course "We were obviously planning to have Hickstead a little longer than we had him," Lamaze said. "I needed to reorganize. Along with the young horses that will eventually become superstars, we just acquired two superstars. "I think Im really set and looking forward to going back to the top of the sport." http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Tj-Lang-Draft-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Jarrad-Davis-Draft-Jersey/ . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Christian-Jones-Draft-Jersey/ . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Tavon-Wilson-Draft-Jersey/ . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Graham-Glasgow-Draft-Jersey/ . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Blues knocked the Chicago Blackhawks out of the playoffs last season with a one-goal victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.Now, the Blues are back in Chicago to open the season against their division rivals.Starting off against St. Louis, its a good reminder for us to not forget what we went through and how we went down in Game 7, Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews said. Theyll be hungry, too. Obviously, both teams want to prove themselves again.Theres obviously a long way to go before we get back to playoff hockey again, but nonetheless, these games are always going to be important.And intense.In last years seven-game playoff series, six games were decided by a single goal. The same held true for three of the teams five meetings during the regular season. Both teams topped 100 points during the regular season, but neither achieved their ultimate goal as Chicago was bounced in the first round of the playoffs and the San Jose Sharks eliminated the Blues in the conference finals.This time around, some familiar faces will not be present for the rivalry. Former Blues captain David Backes signed a free-agent deal with the Boston Bruins, and St. Louis promoted defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to wear the C on his sweater.Meanwhile, Blues goaltender Jake Allen will assume a clear-cut No. 1 role in net after the team shipped goaltender Brian Elliott to the Calgary Flames.Allen went 26-15-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in 47 games during the 2015-16 campaign. He exited the Blues final preseason game because of an apparent injury but said he felt fine heading into the season opener.A couple days off was nice just to get back to 100 percent and ready to go, Allen told NHL.com. I knew in the back of my mind that I should be good to go on Wednesday. It was just doing the proper steps to be ready.Blues cooach Ken Hitchcock decided to return for a final season behind the bench.dddddddddddd His successor already has been named: former Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo, who will serve as Hitchcocks assistant this season before taking over next season.The Blackhawks said goodbye to several key contributors during the offseason, including feisty forward Andrew Shaw (traded to Montreal) and young playmaker Teuvo Teravainen (traded to Carolina). Top-six forward Andrew Ladd left as a free agent to sign with the New York Islanders.Veteran defenseman Brian Campbell, who won a Stanley Cup championship with the Blackhawks in 2010, is back with the Blackhawks on a one-year deal. He will provide depth and experience on the blue line, which also will feature newcomer Michael Kempny.Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is notorious for changing his line combinations at a moments notice, but look for Toews to anchor the teams top line to start the season. He will be joined by Richard Panik on the left wing and Marian Hossa on the right wing.The second line contains even more firepower as left winger Artemi Panarin and right winger Patrick Kane will try to replicate last seasons dominance alongside center Artem Anisimov.Goaltender Corey Crawford is back in net for Chicago and is expected to start against the Blues.St. Louis likely will counter with left winger Robby Fabbri, center Paul Stastny and right winger Alexander Steen on its top scoring line. Next will be the combination of left winger David Perron, center Jori Lehtera and right winger Vladimir Tarasenko.Toews said he and his teammates embraced the challenge of facing St. Louis in the seasons first game.We might as well get right into it, Toews said. We know theres going to be tough games all year. Jerseys NFL China Cheap Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap China Womens NFL Jerseys Jerseys NFL China Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Throwback Cheap NFL Jerseys China Discount NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys Throwback Cheap NFL Jerseys China Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys 2018 ' ' '