OAKVILLE, Ont. www.redskinsjerseyforsale.com/Chris-Chester-Jersey-For-Sale/ . -- There was never any doubt that Logan Schuss was going to be a lacrosse player, but nobody could have imagined when he was first handed a stick that he was going to be this good. Schuss, a leftie forward from Delta, B.C., was the No. 1 pick, by the Minnesota Swarm, in the NLL entry draft Monday night. His father, Ed Schuss, was a lacrosse star and his older brother, Carlton, had a fling with the NLLs Calgary Roughnecks. The sport is in their blood. "My dad was a big-time lacrosse player and his (Ladner Pioneers) jersey is retired in our home arena," says the NLL star-to-be. "The day I was born I had a lacrosse stick in my hands. "I pretty much grew up in our arena, which is only a five-minute walk from our house. I was there every day. My dad was a defenceman but he wanted me and my brother to be offensive players." He had an exceptional summer in both the indoor and field varieties of Canadas national summer sport: he scored 29 goals in 12 WLA games for the New Westminster Salmonbellies, and he scored 27 goals in 10 MLL games with the Ohio Machine. After four years at The Ohio State University, hes the programs all-time leader in points (237) and goals (146). His OSU program requires a fifth year in order to get him the teachers certificate he wants, so hell be living in Columbus again this winter getting classroom experience and commuting to Swarm games. He wouldnt skip two days of classes to attend the NLL draft. He aims to get a high school phys-ed post in British Columbia next year so he can help teens work towards the athletic scholarship opportunities in the United States from which he has benefited. "Its an unbelievable feeling," Schuss, 22, replied from Columbus via conference call when asked about being the No. 1 NLL pick. "Growing up in a lacrosse community and looking up to players and following pro lacrosse for so many years, its a dream come true. Im just happy to get to the next level. I have to thank the coaches who helped me get this far." Minnesota made room for Schuss on its roster by trading away leftie forward Ryan Benesch, who in four years with the Swarm became the franchises all-time leading goal scorer. That trade spoke volumes for how highly the team regards Schuss. "Hes got size and speed and he can finish," says Swarm associate GM and head coach Joe Sullivan. "Hes got tenacity. Hes a great athlete and a great person." Schuss doesnt sound like a young man wholl let himself be burdened by a sense of responsibility to duplicate Beneschs weighty contributions to the Swarm offence. "I really dont see there being too much pressure," says the six-foot, 210-pound attacker. "Like my college coach says, Just go out there and play your game. My mom always told me, Dont feel as if you have to score five or six goals a game. Be a team player. "I do know that I need to step up and be a player who can supply goals for them. Thats why Im working so hard to get ready. I wont try to do too many things outside my game. Ill just continue to play my game. I understand my role." Swarm defenceman Brock Sorensen of Peterborough was an OSU teammate and Swarm forward Kiel Matisz of Hamilton was an Ohio MLL teammate this summer, so Schuss will see some familiar faces when he gets to camp in November. The NLL season, with nine teams playing 18 games each, begins Dec. 28. www.redskinsjerseyforsale.com/Doug-Williams-Jersey-For-Sale/ . -- Melky Cabrera returned to baseball with a soft landing Friday. www.redskinsjerseyforsale.com/Santana-Moss-Jersey-For-Sale/ . And usually so accurate, the Denver Broncos quarterback threw a pass across his body -- an ill-advised toss hes gotten away with a few times over his career.TORONTO – Given his history, Joffrey Lupul had some concerns when he began to experience tightness in the lower back just days before training camp was due to begin. "But I felt great all summer," said Lupul. "I said that to the training camp staff, I havent had any issues. I was training, skating, golfing – which is hard on your back – so it hasnt been something thats been bothering me all summer. It just came one day." Sidelined with back spasms for the first six days of camp, Lupul joined his teammates at practice for the first time on Wednesday morning. As was the plan, the 29-year-old participated in the first of two practice sessions, looking and feeling like his old self. "Everythings fine," he explained after about an hour on the ice. "Obviously not the way I wanted to start the camp, but just happy everythings feeling better now." "Hes moving much better, felt much better," observed Leafs coach Randy Carlyle following the practice. "We think hes an option for us in the next couple exhibition games." Entering his fourth season with the Leafs, Lupul first sensed tightness in the back during the final week of informal workouts – working extensively with skating coach Barb Underhilll – but rather than exercise caution, he decided to push through it, "which probably wasnt the right idea the week before camp" as the tightness worsened into "pretty painful" spasms. www.redskinsjerseyforsale.com/London-Fletcher-Jersey-For-Sale/. Held to just 16 games in 2013 because of injuries – broken right forearm and concussion – Lupul had his first serious bout with the back in the fall of 2009 when he required multiple surgeries while still with the Anaheim Ducks. Given that scary history – which included a debilitating infection from surgery – and the relative unimportance of exhibition play for a player of his status, he and the team opted for patience and precaution. "I obviously have some history there and some issues with the low back," he said, "but I believe since I had surgery, this would be the first time Ive ever missed time with it. These arent regular season games. I would probably be handling this different if we were playing regular season games." Lupul didnt believe the injury would linger into the regular season and expects to be ready for October 1st. "At this stage in the season," he continued, "you take things slow and make sure youre feeling good for October 1st. Thats our plan right now." ' ' '
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