OTTAWA -- Patrick Chan said he was like a "puppy in puppy daycare" at the Vancouver Olympics four years ago, a wide-eyed teenager at his first party, where everyone was cool and everything was free. Joe Perry Jersey . "It was so exciting, like Oh my god, there are so many cool things. Cool clothes. And the gyms right here. Everything is available to you," Chan said Thursday, on the eve of the Skate Canada national championships. Chan only turned 23 on New Years eve, but hes a veteran on a completely different comfort level from the "deer in the headlights" who finished fifth in Vancouver. A move to Detroit last spring that also meant a split with his mom Karen (theyd been living together in Colorado Springs) hastened the maturing process. "Now it will be more normal (in Sochi) because I live on my own," Chan said. "I had the chance to have that excitement living on my own and going to the grocery store, and be like I want Oreo cookies today, or I want ice cream. "Im in complete control of what I want, so going to the Olympics will be more of a comfortable feeling as opposed to summer camp-kind of feel." Chan, who will take aim at his seventh straight Canadian senior title this week, has become the skater to beat at Sochi since winning three consecutive world crowns. At the Trophee Bompard Grand Prix in November, he ran away with gold, smashing the world records in the short and long program, and for overall score, to finish a whopping 31 points ahead of closest pursuer Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan. Chan predicts Hanyu, who trains in Toronto under Canadian coach Brian Orser, will be his stiffest competition in Russia. The 19-year-old beat Chan at the Grand Prix Final in December, and broke Chans world record in the short program. Still, Chan pointed out that Hanyu was skating on home ice in Fukuoka. "Its his first Olympic Games and its not in Japan. So Olympics is an even playing ground for all of us," Chan said. "But Im not going to write off anyone. Daisuke (Takahashi of Japan) has had a rough season, but he can do something special. And so can Javier (Fernandez of Spain). So can Denis (Ten of Kazakhstan)." Three-time world champion Elvis Stojko has been keeping an eye on the mens events this season, and predicts Sochi will be a two-skater race between Chan and Hanyu. "Theres an excitement level with Hanyu because hes got that unpredictability, that freshness to it. Then youve got the maturity of Chan," Stojko said. "(Chan) is going to need to be focused because the competition is getting close to him now," Stojko added. "Right now for me, (Hanyu) is the guy to beat. Hes at the top of his game. Patrick has the experience under his belt, he has the Olympics under his belt, hes the three-time world champion, hes going to have to stay focused and not allow the pressure to settle on him. "Itll be a little easier, because its not in Vancouver, its not in Canada. But its still going to be something where hes got to be very focused and not get caught up during the week." Kevin Reynolds had hoped to be in the medal conversation for Sochi as well, but Canadas No. 2 male skater is only just now making his season debut after six frustrating months of equipment problems. The 23-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., had hoped to build on the momentum from the world championships last spring where he finished fifth. But his season came to a dead stop when he bought new skate boots that, despite custom fitting, were too wide for his narrow AA heel. "Theyre still not 100 per cent but Im feeling much better," Reynolds said. "Im able to do the skills not at a level Im comfortable with but hopefully Ill be able to manage through this week and manage through Sochi. "Its definitely not an ideal situation, nationals being first competition and Sochi being so close, about 30 days away," he added. "I really would have liked some competitions under my belt for that experience." Reynolds withdrew from both his Grand Prix assignments, and wasnt comfortable enough to do any of his big jumps in practice, which included his quads. He estimates hes onto his ninth or tenth pair of Risport skate boots since his previous skates wore out last season. He even travelled to the manufacturer in Italy to be custom fitted in December. "I was so frustrated at that point, I had withdrawn from my second Grand Prix and I wanted to do everything I possibly could in an Olympic year," Reynolds said. He tried to go back to last seasons skates, a pair of stock Risport skates that werent custom fitted but happened to fit perfectly. "They feel like tissue basically," Reynolds said. "Theres no life left in them." Canada has three Olympic berths in mens singles, ice dance and pairs, and two berths in womens singles, which make it the largest figure skating team in Sochi. Skate Canada will name its Olympic team on Sunday. Olympic ice dance champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will most likely be making their final competitive appearance in Canada at this weeks nationals, as theyre expected to retire following Sochi. The tightest race to make the Olympic team will be in pairs. Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., won bronze at the world championships last spring and have set their sights on the podium in Sochi. Other teams battling for an Olympic berth are Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch, Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers, and Natasha Purich and Mervin Tran. Purich and Tran are in their first season competing together. Tran won bronze for Japan with former partner Narumi Takahashi at the 2012 world championships. Troy Brown Jersey . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport. Junior Seau Jersey .C. -- The RBC Cups semifinal participants were decided by a pair of overtime games. http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-r-c-owens-jersey-large-1461f.html . HABS HEADED TO CONFERENCE FINAL The Montreal Canadiens scored early in Game Seven, built a lead and protected it well on their way to a 3-1 series-clinching win over the Boston Bruins. While this game or series isnt necessarily a referendum on the value of fourth lines, the Canadiens certainly benefitted from production lower down their forward depth chart.MONTREAL -- Geroy Simon has come to Ben Cahoons home field to try to break the CFLs all-time pass receptions record. Five catches last week against B.C. left the Saskatchewan slotback tied with the retired Cahoon at 1,017 career receptions. There is little doubt the record will fall when the Roughriders (8-4) take on the Montreal Alouettes (4-8) on Sunday afternoon. Simon has caught at last one pass in 182 consecutive games. Watch the Roughriders vs. Alouettes live today on TSN and TSN Mobile TV at 1pm et/11am pt. "Its a great accomplishment," Simon said Saturday. "I consider Ben a friend and someone who has been very good in this league for a long time. "Hes one of the greats, and to have the opportunity to break his record in the stadium where he did so many great things is an honour. Itll be fitting to break it here." The record will be a sideshow in a game between two injury-riddled clubs that are both desperate to end three-game losing streaks. The Roughriders have not won since running back Kory Sheets was injured, while Montreal, missing both starter Anthony Calvillo and backup Tanner Marsh, will have Josh Neiswander making a second straight start at quarterback. His backups will be former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, who only joined the team in August, and Canadian Kyle Graves, who had been trying to crack the lineup as a receiver. Simons chase of the record Cahoon set in 2010 has stirred debate on two of the CFLs all-time great receivers, who were very different in their style of play. Cahoon, now a 41-year-old receivers coach at his alma mater, Brigham Young University, was known for being small and slow but blessed with remarkable hands. Most of his catches were for seven or eight yards over the middle, where hed grab the ball out of a crowd of defenders and hang on while taking ferocious hits. The 38-year-old Simon is better know as a deep threat, although the Johnstown, Pa., native catches balls short and long. "Its unfair to compare us because we were two different types of receiver," said Simon. "He was more of a possession guy and I was a more dynamic player, in the sense that I feel I can do a little bit of everything. "I wasnt necessarily a down-field guy but I can catch the ball downfield. I wasnt a possession guy, but I can do that as well. I dont know if you could say I was a more complete player. I wanted to play a more complete gaame. Tim Rattay Jersey. " The five-foot-nine Cahoon, considered a non-import because he spent part of his childhood in various southern Alberta towns, played 13 seasons, all with Montreal. He won three Grey Cups and was named the leagues top Canadian twice. He is sixth all-time in receiving yards with 13,301. On Oct. 11, 2010, he broke the previous record of 1,006 catches held by Terry Vaughn. Simon, in his 15th season, broke Milt Stegalls record for career receiving yards last season and has since stretched it to 16,188. He is also one 100-yard game short of former Calgary Stampeder Allen Pitts record of 64. Now he is on the brink of passing Cahoon. "Well throw him every pass all day until he gets it," Riders coach Corey Chamblin joked. "I was here when Ben got it, so that will be something unique to see. "Itll be wonderful for Geroy. Hes earned it." Simon will be overtaking one of the most popular players in Alouettes history. Veteran receiver Eric Deslauriers said Cahoons trademark was reliability. "He was a guy that caught probably six or seven balls a game," said Deslauriers. "Teams knew he was going to catch balls. They knew the routes he was going to run. They knew Anthony was going to throw him the ball in triple coverage. And he came up with the ball every time. "He was the type of guy that, you see him on the street and you think whats this guy, the kicker? But the reality is that he was a great leader and an awesome football player." Jim Popp, the Alouettes coach and general manager, said Cahoons success came from intelligence and excellent technique. "He had unbelievable hands," said Popp. "But the thing he didnt get enough credit for was that he knew how to come out of a break and separate himself. "Hed dip his shoulder low and he could always create separation between a defensive back and himself, no matter much bigger, stronger, or faster they were than him." Popp has also admired Simon, who broke into the CFL with Winnipeg but had his best years after moving to the B.C. Lions in 2001. He signed with Saskatchewan this season, where he has not been Darian Durants main target but has 28 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns. "Hes always been a deep ball threat," said Popp. "He goes up and makes catches. "And I love his Superman pose. I just dont want him doing it in our stadium." ' ' '