TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs opened training camp Saturday with fitness tests and the promise that theyll be a much tougher team to play against this season. <a href=http://www.officialnewyorkmetsjersey.com/carlos-beltran-jersey>New York Mets Carlos Beltran Jersey</a>. The off-season acquisitions of bruising defencemen Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin and Garnet Exelby and of belligerent forward Colton Orr clearly showed where GM Brian Burke is steering the Leafs as they begin pursuit of the playoff berth that has eluded the franchise since 2004. We want to be a tough team to play against, said the six-foot-four Komisarek as he emerged from the gym wiping sweat from his brow with his T-shirt. We want to be physical and mean. We want to dominate that physical aspect of the game. There is no mystery as to what the six-foot-three Orr supplies. In 245 NHL games with the Bruins and the Rangers, he scored four goals and amassed 549 penalty minutes including 63 fighting majors. Its great to come play for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brian Burke, he said. Weve talked about coming in here and bringing some toughness and thats what were looking to do. Orr will wear 28, the same as the retired Tie Domi. Ive had 28 since junior, said Orr, adding with a grin that hes well aware of the enforcer role played by Domi. Ive heard some things, yeah. Coach Ron Wilson loves the swagger of his group. I dont think its necessarily about beating people up, like everybody seems to think were going to do, said Wilson. Its about having competitive people who push each other to get better every day, and that is what we want. Wilson and Burke were to address the 62 camp participants at a Saturday night dinner at a downtown hotel and one of the topics was avoiding fisticuffs before the first pre-season game, which will be at home Wednesday against Boston. We dont really want to see any fisticuffs in scrimmages, said Wilson. Now, inevitably, something could happen but, hopefully, if we see two guys square off and back up well try to (have referees) jump in right away. We know whos tough on the team and well save it for the exhibition games. Fighting each other in practice isnt going to prove anything. We want everybody to compete hard and push each other in the drills and scrimmages, show us where they fit on our depth chart but, the toughness part, we know all about. We want them to hold back until we play other teams. All coaches are optimistic on the opening day of camp and Wilson was no different. We believe we have enough talent here to set the playoffs as a goal, said Wilson. There is a different sense around the team with the people weve brought in. Incumbent Vesa Toskalas attempt to survive a challenge from newcomer Jonas Gustavsson for the No. 1 goaltending job will be interesting to watch. Toskala shut it down early last season to have surgeries on a hip and a sports hernia, which contributed to subpar performances. I feel great, says Toskala. Ive been skating for about a month and Ive worked out all summer without feeling any pain. Leafs fans will be following Jason Allisons bid to regain an NHL job after sitting out the last two years, and theyll be curious about Wilsons decisions on defence pairings. Tomas Kaberle and Komisarek could wind up together, which is a prospect Kaberle relishes because he craves to have an increased offensive presence. Hes a big guy, a stay-at-home defenceman, and Im the opposite so I dont see why it wouldnt work, Kaberle says of the possible pairing. Centre Matt Stajan has been a full-time Leaf since 2003, and one of the few remaining who laced em up for playoff games with the team. Nobody in blue and white is hungrier than Stajan for success. Were antsy to move this thing forward and come together to make sure we get this team back to where it belongs, says Stajan. All of our additions are gritty players who dont shy away, so as a team we definitely have got tougher and better. Now its up to us to build chemistry and make things work. <a href=http://www.officialnewyorkmetsjersey.com/ike-davis-jersey>New York Mets Ike Davis Jersey</a>. The United Nations hopes to bring 190 governments together in early December in Copenhagen to finalise a deal on greenhouse gas emissions to replace provisions of the Kyoto Protocol expiring in 2012. <a href=http://www.officialnewyorkmetsjersey.com/jose-reyes-jersey>New York Mets Jose Reyes Jersey</a>. Its also a game that also promises valuable points to a pair of teams that are challenging for the Northeast Division lead. You can see all the action on TSN and follow TSN. <a href=http://www.newyorkjetsjersey.com/>New York Jets Jerseys</a>. Brad Stuart scored at 3:11 of overtime Sunday and the surging Detroit Red Wings won 3-2 to deny Chicago the conference title that went instead to San Jose. <a href=http://www.usavikings.com/>Vikings Jersey</a>. Francois Beauchemin and Colton Orr each had a goal for the Maple Leafs, who have won their first three games to start a season for the first time since capturing three in a row to begin the 1999-2000 campaign. <a href=http://www.usaphiladelphiaeagles.com/kevin-kolb-jersey/reebok-philadelphia-eagles-4-kevin-kolb-replica-green-jersey.html>Replica Kevin Kolb Jerseys</a>. The trade is pending on a call to the NHLs head office. The 26-year-old Campoli is playing out his sixth season in the NHL. Drafted by the New York Islanders in the seventh round (227th overall) in 2004, the Islanders traded Campoli, along with Mike Comrie, to the Senators for Dean McAmmond and a first-round draft pick in 2009. Residents of Suzhou, East Chinas Jiangsu province shop for holiday ornaments at a market in Suzhou, East Chinas Jiangsu province, Dec 28, 2010. Shops in Suzhou have begun stocking holiday items as the annual Spring Festival approaches in China. The festival, also called Chinese New Yeaar, begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends with Lantern Festival on the 15th day. <a href=http://www.officialdenverbroncosjersey.com/brian-dawkins-jersey/denver-broncos-20-brian-dawkins-blue-replica-jersey.html>Replicas Brian Dawkins Jersey</a> New Years Day will fall on Feb 3, 2011. [PhotoXinhua]    Previous Page 1 2 3 4 Next Page      Previous Page 1 2 3 4 Next Page   ' ' '