The 2014 FIFA World Cup is nearly behind us, a tournament thats been repeatedly called the best of all time. And Canadians have bought in, consuming the games on radio and television, mounting flags to their cars and following the news from Brazil with great anticipation throughout. Theres only been one thing missing for fans in this country – Canada. No matter how big a soccer fan you are, theres just no doubt the tournament would take on a different kind of appeal if Canada had a stake in the game. The diversity of teams being followed across the country over the past month is a reflection of the mosaic that is Canada, which is fine. But wouldnt it be a heck of a lot more fun if we all had a common rallying point, from one coast to another? Our struggles in mens soccer are well documented, with just one World Cup appearance in 1986, despite the fact that participation levels for soccer players in Canada surpassed hockey during the late stages of the last century. The national mens team is currently tied with Bahrain for 110th in the world. Fortunately, the state of things in the womens game couldnt be more different. Which is why there will be a much different dynamic surrounding the 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup which will take place next summer in Canada. For while this will be a tournament about hosting the world in a global game at venues in Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton, Winnipeg and Edmonton next June and July, it will also be about showcasing and getting behind Canadians in the sport of soccer. Team sports tend to get overshadowed at the Olympics. But there is no doubt the most compelling story of the 2012 Summer Games in London was Canada winning bronze in womens soccer. The Canadian women losing in dramatic -- and controversial -- fashion against the United States, and subsequently defeating France to win a medal were two of the most memorable international sporting moments in recent Canadian history. Throw in the fact Canada possesses a world-class star player in Christine Sinclair and you have the kind of dynamics behind which an entire country can rally. Canada currently ranks seventh in womens soccer worldwide, ahead of such traditional soccer nations as England, Italy and the Netherlands, countries our men couldnt touch on their best days. So the optimism about what Canada might accomplish is based on more than just the 2012 Olympic result and the fact that the tournament will be played here. At the top of the heap in womens soccer is the United States which, besides being the tournament favourite, also represents Canadas greatest rival. What will it be like when Canada and the U.S. play next summer? What kind of television audience will it draw? Well consider the factors that could make this one of the marquee events on the Canadian sporting calendar next season. First, the proximity of the U.S.to Canada means the U.S. will have a strong contingent of supporters along with them. Then there is the recent history, the bitterness of the Canadians and the raw feelings over the manner in which they were defeated by the U.S in London. Throw in the fact that the Canadian team is comprised almost exclusively of players who got their training in the U.S. and you can understand why the familiarity of this rivalry makes it so intense. But the real payoff to having the Womens World Cup is what it may mean to the sport of womens soccer in Canada in general. Weve seen the effect that the womens national hockey team has had on the growth of the sport among young girls and women. By its very nature, soccer is a more accessible sport than hockey, which means the potential to seed future generations of womens soccer players is immense. Its one thing to present the worlds game to Canadians and tell them to pick a country to get behind. Its something completely different, and far, far more compelling to tell them they can get behind their own. Soccer isnt a new game in Canada, and from widespread participation to the emergence of Major League Soccer in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to the technology that allows fans to follow it around the globe, its become a significant part of the sporting fabric of Canada. But safe to say we have never experienced the sport like we will next summer. Brad Hunt Golden Knights Jersey . John Albert Elway, 24, was booked into jail early Saturday morning after an incident near a college campus in downtown Denver, according to jail records. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. http://www.goldenknightsproshop.com/auth...hts-jersey/.The Los Angeles Lakers star passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBAs career scoring list Sunday night in a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Griffin Reinhart Golden Knights Jersey . Noah finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes. He was headed for his fourth triple-double of the season, but sat down with about three minutes left because of the lopsided score. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points for Chicago, going 5 for 6 on 3-pointers, Carlos Boozer added 18 points, D. Reid Duke Jersey . Williams withdrawal came less than 24 hours after losing in the final Auckland WTA tournament final. "I dont believe she has an injury," Hobart tournament director Mark Handley said.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In a city defined by Hollywood star power, Calgary Flames rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau showed the Los Angeles Kings why he might be the NHLs next big thing.Gaudreau scored twice in the final 2:12 of the third period to complete his first career hat trick, Mark Giordano delivered the winning goal in overtime, and the Flames ended an eight-game losing streak by rallying for a 4-3 win over the Kings on Monday night.Already sporting the title Johnny Hockey, Gaudreau shocked the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Kings looked set to head into the Christmas break with a three-game, home-winning streak before Gaudreau slipped a shot under Jonathan Quicks left leg to cut the deficit to 3-2.Just 1:13 later, Gaudreau sent the puck off defenceman Drew Doughtys skate and into the net to tie it on what seemed more like a backhanded centring pass than a shot.Before the stunned Kings could regroup, Gaudreau nearly ended the game in overtime on a 2-on-1 break, forcing Quick to make a sprawling save. Quick had no such luck against Giordano seconds later as the puck slid under his stick and across the crease. Giordano put it into the net 4:07 into overtime.We fell behind, but the guys were great on the bench and in the room, Flames coach Bob Hartley said. We felt like we had a chance. Its funny, on the bench it felt like the same feeling when we were collecting wins.The Flames (18-15-3) emerged as one of the leagues surprising upstarts earlier this season, but an eight-game losing streak had extinguished that enthusiasm.dddddddddddd That joy was back, with Giordano recalling a similar win at this point last season.The only thing that comes to mind was last year at Christmas, we did something similar against St. Louis, he said. We finally got a break.Jonas Hiller stopped 31 shots for the Flames, who had earned only three points in their previous nine games.For Gaudreau, who has 10 goals this season, the focus was not on his heroics but a much-needed result.We were pretty thrilled, said Gaudreau, who also scored on the power play late in the second period. The hard work finally paid off. We were (going) 2-3 weeks there without a win, so it was getting a little frustrating.Instead, the frustration was passed on to the Kings (17-11-7), who couldnt turn goals by Trevor Lewis, Marian Gaborik and Jamie McBain into a win.Our power play was good, our penalty kill was good, and our five-on-five probably wasnt what it needed to be, captain Dustin Brown said. As a result, we let a lead slip away. Its a divisional game, and at the end of the day it cost us two points.NOTES: The Kings had won all nine previous home games this season in which they had scored on the power play. . Gaborik scored in his fifth consecutive game, his longest goal streak since a seven-game run with the New York Rangers in December 2011. . The Kings and Flames will return to action with home games on Dec. 27 before facing off for the second of five regular-season meetings on two days later in Calgary. Cheap Jerseys Store China Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Stitched Jerseys China NFL Gear ' ' '