After a year away from the game, former Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann is ready to resume his career as a San Antonio Scorpion in the North American Soccer League. Custom Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys . The 10-team, second-tier NASL, which includes FC Edmonton and the expansion Ottawa Fury FC, kicks off its spring season this weekend. The Scorpions host Minnesota United in one of four games Saturday. Released by Toronto following the 2012 season after an injury-plagued stint with the MLS team, the 33-year-old Cann elected to take some time off "to see where I am with the game, reassess my life." "Because Ive been playing for so long. It was a time in my life where I had to just step away for a bit to see where Im at." He kept Toronto as his base but he and his girlfriend used some of the time to travel, spending time in Europe and the U.S. "It was good to finally get some down time, maybe catch up on life," he said. "Sometimes you get caught up in the game so much, you kind of overlook important things in your life such as family and friends. "It was nice to kind of catch up with everyone." After reflection, he concluded he still had the "urgency to compete and win something." Scorpions coach Alan Hankinson had reached out to Cann previously but he wasnt ready. Canadian Alen Marcina, an assistant under Hankinson who is now head coach, tried Cann again and got a positive response. Marcina and Cann have some history together having played in Vancouver. So far Cann has enjoyed his time in the Texas heat. The San Antonio roster includes fellow Toronto FC alumni Eric Hassli and Julius James. Hassli, a former designated player with Toronto, Vancouver and FC Dallas, owns a ranch in Frisco, Texas. Canadian midfielder Shaun Saiko, a former Middlesbrough youth player and FC Edmonton player, is also a Scorpion. Also on the roster is midfielder Walter Restrepo, traded to San Antonio from Fort Lauderdale last year in a deal that reportedly included hotel and transportation arrangements for the Florida clubs trip to Texas. Other Scorpions of note include American-born El Salvador international Richard Menjivar. San Antonio finished the pre-season undefeated (4-0-3). Cann, who played 48 games for Toronto from 2010 to 2012, says he holds no hard feelings toward his former club. "At the same time a little disappointed," he said of how it all ended. "Its my home city and a great organization to be a part of." After being named TFCs player of the year in 2010 when he played 26 games, Canns 2011 season started with a salary dispute and ended prematurely when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training. The injury hampered him for much of the 2012 season as well. He saw action in 12 games in 2011 and just 10 in 2012. The six-foot-three defender was originally drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the second round -- 16th overall -- of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Louisville. He saw limited action in just two games for the Rapids before joining the pre-MLS Montreal Impact in 2004 and the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2006. Cann spent two seasons in Denmark with Esberg FB before signing in Toronto. While Cann had a roller-coaster ride with Toronto FC, he usually had a smile on his face. "Thats just part of the whole story," he said philosophically. "If you didnt have the ups and downs, then I guess you wouldnt know when you experience good times. "I take the good with the bad." Malik Jefferson Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves added to their extensive wave of long-term deals with their young stars on Sunday by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract with All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. Preston Brown Bengals Jersey . -- New York Yankees centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was sent for an MRI Thursday of his ailing right calf, which was negative. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Andrew-Billings-Jersey/ . The Missouri Tigers Defensive End and SEC Defensive player of the year is eligible for the upcoming NFL draft in May.WASHINGTON - The NHL almost could not have scripted the 2015 Winter Classic any better.From the time the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks took the ice at Nationals Park, through a fly-over by F-16 fighter jets, an Alex Ovechkin goal and the drama of a late winner by Troy Brouwer, Thursdays game was a showcase of top-of-the-line hockey.Its a celebration of our game, Capitals defenceman Matt Niskanen said.It was a celebration of the good and the bad. The only thing that hurt the majesty of the afternoon was a series of late penalty calls that contributed to the Capitals 3-2 victory and left a sour taste in the mouths of Blackhawks players.A questionable hooking penalty on Jonathan Toews in the games final minute paved the way for Brouwers goal with 12.9 seconds left.I dont know how much that play deserved a call there, how much it had to do with maybe us getting a few more opportunities on the power play previously in the game, Toews said. Its not a good feeling especially with the excitement, the hype and the energy that surrounded this whole thing leading up to this game.For more than 55 minutes, this was a game so well played it wouldve been a thriller no matter the setting. Sun played a role on at least one goal, but the ice was so good the teams were able to race up and down like a track meet.Washington waited four years since the Capitals visited the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2011 Winter Classic to host this event. Despite concerns about sun glare, it began on time because captains Ovechkin and Toews and Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford gave the thumbs up during pre-game warm-ups.For us, the primary issue, if there was to be an issue, was player safety, commissioner Gary Bettman said. Once we were comfortable that that wasnt going to be an issue, everyone decided, I decided, it was time to go and play on time.Unlike past Winter Classics, there wasnt a sloppy feeling-out period. Eric Fehr scored on a breakaway early, his third outdoor goal in his second Winter Classic to become the NHLs leader in that category.The teams switched ends at the 10-minute mark of the first period to make it fair given the sun glare. Not long after that, Ovechkin scored on a rebound and Patrick Sharp answered for the Blackhawks on a power-play goal that Braden Holtby couldnt see because of the sun.Even if that goal, and perhaps Brandon Saads in the second period that came after an odd bounce off the end boards, would only have happened outdoors, thats part of the deal in games like this.When the elements werent a factor, the facts of hockey came into play. The Blackhawks got 1:31 of a five-on-three power play in the second period, but Duncan Keiths stick broke at the blue-line and they got zero shots on net in their best chance to take control.The mentality today was just shoot the puck and things happen, but on a five-on-three, its not the same mentality, which probably didnt help us, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. When you dont score on five-on-threes, you generally dont win and that ended up being the result.A late penalty on Niskanen, a borderline boarding call, gave Chicago another opportunity. There were two seconds left on that power play when Toews got his stick across the body of Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom.I dont really think at any point in the game the refs are looking to give an easy one to a team, Washington defenceman Karl Alzner said. Its bad timing for them, good timing for us.When Saad slashed Ovechkin on the ensuing penalty kill, the puck was free for Brouwer to turn around and fire it past Corey Crawford. It wasnt picturesque, but the former Blackhawks winger will take it.Im not sure where it even went in, but I heard the noise of the crowd, heard the noise oof the guys on the ice, Brouwer said. Cordy Glenn Jersey. It was one of those where you know the time, you know the score, and youre just trying to get a puck on net, and thankfully it went in.For the Blackhawks, it was hard to take.Regardless of what happens, you never want to lose in the last minute of a game or you never want to be scored on in the last minute of a period, forward Ben Smith said. Its tough to swallow, for sure.Brouwer was playing with a heavy heart 11 days after Clint Reif, an assistant equipment manager for the Blackhawks and a friend, was found dead at his home. Brouwers father, who had a stroke two years ago, was also among the 42,832 in attendance and sent him a congratulatory text message after the goal.The Vancouver product won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010 and scored a late winner during the Capitals memorable playoff series against the Boston Bruins in 2012. This was still special.Ive had some good moments in my hockey career, but this one, with all the intangibles, that played a part in it, Brouwer said. My parents being able to come into town, playing against my former team, this being the first goal that I scored against my former team and the dramatic fashion at the end of the game of how everything played out, its going to be a memorable day, a memorable event.There were plenty of memorable images, including before the game when players entered around a replica of the U.S. Capitol Building and a giant American flag was unfurled on the ice. After the puck was dropped at 1:30 with a perfect temperature of just over six degrees, there was Ovechkin jumping into the glass to celebrate his 18th goal of the season.But by the end, Capitals fans added another by tossing their seat cushions in the air to celebrate Brouwers goal. Its a local tradition that dates back to a Washington Redskins NFL playoff game in 1991 down the street at old RFK Stadium.The Capitals became just the second home team to win a Winter Classic, joining the Bruins, who needed overtime to beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 event at Fenway Park.You definitely want to win a home game like this, said Fehr, a native of Winkler, Man., who has become something of a Winter Classic hero after scoring twice in the 2011 game. You dont want to let your fans down.Even if Blackhawks fans walked to the exits with their shoulders slumped a bit from a stinging loss, Smith said it was an honour just to be a part of the Winter Classic. Bettman was, as usual, satisfied with how the event turned out, and he had reason to given the level of play.I know they get compared one outdoor game to another: theyre all unique, theyre all different, theyre all special in their own way, Bettman said. I dont know what peoples expectations were for our event here today, but the Winter Classic here in Washington couldnt have been better from a fan experience and an entertainment standpoint.Barry Trotz was coaching his first outdoor game and sure seemed to enjoy the whole experience. That extended to his post-game news conference.Ive got the first question, Trotz said. Did anybody have any fun? Yeah, Im having a lot of fun right now.Notes — Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg left the game in the third period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Quenneville said Versteeg could be out for a bit but said the team would know more Friday. ... Capitals defenceman Brooks Orpik not only played but led the team in ice time (24:44) just three days after suffering what looked to be a scary knee injury. Orpik had been considered a game-time decision. ... 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