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The San Jose Sharks have stormed out of the gate and have taken top spot in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings for the first update of the regular season. Its still very early, so there is a lot of room for statistical fluctuation, but the Sharks dominance, which includes a league-best goal differential (plus-17) and shot differential (plus-19.6 per game) makes them a worthy candidate for the number one ranking, just ahead of the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche, the two other unbeatens. The Avalanche are one of the major surprises early, ranking 26th in the preseason, but up to third in the seasons first update, thanks largely to sensational goaltending. Other teams that made big moves up into the Top 10 include the Toronto Maple Leafs, going from 16 to eight, despite missing some key players including right winger David Clarkson, and the Calgary Flames, who vaulted from 28 to nine, after a 3-0-2 start to the season. Among those to fall early, the Philadelphia Flyers have dropped from 13 to 25, after a slow start already cost head coach Peter Laviolette his job and injuries have taken a couple of top six forwards out of the lineup. The Ottawa Senators have surrendered an appalling 43 shots per game and that contributed to their fall from six to 23. As for the rest of the Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadiens moved up from 10 to five, on the strength of improving young forwards and the Winnipeg Jets, getting big contributions from newcomers Michael Frolik and Jacob Trouba, jumped from 23 to 12. The Vancouver Canucks have one regulation win in six tries, combined with a couple of notable lineup absences, that dropped them from 12 to 17 and the Edmonton Oilers, with problems throughout the lineup, fell from 24 to 29. As noted, its early, so there is room for drastic change by the time next weeks rankings roll around. 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Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times. Luis Gonzalez Jersey . -- Adam Tambellini scored three times and set up one more as the Calgary Hitmen won their sixth in a row by crushing the host Lethbridge Hurricanes 8-1 on Saturday in Western Hockey League play. Larry Dierker Astros Jersey . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open.NEW YORK -- As Michelle Kwan chats with members of Figure Skating in Harlem, she sees a whole lot of herself in the young girls. And those girls hope to emulate Kwan. The nine-time U.S. champion and five-time world winner has been active with the inner-city club almost since its inception in 1997. She was honoured Monday night at the FSH gala for inspiring the hundreds of young girls who have been in the program. "Michelle is the perfect role model for our students with the way she conducts herself as a person, as an athlete, as an employee of the state department," FSH founder Sharon Cohen said. "Her career and life show where hard work and perseverance and talent can take you." Kwan, a two-time Olympic medallist , now serves as a senior adviser for public diplomacy and public affairs and as an envoy at the Department of State. Her husband, Clay Pell, is running for governor of Rhode Island. Kwans success in and out of sports didnt come easily, and she can recall times when she was in a similar situation to some of FSHs students. She received grants from U.S. Figure Skating and from the Womens Sports Foundation during her formative years as a skater -- at a time when Kwan and older sister Karen werent sure they could continue in the sport. "These underserved young girls get an opportunity to skate they otherwise might not have," Kwan said. "My personal background, both Karen and myself ... our parents were not well off. To be able to afford a used pair of skates and hand-me-downs in costumes and other stuff, I remember that vividly. "Imagine if one of those times you have to tell your kids, We cant afford it. I can relate to that. "And these young girls benefit sso much.dddddddddddd It really is about the skills you learn from sports. Physical activity, being with friends, teamwork, but also the discipline it takes, the hours of dedication, being able to concentrate on one thing at a time. You have to learn in life how to juggle things; being a student-athlete is the same as in life." Kwan began her day with a visit to Haverstraw Elementary, a school in suburban Rockland County, where she spoke to fifth graders who just happened to be studying her career. She stressed the importance of opportunity, education and empowerment -- all themes Figure Skating in Harlem embraces. Then Kwan headed to Wolman Rink in Central Park, where dozens of her peers were on hand to not only honour her, but to skate with the youngsters aged 6 to 18 who make up FSHs roster. Olympic medallists Scott Hamilton, Sasha Cohen, Tim Goebel, Paul Wylie, Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner, Jason Brown and Jeremy Abbott showed up to support Kwan and Figure Skating in Harlem. "Our students learn through the education programs and our skating program of the importance of working hard and asking for help when you need it," Cohen said. "They see the changes in themselves that this leads to, in their confidence and in their abilities to achieve their goals. "Someone like Michelle gives them an incentive to work hard because they see the rewards, the personal rewards, that Michelle embodies. She exudes sportsmanship and grace and an inner drive, as well as outer success. Michelle worked to be the best she can be in all aspects, and anybody can learn from that. She carries herself with such assurance and grace. Those are traits that will help anyone succeed in this world." ' ' '