school-record seven consecutive games and finished 7-1 in the Big Sky conference. Southern Utah sits at No. 23 in the preseason FCS coaches poll and finished 2015 ranked No. 18. Former defensiv

PHILADELPHIA -- Steve Mason was about to tee off on the back nine when Brayden Schenn interrupted with a breaking report. "Have you heard the news," Schenn asked. A puzzled Mason had no clue what Schenn was about to spill: Ilya Bryzgalov had his contract bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers. When it comes to Flyers goaltenders, Mason is suddenly the leader in the clubhouse. Mason finished his round with a solid day on the course and the realization that he is, for now, Philadelphias No. 1 goalie entering next season. Sure, his solid month as a Flyer after he was acquired from Columbus merited a deeper look from the organization. But the Flyers mostly wanted to get rid of the flaky Russian who never performed up to the $51 million, nine-year deal he signed in 2011. Mason has the chance to prove hes more the goalie who was the NHLs rookie of the year in 2008-09 and not the one who posted a goals-against average of 3-plus each of the next three seasons. "Im prepared to be the No. 1 guy," Mason said by phone from Toronto. "I feel Ive come a long way in the last few years in the growing-up process of being a goaltender in the NHL." Mason had it all figured out when he went 33-20-7 with 10 shutouts and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2008-09, the only season the Blue Jackets have made the playoffs. But Mason and Columbus could never recapture that fleeting success again. He fell to 20 wins and five shutouts the next season, and hasnt had a winning record since he was a rookie. He bottomed out in 2011-12 with a 16-26-3 mark. Mason lost his job to eventual Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky, a former flyer, and was traded away by Columbus in April. He called the last few years "extremely humbling." "You almost hit rock bottom in terms of the way you feel about yourself as a goaltender," Mason said. "It got to the point in Columbus where I was struggling to find my confidence and also, struggling to come to the rink happy about playing hockey." Only 25, Mason appreciated a fresh start in Philadelphia. He instantly bonded with goalie coach Jeff Reese, and a 4-2 record with a 1.90 goals-against made him a hit with his teammates and management. He signed a $1.5 million, one-year extension shortly after the trade. "Im a big Steve Mason fan," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I know theres a short window that we got to watch him here, but he played very well. Even the game he lost, he played well." Holmgren has to add another goalie to play with Mason. But he expected the bulk of the playing time to be thrust on Mason. The Flyers went 23-22-3 and were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 49 points in this lockout-shortened season. "I looked at coming to Philadelphia as a great new challenge," Mason said. "Regardless of the length of Bryzs contract, I was confident that if I played well, I was going to get an opportunity to play a lot of hockey games." Theres been a revolving door in net for Philadelphia for decades. They Flyers -- and their fans -- thought that was solved with Bryzgalovs arrival. Perhaps Mason can finally take that honour. "I was going to prepare myself this summer," Mason said, "to have the mindset of being able to handle the pressures of playing in Philadelphia and the pressures of being a No. 1 goaltender again in this league." Bryzgalov was 52-33-10 with a 2.61 goals-against and a .905 save percentage in the two seasons for Philadelphia, which failed to make the playoffs this year. Bryzgalovs quirky personality and sometimes brutal honesty with the media didnt always endear him to teammates. But the Flyers say that didnt factor into this decision. Coach Peter Laviolette and Holmgren have each checked in with Mason this summer, though not since the trade. "It was an extremely easy team to come into," Mason said. "and feel welcomed." Example? Mason was invited along with captain Claude Giroux and other Flyers to play in Scott Hartnells charity golf tournament in Canada. Thats when word hit that Bryz was out -- and Mason was in. "It wasnt a celebration," Mason said. "It was, heres an opportunity and go with it."Cheap Nike Air Max Outlet . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Cheap Air Max 270 . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. https://www.wholesalenikeairmaxshoes.com/ . 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But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach.SALT LAKE CITY -- Troy Williams has made quite the impression in just eight months on the Utah campus.Hes earned the starting quarterback job over a three-year veteran and the 2015 Florida Gatorade Football Player of the Year. The junior college transfer was also voted a captain by teammates despite arriving in January and missing much of spring ball with an injury.Williams will be the first new full-time starting quarterback for the Utes since 2012 when the team with Pac-12 title aspirations opens the season at home against Southern Utah on Thursday night.I havent seen nobody work like that before, honestly, senior receiver Tim Patrick said. Putting in that extra work. He makes me want to work harder ... making me hop on the bandwagon.Patrick raved about Williams doing extra after two-a-day practices and watching film deep into the night. He and cornerback Dominique Hatfield have been impressed with his ball placement and touch on deep passes. Hatfield lived in the same complex as Williams and would drop by in the evenings.The game wasnt on, the TV wasnt on, Hatfield said. Instead film was on or he was writing plays against different coverages and what ball should be thrown first. Wed look at each other and wed do about 500 push-ups at night. Things like that.The passing game has been Utahs biggest weakness since the Utes joined the Pac-12 in 2011. Utahs pass offense has ranked dead last in the conference three times in five seasons and was No. 11 in 2015. The high point was a No. 9 ranking in 2013. Coach Kyle Whittingham has repeatedly said the throw game will be improved. It must for the Utes to be a legitimate contender.Williams was named the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback recruit by Rivals.com in 2013 and played five games at Washington before transferring for a season at Santa Monica College. He said the experience helped mold his priorities.Knowing that not everythings promised, Williams said. (Life at a junior college) just helps you realize how fortunate we are here. I take every single second as my last and try to make the most of every moment Im here.ddddddddddddThings to watch when Utah hosts Southern Utah:TRENCH WORK: The Utah defensive line should be one of the best in the Pac-12, if not the entire country. Tackle Lowell Lotulelei was first-team All-Pac-12 in 2015 and end Hunter Dimicks 15 career sacks are tied for No. 8 in school history. Tackle Filipo Mokofisi and end Pita Taumoepenu are listed as starters, but Whittingham also considers tackle Pasoni Tasini and end Kylie Fitts as starters. Fitts led Utah with 7.0 sacks last season.ROAD GRADERS: While the Utah offense has new starters at every skill position, the offensive line returns four starters and adds a top junior college recruit. Senior J.J. Dielman was second-team All-Pac-12 as a tackle in 2015, but moves to center this season. Senior Sam Tevi started every game at left tackle in 2015, but moves to the right side to make way for Garrett Bolles, the JUCO transfer from Snow College. Whittingham said they may have more depth and ability at the position than at any point in the last 12 years.THE THUNDERBIRDS: Southern Utah is coming off an 8-4 season with the need to replace three players currently on NFL rosters -- Miles Killebrew, LeShaun Sims and James Cowser. The Thunderbirds won a school-record seven consecutive games and finished 7-1 in the Big Sky conference. Southern Utah sits at No. 23 in the preseason FCS coaches poll and finished 2015 ranked No. 18. Former defensive coordinator Demario Warren was promoted to head coach after Ed Lamb took an assistant position at BYU.QUOTABLE: We have to bring a whole new level of concentration and a whole new level of intensity to stay in this ballgame, Warren said. I believe that we can and our players do. You dont have a chance unless you believe. We have the first part down, and now we need to go out there and execute.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KareemCopeland ' ' '