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OTTAWA -- Hayley Wickenheiser doesnt put much stock in the flag-bearers curse. The womens hockey star, who will carry the Maple Leaf into the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics, says the idea that she and her teammates could be under any more pressure is absurd. After all, they play a sport that many in Canada consider religion. So any sort of cosmic jinx pales in comparison to the weight of an entire countrys expectations for the womens team to win a fourth straight gold medal in Sochi. "I think theres just too much emphasis to put on that," Wickenheiser said Thursday via conference call from Austria. "The pressure that we feel is the pressure that always comes with playing hockey as a Canadian hockey player, whether youre male or female. "The country expects a gold medal. Whether I carry the flag or not, Im pretty sure our team doesnt feel any extra added incentive that theres more pressure to perform, because we already feel that already." Not all athletes see it that way. Diver Alexandre Despatie felt it would be a distraction and said hed decline any offer to carry the flag at the 2012 London Games. Kayaker Adam van Koeverden carried the flag at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and finished a disappointing eighth in the 1,000 metres -- although he did win a silver medal in the 500. Moguls skier Jean-Luc Brassard blamed his disappointing performance at the 1998 Nagano Olympics on being the flag-bearer a day earlier. Wickenheiser and her teammates hope the same thing doesnt happen to them. Hockey Canada says the women will march in the Feb. 7 opening ceremonies despite playing their first game the following night versus Switzerland. Brassard, the assistant chef de mission for the Sochi team, was on the panel that selected Wickenheiser along with chef de mission Steve Podborski, assistant chef France St. Louis and one athlete representative. Hockey Canada nominated her for the honour. "Throughout her successful career, this Canadian athlete has demonstrated true Canadian grit, patriotism and sportsmanship," said Podborski, adding that Wickenheiser will lead the Canadian team with "the utmost pride and class." Wickenheiser is embracing the opportunity to put her sport centre stage. "What I think it does is it shines a very positive light on the sport of womens hockey and just on our sport in general for the world to see," said the 35-year-old forward. "Thats a great responsibility and expectation that every nation in the world has to carry in and I think should really embrace." The Shaunavon, Sask., native, who is at a pre-Olympic camp in Austria and wasnt able to attend the formal announcement Thursday on Parliament Hill, will be making her fifth Winter Olympic appearance. But for the first time since 2006, she wont be Canadas captain. Caroline Ouellette has been handed that job, while Wickenheiser will be an alternate. But she remains Canadas biggest womens hockey star and a pioneer of the game. She and teammate Jayna Hefford will be the only players in the 2014 womens hockey tournament who have played in every Olympic Games since female hockey made its debut in 1998. Her stewardship extends beyond hockey as a spokesperson for Right To Play, Clean Air Champions, KidsSport, Spread The Net, Plan Canadas Because I Am A Girl and Classroom Champions. Wickenheiser read the athletes oath in the opening ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and she is running for election to the International Olympic Committees athletes commission in Sochi. Veteran speedskater Clara Hughes carried the flag at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics while womens hockey player Danielle Goyette was the flag-bearer at the 2006 Games in Turin. "I remember we were joking, like Dont trip and fall when you come in," Wickenheiser said of her conversation with Goyette before the opening ceremonies eight years ago. "Thats sort of the same thing we were talking about today. Geez, Id better watch some YouTube videos and figure out how the athletes have done this before." --- . -- The San Francisco 49ers have re-signed cornerback Perrish Cox to a one-year contract. . A rainy day saw the former champion Djokovic handle 14th-seeded Frenchman Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) under the roof on the famed Centre Court. http://www.baseballnationalsauthority.c ... ey-Jersey/. According to Dave Stubbs of The Montreal Gazette, preliminary talks have begun between Markov - an unrestricted free agent this summer - and general manager Marc Bergevin. . -- Jonathan Diaz is easy to spot in the Blue Jays clubhouse. . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone.(SportsNetwork.com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings take aim at an eighth straight victory on Monday night as they wrap up a road trip versus the Calgary Flames. Calgary will be seeking to rebound tonight after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Rookie Joni Ortio made 12 saves for a Flames club that had won two straight and three of its previous four. However, Calgary went 0-for-5 on the power play and its only goal came when Brian McGrattan scored on a slap shot from center ice that skipped past Vancouver goaltender Eddie Lack. The odd tally was the second for McGrattan this season and eighth of his career. "(I) just wanted to throw one on net," said McGrattan. "I was at the end of my shift, and fortunately it went in." Forward Jiri Hudler and defenseman Dennis Wideman sat out their second straight games for Calgary with upper-body injuries, while forward Matt Stajan missed his fourth consecutive contest for personal reasons. The Flames announced on Sunday that Stajan has taken a leave from the club following the tragic passing of his son Emerson on March 3 following childbirth. There is no timetable for Stajans return. Ortio is in line to make his fifth career start tonight and second versus the Kings. He lost to them in his NHL debut on Feb.dddddddddddd 27, stopping 22-of-24 shots faced in a 2-0 setback. Calgary has won a pair of games in Los Angeles in this season prior to that recent setback at home to the Kings, who have won five of the previous seven encounters overall. Los Angeles also has won five in a row in Calgary. The Kings have won seven in a row for the first time since a nine-game winning streak from Jan. 21-Feb. 6, 2010, taking all six games since returning from the hiatus for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Los Angeles current tear has it sitting comfortably in third place in the Pacific Division, 11 points up on the fourth-place Phoenix Coyotes. The Kings played the middle contest of a three-game swing on Sunday night, besting the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Jeff Carter had a pair of goals and an assist, while Jonathan Quick made 25 saves. Alec Martinez and Trevor Lewis also scored. "Weve been playing a good team game," said Martinez, who has three goals and an assist in his past four games. Quick has won each of his previous six starts, posting a 0.99 goals against average, .957 save percentage and one shutout. However, he could get some rest tonight in favor of backup Martin Jones, who has never faced the Flames. ' ' '