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Veteran skip Kevin Koe already has one world title and two national titles on his resume. Ronnie Lott Jersey . His next mission is to qualify for the Winter Olympics and hes assembling a new team to try to make it happen. Koe plans to leave the rink he guided to victory at the Tim Hortons Brier for a new lineup that will include Marc Kennedy at third, Ben Hebert at lead and Brent Laing at second. Its an experienced all-star crew that will have its eye on qualification for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. "It was not an easy decision," Koe told The Canadian Press from Calgary. "But I felt the timing was good personally for me -- just with the next Olympic cycle coming up -- to make a change." News of the change broke last month before the team departed for the world championship in China. The moves werent formally announced until the Canadian Curling Association issued a news release Tuesday. Koe and his Calgary-based team of third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen settled for a disappointing fourth-place finish last weekend in Beijing. Theyll play their last event together as a foursome at the April 15-20 Grand Slam Players Championship in Summerside, P.E.I. Koe discussed his plans with his teammates last month after they won the Brier in Kamloops, B.C. He admitted it was a "difficult conversation," but doesnt think it affected their play overseas. "I think the guys would say the same thing," Koe said. "If anything, we wanted to win a world championship for each other that much more." The period right after an Olympic Games is always an interesting one on the curling scene. Not everyone is necessarily keen to make another four-year commitment for a variety of factors, including age, jobs and family commitments. Some teams are locked in and ready for the next quadrennial while other players need to move quickly to position themselves before potential vacancies are filled. Qualification events for the 2017 Canadian Curling Trials wont be far off once the new season begins so teams will want to find their rhythm as soon as possible. "I think its more a function of just the way curling has gone," Koe said. "Most years curling changes happen now after an Olympic year. Thats just the nature of the beast I guess. Teams get together to make that big run. "It was no disrespect to the guys. I dont think teams can stay together forever. Our team wasnt going to be staying together with Carter slowing down. So those are just some of the reasons that went into my decision." Rycroft, whose wife is pregnant, had originally planned to take time next season off. However, Thiessen said that plan would be modified so they can enter the 2014 Canada Cup, the 2015 World Financial Group Continental Cup and be the first Team Canada in the history of the Brier. Simmons, Rycroft and Thiessen will name their new skip at a later date. "Teams just kind of run their course," Thiessen said from Edmonton. "We probably -- even though we won the Brier this year -- we were starting to get towards the line of maybe running its course. Kevin had a great opportunity. Thats a great team that hes setting up. "Everyones got to do whats best for them and thats what he did. He went and (will) play with those guys and I mean, who wouldnt? Its three great players that he went to play with." Koe won his other national title and lone world title in 2010 with Rycroft, Thiessen and Blake MacDonald. Simmons later replaced MacDonald but the core of the team spent eight years together. The team members said they will remain good friends, adding next weeks competition will be emotional for all involved. Kennedy and Hebert won Olympic gold at the 2010 Games in Vancouver with skip Kevin Martin, who supported the lineup change. Martin has said he plans to decide on his curling future by the end of June. Laing won world titles with veteran Ontario skip Glenn Howard in 2007 and 2012. "At the end of day with everything else considered, it was just too great of an opportunity to turn down for me," Laing said from Barrie, Ont. Howard wasnt available for comment. Hes expected to name Laings replacement in the coming weeks. Maurice Jones-Drew Raiders Jersey . The team says Paul is day to day and is questionable for Mondays game against New Jersey. Paul is averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 37.3 minutes in nine games for the Clippers, who beat Miami and the Lakers in their last two games.LaMarr Woodley Jersey . - The Washington Wizards are in a great position to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, and John Wall has a lot to do with it.Preseason is a time for new beginnings - the chance to start afresh with a belief that anything can happen. That was certainly true for Toronto FC as they opened up their training camp in Bradenton last week. The troubles and uncertainties that surrounded the club in recent years have been replaced by a new hope and optimism after an incredible offseason transformation that has included the signings of three new Designated Players, Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto. I was in Florida for Torontos first training session. The energy and enthusiasm was on a completely different level compared to other years. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the squad has already been assembled and most of the key pieces are already in place. A far cry from a year ago, when Nelsen was heading into his first coaching job with a preseason squad filled with trialists. "Its a wee bit different, Ive got to admit," Ryan Nelsen told me after training in Bradenton. Its nice to have a proper squad together all pulling in the right direction. As you can see by today, the work ethic is there, the character is there and everybody is extremely excited." The difference compared to 12 months earlier is evident in all areas, but especially in personnel. Over half of the squad currently in Florida were not with the team for preseason in 2013. However, Nelsen and the players are talking up the fact that the core of the team that finished the season is still in place. "We havent changed that much, weve probably changed the same as most teams, but weve done it in big names so it makes it even more dramatic. But thats what we had to do with this club. Thats why what we did last year had method in our madness. Weve got some big names and we will have to gel them in, but its a progression and we have to keep moving the club forward." The theme Nelsens rookie season as head coach was "short-term pain for long-term gaiin," and things have now changed quickly. Justin Ellis Jersey. With multi-million dollar signings amongst a re-shaped squad, expectations are high. But after dealing with a tumultuous first year with the club, Nelsen laughed off the suggestion that there is pressure on him to find a winning formula quickly. "Theres absolutely no pressure," he said. "Whenever you put yourself in a situation where youve brought in good players, everybody else thinks there is expectation but for us we just try and improve every day. In everything we do, we try to become perfect. Whatever people think from outside we dont really care." "I knew the league last year but we didnt have the right pieces to be successful. Now I think we are moving in the right direction, but Im still learning as well. Ill always keep learning. When I stop learning I may as well give up," he said. Theres a new face heavily involved in Torontos training sessions this preseason. Englishman Adrian Lamb has joined the club as Fitness Coach. He has previously worked with Newcastle United, Preston North End and Aston Villa, and he was at Blackburn Rovers during Ryan Nelsens time as a player at Ewood Park. Nelsen told me Lambs preparation and attention to detail is immaculate, and that was easy to see during my time in Bradenton. He has very clear ideas of what he wants from the players and was impressive in the way he communicated to them. Lamb will bring a very professional approach to the teams conditioning this season and will be a key addition to Nelsens staff. In 2013, Toronto FC won just six matches and missed the playoffs by 20 points, but Nelsen and his staff have now been handed the tools they need to turn the ship around. The foundation for success will be laid over the next six weeks, as Nelsen and Co. make sure their team is ready to hit the ground running when the season opens in Seattle on March 15th live on TSN. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '