NEU » hospital, but I knew I had to prepare for

It is the season of the rookie in the NHL, and not just because of high-scoring forwards like Torontos Auston Matthews and Winnipegs Patrik Laine, or Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray. The biggest surprise of this season is how eight teams are using rookies on their top defensive pairing.Looking back through recent history, it is unusual for there to be more than one or two particularly exceptional defensemen to play on the top pair in their rookie season. In 2015-16, for example, there were only occasional stretches of the season when rookies like Carolinas Jaccob Slavin, Edmontons Darnell Nurse and Philadelphias Shayne Gostisbehere were on the top tandem. Right now, there are eight rookies being employed on the main duo.Not every team is using a rookie defenseman in the top two for the same reason. Some teams are blessed with one of those rare and particularly talented prospects, like Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, while other teams have an elite veteran who is capable of guiding a young apprentice, like Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings or Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. Some teams have been hit with so many injuries that they are left with few alternatives, like the Vancouver Canucks.Heres a ranking of the eight rookie defensemen being used on the top unit this season, and how they have fared so far: Buy Nike Shoes Online Ireland . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike Factory Outlet Ireland .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesireland.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Shoes Ireland Sale . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Cheap Nike Shoes Ireland . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. CHICAGO -- Holly Holm was the unforgettable champ for four months.Her shocking knock out of Ronda Rousey in Melbourne at UFC 193 instantly changed the dynamics of womens mixed martial arts.The 34-year old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, put the face of the UFC into hiding, but Holms reign as champ was short-lived when she was put to sleep by Miesha Tates rear naked choke at UFC 196.Just over eight months after shocking the MMA world, Holm (10-1) is attempting to make another run for the womens bantamweight belt as she headlines UFC Chicago in a five-round fight against Valentina Shevchenko (12-2) on Saturday night.Holm, a former welterweight boxing champ, can possibly put herself in contention to fight now champ Amanda Nunes, who dismantled Tate earlier in the month at UFC 200.But Holm knows how easily she can be pushed back from the spotlight with a poor showing against Shevchenko.If I dont win here, then what opportunities are going to be there, I dont know. So I need to make sure I get through this weekend and do a good showing this weekend first, said Hohm.Of course, a shot at the belt will most likely depend on when or if Rousey will fight again.Even with a potential rematch with Rousey and a chance at Nunes for the belt, Holm is not distracted. Her focus is on Shevchenko.Shes got a ton of Muay Thai background, Holm said. Im telling you those Muay Thai fighters are as tough as nails. Shes been through battles before, shes been through hard fights. She is very mentally strong, very physically strong so I feel that makes a very tough opponent.Less than two months ago, Shevchenko was at a chicken restaurant in Lima, Peru, when it wwas raided by armed robbers.dddddddddddd Her trainer Pavel Fedotov was shot during the robbery. Shevchenko was not harmed in the raid, but Fedotov was shot in the abdomen. He has recovered from the gun shot and is expected to be in the corner of Shevchenko on Saturday.However, the traumatic night didnt put Shevchenkos training on hold as she will get a chance to move up the womens bantamweight by beating the former champ.Those days it was impossible to do nothing. It was really, really hard because I could not think about nothing, I could not do nothing, I could not train, I just spent the whole time with Pavel in the hospital, but I knew I had to prepare for this and I knew I had to go forward. First week or 10 days was very difficult, but when I did my training I started to focus on the training and the preparation and it helped me, said Shevchenko, from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I tried to close everything around me, all feelings, and I put my mind on the training.The co-main event features a fight between Edson Barboza (17-4) and Gilbert Melendez (22-5) at the 155-pound division. Both fighters are trying to solidify themselves as potential contenders to the belt held by Eddie Alvarez.Melendez, a former Strikeforce lightweight champion is not ducking Barboza, who beat former lightweight UFC champion Anthony Pettis in April.Thats why Im here, Im here to test myself against great guys like Edson. He is one of those guys that I think a lot of guys dont want to fight, but Im up for the challenge, Melendez said. ' ' '