MINSK, Belarus -- Alain Vigneault is back in the conference final with the New York Rangers, and at least one of his former Vancouver players couldnt be happier. "For Alain, Im happy for him that he got back there so quickly," Canucks defenceman and Team Canada captain Kevin Bieksa said. "Hes a good coach and hes obviously been there before and he took us there. We had a lot of really good years together. Absolutely were cheering for him and hope they do well." Bieksa is one of a handful of Vigneaults former players casually following his playoff run from afar at the world hockey championship, three years after the Canucks came one victory short of the franchises first Stanley Cup. After beating the Montreal Canadiens twice at Bell Centre, Vigneault and the Rangers are two victories away from making the final. Joining Bieksa on Team Canada are Canucks teammates Jason Garrison and Alex Burrows. Garrison only played one season under Vigneault, and so he doesnt have as deep a connection to him as those on the 2011 Cup final team. Unlike Bieksa, Garrison isnt necessarily cheering for Vigneault and the Rangers. "Its tough to root for success on another team, thats for sure," Garrison said. "Its notable, kind of the season hes having and the playoffs that hes having. ... But thats about it. Other than that, if anything, youre jealous." Its natural for former Canucks to feel a little jealous, considering they missed the playoffs under former Rangers coach John Tortorella in a season that cost him and general manager Mike Gillis their jobs. If they were still playing, Bieksa, Garrison, Burrows, Denmarks Jannik Hansen and Niclas Jensen, Switzerlands Yannick Weber and Swedens Joacim Eriksson wouldnt be in Minsk. Among them, only Bieksa, Burrows, Garrison and Hansen played for Vigneault. Even though things went sour in 2013, Garrison doesnt have anything bad to say about how the 53-year-old Quebec City native handled a veteran Vancouver team. "Guys respected him and he respected the players," Garrison said. "He was a good person, and I had no complaints at all." Bieksa played for Vigneault for seven seasons during which the Canucks went to the playoffs all but one year. The 32-year-old doesnt share Garrisons tinge of competitive jealousy. "Its a different team, a different conference," Bieksa said. "I dont really have jealousy. It would be different if it were, like, a good friend or a former teammate." The Rangers have only one of those in Raphael Diaz, who played just six games in Vancouver. Womens Tony Romo Elite Jersey . They won gold today in the womens bobsled competition at the Sochi Games. The Canadian duo finished with a four-run time of three minutes 50. Justin Durant Jersey . -- An accomplished veteran in open-wheel racing, Alex Tagliani probably could find a full-time ride in the IndyCar series if he wanted it badly enough. http://www.cowboysproshop.us.com/Womens-Tyron-Smith-Authentic-Jersey/ . Bilodeau, from Montreal, won his third straight World Cup moguls event over the weekend, edging out teammate and rival Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que. Kingsbury and Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que. Womens DeMarco Murray Elite Jersey .Y. -- The NFL says the number of concussions in practices and games in the preseason and regular season dropped 13 per cent from 2012 to 2013. Womens Henry Melton Elite Jersey . Jones had to work hard against Korean skip Kim Jisun and didnt hold a lead until the seventh end. Jones, lead Dawn McEwen, second Jill Officer and third Kaitlyn Lawes were 8-0 going into the game and had already clinched a berth in the semifinals.Former tennis great John McEnroe says Canadas Milos Raonic has the raw talent that could see him become a contender in the sports big events. The seven-time Grand Slam champ says Raonic seems to have come out of nowhere this season, adding the Canadians powerful serve puts him among the group of players who could be the games next big stars. Raonic is recovering from recent surgeryy after suffering a hip injury during the second round of Wimbledon.dddddddddddd The 20-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., is expected to return in time for the U.S. Open next month. McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang will play in the three-day Rogers Legends Cup next week in Toronto. Its a companion event to the WTA tournament at the Rexall Centre. ' ' '
