Reiseplan » is poise with the puck and his play recognition and how

CHERRY CREEK, Colorado -- It has been a year since hip surgery sidelined Julia Mancuso from skiing for the first time in her decorated career. On the November day I meet with her for lunch, the 32-year-old has been building her way back to the start gate but is taking a couple of days off. Shes meeting her mom in Denver and just finished a gym session with her personal physiotherapist. After finishing a meal of fish tacos and carrot ginger juice, the Olympic champion gets up from the table and is noticeably limping.Yeah, I have a little swagger, she says cheerfully. Im still working on extension stuff.In a few hours, the four-time Olympic medalist will meet her fiancé at the airport -- Dylan Fish, a manager at a resort in Fiji where the couple met two winters ago, just when Mancuso was beginning to believe that true love would never happen.She had gone to Fiji with some friends for her 30th birthday and met Fish. They spent every evening of the trip talking the night away, but when it came to making the first move, it was like high school, as neither took the leap at first. Then Mancuso extended her stay.We started talking, and the conversation was never-ending, she says. It was one of those.The first wedding is scheduled at the end of December at Mancusos home resort -- Squaw Valley, California. A second celebration is planned for Fiji in April. Mancuso hopes to bring Fish to Europe after she begins her World Cup comeback in mid-January in Zauchensee, Austria.Born with hip dysplasia, Mancuso has suffered with right hip pain for the majority of her career, which spans 16 years of competing in the World Cup. The pain became crippling at the end of the 2015 season, and she opted for surgery last November.The procedure, which involved extracting loose pieces of cartilage and stabilizing the joint, forced Mancuso to spend three months on crutches and to trade water therapy for her typical off-the-hill activities like surfing and inline skating. She made her way back to snow last spring and started training in the gates this fall. She is still undergoing stem cell treatment in an effort to restore cartilage. She has focused most of her training on body-weight-strengthening exercises and Pilates.Im a firm believer in full-body connection, building the neural pathways together, she says. I wasnt going to go crazy on my arms because I couldnt lift my legs. I believe when you have a healthy body, it will gain strength as one.Mancuso spends most of her gym time on low-impact Pilates equipment such as the Reformer and CoreAlign. Her biggest strength goal: A low, one-legged squat.Ive been doing body-weight squats, holding for three to five minutes ... really burning the quad muscles. Thats been my way to get strong. Otherwise, the biggest plan is to do as much on snow as possible.The snow is, of course, where Mancuso can always find herself.Its amazing how my body performs when Im out doing what I know and love, she says. The adrenaline kicks in. Some people with injuries are really good in the gym, then they get out to ski and theyre like, ouch. Im the opposite. Im not great in the gym, then I get out on my skis and I feel free.Mancuso says she never really felt sad about her predicament and has dedicated a lot of energy to the mental component of her recovery. I keep positive when things arent positive, she says. Every time I want to cry because things arent working, I take a step back and say, This is ski racing. Its fun. Deep breath in. Its not emotional. I dont want to hold emotion in my body. I want my body to be a machine.Naturally, the machine needs fuel. During her recovery, Mancuso has focused on consuming more protein and less carbs and sugar. She has also become certified in health coaching, so she can impart her wisdom and philosophy to others, expanding her business -- Pure Golden Wellness -- in online health consultations.What I feel I can give back to the world is to practice mindfulness, she says. At the end of the day, if I really need something, if my energy is turning negative, I put in the extra effort. Your mental game is as important as anything else. When you need to draw upon something then and there, expecting to be at your best, you have to build on those skills.In a two-minute downhill race, there is not a lot of time to draw upon ones cerebral toolbox, which is why Mancuso prepares with meditation, positive self-talk and visualization. When she doubts herself in training or competition, shell often say to herself, Whats that feeling Im searching for? What does winning mean? It changes the focus of her thoughts, and her performances have shown that mental strength.Mancusos medal-winning runs have sometimes been described as miraculous, because they are often unprecedented, taking place when months or even years have passed since shes landed on a podium. Hence the nickname Super Jules.I have magical powers, she says. But when it comes down to it, the powers are carefully developed. Her most recent Olympic medal in Sochi came at a time when major equipment issues were taking a serious toll on her hip. But she ramped up her mental game to overcome the physical setbacks.I spent an hour every day envisioning myself winning, understanding how it feels and putting that energy out into the universe, she says. I believe in positive energy and putting that purpose and intent out there. The power of intention is so important.Mancusos intention now is to put her powers back to work toward another Olympic medal. She guesses that the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang will serve as the grand finale of her racing career. The mental picture is already in motion.Im visualizing my body being as healthy as possible, visualizing my joint being good. Im visualizing myself winning races. Im being grateful for this opportunity and for my life. If I wake up and think of things Im super grateful for, it puts me in a better mood. And Im a lot more productive when Im in a better mood. Justin Morneau Twins Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Cody Stashak Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. https://www.cheaptwins.com/2242t-sam-dyson-jersey-twins.html . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Stephen Gonsalves Twins Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Minnesota Twins Shirts . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. CHICAGO -- Brian Campbells 3-year-old daughter had soccer on Saturday morning, so his family skipped the Blackhawks scrimmage at the United Center. The grinning defenseman said he wasnt sure if her team was playing games yet, but she had to be there.No big deal. Campbell will get plenty of opportunities for family time this year.The 37-year-old Campbell is back in Chicago after spending the last five seasons in Florida, leaving some money on the table for a one-year deal and a second stint with the Blackhawks. His wife, Lauren, is from the region, and the couple and their two young daughters make their offseason home in the area.Its just great to wake up every morning and I know the area and my wifes extremely happy and the kids with school and everything just being ready to go, he said.The move was a no-brainer for Chicago, which lost Johnny Oduya during free agency last July and missed his veteran presence at times last season. With Campbell in the fold, the Blackhawks appear to be in great shape with their blue liners, with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading a deep group of defensemen.Campbell, who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, had six goals and 25 assists in 82 games with the Panthers last season. He led NHL defensemen with a plus-31 plus-minus rating.Just such a real smart player, said Blackhawks assistant Kevin Dineen, who also coached Campbell for three seasons in Florida. I think his patience is a real key for us. He makes really quality plays. Hes been around for a while and he loves the game. He can skate all night.The Blackhawks love mobile defensemen who can help on the offensive side, and Campbell seems like a perfect fit for what they try to do. He assisted on Richard Paniks first goal of Saturdays scrimmage, the centerpiece of the teams annual training camp festival, and carried the puck all the way up the ice during another impressive sequence.ddddddddddddChicago is missing several players at the moment due to the World Cup of Hockey, but Campbell has made a smooth return to the Blackhawks so far.Theres a few things system-wise thats going to be different, Im sure. Its kind of tough to get into that right now, said Campbell, who played in every regular-season game while he was with the Panthers. But not much has changed. Theres a lot of the same staff, which is great, and the organization just keeps getting better every day.Campbell, a native of Strathroy, Ontario, played with a couple current Blackhawks during his first stint with the team, and he already has made an impression on his new teammates.Skating with him and seeing him out in these scrimmages, his poise with the puck and his play recognition and how he moves the puck up the ice and gets it away from us, goaltender Scott Darling said, were really happy to have him.Campbell, a four-time All-Star, broke into the NHL with Buffalo in 1999. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2012 after collecting four goals and 49 assists in 82 games with Florida, becoming the first defenseman since Red Kelly in 1954 to win the award.Coming off perhaps his best season -- Campbells plus-minus rating was a career best -- he doesnt appear to be worried about duplicating his form from a year ago.For me this year, its just work hard and produce and help out, he said. I expect a lot out of myself. I just want to be a good puck mover for this team, play well defensively. Those are the things I kind of did last year. Points will come, Im not worried about that aspect of the game. Just trying to win hockey games and help these young kids.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '