When Kevin Martin decided to retire this year, he thought hed have plenty of company. Dallas Keuchel Astros Jersey . The dean of Canadian curlers -- with four national titles, a world championship, both a gold and silver at the Olympics and a record 18 Grand Slams on the World Curling Tour -- looked around and saw plenty his age or older holding brooms. "I thought this year there would be a lot of guys retiring," Martin, 47, said Tuesday. "I thought I would just be one of the many. As it turns out, Im the only one. Theres nobody else, Im the only guy!" Instead of retiring, other senior skips have played a game of musical chairs as teams have reformed and players have moved about the country. And Martin says the desire to secure that all-important Olympic berth is the reason. "The shuffling I think is completely because of the Olympics and that curling has become a four-year sport," he said. Younger teams are looking at skips at or near 50-plus and wondering whether they have what it takes to compete, not just next season but also down the road. And those skips who have never won that Olympic berth (as Martin did three times, failing to earn a medal in 1992) are reluctant to give up while they think theres still a chance. Manitobas Jeff Stoughton, 50, who has parted ways with his former team and formed a new one and Ontarios Glenn Howard, 51, who has seen his squad fragment as well, are cases in point. "Its hard I think for young guys to be with a 50, 51, 52 or whatever age guy and think four years down the road," Martin said. "Thats not easy. "Jeff and Glenn still play brilliantly but will they in four years? I dont think they can answer that." The result has been a lot of movement. "Its really exciting. Its probably the most excitement Ive seen in our sport in a long time," said Martin. "I think the young guys that are coming up are dealing with it really well by doing all of these shakeups and trying to figure out how they can get the very, very best team." The latest move was Kevin Koes former Alberta team, which is the reigning national champion, picking up former B.C. skip John Morris on Tuesday to take them into key events next season, including a return trip to the Tim Hortons Brier. Its the first time the current mens champion will get an automatic ticket without having to win a provincial title. Two younger teams at the elite level remain intact: Olympic gold-medallist Brad Jacobs, 28, and his team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Mike McEwen, 33, from Winnipeg. Former Olympic champ Brad Gushue, 33, from Newfoundland and Labrador has made only one move, returning former teammate Mark Nichols, who had been curling with Stoughton. After finishing out of the medals at the world championships, Koe, 39, announced a new team that includes Marc Kennedy at third, Ben Hebert at lead and Brent Laing at second. Kennedy and Hebert won Olympic gold with Martin and Laing was a two-time world champion with Howard. "Those are your top four I think going forward," said Martin of those four teams. After watching all the moves, though, does Martin have any second thoughts about his decision to quit the game? "I am so ready. To be honest with you, I think I was ready after Vancouver," he insists. But Martin recognizes that had he pulled the plug then, at the age of 43, he might have come out of retirement. Theres no chance of that now. "Im in a real good spot, Im busy outside the ice," he said. "Theres tons of stuff going on." First, hes got a new job as a broadcaster and curling ambassador with Rogers Sportsnet. Then theres his curling store in Edmonton, part interest in a golf-course development in Phoenix and his curling academies to run. For Martin, the icing on the cake this year was going out a winner after being disappointed at the Olympic curling trials. He beat Jacobs 4-3 in the mens final Sunday to win the Players Championship in the final tournament of his career, his 18th Grand Slam win on the professional tour he played a role in developing. "To have the 18th Slam work out . . . it makes it all that much easier," he said. As for the only thing he regrets in a lifetime of curling, it was that failure to medal in 1992, when curling was still an Olympic demonstration sport. He knew he wasnt good enough to win gold that year. "But then we played the U.S. in the bronze game and thats a game I think we should have won," Martin said. For one thing, it would have given him one of each medal. "The one game . . . over all the years that Id like to have back is that bronze game in 1992," he added. Gerrit Cole Astros Jersey . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. J.R. Richard Jersey . Mark Van Guilder, Austin Watson and Colton Sissons also scored for the Admirals (22-13-10), who are 2-0-2 in their last four outings, while Roussel tacked on an assist for a two-point night. Greg Pateryn scored once for the Bulldogs (20-22-4), who lost their fifth straight contest, and also assisted on Gabriel Dumonts goal. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/preston-tucker-astros-jersey/ . A little more than one year after missing a last-second tip-in that would have given the Wolverines a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the 6-foot-8 forward scored on a layup with 7.Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - P.A. Parenteau scored the deciding goal of the shootout to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Buffalos Brian Gionta and the Canadiens Alex Galchenyuk were both successful in the first round of the shootout. Parenteau, the third shooter for Montreal, skated up the middle, fooled Michal Neuvirth with a head fake and ended the game with a quick wrister into the top of the net. Parenteau also lit the lamp in regulation and Dustin Tokarski made 31 saves for Montreal, which snapped a three-game skid. Drew Stafford provided Buffalos lone offense and Neuvirth made 31 saves in defeat. Final Score: NY Rangers 4, Detroit 3 (OT) New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Derick Brassard scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the New York Rangers to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. After Pavel Datsyuk went off for tripping, New Yorks Dan Girardi unleashed a blast from the point. Jonas Gustavsson made the initial save, but the rebound trickled across the crease to Brassard, who was present at the right side of the net to wrist it home for the win. Martin St. Louis and Brassard finished with a goal and an assist apiece and Rick Nash and Lee Stempniak both scored for the Rangers, who snapped a two-game skid. Craig Biggio Astros Jersey. Henrik Lundqvist made 25 saves in the win. Jakub Kindl, Daniel Cleary and Tomas Tatar each lit the lamp for Detroit, which lost its third straight game. Gustavsson sustained an upper-body injury on the final goal. The netminder stayed down on the ice for a prolonged period of time before skating off under his own power. He finished with 26 saves. Final Score: NY Islanders 3, Anaheim 2 (OT) Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - John Tavares scored his second goal 2:18 into overtime, lifting the New York Islanders to a 3-2 win over an Anaheim Ducks team minus its two best players. The Islanders went on a power play in the extra session when Sami Vatanen elbowed Calvin de Haan. Tavares fired a wrist shot along the ice from the high slot that deflected in off the right pad of Jason LaBarbera. Kyle Okposo also scored a power-play goal and Jaroslav Halak 32 saves for the Islanders, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Matt Beleskey and Emerson Etem had the goals for the Ducks, while LaBarbera finished with 33 saves. Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf and leading scorer Corey Perry missed the opener of a four-game homestand with flu-like symptoms. Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Senators Jerseys Cheap Flyers Jerseys Cheap Penguins Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Blues Jerseys Cheap Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Capitals Jerseys Cheap Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '