The Whitby, Ont., native said he never ha

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TORONTO - Its become something of a rarity in hockey for players to be outspoken, to publically question convention, to ask the simple question, why? This goes doubly so for young players, especially those just drafted and who have not yet attended their first main NHL training camp. Speaking with Josh Ho-Sang, drafted 28th overall in 2014 by the New York Islanders, is not unlike having a bucket of ice cold water dumped over your head. He wakes you up. "The way that Im portrayed is someone whos stubborn and never changes but Im just someone who asks why," Ho-Sang said after participating in Day 1 of BioSteel Camp at St. Michaels College School Arena in Toronto. "People who are very black and white dont like that at all because youre questioning the masses, youre questioning the way things have been done. Thats why things change right? Its those types of minds and people (who ask why) that change everything, I dont understand how thats a negative thing anywhere." After a solid debut season in the Ontario Hockey League as a 16-year-old with the Windsor Spitfires and finishing fourth on the team with 44 points, Ho-Sang followed it up this past year by leading his team in points (85) and assists (53) while tying for the lead in goals (32). But despite a quick and productive start to his OHL career, Ho-Sang was overlooked for Team Canadas Under 18 team in the spring, was not included on the 2013 U18 team to play at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament and was not invited to Team Canadas World Junior summer development camp roster this year. He asks - why? "The fact that I havent been invited to a camp, its insulting," Ho-Sang said frankly. "Ive done nothing to them (Hockey Canada). Its not like they invited me to U17 and U18 and I messed up at all that stuff. I havent been invited back since my first year in the OHL in December. Its been a year and a half; I havent been a part of any Hockey Canada stuff." But he has a philosophy as to why invites have not been coming his way. "They cant invite me to that stuff because theyre afraid," he said. "If I go there and do well, then they have no reason not to put me on the World Junior team." Asked directly why Hockey Canada wouldnt want him on that team, Ho-Sang, looking puzzled, responded, "I dont know." "If youre going to alienate an 18-year-old kid, like good job. Their job is development and progression of Canadian hockey. If I am a problem child, that means they dont like problems, that they have an issue with fixing things, that they like when things are easy. That actually means that they dont possess the ability to develop and that they are just taking players to fit their role that have been developed somewhere else." Hockey Canada declined to comment on this story. Ho-Sangs omission from consideration for Team Canada does not fuel his fire though. He clearly requires no validation for his ability. He prefers to look at it, not as confidence though, but as self-assuredness. "Its not confidence, its just that I know who I am and Im comfortable with who I am," Ho-Sang explained. "I feel no need to change." Prior to the 2014 NHL Draft, Ho-Sang told Sun Media and TSNs Steve Simmons that, "In three years, Ill be the best player in this draft. And I have no doubt about that." When asked if he still feels that way, Ho-Sang quickly responded, "Yeah." "I believe in myself and I know what I can do," Ho-Sang continued. "I dont really care if nobody else does, Ill show them and thats all just a part of the process. At one point, people didnt know who Patrick Kane was, at one point people didnt know who Sidney Crosby was." For now, Ho-Sang appears to have come to grips with the fact that he seems not to be at the forefront in the minds of those responsible with building various installments of Team Canada. Hes just tired of always having to explain his omission. "I dont play for Hockey Canada, I play for New York," he said. "I dont really care. Playing for your country is great; its more a personal thing. Its kind of annoying though because I have people asking me all the time why Im not there and not a part of that stuff but thats what it is. I think the only way Id be on that (World Junior) team is if I played in the NHL, thats probably the only way I could get on that team." And that will be his goal when he heads to his first NHL training camp next month with the Islanders. While Ho-Sang admitted hes not sure where he will be playing come of the start of the season, he is not planning on sitting back, just being happy to be there. "Whats my goal? Ho-Sang said, repeating the question. "Its to be better than everyone else there. I want to be better than John Tavares, I know hes an unbelievable player and I want to push myself against those guys because thats how you get there. If Im going head to head and pushing toes with Johnny T, chances are pretty good that Id make the team." Most 18-year-old prospects will tell you how honoured they were to be drafted and what an unbelievable experience it was. Ho-Sang looked at it a different way. "Its kind of annoying because everywhere I go, everyones like oh this guy got drafted. I dont even have a name though, Im just number 28 (28th overall pick)." Dont mistake it as cockiness or arrogance, though. Ho-Sang clearly appreciates the position he is in and understands there is a process to advancing to the NHL level that must be followed. Hes just very sure he can do it. When you really think about it, his logic is spot on. To hang in there with John Tavares is certainly the best way to force the Islanders hand come September. Whether he can do it is entirely up to him, just another step along the way in making Josh Ho-Sang a big name, closer to Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby than the nameless No. 28 pick. Manti Te o Jersey . LOUIS -- The St. P.J. Williams Jersey . Costa injured his right thigh muscle against Barcelona last Saturday and had sought treatment in Belgrade from a doctor specializing in using fluid derived from horse placenta to repair damaged cells. http://www.officialsaintslockroom.com/t ... ts-jersey/. - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener. Alex Okafor Jersey . To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters. Morten Andersen Jersey . Cavaliers shooting guard Craig Ehlo makes a solid play on the ball, but still Jordan hits the amazing shot.TORONTO -- Paul Ranger really likes pizza. Not just any pizza, but the kind that he can get from the Riverside Restaurant in Cornwall, Ont., with his uncle. Now in Toronto and closer to family than he was as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning years ago, he can spend time away from the rink debating what pizza joint is best and finding balance in life. Because of that, Ranger has begun to write the second chapter of his NHL playing career and was named the Maple Leafs Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee for "perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Ranger learned that he was chosen for that honour Wednesday morning, 49 games into what he considers the renewal of his career more than four years after abruptly leaving the Lightning for personal reasons he still wont reveal. What the 29-year-old does say about version 2.0 of his hockey-playing life only hints at why he left and what made him come back. "What makes it easier for my second go-round is just that experience on how to handle different pressures from the outside, pressures on the ice and really just how to go about it and live your life and balance," Ranger said. "Balance is huge. It makes for a much healthier lifestyle. It makes for a much healthier, I think, mind, on the ice, as well." On the ice, the defencemans game is still rounding into form but isnt quite as good as hed like it to be. But his mind seems to be at peace with the sports importance in his life because Ranger has been able to spend time reflecting and placing value on different things. "You get away, you try different things, you do different things, you focus on other areas of your life that you love and that make you good," he said. "Too much of one good thing it can kind of become a mental battle sometimes. ... When you have that balance, everything seems to work a lot more smoothly, a lot more comfortably and positively." One of those positives is family, like being able to have his mother and father closer than they were when he was in Tampa. Friends make the support group even bigger. "Once in a while Ill get to see some of my closest friends, my high-school friends, my best friends," he said. "Everyone needs a break outside of work and outlets for different parts of life, and thats one of them for me." Outlet from what, exactly, Ranger wont say. Asked at the end of a 13-minute conversation with reporters to shed even a bit of detail on what caused him to leave the Lightning early in the 2009-10 season, he politely but firmly responded: "No. Im not willing to go there. Thank you, though." In general terms, Ranger repeatedly talked about "challenges" on and off tthe ice.dddddddddddd That included playing last year for the AHLs Toronto Marlies, then signing a one-year deal with the Leafs and making the team out of training camp. "Lots of challenges, but when you overcome them, thats the coolest part of it," Ranger said. "Thats the most fun. You look at yourself in the mirror and say you did it. And thats huge, for everybody. Every person in the world goes through that kind of thing at some point in their lives, and I think its important to be able to challenge yourself and to recognize and give yourself some credit." Ranger noticed and appreciated the credit and recognition opponents around the league and former teammates have afforded him this season. He took special pride in reconnecting and building "genuine" relationships with a couple of players he spent time with in Tampa, too. Very little of Rangers time talking about his journey back to the NHL had anything to do with hockey, other than to say it has been a success. The Whitby, Ont., native said he never had any doubts about returning after such an extended absence. "No. This is the right thing for me to do," Ranger said. "This is the thing for me to do to grow and to overcome all the challenges that Ive had on and off the ice. This is the path, and Im committed to it. "I cant really put it all into words, but this is it. Its going to help me until I reach 150 (years old) and riding my Sea-Doo around somewhere and Im going to look back and smile and just say I did it." As hes in the process of doing it, hes earning respect along the way. "When a guy misses that amount of time and claws himself (onto a roster) and grabs an opportunity, youve got to take your hat off to him," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "Any individual thats gone through what hes gone through, now hes playing the highest level of hockey there is in the world and hes earning his stripes." Whether earning those stripes means Ranger will be back with the Leafs next season is unclear. He insists he hasnt pondered that possibility and immediately brought the focus back to the present and what he and his teammates need to do in the final games of the season. Even if the Leafs season ends without a playoff berth, thats not the end of Rangers world, though he brought up Wednesday that he has a theory on how to win a championship in a city like Toronto. Hes just not willing to reveal that quite yet, either. "I cant say Ive figured it out because it hasnt been put to the test yet," he said. "But I just know for me it works. Im in no way ready to comment on it. This is something that perhaps I would tell you after we win the championship." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '