Annika » Frank Corrado and Ryan Kesler also scored

Flying high with the backing of Angry Birds, Finland received a wild card for the World Cup of Basketball on Saturday in a decision criticized for being more about business than basketball. Glenn Hubbard Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. The draw is Monday. Greece is ranked fifth in the world and the only team to beat the U.S. since Mike Krzyzewski became coach in 2005. Turkey is ranked seventh and was runner-up to the Americans in the 2010 world championship. Brazil, which will host the 2016 Olympics, is No. 10. Finland is only 39th, the only one of the 12 teams since 2006 to receive a wild card that wasnt in the top 24. But it had the support of Rovio, the Finnish company behind the popular Angry Birds games that had agreed to provide advertising if Finland was selected. "We are fully aware that despite our strong athletic results and fan support, we need to think creatively about how we can truly show our strength to FIBA and the basketball world," Antti Zitting, president of the Finnish Basketball Association said Thursday in a release announcing Rovios support. "As a small Northern country we cannot deliver the same type of TV audience as some other nations, but thanks to Angry Birds, we can offer an engagement platform that no other country can match." FIBA lists economic aspects among the criteria for wild cards, which became part of the organizations biggest tournament in 2006. Secretary general Patrick Baumann noted Finlands recent success on the court but also its potential off it in a statement about the decision, citing the Finns four victories over top-15 teams at the 2013 European championships and their strong fan support. "The Finns are enjoying massive support with their fans travelling in big numbers to their games," Baumann said. "The current growth of Finnish basketball is the result of a solid long-term strategy being executed by the Finnish Basketball Association and still has a lot of potential for development." Russia, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist , China, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar and Venezuela were the other countries that had applied for wild cards. Italy and Germany had previously withdrawn their bids and China, which was considered a leading candidate to get one because of its population and passion for basketball, did Saturday morning. FIBA also announced it had lifted a ban on Senegal and would allow it to be in the tournament. Reggie Jackson Jersey . After Andrew Romine served up two monster home runs in the inning, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he thought Romine was one of the bright spots on the night, showing just how bad the series opener against the last-place Minnesota Twins went for the Tigers. Terry Steinbach Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. http://www.athleticsrookiestore.com/Athletics-Jake-Smolinski-Kids-Jersey/ . With the players association in the midst of meetings in Las Vegas, a vote will be held on Friday to decide the CFLPAs presidency and other executive positions. VANCOUVER -- Hunter Shinkaruk earned a chance to stay in the NHL for at least a little while longer Thursday night. The 18-year-old rookie scored a goal, his second of the pre-season, as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the New York Rangers 5-0 at Rogers Arena. He stayed with the Canucks after coach John Tortorella sent three other players packing to the minors and back to junior after the game. "With that shot, it just kind of found the net," he said. "I was really fortunate." Shinkaruk, a Calgary native who was one of Vancouvers two first-round draft choices (24th overall) this year, put in a shot off Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi in with 44 seconds left in the second period to close out the scoring. "Im just kind of excited every day I wake up," said Shinkaruk. "Im just trying to do my best when I come to the rink -- and hope my name is hanging still in my stall. So far, its been good, but I cant take anything for granted." Shinkaruk finished the pre-season with three points after also earning an assist in another game. Although he has been used as a bottom-six forward, he hopes the pre-season production will bolster his chance to stay in the NHL permanently. "Im definitely a guy whos been relied upon to shoot a lot and score goals in junior," said Shinkaruk. "Obviously, its a bit different coming in here with the high-end guys that (are) on this team. My role has changed a little bit, but thats still my role -- to try to create a little bit of offence as much as I can." Due to his age, he must go back to his Medicine Hat Tigers junior squad in the WHL if he does not last more than nine regular-season games with the Canucks. If he plays a 10th game, his entry-level NHL contract will kick in. But with winger Zack Kassian suspended for the first five games of the regular season and Jordan Schroeder nursing a fractured foot that is expected to keep him out three weeks, new coach John Tortorella has elected to keep Shinkaruk around -- for now -- as the regular season approaches. "Hes played well, scored another goal," said Tortorella. "He scores two goals that are kind of funky goals, but theyre goals. Hes had a good camp. The suspension with Kass opens up another spot there. Im not sure what the lineups going to be. But hes certainly made a case as he played." Henrik Sedin scored two goals as the Vancouver Canucks finished the pre-season 2-4-0. The goals, his first of the pre-season, came as he and twin brother Daniel celebrated their 33rd birthday. The Rangers saw their pre-season record fall to 1-4-0 with one game still to play Friday in Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Kings. Frank Corrado and Ryan Kesler also scored for the Canucks. Alex Edler supplied three assists. Butt Corrados offence didnt help him because the 20-year-old defenceman from Toronto was sent down to Utica of the AHL after the game. Oakland Athletics Jerseys. "Frankie had a goal and assist, and we just sent him to Utica," said Tortorella. "I thought he started off (training camp) really well and, the middle part, it looked like he just lost a little bit of the confidence. But he has to go play. Were not going to keep a young guy here to be a sixth guy or a seventh guy whos playing eight or nine minutes. He can go down there and play 25, 30 and, hopefully, maybe revisit where hes at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and see where we go." Zach Hamill, a 25-year-old journeyman from Vancouver, was returned to Utica after being recalled briefly in wake of suspensions and injuries. Brendan Gaunce, 19, Vancouvers top 2012 draft pick, was returned to the Belleville Bulls of the OHL. Tortorella said he wants Gaunce, who scored two goals in five pre-season games but did not play Thursday, to pick up his pace of play. New Yorks Alain Vigneault and Vancouvers Tortorella coached against their former teams for the first time. They were replaced with each other after being fired following last springs playoffs. Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo picked up his second win of the pre-season. He recorded 41 saves for his first shutout as the Rangers outshot the Canucks 41-20. Luongo was glad to be tested early and hopes the effort will help him get off to a good start in the regular season. "Its definitely a step in the right direction," said Luongo. "We want to keep building on that. "That being said, it doesnt really translate automatically to a good start. Ive had some good pre-seasons before, and sometimes it didnt translate." Rangers starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist took the loss as he stopped 12-of-17 shots in two periods of work. Vigneault decided to pull Lundqvist early due to poor play and the possibility he might go with him Friday in against the Kings. Backup Martin Biron stopped just three shots in a scoreless third period. Notes: The Rangers signed holdout centre Derek Stepan, their top scorer last season, to a new US$6.15-million, two-year contract. Stepan had 18 goals and 26 assists last season. ... Canucks winger David Booth played his first game since suffering an ankle injury last March. Booth was scheduled to return Saturday in Edmonton, but he hurt his groin during the morning skate. He hit the post on a two-on-one with Biron beaten in the third period, and also saw extensive penalty-killing duty for the first time as a Canuck. ... Shinkaruk and fellow 2013 first-rounder Bo Horvat were the only Canucks who played all six of their clubs exhibition contests. Horvat also remained with the Canucks following the cuts. Wholesale Spain Jerseys Cheap Juventus Jersey Cheap Cristiano Ronaldo Jersey Wholesale AC Milan Jerseys Cheap Arsenal Jerseys Cheap A.S. Roma Jerseys Cheap Atletico Madrid Jerseys Cheap Chelsea Jerseys Cheap Barcelona Jerseys Cheap Bayern Munich Jerseys Cheap Borussia Dortmund Jerseys Cheap Inter Milan Jerseys Cheap Juventus Jerseys Cheap Leicester City Jerseys Cheap Liverpool Jerseys Cheap Manchester City Jerseys Cheap Manchester United Jerseys Cheap Paris Saint-Germain Jerseys Cheap Real Madrid Jerseys Cheap Sevilla Jerseys Cheap Tottenham Hotspur Jerseys ' ' '