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VANCOUVER -- Trevor Linden hadnt spoken to Jim Benning in 25 years before interviewing his former teammate for the Vancouver Canucks vacant general managers position. Nike Roshe One Grå . It didnt take long for the pair to realize they shared a blueprint for what it will take get the franchise back on track. In his first significant hire since being named the Canucks president of hockey operations last month, Linden officially introduced Benning as the teams 11th general manager on Friday, two days after the club announced the move. "I wanted a builder with similar views that could help us set up the Vancouver Canucks for the next decade and beyond," Linden said at a press conference at Rogers Arena. "What really became apparent during our interviews is how much we connected on our vision and our values and how we see winning organizations in the National Hockey League." Linden and Benning played together with the Canucks for two seasons when the former was just starting his career and the latter was seeing his wind down. "Trevor was a teammate 25 years ago, but when I interviewed with Trevor, I thought we shared the same values and principles," said Benning, who has spent the last seven seasons as an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins. "Hes cut from the same cloth I am. Hes going to work hard, hes going to do everything that he can do to make the organization successful, so I wanted to tie myself to somebody that had the same thoughts and beliefs that I did." The Canucks fired president and general manager Mike Gillis and head coach John Tortorella in the wake of a nightmarish 2013-14 season that saw the club tumble down the standings and miss the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. Tortorella spent just one campaign behind the bench after his puck-pressure, shot-blocking style woefully failed to mesh with a Vancouver roster that had been more free-wheeling under former head coach Alain Vigneault. Apart from preparing for the NHL draft where the Canucks hold the sixth pick at the end of June, Benning will be looking to hire a coach that shares his and Lindens thought process on how the game should be played. "This organization needs to play an up-tempo, fast-skating, skilled game," said the 51-year-old Edmonton native. "Before last season, this team had almost a relentless attitude about them that they were going to skate and to wear teams down and to score, and for whatever reason that didnt happen last year." Benning was one of the architects of a Bruins organization that defeated the Canucks in seven games in the 2011 Stanley Cup final. He said he had never heard of the "Boston model" in terms of building a team before arriving in Vancouver, but added that he wants the Canucks to incorporate younger players into the lineup with a level of both physicality and skill. "We want to become a four-line team," said Benning. "You watch the playoffs now, the final four teams that are playing, they have four lines that contribute. We want our third and fourth lines to have an important role in the team winning. "We have some work to do there in getting to that point, but we want to be a four-line, six-(defencemen) complete team." Tortorella leaned hard on Vancouvers top players and it cost the team in the second half of season when injuries and fatigue started to pile up. With that in mind, Benning said he specifically wants more out of the clubs bottom-six forwards. "Im not talking about fighting, but Im talking about between the whistles getting in on the forecheck, hitting, playing with a little bit more grit to take some of the heat off the first two lines," said Benning. "Theyre skill guys and let them play, but when the third and fourth line plays, lets get some offensive zone time and spend some time in the other teams end." Tortorella criticized the Canucks roster as being "stale" and in need of new blood in his last press conference before getting axed by Linden, but Benning said that despite last seasons performance, he still believes the core group of veterans can be part of a quick turnaround. "Theyre high-character people. When Trevor did the exit meetings with them, they felt bad about what happened this last year," said Benning. "Were going to try and help them out by having more depth on our roster, playing four lines and (hiring the right coach). "Some of the players, for whatever reason, just didnt have a good year last year. Its a good team, its a talented team and I feel confident that these guys are going to have a good year next year." The Canucks have been criticized for a poor draft record in recent years, however Benning pointed to 2013 first-round pick Bo Horvat as an example of a player who might be ready to step in. "I think hes a player that is going to be an important guy around here for us going forward," said Benning. "Vancouver plays in maybe the toughest division in the league. To win our division and keep going, were going to have to go through the (L.A. Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks). "Theyre big heavy teams so when we talk to our scouting staff, one of our mandates is Lets try to get a little bit bigger, lets get a little more rugged so we can play both styles -- we can play a skilled skating style when need be, but when its a rugged physical game, we can play that game, too." Linden made a point of thanking the Bruins for allowing Benning to leave the club prior to the NHL draft, a situation that could have made for some uncomfortable conversations. "I was surprised that it wasnt a longer process. It actually moved quicker than I thought it would," said Linden. "I know it was not an easy situation to have someone knocking on your door wanting to talk to someone whos important to your organization." The Canucks job is Bennings first as a general manager and he said he has a type of coach in mind for his new team. While past success is key, experience in the league is not necessarily a prerequisite. "We want a coach thats firm but fair (and) has good communication skills so he can relate to the players," said Benning. "We want a coach thats going to play a structured style of game when we dont have the puck, but give the players the freedom to skate and create when they do have the puck." Meanwhile, a number of Canucks have no-movement clauses in their contracts, but Benning said those should not be an impediment to improving the roster. "Weve got to do whats right for the organization," said Benning. "If we feel that we need to approach a player about asking him to waive his no-trade clause, were willing to do that. "I want to do everything I can to make this team successful. Its a different style team than Boston, but that doesnt mean the recipe for building the teams going to be any different." Notes: Apart from helping to shape a Bruins Cup-winning team in 2011, Bennings managerial resume also includes 12 seasons with Buffalo Sabres, with eight of those spent as that clubs director of amateur scouting. ... Selected sixth overall by Toronto in the 1981 NHL draft, Benning played nine seasons with the Maple Leafs and Canucks, collecting 52 goals and 191 assists in 610 career games. Nike Roshe One Br . Petersons promoter Golden Boy won a purse bid Tuesday and has 90 days to organize the bout, which will likely be held in the United States. Jean (25-0) became mandatory challenger for the IBF 140-pound belt with a seven-round stoppage of Cleotis Pondarvis in Oklahoma in May. Nike Air Huarache Sverige . -- Brad Miller stepped to the plate against one of baseballs best closers in the ninth inning of a tied game, a sellout crowd rooting for him to fail.ST. LOUIS - David Ortiz deserves a lot of love for his performance in the Red Soxs 4-2, World Series-tying victory on Sunday night at Busch Stadium. Hell get it here; a little later on. In the immediate, the focus will be on Jonny Gomes and an unsung hero, Felix Doubront. The Red Sox are two wins away from the franchises third world championship in 10 seasons. This, despite an offensive output offensive to the sensibilities. Boston is hitting a collective .223 in the playoffs. After a solid start against the Rays (38-133 - .286), the Red Sox have been stifled by the Tigers (39-193 - .202) and the Cardinals (24-127 - .189) through four games. There is one offensive area in which the Red Sox are thriving: the timely, usually multi-run home run. This is where Gomes comes in. His three-run, sixth inning blast off Cardinals reliever Seth Maness broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Red Sox the 4-2 lead they wouldnt relinquish. The home run was Gomes first of the postseason. It was Bostons fourth hit of the game. The Sox would finish the night with a total of six hits. Gomes joins David Ortiz (Game 2, ALCS, game-tying grand slam,) Mike Napoli (Game 3, ALCS, solo home run) and Shane Victorino (Game 6, ALCS, go-ahead grand slam) among Red Sox players with big home runs on otherwise dry offensive nights this fall. Funny thing, Gomes wasnt supposed to start. He was a late addition to the starting lineup when Victorino went down with lower-back pain. "I was notified about halfway through batting practice," said Gomes. "Like I said earlier, its all I fought for this year; just the opportunity. So when my number is called, Im stepping up. Im not dodging any situation. Obviously a little different pregame than playing and not playing so I kind of got changed real quick." Doubront, a 26-year-old left-hander who won 11 games for a second-straight regular season, authored 2 2/3 innings of one run, one hit ball in relief of Clay Buchholz, who was removed for a pinch hitter in the fifth. To be clear, Doubront was dominant. He exited in the seventh after allowing a two out double and was tagged with a run when Craig Breslow, whos had a bad series, coughed up a single to the first hitter he faced. Nike Roshe One Flyknit Sneakers . Doubront threw 32 pitches, all the more impressive considering hed thrown two scoreless innings on 25 pitches the night before. Remember, hes accustomed to starting. Pitch, rest and prepare for four days and then pitch again. The routine is different and requires mental and physical adjustments. His performance gave Gomes the opportunity to be the offensive hero. "I was pretty much focused," said Doubront. "And when I got my time, when I got that opportunity to go up there and do my job - you know, as a reliever - now I was feeling pretty good. And like I say, focus and try to get serious and give my teammates the opportunity to score more runs and win the game." Meantime, Ortiz, after struggling to just two hits in the ALCS (yes, one of them was that important grand slam) is suddenly red hot and should Boston win the series, would cement his status as one of the greatest Red Sox of all time. Ortiz had three hits and a walk in four plate appearances and scored two runs. Hes 8-12 (.667) and has drawn four walks in the World Series. In 16 plate appearances, hes been on base 12 times. He was seen in the dugout giving a rah-rah speech to teammates before the start of the sixth inning, at the time the game was tied 1-1, and while its foolish to believe the talk propelled Gomes home run ball over the fence, it offered insight into his willingness to allow his mouth, along with his play, to do the talking. "Through five innings we got two hits and hes got both of them," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "His career states what hes done. Hes a tremendous hitter at any point in time in the year. Playing first base has certainly not affected it in any way. Hell be back in there (Monday) at first." With the victory, the Red Sox assured this series returns to Fenway Park and perhaps more importantly, returns to American League rules. The Cardinals will have to beat a Boston lineup that will include Ortiz and Mike Napoli, not one or the other. Were down to a best of three. 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