Bla Bla » Marist gained momentum early in the fourth quarter, Stubbs

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- As Sidney Crosby prepares to carry the Stanley Cup through his Nova Scotia hometown, he said the championship tour is in many ways sweeter the second time around.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this week overseeing his annual hockey camp and will bring the Cup to the city for a parade on Saturday, ending at the same rink where he honed his skills as a boy.During a break Wednesday from working with excited kids at the Cole Harbour rink, Crosby reflected on a season that had its ups and downs -- and a championship ring that was all the brighter as a result.This time I appreciate it a little bit more, Crosby said. Ill make sure I spend every second I possibly can with it (the Stanley Cup).After the previous 2009 victory tour through this hockey-crazy suburb, Crosby said he naively imagined winning seasons might be an annual affair.Not so much.He struggled through a concussion, time away from the game, and the Penguins endured a seven-year hiatus from hoisting hockeys greatest prize, until they raised it for the fourth time in franchise history on June 12 after beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6.As team captain, Crosby is permitted to have the trophy an extra day, meaning it will have a proud place at his home on the outskirts of the city. He said he intends to have friends over for a look, including several whose careers are over and may never have another opportunity to be so near it.The best part is being able to share it with people, he said.The Penguins evolved into a different team after a midseason coaching change, picking up speed, scoring more and improving puck possession when Mike Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston in mid-December.Crosby called it the two-team season during Wednesdays news conference.The captains performance also picked up under Sullivan, along with forward Phil Kessel, who became a key postseason force on the third offensive line. The Penguins went 33-16-5 after Sullivan took over.Everybody was talking about ... do we need to change this, do we need to change that? Theres always those questions, and winning kind of answers all of those, said Crosby, when asked about the season.The Conn Smythe winner was out on the ice most afternoons this week, joking with the young players and offering shooting tips.Crosbys hockey camp is in its second year and is drawing children from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and northern Europe, say organizers. Theres a lottery for the 160 girls and boys allowed in, drawn from 5,000 applicants.Parents attending say many of the children, aged 8 to 12, have a Crosby story to tell from their workouts.For the NHL star, its all part of unwinding.You see how excited the kids are. ... There are kids from all over here. Thats neat, he said.Crosby said hes starting back on training after a short break, and is already reflecting on his role as a captain of Team Canada in this falls World Cup in Toronto.The tournament will leave little room for error and winning will depend on which squad adapts the most quickly, he said.The team is similar to the Team Canada that won gold at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.The biggest thing in Russia is we got better as the tournament went along. A short-term event like that, its very important. Well have to see. Well have to find our identity pretty quickly, he said.Its one-game scenarios so you need to execute pretty well.Meanwhile, the veteran is soaking up his hometown celebration, conscious this time around that in professional sports, you dont know what the future holds.Its a tough road ... You understand its tough to get there, and you take in as much as you can when you do win it, he said. Aaron Ramsey Wales Jersey . 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(STATS) -- Its easier to pronounce Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks last name on the first try than trying to tackle him.Ibitokun-Hanks (pronounced EE-BEE-token Hanks) took over Albanys game at New Hampshire Saturday, on a day of memorable individual and team performances.Ibitokun-Hanks, Central Arkansas Tyler Williams, Daytons Cameron Stubbs and Austin Peays Kentel Williams were named Monday as the STATS FCS National Players of the Week for games played Nov. 11-12.---=NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK=Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks, Albany, RB, So., 5-9, 199, Newark, New JerseyOn a work-horse 39 carries, Ibitokun-Hanks rushed for a program-record 298 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-26, come-from-behind win at nationally ranked New Hampshire. Albany trailed by as many as 22 points, but Ibitokun-Hanks scored on runs of 1, 2 and 13 yards in the second half to help the Great Danes (6-4) clinch a winning regular season. His rushing yards were the eighth-highest total in CAA Football history and broke a school record that had stood since 1975.Honorable Mention: Kevin Anderson, QB, Fordham; Malcolm Bell, QB, North Carolina Central; Chandler Burks, QB, Kennesaw State; Tony Dawson, QB, Houston Baptist; Devlin Hodges, QB, Samford; Alex Jeske, QB, Dayton; Jordan Robinson, RB, Sacramento State; Lenard Tillery, RB, Southern; Roc Thomas, RB, Jacksonville State; Chris Walker, RB, Cornell---=NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK=Tyler Williams, Central Arkansas, CB, Sr., 6-1, 194, Norcross, GeorgiaWilliams got a hand on so many passes that it might be surprising Nicholls was still passing his way during the fourth quarter of Central Arkansas 31-24 victory in the Southland Conference. He intercepted passes to end both of Nicholls final drives and seal the win. Add five pass breakups to his two interceptions and Williams had seven passes defended, the season high in the FCS. He also made four tackles (three solo) as the Bears improved to 9-1 and 8-0 in conference games.Honorable Mention: Josh Burton, S, Weber State; Allan Cratsenberg, LB, VMI; Anthony Ellis, DE, Charleston Southern; Brett Field,, DE, Colgate; Kahlid Hagens, S, UT Martin; Deion Harris, CB, North Dakota; Devan Johnson, LB, Hampton; Christian Kuntz, LB, Duquense; Kiaundric Richardson, LB, North Carolina A&T; Karter Schult, DE, Northern Iowa; Brett Taylor, LB, Western Illinois; Aaron Tiller, DE, Southern; Louis Vecchio, DE, Penn---=NATIONAL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK=Cameron Stubbs, Dayton, KR/CB, R-Sr.dddddddddddd, 5-10, 205, St. LouisAn All-Pioneer Football League first-team cornerback, Stubbs must want the honor as a kick returner as well. He had two returns of at least 90 yards -- one for a touchdown -- as Dayton topped Marist 59-31 to end its season. His 234 yards on four kick returns were the FCS season high. His first return came after Marist took an early lead and went for 94 yards to set up a Flyers touchdown on the next play. When Marist gained momentum early in the fourth quarter, Stubbs scored on a 90-yard return and put the game away. The Flyers were 9-2 this season.Honorable Mention: Brendan Langley, CB/PR, Lamar; Lennox McAfee, KR, Wofford; Nick Madonia, PK, Tennessee Tech; Justin Rohrwasser, PK, Rhode Island---=NATIONAL FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK=Kentel Williams, Austin Peay, RB/RS, Fr., 5-11, 190, Knoxville, TennesseeAustin Peays struggling program has a building block with Williams, whose 399 all-purpose yards in a 67-30 loss to Eastern Kentucky set the Ohio Valley Conference single-game record. Also the most all-purpose yards in any NCAA game this season and the 20th-highest total in FCS history, Williams rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, caught two passes for 42 yards and totaled 181 yards on five kick returns, including a 97-yard touchdown.Honorable Mention: Shane Bucenell, QB, Charleston Southern; Noah Johnson, QB, Alcorn State; Eric Medina, PK/P, Texas Southern; Chris Murray, QB, Montana State; Shane Simpson, RB/KR, Towson; Ronald Smith, WR, Columbia; Ryan Stanley, QB, Florida A&M; Yeedee Thaenrat, RB, Tennessee Tech ' ' '