Matt Cooke still says he is a changed man

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Matt Cooke still says he is a changed man. cheap jerseys . Less than a day after the NHL handed the Minnesota Wild forward a seven-game suspension for his knee-on-knee collision with Colorado Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie, Cooke reiterated to the media Thursday that he had no intention of hurting his opponent. "It was not my intent to collide knee-to-knee. Meant to finish my check," he said. The suspension has thrust Cooke back into a negative spotlight. From 2004 to 2011, he was suspended five times for a total of 27 games prior to his most recent conviction. Nonetheless, Cooke is adamant that his questionable decisions are a thing of the past. "Since March 20, 2011, Ive been a changed player," he said. "Stats prove Im a changed player." Cooke has 48 hours to appeal the decision, first to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. If Bettman upholds six games or more, Cooke then has seven days to file an appeal to a neutral arbitrator. He has yet to say whether or not he will appeal the ban. If the suspension is not fully served in this years playoffs, it will continue on next season. The Avalanche have a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 on Thursday. Cooke is apologetic for his action and says he is "disappointed" Barrie will miss any time due to injury. However, Avalanche coach Patrick Roy told reporters ealier in the day that the damage has already been done. "(Even if Cooke gets) 10, 15, 20 games, were still playing without Tyson," said Roy. wholesale jerseys . The Portland Winterhawks defenceman finished the 2012-13 season as Buttons No. 1 prospect in Craigs List and never gave up the top position since the first ranking was released last October. Jones, the top-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scoutings final ranking and ranked second behind MacKinnon in the final list released by International Scouting Services, had 14 goals and 56 points in 61 regular season games with Portland along with five goals and 15 points in 21 playoff games. wholesale nfl jerseys . Nadal rallied to beat Juan Martin del Potro 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (0) on Sunday to give Spain a 3-1 series victory over Argentina and his third Davis Cup title after first winning it in 2004. It was his 20th straight singles win as the Spaniards won for the third time in four years. DANVILLE, Ill. -- Former Toronto Raptor Keon Clark, who has said he is trying to turn his life around, was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday in a plea agreement with prosecutors on weapons and driving under the influence charges. "I, uh, did a lot of stuff in my past," Clark tearfully said at his plea hearing in Vermilion County Circuit Court, The News-Gazette reported. "I have to own up to it." Clark pleaded guilty to two charges in two separate cases and was given four years for each count. He previously faced weapon, drug and traffic-related charges. The 38-year-old Danville native was 23 when he became the 13th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. He last played for the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns. Clark has spoken publicly of his long battle with alcohol, which he says also occurred during his NBA career. He now says hes been sober for five months. He previously told the newspaper he wasnt prepared mentally to handle the lifestyle of a professional athlete, and says he was already on a "destructive path." "The money, the fame, the fact that I was on TV. People think money will make your life better. Money didnt dissolve my problems. It increased them," he said, adding that hes been getting counselling while hes in custody. Clark has been in the Vermilion Countyy jail since Aug. cheap nfl jerseys. 4. Prosecutors said he will have to serve 50 per cent of his sentence. He will receive credit for 138 days already served and must serve his sentences consecutively. Clarks defence lawyers requested that the judge recommend he serve time at an Illinois Department of Corrections drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility outside Chicago so he can continue treatment. Lawyer Jim Martinkus of Champaign said after the hearing that he hopes Clarks treatment would "cure him of his addiction, which is the cause of most of his troubles." Clark smiled and waved to supporters at the beginning of the hearing, including his mother and members of the Carter Metropolitan Community Church in Danville. At one point during the hearing, he stood and addressed them, saying, "It couldve been a lot worse. Its going to be a lot better." Clark played six seasons in the NBA, including a season and a half in Toronto. The Raptors acquired him in a trade from Denver midway through the 2000-01 season. He averaged nine points and 5.4 rebounds over 46 games. Clark played the entire 2001-02 season with Toronto, making 31 starts. He had his best statistical year, averaging career highs in points (11.3) and rebounds (7.4). Clark averaged 8.2 points and 5.9 rebounds over 353 career games. ' ' '