TORONTO - Star forward Connor McDavids cast is off, he has clearance for non-contact drills and is confident hell be ready to play in the upcoming world junior hockey championship.Now its just a matter of seeing how things go at the Canadian teams pre-tournament camp.McDavid hasnt played in a game since breaking a bone in his right hand on Nov. 12. The Erie Otters forward has been skating regularly but his cast wasnt removed until this week. The junior phenom will be examined by doctors on a regular basis and the team says theyre taking things day by day. But the goal is to get McDavid into at least one exhibition game before the tournament opener on Dec. 26.I can take full slapshots and all that, so the hand feels good, McDavid said Thursday afternoon at a downtown hotel. The wrist is not too stiff at all. So it should be all good.Thirty players have been invited to camp and 22 players will make the final team.The 17-year-old McDavid, who has 51 points in 18 games this season, is an early favourite to be selected first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. His presence would provide a big boost to a squad that hasnt won gold in five years.McDavid was sporting a yellow no-contact jersey during a 75-minute evening practice at MasterCard Centre. He was flying down the ice during drills but his puck-handling skills were a little rusty.I felt good, obviously a couple hiccups there with the puck, he said. I thought I was shooting it fine and I got better as the practice went on.Head coach Benoit Groulx said it would be nice to get McDavid into an exhibition game, but its most important to have him ready for the tournament. We will follow what the doctor says and how he reacts to shooting the puck and passing the puck, he said. But right now theres no rush. Were happy to have him here and well see how it plays out.McDavid was on last years team that finished fourth in Malmo, Sweden. Canadas first game at this years event will be played at Montreals Bell Centre against Slovakia.We want to be patient with him in order to have him at 100 per cent, Groulx said. We dont want to put Connor McDavid on the ice at 75 per cent. Thats why were patient and were going to have to wait and see how he reacts to practising.Other returning players include Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Zach Fucale, defencemen Chris Bigras of the Owen Sound Attack and Josh Morrissey of the Prince Albert Raiders, and forwards Frederik Gauthier of the Rimouski Oceanic, Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks and Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice.There could still be a few late additions to the camp roster. NHL clubs have until the Dec. 19 roster freeze to decide whether they will loan players to the team. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin wont be joining the squad but there is a chance Curtis Lazar of the Ottawa Senators and Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks could still be added.The players will practise again Friday before taking on the CIS Toronto Selects over the weekend.We have a good positive attitude, Fucale said. We had a good first practice. Its starting well.After the first few days in Toronto, the team will head down the highway for next weeks pre-competition camp in St. Catharines, Ont. We have the best of the best here, Groulx said. The best 30 players in the country. Theyre all talented. They have skills, they have size, they have speed, they can shoot and pass the puck. But its also about their attitude. What they can bring.Can they block shots? Can they forecheck hard? Can they track hard? Can they make the big plays when it matters the most? To me thats the difference between a good CHL player — because there are a lot of good CHL players — but weve got to have, on this team, world-class players. Guys that can adapt their game and elevate their play. This is what were looking for.Canada will play group stage games in Montreal and knockout games in Toronto. The tournament runs through Jan. 5.———Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter. Vans Shoes Clearance . The Toronto Argonauts (11-7) look for an opportunity to repeat as CFL champions when they host the surging Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-8) on Sunday. Vans Shoes China Wholesale .C., won gold in the womens 200-metre backstroke, and Dominique Bouchard of North Bay, Ont. http://www.vansoutletcheap.com/. Klose has a bruised pelvic bone and abdominal muscle problems but team doctors are trying to get him fit in time for the match. Bender has a hamstring injury. Germany is already without half-dozen players, due to injury or bad form. Cheap Vans Shoes Wholesale . DeGrom outpitched Jake Peavy in a tantalizing hitless duel that carried into the seventh inning Saturday night before the New York Mets broke loose and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Buy Vans Shoes Wholesale . The NFL announced Friday that the Texans sixth-year veteran offensive lineman will replace Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters in the Jan. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Hornets are going all out to sign restricted free agent Gordon Hayward. The Hornets have agreed on a maximum offer sheet with Hayward that would pay the small forward $63 million over the next four years, a person close to with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Utah Jazz would have three days to match the deal once Hayward officially signs. The person commented to the AP on condition of anonymity because Hayward cant officially sign the offer sheet until Thursday when the league lifts its moratorium on signing free agents. The Charlotte Observer was the first to report the news. Williams spent the last two seasons with Utah after six years with the Atlanta Hawks. He started 50 games last season for the Jazz and averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. The person also said the Hornets have spoken to representatives for free agents Marvin Williams and Brian Roberts and will meet with them later this week. Williams would give the Hornets another option at forward and Roberts would fill the backup point guard spot behind Kemba Walker. Its unclear at this point if the Jazz would match the offer to keep Hayward or consider a sign-and-trade with Charlotte. Hayward, who visited with the Hornets this week, averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals last season for Utah. Hayward has spent all four seasons in the NBA with the Jazz. He shot 41.3 per cent from the field and 30 per cent from 3--point range in 77 starts.dddddddddddd Haywards offensive production has increased with each season in the league, going from 5.4 points per game as a rookie to 11.8 in 2011 and 14.1 in 2012. If the Hornets are able to land Hayward, its unclear what that might mean for small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or shooting guard Gerald Henderson. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Hayward is capable of playing both positions. Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, is considered a strong defender but trying to revamp a hitch in his jump shot. Henderson hasnt emerged as a dominant shooter as the team hoped when they signed him to a three-year, $18 million contract extension last year. The Hornets are high on small forward Jeff Taylor, their second-round pick in 2012, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Hayward played his first three seasons in the league with centre Al Jefferson, who became the focal point of Charlottes offence last year and earned third-team All-NBA honours. After a slow start in free agency, the Hornets are picking up the pace. The 6-foot-9, 237-pound Williams, the No. 2 pick in the 2005 draft, played at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels win a national championship as a freshman and could be a backup option if they dont land Hayward. Roberts has spent the past two seasons with New Orleans. He started 42 games last season averaging 9.4 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 94 per cent from the free-throw line. ' ' '