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In another sign of the growing concern about head trauma in sports, the NHL and the U. Custom USA Soccer Jerseys .S. ski team will each have at least one concussion expert at the Sochi Olympics. Dr. Jeff Kutcher, a Michigan-based neurologist, will be in one of two hockey arenas and the on-hill physician for three events on the slopes in Russia. U.S. ski team medical director Kyle Wilkens said Kutcher will be the associations first specialist evaluating and treating concussions during the Winter Olympics. "Its such a hot topic," Wilkens said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "Were trying to do the right thing with concussion, and thats why hes on board." Kutcher will also evaluate the neurological health of about 150 NHL players from all 12 countries in the Olympics. Dr. Ruben Echemendia, a neuropsychologist and chair of the NHLs concussion program, will also be at the Olympics -- a first for the league, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly. The NHL isnt fond of freezing its league for two-plus weeks and putting their stars at risk for injuries at the Olympics, but the league and the NHL Players Association both have a degree of comfort knowing that Kutcher will be there. "r. Kutcher is well regarded in his field and has significant experience working with NHL players, so we are pleased he will be in Sochi and is willing to assist with our players while at the games," NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said. Kutcher said he is prepared to tell an athlete he or she cant go for a medal if they have a concussion at the Olympics. "At the end of the day the decisions that we make, we make irrespective of the situation -- we have to," Kutcher said in an interview with the AP. "The alternative is if I let somebody go down another run or participate in a hockey game while theyre injured and that injury leads to a more significant injury, it could be life-changing in the negative. Thats what I have to worry about." International Olympic Committee medical director Dr. Richard Budgett is glad Kutcher will be there, too. "I havent heard of any other country sending a specialist such as a neurologist," Budgett told the AP in a telephone interview. "But its good that theyve got a specialist coming out because theres a lot of interest in monitoring concussions. The Olympics are like a fish bowl -- with everybody watching -- so its great that he will be able to raise awareness and show that were taking the health of our athletes seriously." Kutcher appears to be highly qualified for his pressure-packed role this month. The NBA named him director of its concussion program more than two years ago. Kutcher said he evaluates players from the NBA, NHL and NFL "all the time." The NCAA has used his expertise to help shape its concussion policies. Kutchers day job is working as an associate professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, where he is a physician for the schools athletic teams and director of its NeuroSport Program. Wilkens said Kutcher, who has helped the U.S. ski team with its concussion policy, will be the on-hill physician for skicross along with snowboardings parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom. Kutcher will also care for other U.S. athletes as needed, according to Wilkens. "His primary responsibility is with us, but if a slider gets a concussion, for example, Jeff will be there to help," Wilkens said. "For the two weeks, were all a part of Team USA." Kutcher has diagnosed numerous athletes with concussions over the years, telling them they cant compete until he clears them. Kutcher, though, hasnt had to dash anyones dreams of winning Olympic gold. "I do feel a little bit of pressure," he said. "I understand the gravity of the situation and needing to first and foremost do my job as a neurologist regardless of setting or scenario. It doesnt matter if its a training run or a gold-medal run or any scenario at all. It is the health of the athletes that Im there for." USA Soccer Store . Head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed the news after the Leafs morning skate on Monday. Kozun was hurt during Friday nights home game against the Red Wings and did not make the return trip to Detroit for Saturdays game. USA Soccer Jerseys China .com) - Driphus Jackson had three touchdown passes, including two in a 19-second span in the opening quarter, to guide Rice to a 30-6 rout of Fresno State at the Hawaii Bowl.The red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs will aim for their seventh win in eight games to begin the season when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Thursdays battle at Air Canada Centre. James Reimer will get the start for Toronto after his solid outing on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The team will have to do it without James van Riemsdyk however, as head coach Randy Carlyle said Thursday morning the forward is suffering from back spasms. The Maple Leafs currently are on their second three-game winning streak of the season, having opened the campaign with three straight victories before suffering their only loss on Oct. 8 against Colorado. Toronto has beaten Nashville, Edmonton and Minnesota since that home loss to the Avalanche and is sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 12 points. Torontos last two wins came on home ice and the club is wrapping a three-game stand at ACC on Thursday. The Maple Leafs were last in action on Tuesday, when Mason Raymond tallied a pair of goals to help Toronto record a 4-1 decision over the Minnesota Wild. Raymond scored his first of the game in the second period and added a late empty-netter for Toronto, which is shooting for its first four-game winning streak since Feb. 5-11 of last season. Tyler Bozak and Trevor Smith also scored in Tuesdays victory. "It was tough, theyre a good team," said Bozak. "They play hard, they dont give you much out there. We found a way to get it done, and thats the most important thing." Reimer, making his first appearance in goal after he was pulled for Jonathan Bernier in the second period of a win over Ottawa on Oct. 5, stood tall between the pipes, stopping 37-of-38 shots. "You want contribution from everybody all over the ice," said Raymond. "Reims tonight was huge. From our standpoint, we didnt have the best game ever, didnt have a lot of shots on net, but at the end of the day we found a way to win." Carolina has lost three straight heading into Thursdays contest, but the Canes were able to record a point in two of those setbacks, including Tuesdays 3-2 shootout loss against visiting Chicago. Patrick Sharp scored in the third round of the shootout to help the Blackhawks take a 3-2 win, but Carolina overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period to steal a point from the defending Stanley Cup champions. Alexander Semin and Ron Hainsey scored in the third period for the Hurricanes, who havent won since beating Washington on Oct. 10. Cam Ward finished the game with 34 saves, but fell to 0-2-3 on the season. Trailing by two goals entering the third period, the Hurricanes made it a one- goal game 3:54 in as a big slap shot from the right circle by Eric Staal was stopped, but the rebound sat on the doorstep and Semin swept it in for his second of the year. Carolina tied the game with 7:27 to play, as Hainsey wound up with the puck at the left point and threw it on net. The disc sailed past several players and beat a screened Crawford. "To come back and tie the game in the third period is a huge confidence booster for this team," said Ward. "We just have to learn how to finish these games." Ward is 13-8-2 with a 2.78 GAA in 23 career outings against Toronto and is expected to get the call on Thursday. Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk sat out Tuesdays game with an undisclosed injury and he is questionable for tonight. Carolinas Elias Lindholm has sat out the last two tilts with an upper-body issue and the centerman is also questionable for Thursdays contest. Toronto posted a 6-3 home win over the HHurricanes when the clubs last met on March 28. Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys. That victory ended a four-game slide in the series for the Maple Leafs, who only have two wins in the last seven games against Carolina. Toronto has claimed three of the last five meetings at Air Canada Centre, but the Hurricanes have taken seven of the past 10 encounters on the road. New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators The New Jersey Devils once again will aim for their first victory of the season when the Ottawa Senators host Thursdays home opener at Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators shook up their lines during morning skate Wednesday with Cory Conacher taking Bobby Ryans spot on the top line and Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Zack Smith swapping spots as well. The Devils are 0-3-3 on the season and are coming off consecutive regulation losses. New Jersey does enter Thursdays game in Ottawa well rested, however, as the club hasnt played since Sundays 3-0 setback in Winnipeg. New Jersey sent 24 shots Al Montoyas way on Sunday, but the Jets goaltender stopped ever single one to lead Winnipeg to the win. Evander Kane added two goals to the home teams cause, while Cory Schneider stopped 32 shots in a losing effort. The Devils, who have tallied just 11 goals in six games this season, have scored once on 15 opportunities on the power play in 2013-14. The club was 0- for-5 on the power play against the Jets and failed to score on a two-man advantage for 1:12 early in the second period. "You got a full five-on-three there. If we score, I think its a different game. We have to generate something there," New Jersey head coach Peter DeBoer remarked. The Devils will turn to Martin Brodeur in net on Thursday. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer is 0-1-2 with a 3.19 goals against average this season, but is 36-23-3 with four ties and a 2.17 GAA in 67 career games against the Senators. New Jersey will play Thursday without forward Ryane Clowe, who suffered a head injury in the loss to the Jets and has been placed on injured reserve. Clowe, who signed a five-year, $24.25 million deal with the Devils in the offseason, has one assist in six games this season. The Senators, meanwhile, are happy to be home after going 2-2-2 on a season- opening six-game road trip. Ottawa had lost four straight before closing the swing with Tuesdays overtime decision against the Phoenix Coyotes. Cory Conacher scored 2:48 into the extra session to lift the Sens to the 4-3 triumph in the desert. Jason Spezza completed the fifth hat trick of his career for the Senators and his third goal gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead with 12:41 left in the third, but Phoenixs Mike Ribeiro was credited with a power-play goal with 3:30 remaining to force overtime. In the extra session, Marc Methot sent a diagonal slap pass to below the right circle for a successful one-timer by Conacher. Craig Anderson made 34 saves for Ottawa. "We end up with a .500 record to start the season with six games on the road. We can go home and feel good about that, not really feel good about maybe the way we played in all those games but we did find a way to get some points out of four of the games," said Ottawa head coach Paul MacLean. The Senators are playing two straight and four of their next five games on home ice. Ottawa was 15-6-3 as the host during the lockout-shortened 2013 season compared to a 10-11-3 mark on the road. Ottawa also won all three of its games against New Jersey last season and has taken six of nine overall in the series. The Devils have lost five of their last six games in Canadas capital city. ' ' '