BERLIN -- Almost a year into his new life in Germany, Syrian refugee Ammar Sahar is well on his way to realizing his dream of becoming a Bundesliga referee.Sahar, who already referees matches in the Berlin league in the sixth tier of German soccer, has his hopes pinned on officiating at the highest level.I have a good chance, the 27-year-old told The Associated Press.Sahar has been refereeing since he was 17 years old, when he took charge of an under-14s league game in his home city of Hama, Syrias fourth largest after Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.After two years I went to the second and third divisions in Syria. From 2008 to 2010 I was in the first division in Syria, said Sahar, who also officiated youth games in neighboring Lebanon.Syrias devastating civil war forced him to flee with his wife Loubana via Lebanon in October 2015. Sahar had a brother living in Germany so it was the logical choice. The couple had to get there first, however, undertaking the perilous journey from Turkey and across the Aegean Sea toward Greece, the first frontier for most migrants seeking to reach the EU.Loubana was seven months pregnant at the time. But they paid smugglers a premium so that they could travel on a safer boat. Sahar believes there were around 30 fellow passengers when normally some 45 are crammed on board for a cheaper price. There was still drama on the crossing, however.We were halfway when the motor gave up, Sahar said. But other people on the boat helped me to get it going again.Like many other refugees, they made their way by bus to Macedonia and then Serbia, before continuing by train through Croatia, Slovenia and Austria, from where a bus took them to Passau on the German border, then another to Munich.In Munich the police gave us tickets for a (refugee) center but I said, `No, no, were not going to Munich, were going to Berlin! Sahar said.He thought the German football federations headquarters must be in Berlin, the capital.But its in Frankfurt. I thought at the time it was in Berlin so I said, `We go to Berlin, we want to go to Berlin. And the police were so nice they gave me two tickets to go to Berlin.Before that, a visa stamp on Sahars passport from Oman had raised a few eyebrows among German police before he explained he had travelled to the Arabian sultanate to referee an under-14 tournament.I showed them a photo. `Im a referee, he said.Soccer is the national sport in Germany so that may have eased his entry into the country.The Sahars were just one couple among 890,000 migrants to arrive in the country last year. The latest government figures suggest some 213,000 applied for asylum in the first nine months of this year.Sahar got in touch with the Berlin football federation and was given three games to referee as a test in the Landesliga Berlin, a level below the Berlin-Liga.After this match in the Landesliga, the Berliner Fussball Verband (Berlin football federation) called me to go to a referee camp. They told me, `Now you are a referee in the Berlin-Liga. I was very happy, Sahar said.Matches are shared between three officials, each doing two games as an assistant before one as a referee.Sahar refereed his fifth Berlin-Liga match on Sunday, a 5-0 victory for BFC Preussen at DJK SW Neukoelln. He had a busy game, handing out five yellow cards and one red that led to a penalty.He had a great game. He did a super job, said Neukoelln player Marco Fink, who acknowledged the red card had been justified.Local league photographer Christoph Lehner had seen Sahar in action several times before and said his biggest challenge was communicating with the players.Of course the language plays a huge role in communication, Lehner said.Sahar, who speaks basic English and German, admits that communication is an issue but says its getting easier all the time.Sometimes I have a problem understanding what a player is saying to me, but anything I dont understand, I save in my mind, he said. The assistants also help me a lot.Learning German is key as Sahar aims to integrate as quickly as possible in order to reach his goal.I must work very hard to be a good referee in Germany, he said. Now I work step-by-step to arrive in the Bundesliga.Sahar works as a swimming instructor in a local school in Berlin, while juggling German language lessons, referee training and parental duties with Loubana for their son Nidal, born in Berlin not long after the couples arrival in the German capital on Dec. 3, 2015.They recently moved to an eastern district of Berlin. The change just adds to the daily challenges. Besides training, parenting, working and learning German -- they still have to get a new kitchen installed -- Sahar keeps looking on the bright side.German is hard, but its a nice language, he said.That positive outlook is fueling his push for promotion to referee at the top level.I hope to go to Bundesliga 1 and 2 in the future. I work every day to get to the next level, to get to the Bundesliga. The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world, Sahar said.And it doesnt need to end there for the ambitious match official whose favorite referee is Howard Webb of England.In the next five or six years, maybe Ill have a German I.D. and I could be an international referee from Germany, maybe. This is my dream, he said. Mark Grace Jersey . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Greg Maddux Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Jason-Heyward-Kids-Jersey/ . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Addison Russell Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. John Lackey Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. DENVER -- Joe Colborne couldnt have drawn it up any better -- three goals in his first game with the Colorado Avalanche.Same with coach Jared Bednar -- a gut-check win in his debut on the bench.It was a memorable night for the new guys.Colborne had his first NHL hat trick, Colorado withstood a 6-on-4 opportunity over final 46 seconds and the Avalanche held off the Dallas Stars 6-5 on Saturday.That was a fun game. It was an exciting game. I really liked it, Bednar said. I enjoyed being on the bench.Trailing 2-0 early, Colborne came to the rescue as he scored three of Colorados next five goals to build a 5-2 lead. Carl Soderberg and Nathan MacKinnon also scored during the stretch, and Tyson Barrie added an insurance goal in the third period to kick off the Bednar Era in winning fashion.Bednar took over for Patrick Roy after the Hall of Fame goaltender-turned-coach surprisingly stepped away two months ago.I liked (Colborne) around the net. He was hungry around the net, Bednar said. He was getting sticks on pucks. He was fighting to the front of the net. Thats part of his M.O., part of what made him successful in years past.Tyler Seguin had two goals for the Stars, while Devin Shore, Jamie Benn and Brett Ritchie also scored.Dallas pulled starter Antti Niemi at 7:05 of the second period after allowing five goals. Kari Lehtonen slowed the Avalanches potent offensive attack so the Stars could work their way back into the game.Barrie scored a goal that bounced off the skate of Stephen Johns and past Lehtonen to make it 6-4. Soon after, Ritchie made it a one-goal game when he slid a shot past Semyon Varlamov.Blake Comeau was called for slashing with 1:56 remaining. The Stars pulled Lehtonen, but couldnt get anything past Varlamov, whos won 11 straight over Dallas.We didnt do enough to win the hockey game and didnt deserve to win, Benn said. When you play like that, it doesnt matter if you scored five and give up six, its unacceptable.Stars coach Lindy Ruff felt the same way.Were a better team than that, Ruff saaid.dddddddddddd We have some defensemen trying to find their way. We gave up some tough opportunities in the second period.The Avalanche certainly had ample opportunities to gain some separation in the third period. A shot by Andreas Martinsen clanged off the post. Later, Fedor Tyutins slap shot appeared to go in and the horn sounded. But the puck actually hit the outside of the net. And later, Mikhail Grigorenko had a shot roll along the mouth of the goal before veering just wide.Colborne signed with the Avalanche as a free agent in July after a 19-goal, 25-assist season with Calgary. Hes a fan-favorite given that he played collegiately down the road at the University of Denver.We got a big win against a tough opponent, Colborne said. There were some nerves at the start.Bednar was a career minor leaguer -- as a defenseman and then as a coach -- before being hired by Colorado on Aug. 25. The 44-year-old led the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League to the Calder Cup last season.His style may be even more up-tempo than the version Roy implemented. Colorado outshot Dallas 33-28.I liked the way we played offensively. I thought we were skating and on our toes and creating chances, Bednar said. We have to get better defensively.The Avalanche havent garnered much early respect with a majority of prognosticators predicting theyll finish outside of the playoff picture.People can say what they want, said Matt Duchene, who will serve as an alternate captain this season. Go out there and prove them wrong -- thats our job.Game notes Shore scored his first NHL goal. ... Stars D Jamie Oleksiak (lower body injury) was a scratch for a second straight game. ... Avs F John Mitchell (hip) was a scratch, along with F Cody McLeod. ... The Avs improved to 20-10-7 all-time in season openers.UP NEXTStars: At Nashville on Tuesday.Avalanche: At Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Monday. 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