TORONTO -- When Sidney Crosby first stepped on the international stage, Team Canada fell flat.It was 13 years ago in the summer of 2003 and Crosby had just turned 16. He was by far the youngest player on an under-18 squad shooting for an eighth consecutive gold medal at the junior World Cup. Canada finished a distant fourth, trounced 8-2 by the hometown Czechs in the bronze-medal game.It was by no means a preview of what was to come for Crosby on the world stage. He has won nearly everything there is to win while wearing the Maple Leaf -- except the World Cup of Hockey, which he will play in for the first time later this week.He has won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Crosby has come up golden at the world juniors, world championships and twice at the Olympics.I feel like every time you put on a Team Canada jersey, youre representing your country, theres a lot of pride that comes with that, Crosby said Thursday at World Cup media day.His golden goal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver stands as one of the most impactful goals in the countrys history. Indeed, Crosby has met expectations on the international stage, despite the bright spotlight and increased pressure that comes with being the most hyped player of his generation.For Sid and a lot of these kids coming up, they have a little bit of an unfair target on their back at all times, said Ryan Getzlaf, a frequent teammate with Canada. People expect so much out of them on a daily basis that they forget that theyre still players and theyre still humans. Its part of the role I guess that hes taken on his back and hes done a great job with it.Crosby was again the youngest player for Canada when he helped the team win silver at the 2004 world junior championships. A year later, on a loaded squad that included Getzlaf, Shea Weber and Patrice Bergeron, among others, the Canadians emerged with gold, trouncing Russia 6-1.Crosby had a team-leading eight goals and 16 points in only nine games at the 2006 world championships, but the Canadians finished fourth.Then came 2010 and that unforgettable moment at the Vancouver Olympics. Crosbys overtime goal sunk the U.S. in the final and handed Canada, under especially potent pressure on home soil, a satisfying victory.Crosby says he doesnt think about the moment much, though it remains a great memory. While it may lack the significance of the Olympics, the World Cup is another chance at international glory on home turf for Canada.Crosby thinks home-ice advantage can help.I think theres always pressure, theres always expectations (and) you may feel that a little bit more being at home, said Crosby. But I think its something you can definitely embrace and use to help you, too.If not statistically productive at the 2014 Olympics, Crosby still made a dent in Sochi. He was a mostly controlling force with the puck, scoring in the gold medal match against Sweden -- a 3-0 win and second straight Olympic gold for Canada.Crosby flew to the Czech Republic for the 2015 world championships where he helped Canada snap an eight-year gold-medal drought. Crosby mustered 11 points in nine games, including a goal and an assist in the final.I think anytime I go on the ice I try to work hard and try to be at my best, but I think you know the circumstances in most of these events -- its one game, its not a playoff series, Crosby said. I think with that kind of format I think it brings out the best in everyone and that desperation levels probably at the highest it could be.Next up is the World Cup, where Crosby will serve again as Team Canadas captain and the biggest star among stars.He always has the spotlight on him, said John Tavares, picked first overall at the NHL draft four years after Crosby. Hes obviously accomplished a lot (and) hes very deserving of all of the accolades and then obviously a lot of the attention he gets as well. And he handles it extremely well, I think thats whats most impressive. Salomon Shoes Australia Sale . 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DENVER -- Cam Newton will get a few extra days to recover from his latest beating by Von Miller and crew. At least he wont have to seethe for seven months.Denvers dominant defense came up big against Newton again, and the Broncos escaped with a 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers?on Thursday night when Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.The Broncos collected three sacks and hit Newton eight more times, not counting the abuse he took on his 11 runs.We wanted to make sure we got to him, safety T.J. Ward said. Every time he ran we tried to put helmet and shoulder pads on him. If youre not going to slide, were going to put something on you. We saw him limping throughout the game, so that running stuff, you cant do that all game.A few of the hits were of the helmet-to-helmet variety, but none resulted in any penalty yardage.Miller hit him high when DeMarcus Ware was taking him down, and linebacker Brandon Marshall hit him in the face just as he released a pass. Safety Darian Stewart was flagged for leveling him in the final minute, but because Newton was whistled for intentional grounding on the play, the penalties were offsetting.Its not my job to question the officials, Newton said after emerging from the trainers room. I really like this officiating crew, so it wasnt something I know they did intentionally. But its not fun getting hit in the head.A wobbled Newton appeared to have done just enough to get a measure of revenge for that bludgeoning in Super Bowl 50, when Miller stripped the ball and the Lombardi Trophy from his grasp.Newton put the Panthers on the cusp of victory with a 16-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin at the Denver 37 in the closing seconds, and another short pass to Ted Ginn Jr.?put Gano well within his range.Gano, whose practice kick hugged the right upright after Denver had called timeout, missed wide left moments later.I was going to drill it, no doubt in my mind, Gano said. But this happens. Its not going to define my season.Newton, the NFLs reigning MVP, was 18-of-33 for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception.Just as he did over and over in the Super Bowl, Miller made a big play late, sweeping past right tackle Mike Remmers and sacking Newton at the 2-minute warning. A penalty on fourth-and-21, however, kept the Carolina drive alive until Newton retreated to the sideline when Gano camee in for the potential game-winner.ddddddddddddHis miss only piled on the pain for Newton, who stayed on one knee in disbelief as the stadium rocked and Trevor Siemian trotted out for one victory formation snap and a win in his first NFL start.Weve got a heck of a team, a resilient team. I think you saw that tonight, said Peyton Mannings successor, who finished 18-of-26 for 178 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and two sacks.The Panthers took a 17-7 led into the fourth quarter of the first Super Bowl rematch to start a season since 1970, but Siemian hit running back C.J. Anderson for a 25-yard touchdown on the next snap.Newtons next pass was intercepted by Harris at the Carolina 23. Ten plays later, Anderson bulled his way in from the 1 to give Denver its first lead at 21-17 with 9:26 remaining.After Ganos 36-yard field goal brought the Panthers to 21-20, Carolina forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at its 40 with 3:06 remaining.TAKE A KNEE: Marshall, a college teammate of Colin Kaepernick, knelt?during the playing of the national anthem. Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem during San Franciscos preseason games, explaining it was to protest racial oppression and police brutality in the United States. Im not against the military, Im not against America, Marshall said. Im against social injustice.OLD TIMES: Manning made his first appearance at Mile High as a retiree, walking through the tunnel with the Lombardi Trophy. Manning said he spoke with Siemian on the eve of the game and told him he was in his corner.POACHING PANTHERS: Carolina led the league with 39 takeaways last season and had three in the opener, including two on Denvers first two drives. Shaq Thompson recovered rookie Devontae Bookers fumble at the Carolina 29, and Bene Benwikere intercepted Siemians pass at the Panthers 10.FIELD FLIP: Punter Andy Lee, who surrendered a Super Bowl-record 61-yard punt return to Jordan Norwood in February, pinned the Broncos back with a franchise-record 76-yard punt in the third quarter. His next punt traveled 61 yards.FULLBACK FUN: Rookie Andy Janovich was brought in to bore holes for Anderson, but he surprised the Panthers with a 28-yard touchdown run after Denvers first two drives ended in turnovers. ' ' '