He ranked third on the Capitals in average ice time p

Jamie Hagiya stood in line with her opponents at the California CrossFit regional in May, waiting to hear who qualified for the upcoming CrossFit Games.The Games, which begin Tuesday and run through July 24 in Carson, California, feature 40 of the fittest women in the world. Only five would be selected from the California regional, and this was Hagiyas fourth attempt to make the cut.In first ... Lauren Fisher! an announcer howled. In second ... Rebecca Voigt! In third ... Alessandra Pichelli! In fourth ... Chyna Cho!Hagiya cheered and clapped with all her might. There was one spot left.And your fifth athlete going to Carson, California ... Jamie Hagiya!Sitting on a couch last month at Californias Torrance CrossFit, where she is a co-owner and coach, the 31-year-old Hagiya replays the video of her name being called. She is beaming. Her face lights up, bright as her turquoise muscle tank. Thats a moment Ill never forget, Hagiya says. One of the best moments of my life.Hagiya spent most of her life as a basketball player, whipping the ball up the court to lead Southern Californias fast break from 2003 to 2007.Shes found new purpose with CrossFit, qualifying for regionals five straight years in a competition that tests speed, strength, power, agility, endurance and pretty much any other athletic quality imaginable.It allowed me a second chance to be an athlete again.This is my new loveDuring Hagiyas first basketball game in first grade, she scored bucket after bucket while the kids around her giggled and ran aimlessly around the court. Hagiya subbed out. Then they started losing, said her father, Grant Hagiya. So they put her right back in and she started scoring baskets again.But no matter how many shots Hagiya drained as she got older, few believed in her dream to play Division I college basketball. She was doubted, she said, because she was 5-foot-3 and Japanese-American.They said Im too small, Id never play, Hagiya said. I said, Oh forget that. I know I can play.She happened to find her way into an exposure camp with staff from USC in attendance. And the Trojans offered Hagiya her only scholarship.Hagiya fought to earn starts -- out-squatting mens basketball players and defending women a foot taller. Once, she challenged teammate Shay Murphy to eight games of one-on-one, refusing to quit until she won. Ultimately she reached sixth on USCs all-time list for career assists.Shes always had to work for everything in her life, said Murphy, who has played in the WNBA and overseas. She was always told she was too short or not the right skin color or she doesnt have a name to do anything. That drove her.Hagiya learned work ethic from her grandparents, who were imprisoned in internment camps in Wyoming and Arkansas during World War II. They got everything taken away from them. They had to move and they still didnt complain about it. They just worked hard, Hagiya said.Hagiya eventually played professionally in Greece and Spain. She tried out for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2012. She gave it her all -- swinging the extra pass, nailing the open jumper, stealing the ball.But she didnt make the team.She knew she had reached the end of the road with hoops, but nothing prepares a player for that. If you love it so much and put so much time and effort into it, its like a relationship ending -- a marriage or something, she said.She was disappointed, but she knew something better was near.A few months earlier, she had hosted a basketball clinic for girls when one of the participants father, who owns a CrossFit gym, suggested she try the program.Her first CrossFit session? I died, Hagiya said, recalling the Jackie workout: 1,000-meter row, 50 thrusters and 30 pull-ups. But she kept coming back. I love competition, Hagiya said. It brought that back out of me again.My buddy called me and said, Do you love this? It looks like you love this. Im like, I do, Hagiya said. Nothing will ever compare to basketball, but because that time has passed and Ive accepted that and moved on, this is my new love and I love it.The comeback kidSoon, Hagiya was nipping at the heels of SoCals top CrossFitters. She qualified for regionals in 2012 (but couldnt compete because of a torn hamstring), 2013 and 2014. She just missed the cut for the Games in 13 and 14, finishing fifth both years (only the top three qualified then).She knew she was so close and she knew she belonged with the other girls at that stage, said Andy Paik, a Torrance CrossFit coach. She wanted to prove herself.But in June 2014, Hagiyas rise was halted. On a set of 30-inch box jumps during an exhibition in Las Vegas, she felt as if someone had hit the back of her heel with a barbell. She looked behind her but saw no one was there. She had torn her Achilles, and she had surgery a few days later.Hagiya was devastated. She had to depend on others, unable to walk to pour herself a glass of water. One day she heard one too many its-going-to-be-OKs and walked outside to her car and broke down. Its not fine! Im not OK! she screamed amid tears. This sucks! I dont want to hear its OK!But inspired by NBA star Kobe Bryants recovery from his Achilles injury a year earlier, she committed to strengthening herself through daily rehab. You dry your tears and youre like, Tomorrows a new day, Hagiya said. Lets keep moving.With just three months of full-speed training, Hagiya qualified for 2015 regionals. The SoCal CrossFit community dubbed her the the comeback kid, and many donned T-shirts with the slogan.But Hagiya finished 20th. She knew qualifying was an achievement, but she was disappointed. She wanted more.This years regionals, she felt relaxed. I believe in myself. I know I can do this, she said to herself. Im just going to do my best and whatever happens, happens.The road was not easy. On two events on the final day of competition, she finished 13th and 17th. She had one event left to redeem herself. I had to pull myself together and just go out there and perform, Hagiya said.She came back to finish second in the final event -- a combination of 65-pound thrusters and legless rope climbs -- beating out last years California regional champion, Brooke Ence, for the fifth and final spot at the Games.I was getting so close, so close, so close, Hagiya said. Thats why this year it meant so much to me. I had been trying for so long.I was proud I endured all of that and kept on going. Martin Hanzal Stars Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Stephen Johns Stars Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/radek-faksa-hockey-jersey/ . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Anton Khudobin Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Mike Modano Stars Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights.The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenceman Karl Alzner to a four-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday. Alzner will earn $2.8 million per year from 2013-14 through the 2016-17 season. "We are very pleased to sign Karl Alzner to a contract extension," said GM George McPhee in a statement. "Karl is just entering his prime and has been a model of consistency for our organization since he entered the League. He plays tough and valuable minutes against some of the NHLs top players every game." Alzner, 24, recorded one goal and four assists in 48 games during the 2012-13 season. He ranked third on the Capitals in average ice time per game (20:57) and finished ranked second in blocked shots (85). Last season marked the third consecutive campaign in which Alzner appeared in every Capitals game (including the playofffs), joining John Carlson as the only two players to appear in every Capitals contest since the 2010-11 season.dddddddddddd The Burnaby, British Columbia, native has collected 44 points (5 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-17 plus/minus rating in 263 career NHL games. Alzner ranks tied for seventh in games played among his 2007 draft class and has ranked in Washingtons top-3 in blocked shots each of the past three seasons. The defenseman has recorded one goal and four assists in 31 career NHL playoff games with Washington and ranked in the Capitals top-5 in average time on ice in each of the past three postseasons. From 2008 through 2010, Alzner appeared in 103 AHL games with the Hershey Bears, collecting 41 points (seven goals, 34 assists) and a plus-57 rating while helping lead the team to the 2010 Calder Cup championship. ' ' '