Backstrom and Marcus Johansson (Sweden) and Erat (Czech Republic)

The Toronto Maple Leafs "stumbled on" Connor Brown a few years ago and are pleased with their discovery. The Erie Otters captain was named the Ontario Hockey Leagues most outstanding player for 2013-14 on Tuesday. Brown led the league in scoring and set a franchise record with 45 goals and 83 assists in 68 games. Chosen near the bottom of both his OHL and NHL drafts, the 20-year-old Toronto forward has played himself into a strong pro prospect. He was the 251st pick out of 301 players four years ago in the OHL draft. The Leafs chose him in the sixth round, 156th overall, in 2012. His buddy Matt Finn, captain of the Guelph Storm and a fellow Leafs prospect, recently said "With Connor, its always been about proving people wrong." But Brown says his motivation is more about the pursuit of his dream than spite. "I definitely dont think much has come easy, being late picks in both drafts," he acknowledged during a conference call. "Its just more incentive to work hard. "I think I wanted to work hard not to prove people wrong, but I know I needed to work harder to have a shot at signing an NHL contract and having a shot at making the NHL one day." Brown has signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Leafs. He caught their eye in 2011 when scouts went to Erie, Pa., to evaluate Leafs prospect Sondre Olden. "Each time we went down to watch this Maple Leaf pick, wed stumble on Connor Brown," Leafs director of player Jim Hughes said. "Erie was having a difficult year and the scores, the deficits, never changed Connors desire, never changed his moods during the course of the game. "He was always focused and it didnt matter if he was winning 5-1 or losing 5-1, his personality never changed. He always played for the love of the game. He always played with passion. We obviously have big plans for Connor moving forward." Brown led Erie to the best season in its 18-year history with 52 wins and 106 points. The Otters lost this years Western Conference final to Guelph in five games. Brown had eight goals and 10 assists in 14 playoff games. The five-foot-11 170-pound right-winger is currently practising with Torontos American Hockey League team -- the Marlies -- at the MasterCard Centre. He intends to spend most of the summer there building strength and working on his skating skills with former Canadian pairs figure skater Barb Underhill. Hughes says Brown needs time to develop "man-strength." "Come September, I think my game and my physical state, I think Ill be ready to play with better and stronger players," Brown said. Brown is the first Otter to win the OHL scoring title and the second to earn the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP after Brad Boyes in both 2001 and 2002. The trophy is named in honour of Albert (Red) Tilson, who was a former Oshawa General killed in action during the Second World War. Brown led the league in power-play points with 54 and carried a plus-minus of plus-44 through the regular season. In a poll of Western Conference coaches, he was voted the best in a shootout, second in penalty killing and third in the smartest player category. "Whoever is preparing to play hockey anywhere, will not outwork Connor Brown and his will to prepare," Otters general manager Sherry Bassin said. "Whatever work ethic is necessary, whatever that measurement is, hell do more." Media members vote on the award and Brown was the clear winner with 321 points tabulated from 80 ballots. Oshawa Generals centre Scott Laughton was the runner-up with 120 points and top NHL draft prospect Sam Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs was third with 68. Previous winners include New York Islanders forward John Tavares (Oshawa, 2007), Nashville Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis (Windsor, 2011) and Florida Panthers defenceman Brian Campbell (Ottawa, 1999). Vincent Trochek, the centre who won the award last year with the Plymouth Whalers, split this past season between the Panthers and their AHL team in San Antonio, Texas. Brown is the OHLs candidate for the Canadian Hockey Leagues player of the year. Hell be up against Sam Reinhart of the Western Hockey Leagues Kootenay Ice and Anthony Mantha of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues Val-dOr Foreurs. The winner will be announced May 24 during the MasterCard Memorial Cup in London, Ont. Nike Flex Cheapest Price . - Mark Sanchez found out the New York Jets had acquired Tim Tebow on a conference call with team management. Nike Flex Cheap Wholesale . With timely hitting and good pitching, the Marlins are one win away from sweeping the slumping Houston Astros. http://www.nikeflexcheap.com/ . -- Ben Bishop had a milestone game against one of the NHLs greatest goalies. Cheap Nike Flex Shoes . Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth against former teammate Justin Verlander, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Tigers 11-8 Monday night. Nike Flex Clearance .com) - Quarterback Cardale Jones will return to Ohio State next season.WASHINGTON -- Julien Brouillette wont be joining his five Washington Capitals teammates who are on their way to play Olympic hockey in Sochi. He did, however, help send them off on a winning note. Brouillette broke a scoreless tie with his first NHL goal midway through the third period, Braden Holtby stopped 25 shots and the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 3-0 Saturday night in the teams final game before the Olympic break. "I couldnt think of anything. It was so confusing, but great at the same time," Brouillette said of the goal. "Its going to be hard to sleep tonight." After the Capitals controlled a faceoff in the New Jersey zone, Brouillette beat Cory Schneider on the short side with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle at the 10:50 mark. The goal follows an assist Brouillette earned in his NHL debut Thursday night. "Im sure hes flying pretty high right now," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "Big goal. I havent seen the replay yet, but I know it was close to being tipped and the goalie getting frozen there a little bit there. But you know what, (Nicklas Backstrom) won a draw. Thats what its about." Martin Erat scored an empty-netter with 1:47 left for his first goal of the season to go along with 21 assists, and Troy Brouwer added another -- his 100th career goal -- 36 seconds later. Backstrom had two assists. After starting in place of an ill Michael Neuvirth and getting the win Thursday night, Holtby earned his third shutout of the season and 10th in his career in Saturday nights win. "He came in there (Thursday night) and played great and played very solid today," Oates said. Scoring chances were at a premium for both teams. "Obviously the Devils play that kind of game. They are will to play it every night, and its a frustrating team to play," Oates said. "They dont give you much. I looked up with nine minutes left in the third period, and I think it was 20 each in shots. Both teams played stingy." Schneider finished with 23 saves. "We didnt do enough offensively I thought to draw enough penalties to maybe create some power plays late," New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer said. "We had enough chances to get twoo or three goals.dddddddddddd. Weve got to finish something off." The win moves Washington to within one point of eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 63 points. The Capitals have won three of their last four and snapped a seven-game losing streak (0-6-1) against Metropolitan Division opponents. "Crucial," Capitals defenceman John Carlson said of the win. "This one a little bit more than the last one, but obviously for our team everythings crucial right now, and (well) carry a little bit of momentum into the break and we know we have our work cut out for us when we get back." New Jersey is in the thick of the hunt with 61 points, and both teams will have 23 games remaining after the break. "Teams have made late charges and gotten in the playoffs and done some damage in the playoffs. Of course we think there is still time," Schneider said, "but weve got to put words into action here and make it happen." The Devils, playing the second of back-to-back games, have lost 5 of 7. Carlson (United States), Alex Ovechkin (Russia), Backstrom and Marcus Johansson (Sweden) and Erat (Czech Republic) are the Capitals headed to Sochi. From New Jersey, Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Elias and Marek Zidlicky will be joining the Czech Republic team, and Damien Brunner will play for Switzerland. The Devils outshot the Capitals 11-6 in the first period as the teams failed to convert two power-play opportunities apiece. Early in the second, New Jerseys Adam Henrique took a centring pass and wristed a shot past Holtby, but it banged off the left post. "I thought we battled hard," Elias said. "We played most of the game the way we wanted to. They just got the one goal that we didnt." Later in the period Schneider stopped Karl Alzners wrister from close range and made two follow-up saves on Jay Beagle. NOTES: The Capitals finished 0 for 4 on the power play and the Devils were 0 for 3. ... New Jersey D Anton Volchenkov (lower body injury) missed his third straight game. ... Washington D Mike Green (concussion) missed his fifth game and C Mikhail Grabovski (left ankle injury) missed his eighth. ... New Jersey leads the season series 2-1. ' ' '