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NEWARK, N.J. -- Roberto Luongo appeared to be the most available player in hockey history. The veteran goaltender wanted to be traded, and the Vancouver Canucks tried desperately to accommodate him. Luongo knew the time and money left on his 12-year, US$64-million contract made that more difficult, but until this past weekend it still looked like it would happen. When Cory Schneider was shipped off to the New Jersey Devils instead, it brought Vancouvers goaltending situation into sharp focus: Luongo is the unquestioned No. 1. But now Luongo has the challenging task of resuming a role he lost and trying to reclaim the status of elite goaltender in the city he asked to be dealt from. "I think hes been prepared to move on for about a year now. To have that taken away, you have to sort of reset and readjust," Schneider said. "Its not easy to do, but hes a resilient guy and hes been through all this before, and Im just hoping that he makes the best situation he can and that he can keep playing well and be the goalie that we all know he can be." The goalie Luongo can be is more evident on his resume than in his reputation. The 34-year-old won a gold medal with Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics after replacing Martin Brodeur, and he came one victory away from capturing the Stanley Cup for the Canucks in 2011. But Luongos save percentage dropped to .907 during the lockout-shortened season as he and Schneider dealt with the uncertainly and attention of sharing the net. He became far more popular for his Twitter personality than his play. GM Mike Gillis is counting on Luongo returning to gold-medal form now that the situation was finally resolved. "I believe Roberto is a professional," he said. "I think he is an outstanding person, an outstanding goaltender and I anticipate him being one of the front runners for the Sochi Olympics playing goal for Canada. Based on all those features I dont expect there to be a problem, but I havent spoken to him." Owner Francesco Aquilini flew to Florida to speak with Luongo on Sunday. According to Schneider, the Canucks organization didnt have much contact with either goalie as Gillis tried to figure a way out. But Luongo and Schneider stayed in touch, talking over the weekend as rumours swirled. The 27-year-old wished his old partner nothing but the best as he came to grips with getting a new start in New Jersey. Luongo doesnt get to start fresh, but Gillis spoke to agent Gilles Lupien and figures life can now go on as normal. "Im not anticipating there being issues, but if there are, well deal with them," Gillis said. "He signed a long-term contract with our club for a lot of money and (was) very happy to do it." Money doesnt guarantee great goaltending. The Philadelphia Flyers figured that out with Ilya Bryzgalov after buying him out of the final seven seasons of a nine-year, $51-million deal. But Luongo has a history that suggests he can rebound now that he doesnt have to split duties with Schneider. Luongos best seasons have come when he has played the bulk of games, like when he had a .928 save percentage when playing 60 in 2010-11. Luongo is a bit older now, but Schneider doesnt have any doubts about the veteran returning to form. "Hes been a resilient guy and hes been through a lot and hes been counted out and knocked down and hes always gotten back up," Schneider said. "Having worked with him for three years now, I just know hes a great goalie, whether thats in Vancouver or anywhere else. I think hes going to play his hardest to be his best." Schneiders agent Mike Liut, meanwhile, said he was not surprised the goaltender was traded. "In the end it went as expected," Liut said in an e-mail. "The Canucks original plan was to trade Cory at some point because Robertos contract extended him into his 40s. That the Canucks altered that strategy to moving Roberto was more surprising than their final decision to switch back to seeking a trade involving Cory. All part of the game." Liut said Schneider was disappointed in being traded, but understood that few players spend their entire careers with one team. "We knew that Robertos contract would be difficult to trade because of its term/dollars at best," said Liut. The agent indicated the new collective bargaining agreement worked against Schneider staying because the Canucks and another team could both take a sizable salary cap if Luongo is traded and retires before his contract expires. Luongos contract is front-loaded, so he earns much more in the early years, and the annual cap hit is manageable. But under the new CBA, the so-called Luongo rule seeks to offset the early soft hits. "The punitive cap benefit capture that. The NHL demanded in the new CBA made Robertos contract all the more difficult to trade," said Liut. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. https://www.fakesoccerjerseys.com/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Fake Soccer Jerseys .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Soccer Jerseys China . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. SHERBROOKE, Que. -- The 2013 Canada Summer Games got off to a flying start at its opening ceremonies. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a host of dignitaries welcomed athletes from across the country on Friday, earning loud cheers, while a group of acrobats earned gasps from the crowd during their daring act. Harper was the first public official to address the crowd of over 5,000 spectators and was the last official to speak before a raucous musical number and fireworks finished the festivities. "Regardless of the sport you play, regardless of the province or territory that you represent, know that in your athletic career, that all Canadians from coast to coast to coast are behind you," said Harper during his opening remarks. He was more brief in his closing statement. "I declare the 2013 Canada Games open!" said Harper, straining to be heard over the cheering audience after the official flame of the two-week event was lit. A two-storey stage made to look like a red-brick building covered in graffiti sat in the middle of the field at the Universitie de Sherbrookes football stadium. More than 2,100 athletes from every province and territory filed in from two different points, circling the track and sitting in three groups of seats on the grass. Singers and dancers performed on the centre stage as well as three lower platforms, with each delegation getting its own entrance music, such as a cover of Justin Biebers "Baby" for Ontario and a live rendition of Joni Mitchells "Big Yellow Taxi" for Saskatchewan. Quebec got the loudest ovation, with tennis player Hugo Di Feo carrying the host provinces flag, although the small group of athletes from Nunavut -- led by wrestler David Haulli -- also drew vocal support. "All the preparation and hard work of so many has certainly culminated into the growing awareness of the Canada Games in the heart of Sherbrooke, the province of Quebec and even across all of Canada," said Tom Quinn, chairman of the Canada Games Council in a news conference before the opening ceremonies. "This is truly a wonderful day in the lives of these young athletes who will be competing and representing their province or territory with the greatest oof pride and determination.dddddddddddd" After Harpers first speech, as well as statements from several other officials, there were several musical acts including slam poet David Goudreault. The crowd gasped during Goudreaults performance when several dancers fell off the top of the centre structure. The audience then burst in to applause when the acrobats bounced off trampolines hidden in the stage to return to the top of the building. A group of dignitaries helped carry the official flag of the Canada Summer Games in to the stadium before a colour guard of four Royal Canadian Mounted Police raised it. Colette Roy-Laroche, the mayor of nearby Lac-Megantic, got the loudest ovation of the flag bearers. The town 80 kilometres northeast of Sherbrooke was devastated by an explosive train derailment that claimed the lives of 47 people on July 6. Other flag bearers included Jean Perrault, the former mayor of Sherbrooke who led the bidding process for the Games, as well as several former Olympians like freestyle skier Jennifer Heil, wheelchair racer Diane Roy, sprinter Bruny Surin and divers Sylvie Bernier, Alexandre Despaties and Annie Pelletier. "A special welcome to all the athletes whove followed in the footsteps of previous Canadian Games athletes such as Sidney Crosby, Steve Nash, Catriona Le May Doan, Alexandre Despaties, Annie Plletier, Bruny Surin and Jennifer Heil," said Quinn during his remarks at the festivities. " You are here tonight and for the next two weeks representing your families, friends, province or territory and yourself. "Are you ready to compete?" There are 4,200 athletes from across Canada competing in 20 different sports over 16 days at the 2013 Games, scattered across 20 venues in Sherbrooke and its surrounding area. The athletes will arrive in two waves, with the first group vacating the athletes village on Aug. 10, and the second group moving in the next day. Ontario won the flag at the 2009 Canada Games in Prince Edward Island, winning a total of 202 medals. British Columbia finished with 144, while Quebec had 145. B.C., however, finished second in the medal standings because it earned more points with more gold medals than Quebec: 57 to 42. ' ' '