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VANCOUVER -- Canada has set a goal of finishing first in the overall medal standings at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Snowboarders will in all likelihood have to play a key role if theres any chance of meeting that lofty target. The first five members of the Canadian contingent heading to Sochi next month were unveiled Friday, led by a three-time Olympian and an unlikely superstar from the Prairies. "We definitely have an amazing group and an amazing team and to be a part of it is great," said Maelle Ricker, who won gold in snowboard cross at the 2010 Olympics. "We have strong athletes in all the disciplines and Im very honoured and excited." Sochi will be Rickers third Games, but at age 35, the West Vancouver, B.C., native is still seen as a favourite in her event where competitors race down a course side-by-side. "I would love to perform at my best (again)," she said after Fridays news conference. "Definitely every time I put my snowboard on thats what Im aiming to do and hopefully we get some good results because of it." Apart from Ricker, another Canadian expected to contend for a medal is Mark McMorris. The 20-year-old from Regina is the two-time defending Winter X Games champion in slopestyle, an acrobatic snowboard discipline set to make its Olympic debut in Sochi. "It feels amazing," McMorris said of being named to the Canadian team. "Its going to be a fun time. Ive been preparing like a mad man and I think Im ready." Other rookie Olympians named to Canadas squad were Sebastien Toutant of LAssomption, Que., Spencer OBrien of Courtenay, B.C., and Calgarys Chris Robanske. Toutant and OBrien will compete in slopestyle, while Robanske is entered in snowboard cross. The rest of the team will be named Jan. 21. Canada won 26 medals -- including three in snowboard -- at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, good for third behind the United States (37) and Germany (30). An even bigger performance will be required in Russia to accomplish the Canadian Olympic Committees goal of finishing first. "If we say we dont want to be No. 1, were striving for mediocrity and were not going to do that. We will strive to be the best," said Canadian chef de mission Steve Podborski, who won bronze in mens downhill skiing at the 1980 Olympics. "When we went into (the 2006 Games), we had no notion that we could strive to be No. 1 and now we are looking at that. "So why not? Its going to be tough, maybe impossible, but you strive for impossible dreams." The laid-back McMorris doesnt put any added emphasis on his own performance when overall team goals are mentioned. "Whenever anybody looks at you to win theres pressure," he said. "Ive been able to have a lot of success over the last three years and consistently podium or win events. "Im in one event and my goal is to win a gold medal and if I do so, that will be a big help." With the Olympics set to begin Feb. 7, OBrien said shes looking forward to being part of a team after competing for years as an individual. "Theres definitely a lot of expectations, especially on me, Mark, Seb, Maelle, everyone thats been performing so well these last of couple years," said the 25-year-old. "I think its really special. Its a unique experience to have your country behind you." OBrien won gold in womens slopestyle at last years world championship, but added the Games are on another level. "An Olympic medal, youre winning it for your country, youre not just winning it for yourself," she said. "Its such a special opportunity and Id like nothing more than to bring one back to Canada." The Olympics werent even on the 21-year-old Toutants radar until it was announced that slopestyle would be included at Sochi. "Were used to competing in front of a lot of people and a lot of cameras, but we compete for sponsors and we compete for ourselves," he said. "To be able to compete for your country is huge. "The world is going to be watching." Podborski said there will be "enormous challenges" facing athletes in Sochi, but stressed the level of Canadian sport has come a long way since he competed more than three decades ago. "These athletes are the finest our country can produce," he said. "These are sophisticated, world-class athletes and I expect them to do very, very well." Cheap Padres Jerseys China . -- Patrick Kueng of Switzerland was nearly flawless as he captured his first World Cup and halted Aksel Lund Svindals streak of four straight super-G victories on Saturday. Cheap Trevor Hoffman Jersey . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. http://www.cheappadresjerseys.com/ . Dumont, a fifth round draft pick of the Canadiens in 2009, has four assists and 20 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Bulldogs this season. The 23-year-old split last season between Hamilton and Montreal, recording 16 goals and 15 assists in 55 regular season games with the Bulldogs. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europes top competition for the 17th straight year. Cheap Padres Jerseys . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor.SONOMA, Calif. -- Scott Dixon pulled in for his final pit stop with victory nearly in his grasp. When he left a few seconds later, two members of Will Powers crew were sprawled on the asphalt, a tire bouncing wildly in his wake. Although everybody involved had a strong opinion about what happened, Power knows one thing for certain: Hes leaving wine country with yet another trophy. Power won at Sonoma Raceway for the third time in four years Sunday, earning his first victory of the IndyCar season by taking advantage of Dixons penalty for making contact with Powers Team Penske pit crew. "I dont like to see the call that had to take place, but everybody saw it," Roger Penske said. "Its unfortunate, but thats the way racing is." Dixon led until he received a drive-through penalty with 15 laps to go for clipping a tire in the left hand of Powers tire holder when Dixons Honda left his pit directly behind Powers Chevrolet. The tire holder went flying into another crew member, and a third member was injured by an air gun or hose. Dixon thought Powers crew got in his way on purpose, leaving him angry and confused by IndyCars latest call against him. He finished 15th and lost a bit of ground on overall IndyCar leader Helio Castroneves, Powers Penske teammate, who finished seventh. Castroneves lead over Dixon grew from 31 to 39 points (479-440) with four races left in the IndyCar season. "Thats probably the most blatant thing Ive seen in a long time," Dixon said. "You watch most pit guys, they try to get out of the way of other people, so that was a bit of a (classless) move, to be honest. ... If thats the way they want to try and win, thats pretty bad." James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., finished eighth. Power scoffed at the notion any gamesmanship occurred in his first victory since early last season in Sao Paulo. Hes the only multiple IndyCar winner in Sonoma, where hes been dominant since he broke his back in a crash in 2009. "It reminds me of so many things thats happened to us in the last three years, so well take it," said Power, the 10th IndyCar winner this season. "I would be very surprised (if it was intentional). I havent seen it. Its not even worth commenting on. ... I really thought wed win before (now), but we just kept at it and worked hard and were fast all weekend." Dixon has been burned by IndyCars curious penalty decisions before. In Milwaukee last year, IndyCar acknowledged it looked at the wrong replay and madde an incorrect call when it ordered Dixon to serve a drive-through penalty for jumping a restart.dddddddddddd But race director Beaux Barfield stood behind his latest call against Dixon, saying the lines painted in the pit box dont correspond to the actual spaces afforded to the teams. IndyCar rules mandate penalties for drivers who make contact with pit crew members. "If we have somebody that uses less-than-great judgment when they leave their pit box, and we have an incident, then certainly weve got to make a statement by penalizing (that driver)," Barfield said. "The lines are a little bit confusing, because we dont go in and change the lines everywhere we go. "Theres a different angle, if you looked at, you can see the difference between the Target and the Verizon signs on the wall. With the No. 9 car (Dixon) leaving the pit lane, he clearly crosses right into the pit box into the No. 12 car (Power) space, and thats where the violation occurred." Dixons team saw it differently. "The guy turned his back and carried the tire into Dixons side," Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Mike Hull said. "He walked into us, so if that sets the precedent, in the next race, that means somebody can walk into us with a tire in their hand." All three crew members were fine to continue after a bit of ice. Dixons penalty dropped him 19 seconds behind Power into 21st, and Power carefully maintained his lead for a victory on the same course where he was seriously injured four years ago, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. "I think theyre way overplaying this thing, as far as Im concerned," Penske said. "Someone got hit, went up in the air. Obviously, the 9 car was too close to our crew, had an accident there. The outcome is obvious." Dixons brush with Powers crew highlighted an uncommonly eventful race in Sonoma, a twisty road course that usually doesnt allow much drama or passing. Penske got into a finger-pointing argument post-race with Marco Andretti, who made contact with Power late in the race. Third-place finisher Dario Franchitti was mad at Team Penske, feeling Power drove him off the track with no penalty. Justin Wilson was second. Castroneves finished behind Marco Andretti, Simon Pagenaud and Ryan Hunter-Reay. With strong wind and dust all over the course, the race featured a record seven cautions for various collisions and stalls. Sebastian Saavedra crashed heavily into a barrier with four laps to go. 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