WINNIPEG -- Reigning Canadian curling champion Rachel Homan got two bits of good news on Thursday. Texas Rangers Store . The Ottawa skip advanced to Fridays semifinal at the Canadian Olympic curling trials, and then she learned the federal government had approved funding of more than $2.5 million for the Canadian Curling Association in 2013-14. "Its hard to make it as an amateur athlete because theres not much money involved and its not like the pros," said the 24-year-old. "A lot of times we have to take off work to try and fully train and commit to making it to the Olympics and trying to get Canada gold, so its nice to have that support in being able to try to get to your dreams and achieve that podium status." CCA chief executive officer Greg Stremlaw said the governments investment through Sport Canada is similar to the previous years funding. "It not only enables the Canadian Curling Association to grow the sport at the grassroots level, but helps our nation establish and maintain consistent podium results and the excellence that is synonymous with Canadian curling," Stremlaw said. "We sincerely appreciate all that the government of Canada does for sport." Stremlaw said the money is used for programs involving able-bodied athletes and those with a disability. Funds are allocated for coaching and salaries, national team programs and coaching and officials development. An Athlete Assistance program funded by the government gave $633,000 to 67 carded curlers in 2012-13 to help with their living and training expenses. The amount will be similar in 2013-14, Stremlaw said. Homan and her teammates are carded athletes. The winner of the trials earns a trip to next years Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Custom Texas Rangers Jerseys .Balotelli uploaded on Instagram a picture of the video-game character Super Mario, with whom the Italy international shares a nickname, with text around the image including jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew. Texas Rangers Shirts . -- Canadian freestyle skier Roz Groenewoud isnt letting surgery to both of her knees deter her expectations for the Sochi Olympics. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/ .com) - The fading Ottawa Senators have a chance to make up some ground in the playoff race on Tuesday night as they play host to the New York Rangers.The NHLs Mar. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Check out todays trade-related reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates. Kings Ransom With the Los Angeles Kings fighting for a Western Conference playoff berth and just three points up on the wild card zone, is it time for general manager Dean Lombardi to pull the trigger on a deal? The Hockey News looks back at one of Lombardis shrewdest moves - sending Jack Johnson and a first rounder to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jeff Carter in 2012 – and wonders if the same type of shake-up is available this season. Former Kings Matt Moulson and Mike Cammalleri would work - THN muses - but even a cheaper option like Brad Boyes could also do the trick. Not Going Wild The Minnesota Wild turned heads at the 2013 trade deadline by letting go of prime assets like Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett and a pair of high draft picks for then-Sabres captain Jason Pominville. So, naturally, surrendering all those future assets would naturally take them out of the running to add a major piece this year, right? Not necesssarily so, says Wild GM Chuck Fletcher. Cheap Rangers Jerseys. He told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he intends to be more cautious this deadline, but that he wont say no to the right deal. "In a perfect world, I dont want to trade first-round picks in consecutive years," Fletcher told the Star-Trib. "If opportunities come up, sometimes you have to do things, and this first round isnt as deep and our scouts always seem to deliver no matter what picks I leave them with. But it would have to be something pretty special. Id like our guys to have a first-rounder this year." Blue Line Bolts Thanks to injuries on the blue line including Mattias Ohlund and Brian Lee, the Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves with a defence budget to work with ahead of the deadline. With about $3 million in available cap space, the Tampa Bay Times envisions the Bolts looking for a blue line stalwart to help the likes of Victor Hedman and Mark Barberio. The Islanders Andrew MacDonald and Detroits Kyle Quincey headline the Times wishlist. MacDonald averages the seventh-highest ice-time in the league while Quincey - a more expensive rental option would be a more stay-at-home pick-up. ' ' '