GLASGOW -- Kate Gillis says it was difficult to block out the noise. The energetic 24-year-old is the captain and inspirational leader of Canadas womens field hockey team at the Commonwealth Games. Shes also the daughter of former Vancouver Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis, who was fired in April after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. Gillis and soon-to-be ousted head coach John Tortorella took most of the criticism for the Canucks struggles as media and fans alike dissected what had gone so horribly wrong for a team that came within a game of winning the 2011 Stanley Cup. Having your feet held to the fire is part of being an executive in professional sports, but that doesnt make it any easier for the families. Its something the younger Gillis learned first-hand this spring. "I think its always hard for people to say those things about your father. With the Internet these days, you can just have a free-for-all," she said this week. "Its tough to kind of differentiate between the truth and the fiction, but I just keep my head down. He definitely doesnt let us get affected, but in the long run its hard. "Its your dad." Kate Gillis grew up in Kingston, Ont., but moved to Vancouver after being scouted by the national team when she was still a teenager. That cross-country adventure was coincidentally part of the reason Mike Gillis, an NHL player agent at the time, was hired by the Canucks in the first place. "I was 17, finishing high school by correspondence and my parents didnt feel quite comfortable with me living out there by myself," said Gillis. "They moved just for the year until I went back to school, but ended up staying because my dad got a job." Despite all of the heartache in recent months, she said one of the positives of her father losing that job is that he can spend more time following her career. "It was definitely tough, but weve been able to spend so much more time together as a family," said Gillis, who has two brothers. "I actually just celebrated my 100th cap in England, which is a huge milestone, and my dad was able to be there. "He will be here for the whole tournament, and that normally doesnt happen because its (NHL) free agency, or the draft or pre-season or something. It was a very difficult circumstance when it happened but now were seeing him more relaxed, he has more time, and hes able to capitalize on these sort of events." Canadas womens field hockey team has not made the Olympics since 1992 and is using the Commonwealth Games in Scotland as a measuring stick ahead of next summers Pan American Games in Toronto, which will serve as the qualifying event for Rio 2016. "Were a young team. Weve made lots of progress over 12 months and the opportunity to play in a tournament like this definitely gives us an idea of where were at," said Canadian head coach Ian Rutledge. "We want to make sure we give this event the respect it deserves. Were obviously looking to do our best and play as well as we can and finish as high as we can -- thats the objective. But thinking longer term its also an opportunity to gauge where were at ahead of Toronto 2015." Canada currently ranks 22nd in the world and has lost its two opening matches at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, 4-2 to No. 13 India on Thursday and 2-0 to No. 11 South Africa on Friday. Next up is No. 31 Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, and the biggest test of the group stage on Wednesday against fourth-ranked New Zealand. Meanwhile, the 16th-ranked Canadian men lost their opener 3-1 to No. 6 New Zealand on the first day of competition and will tackle No. 13 Malaysia on Saturday, No. 29 Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday and No. 5 England on Thursday. Rutledge said Gillis sets the tone for the countrys womens team with her passion and dedication to a sport that she hadnt even heard of until making her varsity team in Grade 9. "Her work rate is immense -- one of the best Ive seen from any athlete in the world," he said. "But more importantly its the quality she brings off the field. Shes a natural leader. Shes very aware of whats going on around the team and in the team. She backs up what she says. Her actions often speak louder than her words. "Shes the hardest trainer, the most committed, the most dedicated, and I think the rest of the team finds that inspiring. She sets standards. Its easy to talk a good game, but she shows what a good game looks like. Shes a fantastic role model." Gillis said she and her teammates want to help grow the sport in Canada, especially with the Pan Am Games on home soil just 12 months away. "What most people dont know is field hockey is so popular almost everywhere else," she said. "Were really looking forward to bringing our sport home and letting people see what we play and how intense our game is." And despite a trying couple of months for her family, Kate Gillis can still lose herself in the sport she has grown to love -- something she learned from her father. "Once you step onto that field nothing else matters," she said. "Thats what hes taught me." Giants Jerseys 2019 . The German has taken the pole for three straight races -- winning the first two. Hes aiming for a third consecutive win at the Yeongam circuit and, most importantly, a fourth consecutive F1 championship. San Francisco Giants Store . Huntington doesnt want to help run the club unless Hurdle is in the dugout. The combination thats returned the franchise to respectability will remain intact for years to come. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/. Johansen scored twice and Derek MacKenzie, Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson also had goals to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending a three-game losing skid. Cheap Giants Jerseys . -- Kael Mouillierat scored three times and set up one more as the St. Giants Jerseys China .com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When the shootout dragged on into the eighth round, San Jose coach Todd McLellan was running out of good options. Joe Thornton made the most of a rare opportunity. Thornton scored his first shootout goal since 2007 and the Sharks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Wednesday night to extend the home-team dominance in this California rivalry. "Coach doesnt tend to look my way in a shootout, but it was nice to be involved in one," Thornton said. Thornton hadnt been used in a shootout since McLellan sent him out in the seventh round of an 11-round tiebreaker on Dec. 11, 2009, against Dallas. He hadnt scored in one since two years before that on Dec. 16, 2007, against Anaheim. But McLellan saw that his players had success trying to deke Ben Scrivens as opposed to shooting the puck past him, so he gave Thornton a chance. He skated in and stuffed a backhand past Scrivens for what proved to be the game-winner. "Obviously Jumbos not a big shooter, but he can move his hands pretty well, and he ends up coming up with the win," McLellan said. Antti Niemi then stopped Tyler Toffoli to seal it. Niemi made 38 saves as San Jose opened a difficult stretch of three games in four days against top-five teams. Thornton and Joe Pavelski scored in regulation for the Sharks, who have won nine straight at home against the Kings including the post-season. In all, the home team has won the last 14 matchups, including all seven in last springs playoff series won by Los Angeles. "Its kind of the same way theyve beaten us in their rink -- by one goal, comeback, or however it works out," Pavelski said. "We know we can play with them. We had our chances to win there. They are probably saying the same thing here. Weve got to find ways to win in their building as well, but this was a good win for us tonight." Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty scored for the Kings, who tied a franchise record by earning a point in their 11th straight game. They also did that in 1973-74 and 2010-11. Scrivens made 38 saves. "It was fun, though we came out at the wrong end of it," Scrivens said. "They have some skill guys. Its a learning experience." The game was played with the high intensity expecteed from two fierce rivals with a recent playoff history who are at the top of their games.dddddddddddd These teams have met twice in the past three postseasons, with each winning once, including Los Angeles triumph in the second round last spring. Each benefited from a fluky goal, with San Jose taking a 2-1 lead late in the second period when Thornton took the puck from Willie Mitchell behind the net and then Scrivens kicked in a loose puck. The Kings got the fortunate bounce early in the third to tie the game when Doughtys centring pass hit defenceman Scott Hannans skate and deflected past Niemi for the equalizer. Los Angeles then killed off three successive minor penalties in a span of less than 7 minutes to preserve the tie and set the stage for shootout. "It was pretty intense," Kings centre Anze Kopitar said. "We got off to a good start and I thought we played well in the second period and were down, 2-1. We got it back and went deep into the shootout." The Kings jumped on top early when Dwight King knocked down Tomas Hertl on the opening shift and played a pass off the end boards to Carter, who banged it past Niemi just 18 seconds into the game. Niemi prevented Los Angeles from adding to that lead when he stopped Mike Richards backhand attempt on a 2-on-0 break after Richards stole the puck from Dan Boyle. The Sharks then dominated the second half of the period, but Scrivens stopped all 18 shots in the first to preserve a 1-0 lead. Pavelski tied it early in the second when he got to a loose puck in the slot and lifted it over Scrivens for his ninth of the season. Los Angeles failed to capitalize on a 4-minute power play when Boyle was called for high-sticking Justin Williams. Despite near constant pressure, Niemi stopped all six shots during the double minor to the delight of a sellout crowd that chanted "Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!" throughout the night. NOTES: The Kings went 0 for 4 on the power play and have converted just three of their last 35 chances. ... Thornton moved into sole possession of 50th place on the career points list with 1,143. ... D Matt Irwin returned to the lineup for San Jose after being a healthy scratch for six straight games. Jason Demers sat out. ' ' '