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VANCOUVER - After more than two decades in the CFL, Paul McCallum has finally become a specialist. McCallum, entering his 22nd CFL season, will focus on field goals in 2014 with the B.C. Lions, who signed him to a two-year contract Thursday. He has previously held all three kicking duties - kickoffs, punts and three-point efforts. But the reduction in responsibilities will not necessarily translate into a sign of his impending retirement at the conclusion of the season. "Im not looking at it like this is my last year, because I really dont understand how people do that," said McCallum. "For me, just looking at this year, this season, is what Im going to concentrate on, and then Ill look at it. Im not saying this is my last year. Im saying this is the year that Im going to concentrate on." McCallum, a 44-year-old Surrey, B.C., product, signed on for a 10th season with the Lions. He has also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Rough Riders. The Lions also announced the signing of kicker Ricky Schmitt, who was a member of Saskatchewans Grey Cup-champion team in 2013. Schmitt, a 28-year-old Virginia Beach, Va., native, who is entering his second full CFL season, will take over McCallums former punting and kick-off duties. "The reduced role, I think, is a positive thing for the club, especially with the fact that (Schmitt) is here," said McCallum. "Schmitt has got, probably, the strongest leg in the league for punting and kickoffs. So, for me, I think thats a benefit for the club. So I only look at it as a positive, not a negative." B.C. coach Mike Benevides attempted to limit McCallums duties, and the wear and tear on his right leg last season by placing the since-departed Hugh ONeill on the active roster at the start of the campaign. ONeill, who had spent the previous two years on the Lions practice roster without getting into a regular-season game, handled all three duties in the pre-season and early in the regular season while McCallum was sidelined with a groin injury. Once McCallum returned, ONeill was assigned kickoff responsibilities, but it was difficult for the Lions to balance two Canadian kickers on the active roster with the ratio of imports and non-imports. ONeill fell out of favour and was released in mid-season because he would not agree to a contract extension. General manager Wally Buono was also not satisfied with his progress after three seasons in the organization. ONeill quickly signed with Edmonton and remains with the Eskimos. Upon releasing ONeill, the Lions brought back Steven Shott after cutting him in the pre-season. Shott, a 24-year-old Vancouver native, remains on the B.C. roster as a long-term prospect. But its anyones guess on when he or Schmitt will challenge McCallum for the full-time position booting field goals. "I think last year was a bit of a different situation," said McCallum. "I could understand the direction the club wanted to take last year, and I was willing to (accept) that last year. But last year, my thought process was that I wanted to compete for the job still. Now? No, I dont want to compete for that job. There is no real competition as far as leg strength goes." McCallum is a two-time CFL All-Star (2010, 2011) and took home the leagues most outstanding special teams player in 2011, when he connected on 50 of 53 field-goal attempts. He is one of just five players in the CFL or NFL to play in 20 or more seasons, and ranks as the only CFL kicker to record 10 or more consecutive seasons with a field goal success rate of 80 per cent or better. "I have, believe it or not, as a kicker, looked after my body," said McCallum. "Kicking is a mental game. So the whole aspect of going out and competing, I still have it there. Its not what it was when I first started playing, but I still believe that I still have enough leg strength to kick the important field goals at 50-yard-line." McCallum kicked 28 field goals on 33 attempts in 2013, with the longest coming from 47 yards. But Schmitt holds a distinct advantage in the punting department. He posted a 45-yard net average last season with the Roughriders on 136 attempts, and his punts are known for their long hang time. McCallums career average net punting yardage is 41.4. McCallum pledged to mentor Schmitt and Shott if they seek his advice. "I think Ive proven over the years that Im a team guy," said McCallum. "So if whoevers there is going to need some help, then Im willing to do that." Schmitt said he hopes to learn as much as he can from the veteran while helping both lead the league in every kicking statistical category. The former Roughrider attributed his departure from Saskatchewan to the CFLs import and non-import ratio after the first phase of free agency. "They lost a bunch of good Americans (at other positions)," said Schmitt, who played collegiately for NCAA Division II squad Shepherd in West Virginia and had could not stick with five NFL clubs. "We were in contract discussions but, ultimately, it just came down to the nature of the business." When asked if he wants to kick field goals for B.C. eventually, Schmitt, who handled all of his teams kicking duties in college, said he is willing to do whatever team asks. "I know that (McCallum) is going to be doing the field goals for as long as he can," said Schmitt. NFL Jerseys Outlet . Instead, Nonis and Kessel were sorting through the fallout of a wild melee with the Buffalo Sabres, one that saw Kessel suspended for the duration of the pre-season. NFL Jerseys Wholesale . -- Brady Heslip scored a season-high 20 points to help Baylor beat No. http://www.chinanfljerseyswholesale.net/. -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping .Y. -- Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney was mired in a shooting slump, and his woes coincided with a late-season swoon by the Orange. Wholesale Basketball Jerseys China .com) - Guess whos back, back again? Josh Gordons back, tell a friend.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Colorado Avalanche hope to carry their recent surge into December as they open a new month against the sliding Montreal Canadiens in Mondays battle at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won only four times in their first 17 games of the season, but Colorado has exceeded that win total during its recent 5-2-0 stretch. The hot stretch has last seasons Central Division champions on the cusp of .500 with a 9-10-5 record in 2014-15. Colorado hopes to keep heading in the right direction Monday when the Canadiens visit Denver trying to snap a three-game losing streak. Montreal is 0-2-1 during the slide and hasnt lost four straight since Jan. 18-25 of last season. Tonights tilt marks the fourth time Colorados Patrick Roy is facing his old team as a head coach. Roy, of course, led Montreal to a pair of Stanley Cup titles in 1986 and 1993 -- the franchises last championship -- before winning two more championships with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001. Roys Avs posted a 4-1 home win over the Habs on Nov. 2 of last season, but Montreal answered with two straight home wins, including a 3-2 regulation victory on Oct. 18. The Avalanche have dominated the Canadiens in Denver since moving to Colorado from Quebec City following the 1994-95 season, going 8-1-0 with a tie in the 10 all-time meetings in the Mile High City. Colorado is 1-1-0 on a three-game homestand that ends tonight. The Avs opened the set with a 3-2 loss to Chicago, but bounced back with Saturdays 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars. Alex Tanguay recorded a goal and two assists to help the Avs skate past the Stars. Tanguay has record at least one point in seven of his last nine games and has four goals and five assists during that stretch. It feels good, said Tanguay. Weve been working extremely hard, were trying to get better. Matt Duchene, Jarome Iginla, Danny Briere and Gabriel Landeskog added tallies for the Avalanche. Tyson Barrie picked up three assists and Calviin Pickard stopped 22 shots for the victory.dddddddddddd Pickard, a 22-year-old rookie, has earned the win in Colorados last three victories and will get the start again tonight. No. 1 goaltender Semyon Varlamov has sat out the last five games with a groin injury, but could return in the next game for the Avs when they visit Calgary on Thursday. After suffering consecutive regulation losses, Montreal was able to earn a point in Saturdays shootout loss against visiting Buffalo. The Canadiens were swept by the Sabres in a home-and-home series despite entering the set with a 19-point lead over Buffalo in the standings. The Sabres notched a 2-1 win over the Habs on Friday and recorded a 4-3 triumph the following night. Buffalos Brian Flynn tied the game late in the third period to force overtime and produced the lone goal of the shootout. After each teams first four shootout participants were unsuccessful, Tomas Plekanec followed suit for Montreal as Jhonas Enroth calmly turned aside his offering with a stick save. Flynn then put an end to the skills competition with a shot into an open net off a slick backhand-forehand deke past a sliding Dustin Tokarski. Brendan Gallagher, Max Pacioretty and Lars Eller all lit the lamp for Montreal, while Tokarski made 23 saves in defeat. Just before the game, the Canadiens announced they had signed Gallagher to a six-year, $22.5 million extension. The 22-year-old has picked up five goals and 12 points in 24 games this season and has 39 goals and 81 points over 149 career tests. Im really fortunate to be able to play in Montreal. This city is awesome, Gallagher told his teams website. Carey Price expects to start for the Canadiens tonight. The No. 1 netminder is 13-5-1 this season and owns a lifetime 2-2-1 record and 3.18 goals against average in five career games against the Avs. Montreal is kicking off a four-game road trip tonight and is 7-4-1 as the visiting team this season. ' ' '