les first child, due at the start of the season.A little cowboy on the way, Elliott said.

Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie is trying to treat Thursdays game against Elon like any other. That might not be so easy, because McCallies daughter, Maddie, plays for the Phoenix.Ive always known the game was on the schedule, but it always seemed so far off. Well, now its here, the coach said.Elons a great school. Elons a little mini Duke, she added. We pay them money and that helps their program, so it made sense. I felt it was the right thing.But the rarity of coaching against her daughter, a reserve guard at Elon, wasnt lost on McCallie.Its a good story, she said. I feel honored for my family. I also have two nieces who play Division I basketball.Maddie McCallie is just excited for the chance to play at No. 21 Duke in its famous home building, Cameron Indoor Stadium.Its going to be a great atmosphere and a lot of fun to play in Cameron, Maddie McCallie said. Its a little weird seeing my mom right there on the sideline, but overall its another game.As much as the McCallies downplayed their mother-daughter matchup, it is definitely unusual. Cal State Bakersfield coach Greg McCall has gone against his daughter, Erica, twice over the last two seasons when his team played Stanford.Although college players often play for their coaching parents, McCallie was happy her daughter chose Elon after transferring from Miami, Ohio, a few years ago.Im really proud of her and shes at the right place for her, McCallie said. I think its unique. One thing it speaks to, as much as Id like Maddie on my team and she could have been, its really important to let your kids do their own thing. It would be fun; I didnt think it was something that would help her develop. A lot of parents dont know how to step away, and try to over-coach their kids. The best thing you can do is love them and step away and let other people coach them.Elon is only about 45 minutes from Duke, so McCallie has gone to see her daughter play a few times this year. Because the teams are scheduled to face each other, she had Maddie ask Elon coach Charlotte Smith for permission to attend.Maddie had both her parents in the stands on Sunday. Hours after Duke upset No. 3 South Carolina, they were cheering on Elon against North Carolina.They have five seniors this year and are a terrific team, McCallie said. We talk often, but mostly not about basketball. Its mostly about family. Shes really proud of her team. She was a starter last year and comes off the bench now. Im really proud of her.While mother and daughter both know where they will be on Thursday, a big question will be where Joanne McCallies husband, John, sits and who he supports.I have a feeling that my dad will support me, Maddie McCallie said, laughing. Both ways are kind of weird to think about and both ways are kind of exciting. My dad will probably be supporting the Elon team and be sitting behind our bench.John McCallie, an economics professor at North Carolina, said its going to be a very tough choice.I havent decided on what to wear or where to sit yet, he said in a phone interview Monday. Definitely going to have both colors on.As far as which team hell be rooting for, that one was easy.Im definitely pulling for a Duke win, he said. After all, we just got ranked and would like to keep that. It is going to be exciting, though. Im really proud of Maddie and what shes done forging her own path.Nicholls State coach DoBee Plaisance knows what the McCallies will be going through. She faced her daughter, Theresa, in 2010 when she was a freshman at LSU. The game was billed as a mother-daughter matchup, and the coach got LSU to take the hour-long trip to Thibodaux, Louisiana.Six years later, Coach Plaisance still gets emotional talking about it.I remember the game like it was yesterday, she said. It was for me a very emotional, passionate struggle. There was a struggle from the onset. Scheduling the game, I didnt want to do it. It was emotional for me for a while. Did I do right for the team? Did I show both teams respect?Her daughter had eight points, five rebounds and three assists in the 88-35 victory by LSU. The Nicholls State coach has a framed photo of a postgame hug with her daughter in her office, a constant reminder of a special day.The look on my face was a relief that it was over with, said DoBee Plaisance, a court coach for McCallie at USA Basketball in 2006. I hope Joanne has the same relief when her game is done.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Maury Wills Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Clayton Kershaw Jersey . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. http://www.ladodgersprostore.us/Sandy-Koufax-dodgers-jersey/ . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Chris Taylor Womens Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Babe Herman Jersey . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. CALGARY, Alberta -- Brian Elliott was eager to get back in the rink on a hot summer day. After years of fending off challengers in St. Louis, the goalie has big expectations entering next season as the unquestioned No. 1 in Calgary.This is a big one for me, so Im really looking forward to it, Elliott said when introduced to the media on Wednesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Sometimes you want that extra bit of summer to relax and enjoy your downtime, but now Ive gotten really excited to get the pads back on and ready to get back at it.The?Flames?acquired the 31-year-old Elliott from the?Blues?on the night of the NHL draft for a second-round pick. Elliott and his wife, Amanda, were on vacation in Croatia at the time.When I got the news, it was 2 oclock in the morning and I saw my phone lighting up, Elliott said. I didnt go back to sleep after that, I was so excited.Elliott has the second-highest save percentage in the league among goalies who have played at least 50 games over the past five seasons at .925, just behind New Jerseys Cory Schneider (.926).Yet as well as he performed over that five-year period in St. Louis, he never seemed to fully gain the trust of the coaching staff that kept trying other options. He gave way to Jaroslav Halak in one postseason, and?Ryan Miller was brought in to be the guy in another. Two years ago, the Blues turned to Jake Allen in the playoffs.To have that good of numbers and not get the opportunity to be the No. 1 guy, sometimes its frustrating, Elliott said. But Ive always believed if you worked hard, put your head down and plowed through it, opportunities will pop up for you.ddddddddddddLast year, the Flames trio of Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo and Joni Ortio collectively ranked last in the NHL in goaltending.Calgary will turn to two new goalies, as veteran backup Chad Johnson?also was signed as a free agent.Elliott was selected by 291st overall by Ottawa in the 2003 draft. He has played 323 career games (165-99-32) with the?Senators,?Colorado Avalanche?and?Blues.He said hes ready for this next chapter.Its talked about a lot with goaltenders. It just takes longer to develop. You have to go through those experiences just to be able to be that consistent player and not really feel the ups and downs and the roller coaster of a season, he said. Just stay calm. Trust your game, trust your work and just go out and play. It takes time to learn that.Calgary general manager Brad Treliving said that while Elliotts on-ice performance was important, the Flames also really liked the fit off the ice.The numbers speak for themselves, but a big part of us going out and getting Brian is also the person, Treliving said. We talked to players that played with him, teammates that have had him, coaches that have coached him. The work ethic, the type of person that he is in the locker room, the teammate stood out as much as the goaltender stood out.Also on hand at the Saddledome was Elliotts wife, who is pregnant with the couples first child, due at the start of the season.A little cowboy on the way, Elliott said.