SOCHI, Russia -- Mark Arendz recorded a first for Canada on the opening day of competition at the Paralympic Winter Games. Moses Malone Jersey . The 24-year-old from Hartsville, P.E.I., won a silver medal Saturday in the biathlon, the first Canadian ever to do so in the event. Arendz finished just .07 seconds behind gold medallist Vladislav Lekomtcev of Russia, who posted a winning time of 19 minutes 3.7 seconds. Russian Azat Karachurin finished third in 19:14.9. Arendzs coach, Robin McKeever, guided his brother and 10-time Paralympic medallist, Brian, to Canadas only other Paralympic medal in biathlon. They captured a bronze medal in the visually impaired 7.5-kilometre sprint discipline at the 2006 Paralympics in Turin, Italy. "It feels absolutely great and a big relief to get on the podium right away," said a beaming Arendz. "I fought as hard as I could, and it was such a close race at the end." It was one of three medals for Canada on the day. Josh Dueck of Kimberley B.C., also earned a silver medal in the mens downhill sit-ski. Mac Marcoux of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and guide Robin Femy of Mont-Tremblant, Que., claimed a bronze in the mens visually-impaired downhill. Dueck won his medal on the 10th anniversary of the freestyle skiing accident that landed him in a wheelchair. It was his second Paralympic medal after claiming a silver in slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games. "This is fantastic," Dueck said. "Im really about performance, and I took a fast line down the hill and took some chances and I got pretty lucky. "I crossed the line and was thrilled. Second is awesome." Kurt Oatway, of Calgary and Caleb Brousseau, of Terrace, B.C., were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the sit-ski category. Also, the Canadian sledge hockey team opened with a convincing 10-1 win over Sweden. Anthony Gale of Brampton, Ont., and Adam Dixon of Midland, Ont., led the way with two goals and two assists apiece. The Canadian team returns to action Sunday facing Norway. Four years ago, the Norwegians nipped Canada to win the bronze medal in Vancouver. And in wheelchair curling, Canada, the defending world champion, earned wins of 6-3 over Great Britain and 5-4 versus host Russia. The Canadians take on Sweden on Sunday. Arendz was fourth midway through the race but shot clean in his second stop at the range to begin his successful charge to a podium finish. "The plan was to shoot clean and I was focused on following that, but I missed that one target just slightly," said Arendz. "I thought I had it but a twitch of the finger and I just missed it. "I wasnt far off. I told myself to fight hard on that penalty loop to get over the penalty and finish strong." The course was slushy because of the warm weather, which created challenges for Arendz. "It is so warm and not really winter-like conditions so the course was really slowing down out there," he said. "The guys in the wax room did a great job on the skis. "I will celebrate this one with them." Russias Alena Kaufman shot clean en route to winning the womens standing class race. Caroline Bisson of Ottawa finished 14th. Margarita Gorbounova, also of Ottawa, and her guide, Andrea Bundon of Regina, were seventh in the six-kilometre womens visually impaired race. Milwaukee Bucks Shirts . -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt. Milwaukee Bucks Gear . -- Felix Girard scored on the power play in the third period to lift the Baie-Comeau Drakkar past the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday. https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/386t-andrew-bogut-jersey-bucks.html . But the young forward is more than willing to shed a little blood if thats what it takes to make the team this season. "It caught me pretty good, dazed me for that shift, but I didnt want to be off the ice for too long," he said after practice, his lip still bleeding a little despite the plastic stitches holding it together.TORONTO - When DeMar DeRozan was asked if there was anything positive to take away from such an ugly win as the Toronto Raptors victory over injury-riddled Oklahoma City on Tuesday, he wiped a hand over his exasperated brow.A win. Thats about it. A win, DeRozan said.Kyle Lowry wasnt quite so generous.Naw, I dont think so, Lowry said.DeRozan scored 16 points, and Lou Williams had nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Raptors defeated the Thunder 100-88 on Tuesday.But it wasnt before allowing Oklahoma City to have its way for most of the first half, and shoot 76 per cent in the opening quarter, despite playing with just eight men — none of them named Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook.Some time this year, were going to find some defence, from somebody, somewhere, coach Dwane Casey said. I dont know when, but Im going to find it.Patrick Patterson had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Tyler Hansbrough had 12 points, and Greivis Vasquez finished with 10 for Toronto (3-1), which was missing Amir Johnson for the second straight game (sore ankle).Weve just got to learn from it, we cant keep digging ourselves a hole, and expect to fight back and have everything fall in our hands, DeRozan said. We cant give teams hope. If thats making sure we make a stop the first three or four plays, dont give them no confidence, weve got to do that.Serge Ibaka virtually carried Oklahoma City (1-4), playing a whopping 46 minutes, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Lance Thomas had 14 points, while Reggie Jackson finished with 13.Casey had predicted the game would be a nightmare against a team he called a wounded animal, especially considering the Raptors have yet to play with the defensive effort he wants.Casey clearly knew what he was talking about as the Thunder was in the game until the dying minutes. Ive said this for weeks, we have no right to walk in and look at anybody and think its going to be an easy game, Casey said prior to tipoff.The Raptors took a narrow 73-70 lead into the fourth quarter, and didnt go up by double digits until Williams three-pointer with 9:23 to go put them up 83-72.We have to get better, and we will. We know were not doing as good as we want to do, Vasquez said. Were pissed. At ourselves. Because we should do better. Well take care of that.Toronto finally was able to cobble together a 16-point lead midway through the fourth, and while the Thunder pulled to within seven with three minutes to play, thats as close as they would come.Sebastian Telfair was callled for a flagrant foul and ejected with just under two minutes to play, leaving the Thunder to finish the game with just six men. Dave Cowens Jersey. (A right knee contusion had already taken Perry Jones out of the game early in the second half).Im really encouraged by the guys, said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. Last resort, Ill suit up with our guys. I would love to play with our guys. I love how they compete and thats the type of group I want to be associated with.Id love to do it as long as its not shirts and skins and Im skins. You dont want to see my flabby body, he added. But I love the guys effort. Thats what the game is all about.Injury-bitten Oklahoma City is off to its worst start since going 1-15 in 2008-09. Durant — who sat courtside in a stylish blue suit and a protective walking boot — has a broken right foot, while Westbrook has a broken right hand. The Thunder was also without starting guard Andre Roberson, who sprained his foot a night earlier in the Thunders 116-85 loss to Brooklyn.Still, it was the Raptors who staggered out to the lacklustre start. They allowed Oklahoma City to hit eight of their first nine shots of the game to take a nine-point lead. The Thunder, which shot 12 for 17 in the frame, went into the second leading 30-23.Ive told them until my eyes turn red. Theyve had that speech a lot, Casey said, on the Thunders high shooting percentage. Until it sinks in, its going to be a roller-coaster.The Raptors second unit, which Casey singled out as the one big positive on the night, pulled Toronto to within two points midway through the second, and then on Torontos last possession of the quarter, with 29 seconds on the clock, Lowry fired a pass from halfcourt to a soaring Ross who finished the alley-oop, sending the Raptors into the break trailing 52-51.A layup by Lowry just under a minute into the second half gave Toronto a one-point lead — the Raptors first lead since the opening two minutes of the game. A bucket by Hansbrough gave the Raptors a seven-point advantage with 1:23 to play, but the scrappy Thunder battled back to cut Torontos lead to 73-70 with a quarter left to play.The Raptors werent immune to the injury bug Thursday, losing Jonas Valanciunas just before halftime when he collided with someone and suffered a facial contusion.The Raptors were coming off a 107-102 loss at Miami on Sunday.The Raptors are in Boston on Wednesday to play the Celtics then back home to host the Washington Wizards on Friday and the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. ' ' '