The last six months have been a whirlwind for Kevin Dineen. In October he was coaching the NHLs Florida Panthers. But after being fired in November, he was named the Canadian womens team coach and guided the squad to a stirring fourth straight Olympic title in Sochi, Russia. Dineen is now with a third team, preparing the Canadian under-18 mens squad to defend its world title in Finland. "Its been (a whirlwind) but you know what, its a hockey life," Dineen said. "You have tough times with the lows, you get fired and its an emotional deal. "As I told the women before the gold medal game, I knew the day I was hired I had to be on my toes and it was kind of like someone lit a match under my fanny. I just really enjoyed that whole process. You never know how those things are going to end. "Just like this one, you dont know. Weve got to have some luck and have some things work in our favour but its not always about the ending. Its about the ride youre on, it really is." The 50-year-old Quebec City native will have plenty of international experience at his disposal when Canada begins its title defence Thursday against Sweden in Imatra, Finland. Thirteen players on the roster participated in last years under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Quebec while eight skated in this years under-17 event in Cape Breton, N.S. And nine players helped Canada win gold at the Ivan Hlinka tournament last summer. However, Dineens biggest challenge is quickly moulding his players into a tightly knit team. "Yes there are challenges like having to gel and find some chemistry in a timely manner," he said. "A lot of the European teams have been together for a while and the Americans are centralized all year so those teams have an advantage. "But thats what makes it fun putting this team together. These boys are really excited to represent Canada and that works in our favour. Theyre sharp kids." And big, with 14 players being six feet or taller. But its still a team, Dineen says, that can excel on the larger international ice surface. "Even though I talk about our size, that does not in any way take away from our skill," Dineen said. "I think were a team that has some skill and I believe we can compete with any team. "That makes it enjoyable to have those guys who can play the game anyway we need to play to have success." Dineen is familiar with international hockey. He played for Canada six times, claiming world championship silver medals in 85 and 89 and winning the 87 Canada Cup. The 19-year NHL veteran also wore the Maple Leaf at the 84 Winter Games. In December, he joined a national womens program stinging from coach Dan Churchs sudden resignation and having lost four straight pre-Olympic tuneups to the archrival United States. In Russia, Canada beat the Americans twice, including a thrilling 3-2 overtime decision in the gold medal game after trailing 2-0 late in regulation. "If you were going to ride a roller-coaster and go the top, I couldnt have done better than that," Dineen said. "I had a pretty good buzz for about three weeks after Sochi, just enjoying it and the enjoyment people got out of that tournament. "Thats a special moment for Canada and you can compound that a lot for me and the players as well." Since Sochi, Dineen has been overwhelmed by people anxious to share their Olympic experience. That includes former NHL goalie Fred Brathwaite, now an assistant coach on the under-18 squad. "He was telling me he was on Highway 401 driving to a game and couldnt watch but found it on the radio," Dineen said. "After we scored in overtime, there was like 50 people around him all honking their horns. "A fireman from Hamilton told me how they were so mad they had to leave on a call during the game and when they returned there was skiing on TV. They thought theyd missed it but it was just the holdover until overtime. The next thing you know, the whole firehouse was watching and went bonkers. "When you hear those stories -- and Ive heard literally hundreds and will never tire of anybodys story -- its pretty special. Im not afraid to share those experiences with these boys." Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Point, a late cut from last years team, said Dineen has quickly made an impression on his young players. "Hes an awesome guy," said the 18-year-old Calgary native. " Hes got real good systems and hes really good with the players. "Everyone respects him a ton and its real easy to learn from him." Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Roland McKeown, a returnee from last years squad, said Dineens message is a simple one. "Hes preaching the Canadian way," McKeown said. "At the Olympics you saw how dominant the mens and womens teams were and that was doing it the Canadian way with hard work, that two-way game and everyone buying into a role. "Thats what were going to do." The six-foot-one 195-pound McKeown, an 18-year-old native of Listowel, Ont., hopes last years experience helps him become a key contributor this time. "Last year proved every guy has to take a role and buy in to win a championship," he said. "I gained a lot of experience from the guys who were here last year and want to use that to take a leadership role with this team." Dineen has taken an unplanned detour to land behind the under-18 teams bench, but hes a better coach because of it. "I coached six years in the American Hockey League and always took pride in being able to work with either veterans or young players but these guys are all young," Dineen said. "That really makes it enjoyable because theyre a good bunch. "To me, thats one of the advantages, just coming here and working with these players. Youre getting better every day and thats a good thing for me." 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While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg.(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers can thank a six-game winning streak for getting them back into the playoff mix and hope to stay in contention Sunday in the finale of a four-game series versus the LA Angels of Anaheim. The Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays are tied for the second wild card spot in the American League and sit a game behind the Cleveland Indians. If the Rangers win and the Rays lose on Sunday, Texas will clinch the second spot and visit the Indians for Wednesdays wild card game. Cleveland won the tiebreaker. If the Rangers and Rays both win Sunday and the Indians lose, Cleveland will host the Rays on Monday, with the loser of that game facing the Rangers in Texas on Tuesday. Texas extended its winning streak with Saturdays 7-4 win over the Angels, as a four-run second inning gave the hosts some breathing room. Craig Gentry had two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Alex Rios and A.J. Pierzynski each drove in a run for the Rangers, who took advantage of five Anaheim errors. "All this is great, and all this is fun and all this wont matter if we dont win tomorrow," Pierzynski said of the playoff race. "We still got to win tomorrow. Thats the biggest thing. To get through today, especially with the weather coming on and an 11 a.m. kickoff, it was good." The Rangers and Angels were originally scheduled to play in the evening, but a storm in the Arlington area forced the schedule makers to adjust the game time. Rangers starter Derek Holland struggled on the mound and allowed four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings for a no-decision. Joakim Soria tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win and Joe Nathan nailed down his 43rd save in the ninth. Yu Darvish gets the call for the Rangers Sunday. Darvish is only 1-44 in his previous five decisions and did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, when he struck out nine and scattered four runs across 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball.dddddddddddd Darvish, who has fanned at least nine batters in five of his last nine starts, is 13-9 with a 2.82 earned run average in 31 starts. The right-hander has faced the Angels nine times in his career, going 6-1 with a 3.83 ERA, and has won all three meetings with them this season. The Angels will close out their disappointing season Sunday and have lost three in a row and five of their last seven games. After landing coveted free agent slugger Josh Hamilton to join forces with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, the Angels failed to live up to expectations. Now Angels manager Mike Scioscia could be on the way out. In Saturdays setback at the Ballpark, Angels starter Garrett Richards allowed six runs, three of which were earned, and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. "Were going to try to come back tomorrow and beat these guys, and hopefully end the year on a positive note," said Richards. Erick Aybar highlighted the Angels offense with three hits and three runs scored and Trout was credited with a pair of RBI. Toeing the rubber for the Halos Sunday will be Jason Vargas. Vargas ended a four-game winless drought (0-2) with a shutout versus Oakland on Tuesday. In the 3-0 victory that lifted Vargas record to 9-7 in 23 starts with a 4.01 ERA, the right-hander scattered four hits, struck out five and walked one. Vargas is 4-6 in 18 lifetime matchups (16 starts) with the Rangers and has no record and a 2.89 ERA in three starts this season. Texas is 14-4 versus the Angels this season and has won seven in a row against them in Arlington. ' ' '