Veteran skip Glenn Howard wasnt sure what to expect when he called on old friend Richard Hart to fill in as a substitute for a week last season. Jeffrey Leonard Jersey .Hart spent a number of successful campaigns on Howards team before stepping aside in 2011 to concentrate on the family business. He made a one-off return at a 2013 competition in Brockville, Ont., and was a pleasant surprise.He came out, hadnt played at all and played amazing, Howard recalled. He kind of amazed himself.A year later and the old teammates are back at it again, this time on a regular basis.Hart returned to Team Glenn Howard during a busy off-season loaded with big moves around the domestic mens curling scene.Howard suspected hed have to replace second Brent Laing, who ended up leaving the rink to join Team Kevin Koe. However, he wasnt expecting the departure of third Wayne Middaugh, who couldnt commit to a full-time schedule.I respect that (and) it was obviously very unfortunate to hear that, Howard said in a recent interview. I was somewhat devastated to lose him because hes unbelievable. One of the best curlers to have ever played.With lead Craig Savill still on board, Howard first turned his attention to finding Middaughs replacement. He landed Jon Mead from Jeff Stoughtons old team and quickly started work on adding a second. Unaware of the changes at the time, Hart sent Howard a text asking when he was going to announce his new lineup. He was surprised to learn that Middaugh was out at third and Mead was in.Hart let Howard know that hed love to return at second if there was interest. Howard said it would be a a no-brainer for him, but he wanted to touch base with his teammates before finalizing the move.Savill and Mead were both on board. Mead even suggested that Hart take his spot at third, given the history that Hart and Howard have together. I went, Wow. What a class act, Howard said of the gesture.Howard and Hart formed the back end of the Ontario rink that won national and world titles in 2007. Both have glowing resumes — Howard is a four-time Brier and world champion while Hart won Olympic silver at the 1998 Nagano Games with skip Mike Harris.Mead, meanwhile, won national titles with Stoughton in 1999 and 2011. They finished second at the 99 world championship and took gold at the 11 playdowns.An unbelievable curler. Hes done it all, Howard said of Mead. Arguably one of the best that ever played and now hes going to play second for me? Like, Cmon, its unbelievable.With his new rink intact, Howard and his teammates got together with family members for some team bonding at Harts cottage over the summer. A team camp session followed and they were soon back out on the ice.Strong team chemistry has been a constant with Howard and this lineup looks no different. The new-look team has played well from the start, reaching three straight semifinals at early-season events before falling to Olympic champion Brad Jacobs in a playoff tiebreaker at last weeks Masters.Jonny has fit in remarkably well, Howard said. Not a surprise by any stretch. Hes just a great guy, a great personality, he likes to have fun, hes got a great sense of humour which fits in on our team because we all do.Weve had a blast already and we really havent done anything yet. I think that the chemistry is going to be top notch and I dont expect that to change.Howard also described Harts return as seamless after three seasons away from the competitive scene.The team is working now to find that steady rhythm when it comes to things like releases, weight, timing and communication.You take it for granted with longtime teammates, Howard said. That is a little different now, so thats a bit of a learn thing. You cant really get that and put it in place until you play lots of games. So were going to be working on that and (by) the same token, as that goes on we want to win games.Annual provincial and national championships are still highlight events for teams, but the sports inclusion at the Winter Olympics has forced curlers to look at four-year cycles. Howard will be 55 when the Pyeongchang Olympics begin in 2018.I havent come out and said, Yeah Im going to do a four-year run, Howard said. But Im about 80-90 per cent Im going to just because I love the guys I have, I think Im capable, Im keeping myself personally in great shape.Im in the best shape Ive ever been in in my life and you have to at 52. And it is just a number.For now, the current season has his full attention as he aims to get back to the Brier.Sometimes a (lineup) change is great — this one kind of came out of nowhere, it wasnt designed by me by any stretch, Howard said. But changes are good. You feel renewed. I found I have a little more jump in my step because Ive got a new team.Howard won his first world title way back in 1987. He still has the same spark that he had when he was breaking into the sport decades ago.Im probably a little bit more excited than I have been in years just to see what this team can do, he said. Ive got high hopes and I think were going to do a lot of damage out on the tour this year.———Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter. Don Mcmahon Jersey . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. Hal Lanier Jersey . Formula One Teams Association secretary general Oliver Weingarten says the organization collapsed over unpaid subscription fees and a failure to strike an agreement for 2014 with all 11 teams. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/2796u-burch-smith-jersey-giants.html . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed.Leinster will put their 100 per cent record in the PRO12 semi-finals on the line when they face neighbours Ulster at a sold-out RDS, live on Sky Sports 3 HD. Fridays provincial derby will be Leinsters seventh semi-final appearance. They have won the previous six, while Ulster have won only once at the RDS in 12 attempts.However, Les Kisss side head to the Irish capital on the back of four successive victories, including a 30-6 drubbing of Leinster in Belfast on April 30. Four points separated the teams in the final PRO12 table and a close contest is predicted on Friday. Who will prevail? Lets look at some of the key battles which could decide this derby.Johnny Sexton v Paddy Jackson Paddy Jackson won his duel with Johnny Sexton in Belfast last month Jackson has lived in Sextons shadow at international level but got the better of his fellow fly-half during their recent encounter in Belfast, and broke away for a late interception try.The Ulsterman has raised his game another notch this season, bringing the best out of a talented backline and shouldering some of the responsibility normally placed on Ruan Pienaars shoulders. Another impressive showing in Dublin should see Jackson leapfrog Ian Madigan in the fly-half pecking order for Irelands tour of South Africa, but Sexton will be out to prove a point.The 30-year-old has forged a good understanding with Ben Teo and continues to use the wrap-around to good effect. Leinster rely heavily on Sexton to unlock opposition defences and Ulster will be in his face all night, although that is familiar territory for the seasoned international.Sexton was highly critical of Leinsters performance in Belfast last month and will be desperate to exact revenge on Friday.Ben Teo v Stuart McCloskey Ben Teo is off to Worcester this summer and international rugby with England Teo plays his final game on Irish soil for Leinster ahead of his big-money move to Worcester and he could not have asked for a tougher assignment.McCloskeys form this season earned him an Ireland debut at Twickenham during the Six Nations and he looks to have nailed down the No 12 jersey in a highly competitive Ulster backline. Stuart McCloskey made his Ireland debut during the Six Nations Both players are excellent gain-line options, McCloskey averaging 4.18 metres per carry in the PRO12, while Teo has the ability to terrorise opposition defences with his running lines and offloading ability.While Sam Burgess flopped in rugby union, fellow league convert Teo has thrived in the 15-man code. With England reportedly set to fast-track him into their squad, he and McClloskey could be facing off at international level in the near future. Joe Morgan Jersey. .Isa Nacewa v Jared Payne Jared Payne was among the tryscorers when Ulster defeated Leinster in Belfast last month Nacewa moves to full-back in place of the injured Rob Kearney and offers a different attacking threat to the Irishman at 15.The Leinster skipper has enjoyed a highly impressive comeback season and Ulster know any loose kicks will be punished by the 33-year-old. Jared Payne has been making up for lost time since his return from injury Paynes defensive attributes sees him start at outside centre for Ireland but he has been in scintillating form at full-back for Ulster since his return from the foot injury that ended his World Cup. He has scored four tries in as many PRO12 games, including one against Leinster last month.Both players are fantastic counter-attackers who rarely waste possession. Payne is excellent in the air while Nacewa has a quality kicking game; they will bring out the best in the players around them.Richardt Strauss v Rory BestRory Best took over the Ireland captaincy from Paul OConnell in this years Six Nations, but rather than being buoyed by the honour, the responsibility appeared to weigh the 33-year-old down.This weekend he has a chance for redemption as he goes head to head against the man who wants his Ireland jersey, Richardt Strauss. Rory Best of Ulster Strauss has played slightly more PRO12 than Best this season - less than an hour of playing time separates them - and their lineout statistics are identical, with both boasting an 87% success rate.The statistics that separate them is at the breakdown, where Strauss 11 turnovers outweighs Best with five, and tackles, with Strauss putting in 64 hits to Bests 43. Richardt Strauss Aside from those numbers, the hookers have been making a practically even contribution on the field, but which one will make the greater impact on the day?The Ireland skipper is in no immediate threat of losing his spot in the team, but Strauss will view Fridays game as an opportunity to prove his worth to Joe Schmidt and his coaching staff who will no doubt be watching on. Also See: Sky Live: Leinster v Ulster PRO12 semi-finals on Sky Fixtures and results Rugby Union on Sky ' ' '