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Veteran skip Kevin Martin will have a much different lineup if he decides to return for another season on the mens curling circuit. Team second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert plan to leave Martins rink after this season to join reigning national champion Kevin Koe. Its the first major move of whats expected to be an off-season loaded with significant roster changes. As for the 47-year-old Martin, who has national, world and Olympic titles on his glowing resume, he plans to take some time after the season to consider his future plans. "I cant confirm that Im looking for a new roster," Martin told The Canadian Press on Wednesday from Napa Valley, Calif. "But I can confirm that Marc and Ben are going to curl with Kev, yeah. I havent decided if Im going to curl again at all." The timing of the news is less than ideal for Koe and his current lineup of third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen, who will try to put the distraction aside as they prepare to play at the world championship in Beijing this Saturday. Koe preferred to keep his focus on the upcoming competition and respectfully declined comment. Rycroft, whose wife is pregnant, has already said hell be taking a year off from the sport after this season. Simmons and Thiessen were not available for comment and their future plans remain unclear. Hebert declined comment and a message left with Kennedy was not immediately returned. Martin said it was unfortunate that the news surfaced during the season and before the world championship. "I sure wish none of this stuff (came) out," he said. "Im not exactly sure how it did but its too bad." With the Olympic season nearly complete, several roster changes are expected as teams prepare for the next four-year cycle. Team Brad Jacobs, which won gold at the Sochi Games last month, will be one of the rinks to beat next season. Whats uncertain at this time is what ripple effect the new Koe lineup might have on teams throughout the country. The 2014-15 season isnt necessarily critical as rinks start to look ahead to the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but the sooner that players can lock in the better. Martin, Kennedy and Hebert teamed with John Morris to win Tim Hortons Brier titles in 2008 and 2009, going undefeated en route to the championship each year. They also won Olympic gold at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. Morris left the team almost a year ago and later joined Jim Cotters B.C. rink. Morris was replaced by Dave Nedohin and the current Martin lineup has enjoyed a strong season. Martin wasnt surprised at the pending departure of two of his teammates since they want to position themselves for the next Olympic cycle. "Having teams change and personnel change, thats just part of sport," he said. "Thats not unusual I dont think. Its just unfortunate that any of these changes -- and there are a lot of changes that are going to happen this year -- happen before the end of the (season). That should definitely happen in May." Martin added the moves make "perfect sense" for Kennedy and Hebert. The veteran skip expects to decide on his own future plans by the end of June. There is still one major event left on the curling calendar -- the April 15-20 season-ending Grand Slam Players Championships in Summerside, P.E.I. That competition was already shaping up to be an emotional one with Alison Kreviazuks announcement this week that it will be her last competition with Team Rachel Homan. The longtime second has decided to move to Sweden to be with her boyfriend. Joanne Courtney of Val Sweetings rink will join Homan, lead Lisa Weagle and third Emma Miskew next season. Homan is the reigning national champion and won silver at the world championship last weekend. Blue Jays Jerseys China . Orlando is to begin play in the MLS for the 2015 season. Kaka, who currently plays with AC Milan, is expected to be loaned out to his home club Sao Paulo for the upcoming season before joining Orlando for next season. Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys .J. -- Kyle Palmieri thrilled his personal rooting section with an overtime winner that sent the Anaheim Ducks to their seventh straight win. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . - The Florida Panthers are getting some Army training to finish off their preparations for the season. Fake Blue Jays Jerseys . -- J.R. Sweezy was the one part of the Seattle Seahawks offensive line that had avoided injuries or having to change positions this season. Stitched Blue Jays Jerseys . The Mavericks avoided a season sweep by the Nuggets, who ran away with a win in Denver two weeks ago to hand Dallas its longest losing streak at three games. Dallas (42-28) got a boost in the playoff race when Miami rallied from seven down in the last 3 1/2 minutes to beat Memphis 91-86 Friday night.SOCHI, Russia - Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the inaugural Russian Grand Prix on Sunday, leading a 1-2 finish for Mercedes that clinched its first Formula One constructors title and stretched his lead in the championship.Nico Rosberg placed second despite having to pit early in the race but now trails his teammate by 17 points in the drivers standings, with three races remaining.Hamilton, who was fastest in practice and qualifying, won his fourth straight race and his ninth of the season. He was presented the winners trophy by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had pushed for his country to have a Formula One race.Weve had an amazing week, Russias been so good to me, Hamilton said from the podium.It was kind of surreal for the president to be presenting the award, he added later.The British driver started from pole but lost the lead when Rosberg beat him to the first corner. But Rosberg had to brake hard, ruined his tires, cut a corner and was then told by his team to let Hamilton back into the lead because he had gained an unfair advantage.Rosberg replied: I have to box because of the vibrations.After pitting to change tires, he was told by the team hed have to go the rest of the race on that set.Hamilton took the flag 13.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg. Valtteri Bottas was third in a Williams, 17.4 seconds back.I was looking after the tires, managing the fuel, it was pretty straight-forward, Hamilton said. I really enjoyed the race and Russia has been one of my favourite races.Hamilton became only the fourth driver in Formula One history to win nine races in a season. He equaled Nigel Mansells record of 31 victories for a British driver. The other three with nine or more wins in a season were Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Mansell.Rosberg said he was angry at himself for making the mistake.It was unnecessary. I braked too hard, too late. The tires were square. I thought that was the end of the day for me, the Gerrman said.dddddddddddd But the other half of me is so happy for the team, we are dominating the sport now.Bottas kept close to Hamilton until he began to lose pace about a third into the race.The rear tires started to lose pace and then Nico got me, I didnt expect him to come from inside in turn one, the Finn said.A ceremony to open the circuit included Cossack dancers with sabers and javelins and Russian Air Force jets drawing hearts in the sunny sky with their jet streams.The Sochi Autodrom in this Black Sea resort was built around the Olympic Park used in February during the Winter Games, another project personally supported by Putin.Also before the race, the drivers united to send a message of support to their injured colleague Jules Bianchi, who is fighting for his life following an accident at the Japanese Grand Prix one week ago.The 21 drivers gathered together on the grid shortly before the start and were joined by Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone and international federation president Jean Todt.They stood behind the words Jules, we are all supporting you inscribed into the grid.Ecclestone later welcomed Putin as the Russian president arrived at the circuit about one hour into the race.Jenson Button and Kevin Magnusson came in fourth and fifth, respectively, in the two McLarens. Fernando Alonso was sixth in his Ferrari, with Daniel Ricciado and four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel following in their Red Bulls. The Red Bull team surrendered the constructors title.Congratulations to Mercedes on the title, they deserve it, Vettel said. Vettel is leaving Red Bull at the end of the season but has not announced his new team.The ninth 1-2 for Mercedes this season is one short of McLarens 1988 record.Its been a dominant season by them, so hats off to them, Ricciardo said.There are 100 points at stake in the last three races of the season — in the United States, Brazil and the double-pointer Abu Dhabi. ' ' '