USA Luge had a breakout season last winter, winning a team-record 18 medals on the World Cup circuit.Of those, only three came in Europe.Winning on familiar tracks in the U.S. and Canada was an important and considerable step forward for the program -- and now the Americans are hoping some of that success can be enjoyed more frequently on the other side of the Atlantic. The first chance at that comes Saturday, when the World Cup season opens in Winterberg, Germany.Our team had a lot of success in North America last year, U.S. mens veteran Chris Mazdzer said. We almost had a lot of success in Europe. We had a lot of fourth-place finishes. We were really close to medaling a lot of times ... and the goal is to take those fourth places and try to climb one or two spots on the ladder.Mazdzer had two of those three World Cup medals from European stops last season, including a silver in Winterberg in the circuits finale. That marked the third straight year of USA Luge leaving Winterberg with a medal, after Tucker West took bronze in the 2014-15 season and the Americans took silver in the team relay in 2013-14.Traditionally, German tracks havent been particularly kind to the Americans. Theyre hoping the trend of success in Winterberg continues this weekend.Were crossing our fingers for nice weather, said Erin Hamlin, the former womens world champion and the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist at the Sochi Games. But other than that, its keeping things rolling in the same direction theyve been going, getting equipment dialed in and staying healthy. And for me, enjoying it and getting the season started.Winterberg is the lone stop on this European trip, before the circuit comes back to the tracks the Americans know best.After this weekend, the next three World Cups are in Lake Placid, New York; Whistler, British Columbia; and Park City, Utah. On the two American tracks last season, the U.S. won 11 medals.So some early success could lead to plenty of momentum, as sliders start really ramping up for the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.Everyone starting right now is thinking Olympics, how to get there and how to be the best for that time, Mazdzer said. So even though, yes, theres World Cups every week, I think a lot of people are on an Olympic mindset. A lot of important decisions are going to be made in the next year and a half, and were going to have to push each other to be the best possible.That being said, the U.S. might not be at its best this weekend health-wise, particularly on the womens side.Emily Sweeney has been dealing with a wrist issue that is impeding the way she starts races -- and the start is critical in luge, though she still won some preseason races despite the injury. Summer Britcher, who was fifth and one spot behind Hamlin in the overall womens World Cup points standings last season, has been slowed by a shoulder problem.I dont know about Summer, but for myself, Im not expecting a huge number, Sweeney said. Id be happy with something less than what I would be expecting if I was healthy. For now, its more about just getting into that race atmosphere and feeling like the season is finally here.---This story has been corrected to show that the World Cup season opens in Winterberg, not Altenberg, Germany. Discount Yeezy Store . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Clearance Yeezy For Sale . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. https://www.yeezychina.us/ . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Wholesale Yeezy China . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Fake Yeezy Online . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie.Manchester City lacked urgency and desire at Southampton and they have short-changed their supporters with a season of abject performances, according to Graeme Souness. Manuel Pellegrinis men were comprehensively beaten at St Marys as Sadio Manes hat-trick inspired the Saints to a 4-2 victory on Super Sunday.Kelechi Iheanachos stunning two-goal cameo was the only positive note for the travelling City supporters, who Souness sympathised with. And the Sky Sports pundit believes the display on the south coast was a microcosm of Citys season, a season where the best-equipped team in the league have fallen way short of the pace.Those players deserve extreme criticism for the thousands of fans who travelled from Manchester to watch that performance, where players were putting in 75 percent effort, Souness said.For players to pick and choose when to give 100 percent is not acceptable, and that 90 minutes typifies Citys season. They have not been at it enough times this year. Sadio Manes hat-trick guided Southampton to an assured victory There was no urgency, no desire and for Southampton to win as easily as they did - having 40 percent possession - tells you something is not right.They just didnt do anything right. They played like it was a five-a-side game that didnt really matter and thats alarming. That is why City havent won the league this year.The one outstanding player they had, the one who continually wanted the ball, the one who ran forward with the ball and sometimes put his foot in, was a 19-year-old boy. Kelechi Iheanachos stunning individual performance was the only positive for City At any level, that game was wrong and Man City, no matter what happens between now and the end of the season, have not had a good season.They may end up winning the Champions League but theyve short-changed their supporterss far too many times this year.dddddddddddd.Theyve got the best group of players but theyve not been consistent and, for whatever reason, theyve failed to turn up too many times and have been disappointing to their supporters. Theyve got the best group of players but theyve not been consistent... theyve failed to turn up too many times and have been disappointing to their supporters. Graeme Souness on Manchester City City undoubtedly had one eye on Wednesdays Champions League semi-final second leg at Real Madrid, as Pellegrini made eight changes ahead of kick-off.And the team selection came back to haunt the Chilean as the defeat saw City miss the chance to pull clear of Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification, with the Blues now just four points clear of their rivals in fifth, having played a game more.And Souness voiced his concern at Citys chances to seal qualification for incoming boss Pep Guardiola. Manuel Pellegrinis wholesale changes cost City at St Marys City were obviously off the pace because of the big game in midweek, but a lot of those players wont be involved in that and you can see why, he added.They have the best group of players but too many times, theyve not shown the correct attitude or the desire has not been there.Theyve left the door open to Manchester United and, with games against Arsenal and Swansea, they are not certainties to qualify for the Champions League next year, which is massive with Pep Guardiola waiting in the wings.That was a poor performance today by City, in every shape and every form. Also See: Southampton 4-2 Manchester City Pellegrini defends team selection Race for the top four As it happened ' ' '