VANCOUVER -- A new chapter in the Vancouver Canucks goaltending saga is about to unfold at the NHL clubs training camp. But this one is not specifically about Roberto Luongo or another crease crusader. Instead, it involves rookie centre Bo Horvat, the clubs top pick in this years NHL draft. Horvat will get a chance to make an impression Friday as the Canucks hold their first on-ice workouts after on-ice testing Thursday at UBC and off-ice evalutions on Wednesday at Rogers Arena. Horvat, an 18-year-old Rodney, Ont., native, was selected with the ninth overall pick that the Canucks acquired in a trade from the New Jersey Devils for goaltender Cory Schneider. But Horvat is trying not to get caught up in the hype surrounding the deal, which resulted after Schneider was expected to remain as No. 1 and Luongo anticipated for more than a year that he would be dealt. Horvats future will determine the return on the Schneider trade. But, aside from the pleasure of being wanted in a high-profile trade, the rookie tries not to think too much about the deal. "Its always going to be in the back of your mind, its always going to be brought up everywhere," said Horvat, who had 33 goals and 28 assists with the London Knights of the OHL last season. "But I just try to be positive about it." The six-foot 206-pound centre is among few prospects expected to merit serious consideration for permanent NHL employment with Vancouvers veteran-laden club. "I just want to play the best I can," said Horvat. "You always want to take that spot. You always want to make the team in your first year, but whatever happens, happens. Its a win-win, I think, just for me. Ive got the Memorial Cup to fall back on." Horvats junior club, the London Knights will host the Canadian major junior championship tournament. He is also a candidate for Canadas entry at the world junior championships during the Christmas holidays. If Horvat does not crack the Canucks lineup, he must return to junior because he is too young to play in the minors under the terms of the NHLs collective bargaining agreement. But a roster opening to shoot for after fourth-line centre Max Lapierre left the Canucks via free agency and the third line middle spot is in flux as Jordan Schroeder attempts to come back from off-season shoulder surgery. "I just try not to think about it too much," he said. "I just try to go out there and play my game; and whatever happens, happens. Obviously, I know that theres a spot open. But you just keep that in the back of your mind and go out there and play your game and show them what you can do." Horvat made his first audition before new coach John Tortorella in the on-ice tests. Tortorella deployed short skating tests that mirror shifts in a game. The coach, who has pledged to try and integrate young players into the lineup, said he is looking forward to seeing Horvat in action. The difficult time tests offered an early idea of the arduous workouts that Canucks rookies and veterans will face in coming days. "It was a pretty good (bag skate) -- thats for sure," said Horvat. "But it was good to get it over with, and Im glad I did it." He fared well in a group with veterans Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Zack Kassian. "Youve got the Sedins trailing you, and theyre pushing the pace, and Kass was out there in my group, too," he said. "It was not always like that back in junior." It was not like that at a recent prospects tournament in Penticton, B.C., either where Horvat scored on his second shift in the tournament that included Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks draft picks and farmhands as well as free agent hopefuls on tryouts with the clubs. Tortorella was not in Penticton, so Horvats first real test before the new bench boss will occur in a scrimmage Friday. Horvat just wants to play his best as pre-season games approach, but realizes his best will have to be better than it was in Penticton. "Youre up against men now and youre up against a lot of veterans now who have been there and played in the league and been through it all," he said. "So its definitely going to be a lot tougher, but Im looking forward to getting going." Notes--Tortorella indicated it was too soon to get an impression of Horvat, but Hunter Shinkaruk, the clubs other first-round pick (24th overall), piqued his interest with his skating ability. ... Goaltenders worked out separately with goaltending coach Roland Melanson and consultant Dan Cloutier while other position players went through their tests. Brian McCann Braves Jersey . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. Dansby Swanson Jersey . 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In doing so, he hopes to take a page from womens bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey by filming movies between bouts. "Ronda Rousey was in The Expendables 3, then she fought Miesha Tate, then she did Entourage and now shes doing Fast & Furious 7," Johnson told UFC.ca during a phone interview. "So shes found the perfect balance in her career. "I mean, who knows, I might be a horrible actor. The only way to find out is if you try it." Johnson admitted his desire to explore the silver screen is at least partly due to his lengthy layoff between fights. The 125-pound kingpins most recent outing saw him deliver one of the most vicious knockouts of 2013, when he starched Joseph Benavidez with a beautifully-timed right hook in December. He now looks to net his fourth consecutive title defence when he meets heavy-handed striker Ali Bagautinov in the main event of UFC 174 in Vancouver, B.C. June 14. Johnson said he could easily jump from a film set back into full-time training without missing a beat. "I think Im ready for it," said Johnson. "I could go act for maybe two months and then Ive got another four months to get ready for a fight, which is way more time than I need. So theres a lot of downtime between my fights and it doesnt hurt to look into doing different things. "Obviously there werent a lot of No. 1 contenders in the division with me beating Joseph, John Dodson, John Moraga and Ian McCall. So there wasnt a No. 1 contender. I think the UFC wanted to put me on ice a little bit. I fought three times last year — thats more than any other champion recently." Though growing his name value is a big motivator, Johnsons key focus remains providing for his family. This past July, he and his wife, Destiny, welcomed their first-born son, Tyren. Of course, should Mighty Mouses star continue to rise, further stability for his loved ones will surely follow. Johnson said he hasnt let the pressures of fatherhood encroach upon his duties as champion. "My wife is a stay-at-home mother and she does a fantastic job watching my son while Im training," Johnson said. "She knows how important my training is when Im getting ready for my fights. So it hasnt really changed a lot. Obviously when Im out of the gym and at home Im hands-on with my son and spending time with family. Other than that, it really hasnt changed. "Obviously you want to train your butt off. That way you can make good money and provide for them. Other than that, its my career and Ive been doing it for a long time now. So now having anotherr mouth to feed makes it a little more serious, but I try not to let the emotion of that get to me.ddddddddddddI try to go out there and do my best." When it comes to establishing himself as a draw in mixed martial arts, UFC 174 could represent a watershed moment for Johnson. The card marks his first time headlining a pay-per-view event. Thankfully for Johnson his name has been bolstered by three stunning performances on FOX cards in 2013. On top of knocking out Benavidez, he topped Dodson in a thrilling war and dispatched Moraga with a slick fifth-round armbar. Johnson feels his showings on FOX will translate to pay-per-view buys, but said his biggest concern is simply getting the job done against Bagautinov. "I just try not to think about it and let it happen naturally," said Johnson. "Obviously this is my first pay-per-view and I hope it sells very well, but at the end of the day Im just going to go out there, fight and compete. Hopefully people want to tune in and watch me fight. Its going to be a great fight. Ali Bagautinov is a great fighter and is coming off a three-fight win streak in the UFC." A talented Combat Sambo fighter, Bagautinov has been on a tear since debuting with the UFC in September. Following an impressive TKO victory against Marcos Vinicius, he secured consecutive decision wins over Tim Elliott and John Lineker to earn a flyweight title shot. Johnson said he and Bagautinov will give fans their moneys worth. "Hes a great fighter and always comes ready to fight," Johnson stated. "He has great wrestling and hits hard. Hes ready to try and take my title. Its going to make for a good fight because I dont go down easy. I dont go down without a fight and I think that right there is good enough for people to tune in." ----- The mixed martial arts world is still buzzing following newly-crowned UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaws spectacular upset over Renan Barao. Despite being a heavy underdog going into UFC 173 this past Saturday, Dillashaw put on a striking clinch en route to a fifth-round TKO victory. Though many were shocked by Dillashaws dismantling of Barao, UFC flyweight titleholder Demetrious Johnson was hardly surprised by the outcome. "I knew Dillashaw was going to bring a fight like that," Johnson told UFC.ca. "Thats how Dillashaw fights all the time. Dillashaw, out of the Team Alpha Male guys, hes one of the best fighters. He puts it together very well with the wrestling, feints, movement, angles — he does that all very well. So I kind of knew when he was going in to fight Renan Barao that it was going to be a great fight. I knew T.J. was going to bring the fight to him. "Youve seen with Renan Baraos last opponents they kind of wait back and respect him, but I knew T.J. was going to go fight him. Youve seen it in all his previous fights." ' ' '