TORONTO -- If the Toronto Argonauts are going to defend their CFL title, theyre going to have to do it without their Grey Cup MVP. Chad Kackert underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a broken ankle and is done for the year, the final blow in a season full of them for the Argos explosive running back. If the Argos can take any measure of comfort into Sundays East Division final versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, its that theyve been in this spot for the better part of the season -- having to make do without the player who led them to Grey Cup glory a year ago. "All injuries are frustrating," Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said after Tuesdays walk-through. "From his perspective it was very disappointing, it was a tough year for him with the injuries and finally felt like he was getting healthy, finally felt like he was getting his chance to get in there and do what he wanted to do all year. "Our team is very disappointed for him, but its football, but youve got to rally, and weve got guys who fortunately have played well." Milanovich said he will rely on backups Jerious Norwood and Curtis Steele to fill in for Kackert, and -- regrettably for Kackert -- it wont be the first time. The speedy running back missed 10 of 18 games this season after injuring his knee and shoulder (twice), plus suffering a concussion. The five-foot-eight, 206-pound Kackert was still Torontos leading rusher this season, running for 480 yards on 71 carries (6.8-yard average) with three touchdowns. The former New Hampshire star added 23 catches for 184 yards and a TD. A season hed surely love to forget finally came to a crashing halt Friday afternoon when he injured his ankle at practice at Rogers Centre. The disappointment in losing Kackert is tempered, Milanovich said, by the fact other players have stepped up all season when others have been hurt. "Absolutely, (Norwood and Steele) have played and played well, and played in big games, even on the road, Jerious played in Calgary and Saskatchewan and helped us get wins," Milanovich said. "It would be more nerve-wracking had they not played, and you didnt have the confidence level that theyre going to be in there and execute what youre doing. "As disappointing as it is for Kack, me as a coach and the players as a team have faith in the guys who are going to fill in for him. Were just going to have to move on, unfortunately." Norwood, who is still adjusting to Canadian football, is coming off a big game, running for 102 yards on eight carries in Torontos 23-20 loss to Montreal in the Nov. 1 regular-season finale. Norwood added four catches for 62 yards in replacing Kackert, who in a cruel twist was healthy that night and given the game off to rest for the playoffs. "It was just a terrible accident, and all our thoughts and prayers go out to Kack, but weve got to keep rolling," Norwood said. "Its a team game, when one guy goes down, the next man has got to step up, stick together as a team. Just finish strong." Norwood, who spent five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and was signed by the Argos on Aug. 14 as an insurance policy, has been by Kackerts house to visit his injured teammate. "I just let him know that I loved him and we loved him as a team, and we support him," Norwood said. "He was actually feeling pretty good. . . hes in a good mood, good spirits, hopefully we can go out and get a win for him." Quarterback Ricky Ray said sometimes unfortunate, crazy things happen in practice, and that it was a big blow to see a teammate go down, especially Kackert with his big-play potential. "Its tough not having him but weve got some guys that got a lot of experience this year when he was out, and guys that we feel can go in and do the job," Ray said. "It would be more difficult if Chad had been there the whole year and played every game and now were trying to find guys that can come in without any experience to fill that role. But weve got guys that got significant playing time this year that can come in and do a good job." Steeles best game came in his Argos debut, running for two touchdowns in Torontos 38-12 romp over the B.C. Lions on July 30. "We just knew the situation, (Milanovich) told us that hes got the guys, weve been in this situation before since early in the year when Kack went down and I had to step up and fill those shoes," the rookie running back said. "He just told us to be ready, prepare like we always have." The broken ankle is a heartbreaking ending for Kackert, who was a major part of Torontos success late last season. Just a couple of weeks ago, on the eve of his most recent return to the lineup -- this time after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury -- he had talked about finding solace from Rudyard Kiplings inspirational poem "If." Two lines of the poem read: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same. . ." "(The poem offers) perspective and that if I let anything get to my character, then Ive lost," Kackert said in an interview the day before Torontos Oct. 24 game versus Winnipeg. "I kind of had to take that in and understand thats the one thing I do have that cant be taken away." Kackert was presented with last years Grey Cup MVP after powering through the Calgary Stampeders defence for 133 yards on 20 carries in Torontos 35-22 victory. He added 62 yards on eight catches out of the backfield. Vapormax 2 Clearance . The time off didnt slow them down. Tyler Zeller scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds, Kyrie Irving added 14 points and the Cavaliers pushed their winning streak to five games Tuesday night with a 114-85 victory over the skidding Philadelphia 76ers. Cheap Vapormax 2 . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p. http://www.clearancevapormax.com/cheap-v...arance.html.com) - Roosevelt Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead No. Cheap Vapormax 2019 China . Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying. Cheap Vapormax Plus . Canada will host Japan in a World Group first-round match in 2015. It will be a rematch of their first-round clash last year when Japan defeated Canada 4-1 to reach the World Group quarter-finals for the first time in its history.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- B.C. Lions head coach Mike Benevides wants his players to embrace the role of being Grey Cup hosts. He told them as much before CFL training camps got going Sunday. "I was pretty honest about it. You know what? Its additional pressure," said Benevides. "Every team across the country is saying the same thing -- we want to win a championship. Im not going to be dishonest and say Well its at home so its no big deal. It is a big deal." The Lions started a string of three straight host teams winning the title in their own backyards with their victory at B.C. Place Stadium in 2011 and will be looking to make it a four-peat for host cities this November. "We want to win it in front of our fans," Benevides continued. "Last time it was here thats exactly what occurred, and thats what we get paid to do. Distraction, focus, motivation -- call it whatever you want. Thats the No. 1 goal." The Lions have not won a playoff game since raising the Grey Cup three years ago, but running back Andrew Harris said he believes they have the horses to get it down in 2014. "The expectation for us every year is to be in the Grey Cup. Obviously theres maybe a little more added pressure, but last time it was here we won and that was a great year for us," said the Winnipeg native. "Were looking to do the same and I definitely think looking around and seeing the guys that we have solid chance to do that." That chance could rest heavily on Travis Lulays surgically repaired shoulder. The Lions quarterback was injured during last seasons 11-7 campaign and returned for their playoff loss before going under the knife. Lulay said Sunday "it remains to be seen" if he will be ready to go when B.C. opens its regular season on June 28. "Im still in a stage where camps going to be a continued progression for me, but it has steady upward progression throughout the off-season," said Lulay. "Im actually really anxious to see how it recovers on a day-to-day basis coming out here." B.C. traded for veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn at the CFL draft as an insurance policy, and while Benevides and Lulay were both adamant the Lions No. 1 quarterback is on schedule, the head coach added its his job to make sure his star gets back to 100 per cent. "All these guys that are elite athletes, theyre champions and MVPs," said Benevides. "You have to make sure you help them in understanding the overall picture. Hes intelligent, he understands it, hes been through this before but theres no doubt that well have various conversations and discuss it back and forth." Added Lulay: "Sometimes you think you can be Superman and overcome some of that stuff.dddddddddddd Managing expectations is one of the biggest parts of coming off an injury and thats one of the things Ive learned and you have to learn to deal with that." The Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup as hosts in 2012, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders took the title on the Prairies in 2013. Both teams loaded up through trades and free agency in the off-season leading up to the CFLs marquee event, but the Lions had a quiet winter by comparison. What B.C. does have is a lot of fresh faces at camp both on the field and the sidelines. A number of veteran players were either traded, retired or moved on through free agency, while the club also has new offensive and defensive co-ordinators. Khari Jones has been brought in to kick-start an offence that was criticized for being too predictable, while Mark Washington was promoted to run the defence after six seasons coaching the secondary. "We have a lot of open positions," Benevides said of the competitions for spots at camp. "Were going to have a young team and we have to evaluate and find that talent. "Our football team is going to play fast. Everything we do is fast." Apart from a lot of new blood and fresh schemes, the Lions who have been around awhile believe theyre also wiser as hosts because of what they went through in 2011 after starting that season 0-5. "The biggest thing for us is just coming through adversity and staying on that one track and definitely building as a team," said Harris. "I think we did that in 2011 and we have some components this year to make that happen again. Its being persistent and staying at it. Its a full 18-game season and you never know how it ends." Benevides was the defensive co-ordinator with that championship team and will be looking for his first playoff win as a head coach in a season he hopes will culminate with a victory for the Lions in Vancouver on Nov. 30. "Its a long, long journey. Its a long, long season," he said. "Its about making critical plays at critical times and winning that critical game. "Nobody can tell you how the script is going to be written, but its going to be written and someones going to stand on the podium." Notes: The Lions had a meeting with CFLPA representative Paul McCallum before Sundays first practice, a session the veteran kicker said helped clear the air of any questions players might have with regards to the threat of a strike. The leagues collective bargaining agreement expired on Thursday night. ... The Lions first pre-season game is scheduled for June 13 on the road against the Edmonton Eskimos. ' ' '