Spiller (collarbone) and Fred Jackson (groin) tto injuries in a 17-16 win over Minnes

WASHINGTON - Its impossible for the Chicago Blackhawks not to think about Clint Reif. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . In the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park, theres a jersey hanging from a locker stall bearing the name of the assistant equipment manager who was found dead at his home Dec. 21.He passed away, but its not like were going to forget about him, Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane said. Hes still in our hearts and hes still, I guess you can say, in this locker-room. If we can do something little like credit a stall in his name or wear a CR on the back of our helmet and things like that, I think it goes a long way just for his remembrance.Remembering Reif is a big part of the 2015 Winter Classic, as the Washington Capitals will join the Blackhawks in wearing a decal bearing his initials on the backs of their helmets.That is a pretty cool gesture, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. Weve heard over the last couple weeks the influence and the effect that Clints had, not only on the guys in this locker-room, but guys that hes worked with or gotten to know in the past with other teams.Former Blackhawks right-winger Troy Brouwer initiated the move, talking to Capitals equipment manager Brock Myles, who got in touch with his colleagues in Chicago. Brouwer was hoping to wear CR on his helmet regardless.Myles talked to Washington coach Barry Trotz, who called Joel Quenneville to get that organizations blessing. Quenneville appreciated the kind thought.We didnt want to take anything away from what Chicago was doing and representing, but we do, our trainers wanted to do it, so we reached out to Chicago and asked them, Trotz said. And they were gracious enough to do it.Emotions are still raw around the Blackhawks less than two weeks after Reifs death. The 34-year-old was in his ninth season with the team, and one player declined to even discuss the situation.Winger Bryan Bickell said he thought about Reif on Wednesday when members of the USA Warriors program took the ice with the Blackhawks. Reif was responsible for getting the wounded veterans new equipment when they skated with the Blackhawks at the Stadium Series last season at Soldier Field in Chicago.He was part of our family, Bickell said. Hes always going to be in our hearts and with his family. Were playing for him for this year and probably for a long time. Its definitely tough.Reifs death resonated beyond the Blackhawks in part because hockey players consider trainers and equipment managers almost like teammates. Theyre around all the time and do a lot of the dirty work behind the scenes to make hockey happen.A lot of people say that theyre an extended part of our team and they are part of our team, said Brouwer, who knew Reif and his family well from his time with Chicago. Everything that we do, we cant get done without them. A lot of things that dont get seen is when we get off the plane at 1, 2 in the morning we get to go into our beds. They got to go unpack our gear, which is something that goes overlooked a lot of the time. The guys in here love them for it, thank them for it.Myles is joined on the Caps equipment staff by Craig Woody Leydig and Dave Marin. Troy Parchman is the Blackhawks head equipment manager, and hes assisted by Jim Heintzelman and Jeff Uyeno.Those people are very important within locker-rooms.I dont think people realize that much how hard our trainers do work and what they do on a daily basis, Toews said. You come back to the rink and you expect things to be a certain way so that you can resume your routine and just focus on playing hockey. Theyre making sure you can do that. Theyre there with you every step of the way.Players remember Reif fondly. Toews called him sociable, happy and a connector of people, and Brouwer referred to him as outgoing, upbeat and smart.Clint was an awesome guy, Brouwer said. He always made us laugh, he always had fun with us. He loved what he did. Hes really going to be missed.The Capitals tribute means Reif could be enough of a part of the Winter Classic that viewers hear his story, about how he grew up in Illinois and worked as a stick boy for the International Hockey Leagues Fort Wayne Komets and as an equipment manager for the ECHLs Orlando Solar Bears and AHLs Chicago Wolves.One of the pictures that surfaced after Reifs death was from one of his two days with the Cup. Brouwer remembers the big party Reif and his young family had in the summer of 2010 and knows full well trainers deserve to celebrate like players.Theyre a large part of that accomplishment, Brouwer said.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Wholesale Baseball Jerseys .com) - Richard Shermans two interceptions highlighted a dominant defensive effort, as the Seattle Seahawks routed the San Francisco 49ers in a highly anticipated NFC West Thanksgiving clash. Cheap Washington Nationals Jerseys . They kicked off the still-going trend of host cities winning the Grey Cup and sent Hall of Fame head coach Wally Buono to the front office a champion. http://www.cheapmlbjerseyfreeshipping.com/ . In this weeks Leaf Report podcast, James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel debate whether Toronto can continue their shootout dominance and discuss what Dave Nonis game plan should be heading into the trade deadline.BUFFALO, N.Y. - A person familiar with the discussions tells The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills have agreed to sign free-agent running back Phillip Tanner.The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because the Bills have not announced the move.Tanner spent the previous three seasons playing for Dallas. He fills a big hole in Buffalo after the Bills lost co-starters C.J. Spiller (collarbone) and Fred Jackson (groin) tto injuries in a 17-16 win over Minnesota on Sunday. Cheap Houston Astros Jerseys. Spillers injury is potentially season-ending. Jackson is expected to miss about four weeks.Tanner had 56 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and nine catches for 93 yards in 40 games with Dallas. He also has special teams experience.The National Football Post first reported the agreement.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '