Canadas Kevin Reynolds was hoping to use his breakthrough year on the mens figure skating circuit as a springboard for greater success during the current Olympic season. Instead, equipment issues have forced him to withdraw from this weeks Grand Prix event and it remains unclear when hell be ready to make his return to the ice. Reynolds pulled out of the Cup of China because of problems with his skating boots. He has been unable to get them to fit properly this season and it has hampered his training. Not exactly an ideal situation for a potential medal contender at the Sochi Games. "When youre dealing with equipment, sometimes you get a pair of skates and theyre the same make, same model youve used for years and sometimes the fit just isnt right," Skate Canada high-performance director Mike Slipchuk said Thursday. "It just seems that he hasnt had much luck this fall with even a few backup pairs that have come in. Theyve been having a hard time finding a pair that fit like his previous ones did during the (previous) season." Reynolds used a different pair of skates last season when he had his breakout victory against a tough field at Four Continents in Japan. Those skates are too worn to be used again this season, Slipchuk said. Reynolds and coach Joanne McLeod were not available for comment. However, McLeod did discuss Reynolds equipment challenges in early September at the teams high-performance camp in Mississauga, Ont. "One of the boots that he received was twisted to the sole," she said after watching him at practice. "Sometimes boots can warp. It just didnt sit right. He toughed it out. It wasnt like he was complaining. He toughed it out and tried to make it work and I was pushing him hard with that boot. "But it just became complicated and frustrating. And you dont want to have any regrets (in an) Olympic year." McLeod said the issue could present challenges for the upcoming season although she was hopeful they would get past it. "So yes, things might be rocky -- you have to alter, you might have to cancel a couple things," she said. "But you dont want to have any regrets. You dont want to be going into an Olympic year thinking, Darn, I should have switched that boot because it haunted me for the entire season. You dont want that." In addition to his victory last season, Reynolds reached the Four Continents podium in 2010 with a third-place effort. The 23-year-old North Vancouver native was fifth at the 2013 world championships. Although Canadian teammate Patrick Chan has garnered most of the mens figure skating spotlight in recent years, Reynolds has made significant strides and could be in the mix of contenders in Sochi. In addition to the individual competition, Canada is also a medal favourite in the new team event. "The No. 1 priority now is to get into a pair of skates and get out and compete because its a big season and you dont want to be starting in January at (nationals)," Slipchuk said. "The months of January and February are going to come fast. "You need to get those programs out for not only your training, but for the judges to see and prepare for the season. Time is ticking quick. Were hoping this can all be rectified soon and he can get back out and get competing." Some skaters change their skates two or three times per season. When a new pair arrives, it can take anywhere from a day to a week or longer to work them in. Reynolds usually breaks in new skates every six months -- traditionally in early January before the nationals and then again in early July. Slipchuk said equipment choices are primarily left up to the athlete, adding it can be quite common for challenges to pop up. When they do, it can often take time to sort out. "Its not like you can just go down to the corner sporting goods store and pick up a pair," Slipchuk said. "For any elite athlete, its a very highly built and highly tuned piece of equipment and specific for what theyre doing. "Often if a skate has to be remade, it does take a little time for that to happen. The companies are good, they get the equipment out fast and hopefully theyre able to get this all rectified." Slipchuk said he was planning to get an update from Reynolds and his team by the weekend. "If you ask any skater, there is a process for breaking in new skates," McLeod said. "Its not like a car, you get into it and (drive) and everything is just amazing. Its a little bit different than that. "The boots are very hard and it takes the skaters mobility with their ankle and their leg strength to break it in in a certain way." Reynolds is scheduled to compete at the Nov. 22-24 Grand Prix event in Moscow. 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LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win.VANCOUVER - Backup quarterback Drew Tate scored on two one-yard touchdown runs as the Calgary Stampeders led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20-7 through three quarters of the 102nd Grey Cup.Calgary was up 17-7 at halftime and extended that lead to 13 points when Rene Parades kicked a 20-yard field goal with 4:20 left in the third quarter.Before that drive stalled, Stampeders No. 1 quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 10 straight passes to tie for the third longest completion streak in Grey Cup history.The only other highlight of the quarter came when Hamilton defensive end Justin Hickman laid out Calgary punter Rob Maver on a return.Parades took over punting duties the rest of the way for Maver, who left with an injury to his abdomen.Calgary led 7-0 after the first quarter and doubled that lead when Tate scampered over the goal-line 48 seconds into the second to cap a 10-play, 66-yard drive led by Mitchell that was aided by a pass interference call in the end zone on Tiger-Cats defensive back Brandon Stewart.Hamilton had a chance to get on the board later in the quarter, but Justin Medlocks 26-yard field goal was blocked by Calgary defensive lineman Demonte Bolden.Parades then stretched the advantage to 17-0 with an 11-yard field goal at 12:43 after the ensuing Calgary drive of eight plays and 87 yards stalled deep in Hamilton territory.The Stampeeders did a good job containing Tiger-Cats returner Brandon Banks in the first half, but the speedster got behind the Calgary defence for a 45-yard touchdown on a pass from Zach Collaros that cut the deficit to 17-7 with 1:21 left in the half.ddddddddddddTate came in for the short yardage plunge over the goal-line with 9:48 gone in the opening quarter to finish off a five-play, 55-yard drive that included a 28-yard pass from Mitchell to wide receiver Eric Rogers.Hamilton punted on its first four drives and were lucky the deficit wasnt any wider after running back Nic Grigsbys fumble was recovered by Tiger-Cats offensive lineman Brian Simmons for a 29-yard loss.At least two Calgary players had their hands on the ball before Simmons fell on it for Hamilton, which had just four net yards of offence in the quarter.Attendance at B.C. Place Stadium was 52,056 fans — 1,423 short of capacity.The Stampeders finished the regular season 15-3 before downing the Edmonton Eskimos in last weekends West Division final, while the Tiger-Cats topped the Montreal Alouettes to win the East following a 9-9 campaign.Hamilton lost last years Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina and have not won the big game since beating Calgary in Vancouver back in 1999.The Stampeders last won in 2008, but lost the 2012 final to the Toronto Argonauts. ' ' '