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It would seem that behind the ubiquitous smile and charming personality of James Reimer is a competitive drive that tends to get overlooked. And so while Reimer was "a little surprised" to learn of the trade which sent Jonathan Bernier to Toronto, the 25-year-old had no intention of backing down and surrendering the crease. "I dont plan on giving up the net," Reimer told TSN.ca exclusively from his offseason home in B.C. "I dont plan on giving up that starters spot right now, not to be a jerk about it obviously." Coming off his first full season as the Leafs starter, an impressive year in which he placed seventh overall in save percentage, Reimer was not expecting any kind of trade. Yes, hed heard the rumours, but was there definite surprise when word of the deal, which sent Matt Frattin and Ben Scrivens to the Kings along with a second round pick, came his way? There was some natural frustration followed by a period of reflection, an evaluation of why the team might have made such a move and where he might improve upon moving forward. "Obviously you had emotions when you first heard it," he explained of his initial reaction to the deal which also saw the Leafs absorb $500,000 in salary, "but at the same time when you take a step back and after a while you realize that its going to push you, its going to make you a better person and a better goalie and if that happens well then its great for me, its going to be great for Bernier and its going to be, most importantly, great for the Leafs." Despite setting a Leafs record for the highest individual save percentage in a season in 2013 (.924), doubts continue to linger as to Reimers ability to be the guy in the Toronto crease over the long haul. At the trade deadline in April, Leafs general manager Dave Nonis was frank in his chase for Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff, even offering the now-retired Finn additional years to remain with the club. Some of the questions would to seem to lie in the limited body of work, especially as it pertains to an 82-game campaign. Reimer starred as a rookie for 37 games two years back, spent his sophomore damaged from injury before standing tall again this past season. "Im sure they have a few reasons why they traded for Bernier," he said, concurring with the absence of a full season to his name. "Im sure if you play consistently over a full season and hopefully into playoffs then I think that would help erase maybe some of the doubts people have." As for answering the lingering questions, Reimer looked to keep a steady approach. "Just keep going, keep plugging away," he declared of his mindset. "You can always gain experience and you can always get better and in some way that really hasnt changed. Bringing in Bernier, obviously were both after the same thing here [and thats] trying to obtain that starting job I guess or in my instance trying to obviously keep it. You keep going. I think if you have a couple seasons like the first one I had and this third one, my third season, I think you start to answer those questions. "Im sure people have questions and the doubters and naysayers have things that maybe they think I need to work on, but I think you just keep playing and try and play well for a long period of time and I think then eventually you get that notoriety or whatever it is that you want to call it." Nonis made clear in the hours after the trade that "Nothing is being guaranteed to anybody", inferring that Reimer, despite thriving as the starter last season, would be in immediate competition for the position with Bernier, who has just 62 games of NHL experience, having backed up Jonathan Quick the past three seasons. The Leafs GM did offer confidence to Reimer during a conversation between the two earlier this week, hinting that if that werent the case, then in all likelihood Reimer would be playing elsewhere. "He said that they had faith in me and things could have gone differently if they didnt," Reimer recalled of his chat with Nonis. "They said they liked what Ive done so far, but they just thought that this might help me just to get to that next level." Nonis and the Leafs brass insist that competition from Bernier will only spur something greater from Reimer. They believe both goaltenders have the ability to start, gambling that the 24-year-old Bernier will thrive with further opportunity in Toronto. Selected 88 picks after the Montreal native in the 2006 draft, Reimer messaged Bernier on the day of the trade, offering him a welcome to the team, "looking forward to the battle and just told him that if you need anything in town or getting settled in then you can give me a call". The two had met briefly at the 2011 World Championship in Slovakia, Bernier arriving late to the proceedings, however, making for a limited introduction. Some in Reimers situation might have been sour toward the new teammate, one so plainly after his job, but not Reimer. "You can see how guys would be like that," he said. "But when it boils down it were teammates and teammates first. Not to get all cliché and everything. You want to be the best teammates and well both want the same thing as far as winning and giving the boys a chance. And so sure we both want the most amount of games that we can get because nobody likes to sit on the bench obviously – you want to be the one helping your team – but when it all boils down were teammates and were putting on the same jersey so obviously thats the most important thing." While his mental toughness might be questioned, Reimer has hurdled over adversity in the past. There was his return to form and the starting job following concussion/neck-related issues of his second season, not to mention insistent Roberto Luongo speculation. And then there was his follow-up to the Kiprusoff brouhaha, Reimer posting a .930 save percentage in April after the deadline had passed. "It definitely motivates you," he conceded of the trade. "It maybe gives you an extra shot of adrenaline. You realize coming in that youve got to be at your best and thats exciting hockey. Not to always relate it to playoffs, but thats exciting hockey because thats when it means the most. Kind of the same thing here. Every day youre going to have to be at your best. Thats what I try and pride myself in doing is motivating myself and being the best that I can, but this is definitely there to push you. "At the same time Im sure Berniers coming in wanting nothing but that starting job. And so thats the competition. Its going to push us." Don Wilson Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Cesar Cedeno Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-robinson-chirinos-jersey-large-1056y.html . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Jim Umbricht Jersey . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. Justin Verlander Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. ATLANTA -- The Washington Nationals can only hope Stephen Strasburg wont be sidelined very long with a strained right oblique. With Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth still ailing in an injury-filled season for Washington, the last thing manager Davey Johnson needed was for his ace to get hurt in the Nationals 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. But Strasburg lasted just two innings before leaving the shortest outing of his career. He will head back to Washington to have his side examined. "He was complaining of discomfort warming up, and it was more severe than the last time out," Johnson said. "Hes a gamer. He wanted to continue. But something like that -- and I saw him wincing with every throw he made -- but Im not going to take a chance with his arm. Thats the main concern." Craig Stammen pitched four perfect innings after Strasburg left, and Denard Span tripled twice and scored two runs to help the Nationals snap a two-game skid. The victory trimmed Washingtons second-place deficit in the NL East to 4 1/2 games behind the Braves, Atlanta has dropped two of three and four of six. Strasburg left with a 2-1 lead. He allowed two hits and one run -- a homer by Freddie Freeman -- with no walks and two strikeouts. "Its something where, the last few starts, Id feel it warming up and Id go out there and wouldnt feel anything," Strasburg said. "Tonight it was more the reverse. I started to feel it a little more." Stammen (3-1) shut down the Braves by striking out three and allowing no baserunners through the sixth. In the seventh, Tyler Clippard escaped a bases-loaded jam that he created by allowing an RBI single to Freeman that cut the lead to 3-2 and by hitting the next two batters he faced. Clippard settled down, though, and struck out Dan Uggla and Chris Johnson. Drew Storen pitched a scoreless eighth for the Nationals, and closer Rafael Soriano converted his 15th save in 18 chances by retiring Freeman on a flyout, striking out B.J. Upton and getting Brian McCann to ground out in the ninth. The Nationals took the lead in the first off Julio Teheran (3-2) when Span led off with a triple and scored on Steve Lombardozzis sacrifice fly. Washington went up 2-0 in the second. Roger Bernadina singled, advanced to third on Danny Espinosas single and scored on Kurt Suzukis fielders choice RBI. Freemans fifth homer in the second cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second, but Strasburg struck out Evan Gattis on five pitches before McCann stepped in. Strasburg was behind two balls, no strikes when he grimaced after throwing a changeup. He flexed his shoulder before throwing the next pitch and sooon retired McCann on a groundout.dddddddddddd. Strasburg then struck out Uggla on five pitches, but his night was over. "Its just a little tight back there, but it is what it is," Strasburg said. "Ive been battling with it a little bit the last few starts. Davey and (trainer) Lee (Kuntz) thought it was a good decision to come out of the game and not let it progress anymore." Stammen retired all 12 batters he faced. He was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh. The Nationals took a 3-1 lead in the sixth when Span tripled again and scored on another sacrifice fly by Bernadina. Teherans night ended when Anthony Varvaro replaced him with a runner on second. Teheran allowed seven hits, three runs, one walk and a career-high nine strikeouts. Washingtons injury list this season has included Span, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, Espinosa, Wilson Ramos and Ross Detwiler. The Nationals have played just 10 games, winning six, with their projected starting lineup. "We seem to be having all kinds of problems, but well get through it," Johnson said. "Hopefully Stras wont miss too much time." Strasburgs recent numbers, though, have shown no signs of health problems. He began the night 2-1 with 0.96 ERA in his last four starts. Now the team has to wonder how much time he will miss. Washington shut down Strasburg on Sept. 7 last season to limit the workload on his surgically repaired arm, keeping him out of the NL playoffs. The top pick in the 2009 amateur draft, he underwent elbow ligament-replacement surgery on Sept. 10, 2010. "Its kind of hard when you know what youre going to feel after you throw the pitch," he said. "You just kind of go out there and trick your mind, saying its not going to happen. But it is what it is. I cant do anything about it. Got to take the next step and go back up to D.C. and have them look at it and see what happens." NOTES: Harper missed his fifth straight game with left knee bursitis. Johnson said he wont play this weekend. ... Werth is on a rehab assignment and hopes to return on Tuesday. ... Washington has won three straight against Atlanta after dropping nine consecutive to the Braves. ... Freemans RBI single raised his average with runners in scoring position to .487, best in the NL. ... Braves LF Justin Upton went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. ... His struggling brother, B.J. Upton, entered the game as a pinch-runner in the seventh, and his average dropped to .145 with 62 strikeouts in 159 at-bats. ... Braves OF Jason Heyward was in the leadoff spot for the second time in his four-year career and for the first time since June 27, 2011. He finished 0 for 4, dropping his average to .146. ' ' '