RIO DE JANEIRO -- Glenn Hoags players surrounded him on the court in celebration Saturday, moments after another memorable Olympic victory for Canada.The tradition began during an Olympic qualifier two months ago in Tokyo, where the Canadians claimed the last berth in Brazil, and has been happening ever since.It just kind of happened naturally. We had this circle and Glenn looked over and ran in and yelled, John Gordon Perrin said. Every time we win now we do the same thing. Its kind of a little energy booster and a ritual for us.It will be over the coming months, and even years, that Hoag and son Nick will truly reflect on what they accomplished by bringing Canadian volleyball back to the Olympic stage after more than two decades.Being the last team into the tournament, the Canadians knew just how tough it would be to advance from the group stage. Then they shocked the Americans in straight sets in their opener.Listen, Canadas good, U.S. coach John Speraw said emphatically. News flash for everybody here, the Canadians are really good.Canada hadnt been to an Olympics in mens volleyball since the 1992 Barcelona Games, and earned the final spot in the 12-team field at a last-ditch qualifier two months ago.Now, Hoag is making his final hurrah as coach with the whole world watching and taking notice how far the country has come to close the gap with the worlds power programs.For father and son, this time means so much even as they try to push any emotions to the side and stay in the quarterfinal race -- and Canada did its part with a straight-set win over Mexico at Maracanazinho arena. The Canadians face a tough test from Italy on Monday.Its been a dream of mine, nothing Ive wanted more in my life since I started playing volleyball, so its something thats very special and being here with Glenn is even more special, Nick said, because, who knows, maybe Ill be here in four years, maybe I wont.Nick -- formally Nicholas -- is the youngest of Hoags two sons, and the youngest on the Canadian team by eight months. He has his sights on leading this group to another Olympics four years down the road in Tokyo after his father has handed off the clipboard to a new coach.Middle blocker Rudy Verhoeff has taken time to ponder and appreciate Hoags role in reinventing, reinvigorating Canadian volleyball from the ground up while preparing to leave the program in such a positive place.Its crossed my mind once or twice this week, yeah, for sure, Verhoeff said.Nick would love nothing more than for the Canadians to still be playing by his 24th birthday on Aug. 19. Hes not getting ahead of himself.When Hoag took over as Canada coach 10 years ago, he set the tone from the start. From development and a training center in Gatineau, Quebec, to embracing ever-changing technology and ways to give the Canadians even the slightest edge.He had a plan for the national team: His players must either buy in or head out. Hoag sought to build a culture that was committed to developing players from the lowest levels all the way up to the senior squad.I was really proud of them in Japan when they qualified because I thought they really deserved it, and many other guys that are not here deserved it just for the effort, and the smart effort, Hoag said. To be able to reach our level we needed to be able to think smart, to play smart, to be considerate toward each other, to push each other, so that was my mindset when I came to the games.We got here, and youre never sure of anything. But when you put things in place and you take a group of guys like this who work for it, then its a nice gift, a nice accomplishment for the group. Thats how I feel.Hoag never considered walking away when Canada failed to qualify for London four years ago, determined to stick it out over the long haul and through the tough times.It would have been pretty easy for him to say, `OK, I did my best, I tried, but he believed in what we had going, Verhoeff said. Hes been the pioneer, hes been the captain of the ship. Hes been there before when he was back playing. He knew what it took and it was a long process. Gussie Busch . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Red Schoendienst .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-adam-wainwright-jersey-large-791q.html . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Matt Wieters . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Dominic Leone . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. DETROIT -- The Washington Redskins rushed Matthew Stafford with just three players on his last snap. And, he made them regret it.Stafford threaded a sharp pass between a lunging linebacker and a blanketing cornerback to Anquan Boldin for a go-ahead, 18-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left to lift the Detroit Lions to a 20-17 win over Washington on Sunday.We should have blitzed seven or eight, Redskins coach Jay Gruden lamented. But we were playing coverage that weve been playing for a long time and guys were comfortable with. (Linebacker) Will Compton missed it by a fraction of a hair.Boldin, a 14-year veteran, got just enough separation to get away from rookie cornerback Kendall Fuller, who was pressed into a larger role because Josh Norman was knocked out of the game with a concussion.He kind of slow played his guy in the slot, Stafford said. I cut it loose and I kind thought to myself, `Were going either win the game or lose the game on this one. It was a tight window. And, Ill take that every time. If I throw an interception right there, its on my back. Im fine with it, being aggressive and trying to score.Detroit (4-3) has won three straight thanks in large part to Stafford making clutch throws in the final minutes, giving him 24 career wins with game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime.The Redskins (4-3) looked like they were going to extend their winning streak to five when Kirk Cousins scored a go-ahead TD on a 19-yard run with 1:05 left, but they couldnt stop Stafford. He opened the game-winning drive with a 23-yard pass to Marvin Jones, then ran up the middle for 14 yards and connected with former Redskins receiver Andre Roberts on a 20-yard catch before throwing the TD pass to Boldin.Here are other things we learned from Detroits win over Washington:TURNING POINTThe closely contested, low-scoring game included just two turnovers and Washington had both of them. Cousins fumbled in the third quarter at the Detroit 38 and Matt Jones fumbled into the Lions end zone late in the first quarter.dddddddddddd After each turnover, the Lions made a field goal on the ensuing possession.Without question, that was a key, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said.EMERGING OPTIONSThe Redskins may want to get the ball into the hands of receiver Jamison Crowder and running back Chris Thompson more often the rest of the season. Crowder had season highs with seven receptions and 108 yards, 1 yard from matching his career high set last year as a rookie against Dallas. Thompson set career highs with 12 carries and 73 yards rushing. He also had a season-high seven receptions for 40 yards, seemingly playing a larger role after Jones fumbled. Gruden insisted Jones was not demoted during the game.Im not going to give up on him for fumbling, Gruden said.CENTURY CLUBStafford has the most completions (2,410), yards passing (27,890), 350-yard passing games (18) among NFL quarterbacks in their first 100 games.I think Ill look back on it when Im done playing and Ill really appreciate it, Stafford said.HES STILL GOT ITWith Washington tight end Jordan Reed out for a second straight game because of a concussion, Vernon Davis made the most of his opportunity. The 32-year-old Davis had season highs with six receptions and 79 yards receiving, one week after having 50 yards receiving and a TD.BAD BOUNCEWashington kicker Dustin Hopkins had been almost perfect this season, missing only one of his 16 kicks. He matched his number of misses at Detroit, hitting the top of the left upright on a 45-yard attempt in the second quarter. Gruden, though, wasnt blaming his kicker for the setback.We missed a field goal and there are things in all three phases we can correct, he said.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Larry Lage at http://www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage ' ' '