th and fifth teams dropped

ZURICH, Switzerland -- The semifinal bye at the world under-20 and under-18 mens hockey championships is about to be eliminated, although Canada will play one more world junior event with that wrinkle in place. Art Monk Red Jersey . During a run of five straight gold medals at the world junior championship from 2005 to 2009, Canada earned the semifinal bye four times. Under the format that has been in place since 2003, the top three teams in each preliminary-round pool advanced to playoffs. The fourth and fifth teams dropped to the relegation round. The second and third seeds in each pool played quarter-finals while the top seed got to skip the quarters and wait for the semifinal. Now, the top four teams in each pool will all play in the quarter-finals, including the top seeds. The new format will be implemented at the 2013 world under-18 mens championship in Sochi, Russia. Because the schedule is already set for the world junior championship that starts Dec. 26 in Ufa, Russia, the new format wont be applied to that tournament until 2014 in Sweden. Canada, which took the bronze medal this year, is in a pool with Russia, the U.S., Germany and Slovakia in Ufa. The new format doesnt change the number of games much. It will still be 31 games unless the relegation series is decided in just two contests instead of three. The International Ice Hockey Federation made the decision to change the format at its annual congress earlier this month. Sean Taylor Gold Jersey . -- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin will have minor shoulder surgery soon to address a nagging injury he played with last season. Sonny Jurgensen Jersey . PAUL, Minn.Monday was almost a complete washout at the Masters and I hate to think what it will cost the fine folks at August National to reimburse all the patrons who only managed two hours of viewing time before the heavens opened and the course was cleared. If youre keeping track, the last time a practice day was lost to the weatherman was back in 2003, and we all know how that turned out. Mondays rain fell for a long time and it was punctuated with some great lightning and thunder exhibitions. Our TSN crew wasnt even allowed on the grounds to tape our segments, forced to wait it out for six hours in the international broadcast centre, tucked away behind the Par 3 course. Meanwhile, Canadas two participants this week were passing the time in different ways. Graham DeLaet, making his maiden voyage in this major, was enjoying a cribbage tournament at one of the homes hes rented here. Rowdy friends from Saskatchewan in one house (might we see the first Melonhead at Augusta?), he and his family in the other. Mike Weir, making his 15th start at Alister MacKenzies masterpiece, managed to play nine holes before the storms and pronounced himself in good form. "Ive been playing pretty well," he said, after touring the back nine alongside Jason Day and reigning British Amateur champion Garrick Porteous. "I just havent been scoring well. The last month, Ive felt very good about my game – I just havent gotten the ball in the hole." Of course, Weir plays with a little more spring in his step around this course, drawing on the memories of his 2003 win. "Its special any time you come here," said Weir, who has missed the cut in his last three starts at the Masters. Brian Orakpo Gold Jersey. "You just kind of soak in the good feelings of the essence of the game." Tuesday morning, the Canadians will head out together, like Master Po and Grasshopper, Weir hoping to lend his local knowledge to the first-timer DeLaet. "He has all the power in the world and his short game has really rounded into form the last couple of years," said Weir, analyzing DeLaets game. "I think this course really sets up well for him. Hes such a great driver of the ball and its an underrated fact that people dont talk about too much, driving the ball around Augusta National and I think its a real key if you can get that ball in the short grass. With his power, I think he can really do well here." Weir acknowledged that while he and DeLaet have chatted casually a few times already, its been mostly about off-course stuff – how the tournament is run, what to expect at the gates and that sort of thing. During their round, hell offer details about slopes on greens, where to miss and maybe even point out the former location of the Eisenhower Tree, which met its end in a wood chipper in February. Weir has never had the opportunity to mentor a young Canadian at the Masters, which may say a great deal about the status of golf north of the 49th over the past decade or so. Hes been the lone guy with the Maple Leaf on his bag since 2010 when Stephen Ames no longer qualified. But Tuesday, under what appears to be sunny skies with warming temps, hell get that chance. Hes only too happy to help, although hell still be hoping to grab some of that magic from this place for his own. ' ' '