OAKVILLE, ONT. -- Brendan Steeles spot at the top of the leaderboard at the RBC Canadian Open came thanks to some superb play. His silky 65 was a result of driving the ball well, hitting irons close and dropping lots of putts, some from a great distance. Not bad for a guy playing his first competitive round on the course that Jack Nicklaus built. But he also might have had a bit of help from some local flavour -- a little dose of the Toronto Maple Leafs. On Wednesday, while the pro-am was being played at Glen Abbey, Steele was up at The National GC in Woodbridge, Ont., teeing it up with current Leaf Joffrey Lupul and former Bud Bryan Berard. "Im a big hockey fan," said Steele, who lists about a half-dozen NHL players as good pals. "I just love the sport." On his website, Steele says his dream foursome would include Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, along with his brother. It also lists the LA Kings as his favourite team and says one of his favourite things to do is watch Alex Ovechkin. Steele and Lupul became friends due to location. Both live in the Newport Beach, Calif., area and met while playing golf. When both are home and not off at their jobs, they play regularly with a gang that includes Scottie Upshall of the Florida Panthers and the Calgary Flames Shane OBrien. The foursome for the game on Wednesday at The National was rounded out by Kevin Klein from the Nashville Predators. Steele said there were no money games between the group, it was just a day of fun on the No. 1-ranked course in the country. He praised Lupuls golf game, pegging the forward at about a seven handicap. "Hes a pretty good player," Steele stated. "I know he loves the game." A passion for hockey isnt Steeles only connection to the Great White North. He played the Canadian Tour in 2006 and 07, saying it provided him with lots of much-needed experience. "[It] really got me ready to play the Nationwide Tour, which I played in 08, 09 and 10. It was a great progression in my life. I had a great time up here. Made a lot of friends and spent two summers traveling the country and really enjoyed my time." Steele, who grew up in tiny Hemet, Calif., a town without a golf course or driving range, said his round at the Abbey was one where everything was working. "Ya, its very rare," he stated. "It seems like a lot of the time when youre flushing it, you cant make a putt and when youre holing it, its out of necessity. So its nice to have a round where everything comes together."It was Steeles lowest round since February. "I hit a lot of good iron shots," he added. "I hit them really close. Hit some good tee shots as well – I had to put it in position. You cant really hit the ball close out of the rough." Steele hopes he can continue playing well at the Abbey and perhaps notch a second PGA Tour victory. Now that would probably give him some bragging points for the next game with his hockey buddies. Custom Jerseys . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Fake Custom Jerseys . JOHNS, N. https://www.cheapcustomjerseysonline.com/ . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Custom Jerseys Adidas .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Authentic Custom Jerseys .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Michael Fulmer continued his historic rookie pitching run for the Detroit Tigers, and Victor Martinez contributed three-run home runs from both sides of the plate in a 10-2 romp over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.Fulmer (8-2) gave up two hits in seven shutout innings as the Tigers won their fourth straight. Fulmer became the first Detroit pitcher since 1913 to give up one run or fewer in eight straight starts.Every night he pitches hes been giving us a really good chance to win ballgames, Martinez said. Thats what you ask for.Fulmer struck out 10 and walked one, giving up singles to Cory Dickerson in the second inning and Logan Morrison in the seventh.Its pretty cool, Fulmer said of his eight-game streak, during which he is 6-1 with a 0.53 ERA. My mind is just to a win a ball game anyway I can so if I can throw up zeroes, thats just a bonus. Its a team game, and the way were playing right now, with the offense putting up 10 runs a night, it makes everybody else just relax and have fun playing this game.In two wins against the Rays, Fulmer has struck out 21 of the 49 batters he has faced.Hes good, theres no doubt about it, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. He pitches in, some really late life. I totally understand the success that hes having this year.Nick Castellanos drove in Detroits first run with a two-out double off Drew Smyly in the fourth. Cameron Maybins two-run single made it 3-0 in the sixth, extending his hitting streak to seven games during which the center fielder is hitting .500 (14 for 28) with nine RBI.Martinezs 15th home run came off reliever Danny Farquhar in the seventh. His 16th was off Enny Romero in the ninth, marking his third multi-homer game since June 16.Hes one of the best hitters Ive ever been around, especially with runners in sccoring position, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.dddddddddddd He makes the pitcher work, he can hit the ball to all fields and he can drive the ball from both sides of the plate.Smyly (2-9) gave up six hits and four earned runs while striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: OF J.D. Martinez feels no pain in the fractured right elbow that is expected to keep him on the DL at least two more weeks. Martinez is basically trying to stay in shape with work in the weight room, according to Ausmus.Rays: OF Desmond Jennings, who left Thursdays game with left hamstring tightness, was out of the lineup Friday and is day to day. ... RF Steven Souza Jr. (strained left hip) went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game of a rehab assignment with Class-A Charlotte. ... RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) said he doesnt know yet if he will start a rehab assignment next week. ... INF Steve Pearce (strained right hamstring) has started hitting off a tee. ... Closer Alex Colome (right biceps tendinitis) could throw off a mound Sunday.LOOKING AHEAD (RAYS) AND BACK (TIGERS)Cash is trying not to dwell on Thursday nights 10-7 loss to Detroit, a game in which the Tigers scored eight in the ninth inning. All the losses hurt -- that one stung, theres no doubt, Cash said. It was pretty devastating. At the same time it counts as one loss, it doesnt count as five. ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time the Tigers overcame a five-run deficit in the ninth inning to win a road game since July 7, 1922.UP NEXTDetroits Justin Verlander (7-6) will make his 335th career start Saturday against Tampa Bay rookie Blake Snell, who is 1-2 after four starts. ' ' '