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TORONTO - As the country celebrated Canada Day two years ago the Raptors sent a small army to Manhattan, led by then general manager Bryan Colangelo, in an effort to recruit the most coveted free agent point guard on the market. The Raptors contingent - which included Dwane Casey, Jay Triano and Larry Tanenbaum - pulled out all the stops trying to sell Canadas own Steve Nash on a move to Toronto. After a two-hour meeting, highlighted by a video presentation featuring hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, the Raptors left Nash with a generous offer. Days later he turned them down, opting for less money and a better shot at a championship in Los Angeles. Colangelo went forward with his Plan B, a trade for Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry. Now the Raptors find themselves in a similar predicament, only this time the approach couldnt have been more dissimilar. They didnt send a front office mob, there was no video cameo made by The Great One. This time they left the kitchen sink in Toronto. Instead, Raptors GM Masai Ujiri and head coach Dwane Casey had a quiet sit down with Lowry in his hometown of Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon. True to form Ujiri and his coach exuded confidence. Calm, cool and collected, the Raptors brass did not find it necessary to camp out on Lowrys front porch at 12:01 AM, the time in which teams were able to officially commence negotiation with free agents. Their sales pitch centred on a simple premise, one that the team had already been preaching publicly for months - they want him back. What they didnt say, and would be reluctant to admit, is that they need him back. Rightly or wrongly, the perception that players dont want to come to or stay in Canada has dogged the Raptors since their inception. After all, Nash wasnt the first player to spurn the Raptors. Theres a long history of it in fact. Damon Stoudamire was the first star to want out, followed by Vince Carter - the franchises best player - seven years later. Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh each bolted via free agency, while both Kenny Anderson and Alonzo Morning refused to even put on the jersey. The new regime intends to snuff that stigma once and for all. Along with MLSE boss Tim Leiweke and global ambassador extraordinaire Drake, Ujiri has helped empower a fan base that had lost hope prior to their arrival a year ago. "Why cant I change it," Ujiri said, challenging that perception as he was introduced as the Raptors new GM last June. "Its our job to make it better, its our job to make it good, its our job to create a winning environment and thats why Im here." With the embattled franchise finally on the precipice of turning the page and changing a culture that has beset them for the better part of the last 20 years, the stakes are much higher now than they were in 2012 when they struck out on Nash. For all the progress the Raptors made in 2014, turning heads as a result of their breakout campaign, spirited playoff run and We The North campaign, the wind could be taken out of their sails in a hurry should Lowry fly the coop, especially if he leaves for Houston or Miami. This is their first big test, one they dont intend to - and cant afford to - fail. Lowry is Torontos No. 1 priority, theyve made no secret of that. "Were going to go full force," Ujiri promised last week. And they have. The Raptors initial offer to Lowry was substantial, said to be in the $11-$12 million range annually over a four or potentially five-year term. A salary in that range would make Lowry the seventh highest paid point guard in 2014-15, not including Kyrie Irving whose max extension wont take into effect until the following season. Of course, theres more to Ujiris pursuit of Lowry than just pride. The Raptors GM would happily show Lowry, or any other player the door if he felt theyre not worth their price tag. Like any other investment, Lowry is a calculated risk but the Raptors are betting the 2013-14 version will be more of the norm than an anomaly going forward. Its because hes a player worthy of the money that Ujiri has done - and will continue to do - everything in his power to keep Lowry in a Raptors uniform. Still, the decision belongs to Lowry. The 28-year-old will take a few days to weigh his options with his family and agent Andy Miller as Raptors fans hold their collects breath. With Torontos 20th year anniversary season around the corner, keeping Lowry would go a long way in the continued saga to rewrite the franchises troubled history. Jordans Wholesale Store . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. Authentic Air Jordan From China . No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. http://www.wholesaleairjordanchina.com/ . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. Air Jordan Outlet . -- Justin Verlander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and won his fourth straight decision, leading Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 9-4 Sunday and extending the Tigers winning streak to a season-high five games. Cheap Jordans Shoes . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering.KELOWNA, B.C. -- Madison Bowey had two goals as the Kelowna Rockets edged the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-3 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Myles Bell scored once and set up two more for the Rockets (15-2-2), who extended their win streak to eight games, while Justin Kirkland had a goal and an assist. Ty Stanton, Miles Koules and Cole Sanford supplied the offence for the Tigers (15-5-3) and Hunter Shinkaruk chipped in with two assists. Kelownas Jordon Cooke made 33 saves for the win as Marek Langhamer stopped 28-of-32 shots in defeat. Both clubs went 0 for 2 on the power play. --- ICE 6 BLADES 1 SASKATOON -- Jaedon Descheneau had two goals and two assists as Kootenay handed the Blades their fifth loss in a row. Sam Reinhart scored once and set up two more for the Ice (12-10-2) while Matt Alfaro, Jon Martin and Ryan Chynoweth had the others. Nikita Scherbak scored for Saskatoon (9-14-3). Kelownas Wyatt Hoflin made 26 saves while Troy Trembley stopped 36-of-42 shots for the Blades. --- OIL KINGS 4 BRONCOS 2 EDMONTON -- Mitchell Moroz had two goals and an assist as the Oil Kings doubled up Swift Current. Reid Petryk and Curtis Lazar also scored for Edmonton (14-8-1). Graham Black and Brett Lernout replied for the Broncos (15-9-2) who lost in regulation for the first time in 11 outings, and Colby Cave assisted on both of his clubs goals. Tristan Jarry made 22 saves for the Oil Kings while Swift Currents Eetu Laurikainen turned away 34 shots in a losing cause. --- REBELS 4 HURRICANES 3 (OT) LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- Wyatt Johnson scored 1:20 into overtime as Red Deer edged the Hurricanes for its fourth straight victory. Evan Polei had a goal and an asisst for the Rebels (11-11-1) while Rhyse Dieno and Cole Chorney had the others. Tyler Wong, Brady Ramsay and Lenny Hackman scored for Lethbridge (3-17-4) and Macoy Erkamps tacked on two assists. Patrik Bartosak made 31 saves for Red Deer. Christopher Tai started in goal for the Hurricanes, but allowed two goals on six shots and found himself on the bench 11 minutes into the game. Corbin Boes made 27 saves in relief. --- WINTERHAWKS 7 BLAZERS 3 KAMLLOOPS, B.ddddddddddddC. -- Chase De Leo and Brendan Leipsic each had a pair of goals as Portland toppled the Blazers. Nicolas Petan and Taylor Leier had a goal and an assist apiece for the Winterhawks (17-5-2) and Derrick Pouliot had a single goal. Chase Souto scored twice for Kamloops (6-14-3), losers of five in a row, and Cole Ully added the other. Portlands Brendan Burke made 33 saves for the win, and Bolton Pouliot stopped 36 shots for the Blazers. --- GIANTS 5 AMERICANS 2 VANCOUVER -- The Giants scored five times in the third period, including two goals on the power play, en route to defeating Tri-City. Carter Popoff had a goal and two assists for Vancouver (10-11-3) while Tyler Morrison, Jackson Houck, Dalton Thrower and Cain Franson scored the others. Connor Rankin scored once for the Americans (13-10-2) and set up Brian Williams goal as well. Payton Lee only had to make 16 saves for the win as Eric Comrie stopped 24 shots in defeat. --- COUGARS 3 SILVERTIPS 1 EVERETT, Wash. -- Brett Zarowny turned away 34 shots as Prince George downed the Silvertips. Chase Witala scored twice for the Cougars (9-13-4) while Troy Bourkes goal stood up as the winner. Joshua Winquist scored the lone goal for Everett (15-4-4), which lost in regulation for the first time in eight games. Austin Lotz stopped 14 shots for the Silvertips. --- PATS 3 CHIEFS 2 (SO) SPOKANE, Wash. -- Boston Leier scored the only goal of the shootout as Regina slipped past the Chiefs. Dyson Stevenson and Dryden Hunt scored in regulation for the Pats (12-11-0). Adam Helewka and Mike Aviani responded for Spokane (15-7-0) and Reid Gow had two assists. Dawson MacAuley stopped 29 shots for Regina while Garret Hughson made 31 saves for the Chiefs. --- THUNDERBIRDS 3 ROYALS 1 VICTORIA -- Danny Mumaugh made 24 saves as Seattle beat the Royals to halt a six-game losing skid. Justin Hickman, Jaimen Yakubowski and Roberts Lipsbergs scored for the Thunderbirds (12-8-3) and Branden Troock had two assists. Victoria (13-10-1) got its lone goal from Austin Carroll. Coleman Vollrath turned back 24-of-26 shots for the Royals. --- ' ' '