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Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton has decided to appeal his 15-game suspension for punching and injuring unsuspecting Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik. Thorntons agent, Anton Thun, confirmed in an email that his client was appealing. The NHL Players Association announced it had informed the league of that plan before the 48-hour deadline to do so passed. As laid out in the collective bargaining agreement, the appeal first goes to commissioner Gary Bettman. If Bettman upholds the suspension, Thornton and the NHLPA can then elect to appeal to a neutral arbitrator because it is for six or more games. Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta is the only player to use this appeals process under the new CBA, and no player has gone to the neutral arbitrator. Bettman upheld Kaletas 10-game suspension for an illegal hit on Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson, issuing a 17-page decision. Thornton got 15 games for slew-footing Orpik to the ice and landing gloved punches to his head during a game Dec. 7. The Pittsburgh defenceman was knocked unconscious and has not played since because of a concussion. Vice-president of player safety Brendan Shanahan said it was not a spontaneous action by Thornton because he tried to confront Orpik earlier after Orpik injured Bruins winger Loui Eriksson with a hit. Appearing on TSN Drive with Dave Naylor on TSN 1050, Thun said he could not talk about the case before it was presented in the appeal hearing but did mention he felt there was more than one reason for Thornton to appeal his suspension. "We believe there are a variety of reasons to appeal it and part of it is just clarity… The clarity is not just Shawn but for the other players in the league." Thun was also asked if he was aware of when the appeal hearing will take place with Bettman. "To be the best of my knowledge the meeting will be later this week, Thursday and Friday have been thrown around but at this point in time it hasnt been confirmed." Thornton had not been fined or suspended before. Several general managers and coaches around the NHL have spoken in support of Thorntons character in his career before this incident. The Oshawa, Ont., native apologized for his actions after the game. DeAnthony Melton Jersey . Johns, N.L., to Thunder Bay, Ont., after a deal was announced to build a new $106-million "event centre" in the Lake Superior community. Eric Gordon Rockets Jersey . -- Jonas Hiller is cautiously confident he has kicked his vertigo. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Isaiah-Hartenstein-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The defending champions sent their preliminary list to FIFA on Tuesday, with coach Vicente del Bosque to announce the final 23-man squad on May 25. Costa is set to lead the attack in his native Brazil, with Atletico Madrid teammate David Villa and Chelseas Fernando Torres also included, while David de Gea replaces injured goalkeeper Victor Valdes. PJ Tucker Rockets Jersey .J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity. Ben McLemore Jersey . LOUIS - Two-thirds of the St.SALVADOR, Brazil -- They captured the hearts of America -- from coast to coast, big towns and small, all the way to the White House. Capturing the World Cup will have to wait. Just like four years ago, the United States is going home after the round of 16, beaten when Belgium scored twice in extra time Tuesday and then held on for a 2-1 win. "Thirty-one teams get their heart broken," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "It has to end sometime. It ended a little bit early for us." Playing the finest game of his career, Howard stopped a dozen shots to keep the Americans even through regulation and force an additional 30 minutes. He wound up with 16 saves -- the most in the World Cup since FIFA started keeping track in 2002. Before exiting, the U.S. showed the spunk that won Americas attention. The Belgians built a two-goal lead when Kevin De Bruyne scored in the 93rd minute and Romelu Lukaku in the 105th. But then Julian Green, at 19 the third-youngest player in the tournament, stuck out his right foot to volley in Michael Bradleys pass over the defence in the 107th, two minutes after entering. "I was sure that we would make the second goal and we would go to the penalty shootout," Green said. The Americans nearly did. In the 114th, Clint Dempsey peeled away on a 30-yard free kick by Bradley, who passed ahead to Chris Wondolowski. He fed Dempsey, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois bolted off his line to block the 6-yard shot. At the final whistle, the U.S. players fell to the field in their all-white uniforms like so many crumpled tissues. "They made their country proud with this performance and also with their entire performance in this World Cup," said Jurgen Klinsmann, the former German World Cup champion who took over as coach three years ago. The Americans advanced from a difficult first-round group to reach the knockout rounds of consecutive World Cups for the first time. Four years ago, they were eliminated by Ghana 2-1 on a goal in the third minute of extra time. "Getting to the round of 16, if we dont do that, were very, very disappointed," U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. "We get here and its kind of the swing game. We get beyond here, then its generally viewed as very successful -- this year was a little different because of the group we had in the first round, so that already was a success." The crowd of 551,227 at Arena Fonte Nova appeared to be about one third pro-U.ddddddddddddS., with 10 per cent backing the Belgians and the rest neutral. Back home, millions watched in offices, homes and public gatherings that included a huge crowd at Chicagos Soldier Field. President Barack Obama joined about 200 staffers in an Executive Office Building auditorium to watch the second half. "I believe!" he exclaimed as he walked in at the front of the hall. "I believe!" Belgium outshot the U.S. 38-14. The 35-year-old Howard kept the ball out with slides, with dives and with leaps. But he never felt it was his special night. "If this continues, then were in trouble," he recalled thinking. With forward Jozy Altidore still not recovered from the strained hamstring that had sidelined him since the June 16 opener, Klinsmann inserted Wondolowski as a second striker in the 72nd minute. He appeared to have a chance to win it in stoppage time when Jermaine Jones flicked the ball to him at the top of the 6-yard box, but with Courtois coming out, Wondolowski put the ball over the crossbar. While the linesman put out his flag, it was unclear whether he was signalling goal kick or offside. In the third minute of extra time, Matt Besler tried to intercept a pass to Lukaku but fell down as the Belgian striker fought free. Lukaku sped in alone, crossed, and the ball rebounded off defender Omar Gonzalez. Kevin De Bruyne controlled it, took three touches as he spun and beat Howard just over his right foot. "I thought I could make a play on the ball. I took a shot and missed and lost my balance," Besler said. Twelve minutes later, with the U.S. pushing for an equalizer, Bradleys shot was blocked and De Bruyne burst ahead on a counter. He fed Lukaku, who sent the ball over the left shoulder of Howard, his Everton teammate, and seemingly put the game out of reach. But Green, among five German-Americans on the U.S. roster and a surprise pick, woke up the team and its fans with his first touch, setting off raucous chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" There would be no final comeback this time, though. Bradley said the Americans had told themselves that regardless of when their run ended, they wanted to abandon their defensive style of the past. "We wanted to go home going for it," he said. "And," he added with satisfaction, "we did." ' ' '