KAMLOOPS, B. Earnest Byner Jersey .C. -- B.C. Lions head coach Mike Benevides says his team has a better handle on what makes Khalif Mitchell tick this time around. The hulking defensive tackle helped the Lions win the 2011 Grey Cup, however a series of incidents on an off the field the following season precipitated a trade to the Toronto Argonauts prior to the 2013 campaign. The mercurial Mitchell rebounded in Toronto and asked for his release from the Argos to pursue NFL opportunities this winter, but when those failed to materialized the Lions surprised the rest of the CFL by bringing him back into the fold. "I think hes a person thats matured. Hes a person thats experienced some things," Benevides said at training camp this week. "The biggest thing I see is everybody else understanding who he is. "I think hes very conscious of whats occurring and whats going on around him. What people need to know is he is not a bad person. Hes a good person." Benevides would know. He was the Lions defensive co-ordinator back in 2011 when Mitchell had his best season, compiling 33 tackles and six sacks. "I see everybody understanding who he is and sometimes you have a misconception or you dont understand someone and that sometimes creates issues," said Benevides. "Khalif is a very charismatic guy, hes a very passionate guy. He enjoys the game. His teammates and his team and the guys around him are very important to him." But it was those teammates who wanted him out the door after the six-foot-six, 315-pound Mitchell made headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2012. The league suspended him two games for violently hyperextending the arm of an opponent that July before fining him an unspecified amount for making multiple throat-slashing gestures in another game. Mitchell was then fined and suspended again for violating the CFLs social media policy after using a racial slur on Twitter. Benevides said the teams leadership group was consulted when the idea to was first floated to bring Mitchell back, and it was agreed that all parties could move on and work towards winning the Grey Cup, which the Lions host in November. "It was a long process and discussion. There was a lot of guys that I spoke to and they were the ones who said Bring him back in the room," said Benevides. "At the end of the day we all have a job to do and thats win." But while his coach has seen growth and maturity, the 29-year-old Mitchell emphasized hes still the same person in many ways. "I havent changed who I am. Even when I came back to B.C. I was like Im going to be Khalif and they were like We understand that," said Mitchell, referring to himself in the third person. "I think a lot of people dont understand who Khalif is because a lot of people only see me in football or from the negative things that Ive produced in the media." Lions running back Andrew Harris expressed delight when Mitchell was traded last year, tweeting "Good riddance!!!!" after the deal with the Argos was announced. The Winnipeg native said hes willing to move on because of Mitchells unique skill set and a hope that he has learned from his mistakes. "Khalif is a beast. Hes a guy that can help us win football games, and thats the most important things," said Harris. "All the off-field stuff that happened in the past, its just maturing from that now. Things happen with people and youve just got to move on from that and trust that there will be better judgement in the future. "Theres definitely no animosity between us. Were teammates now and were just working together for the one goal and thats the Grey Cup." Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian added that there werent any awkward conversations when Mitchell walked back into the locker-room. "I think the guys all know Khalif, and thats the biggest thing for us," said Elimimian. "We know that hes a good guy. We know he means well. We know that hes a very bright man. But also the thing is hes a great football player and thats what we need in the locker-room and on the field." Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips said it was made clear to Mitchell upon his return that he can be himself as long as it doesnt hurt the team. "Just understand that theres consequences to mistakes," said Phillips. "Hes grown up from that. We know the dominant player he can be as long as hes focused on football." Theres no doubt that Mitchell will help an already solid defence get better. The Lions surrendered the second fewest rushing yards per game (94.4) in 2013, but allowed the second most rushing touchdowns (17) and recorded the third fewest sacks (45). Mitchell put the drama from 2012 behind him and nearly matched his 2011 numbers while playing with Toronto last season, registering 32 tackles and five sacks. "In order to be successful in our division, youve got to be very good against the run. Youve got to be big inside," said Benevides. "Hes another big, effective body that can have an impact in the interior line of scrimmage, and good teams win at the line of scrimmage." Mitchell said he never expected to return to the West Coast after his messy divorce with the Lions last year, but is ready to do what he does best -- stop the run and get after the quarterback. "I definitely wasnt expecting to come back. Im sure when they told me Good riddance and Bye they werent expecting me to come back either," he said. "Im here now and regardless of what the situation was, at the end of the day weve got to win a championship." Joe Theismann Youth Jersey . "Im not doing enough to help them," Durant told The Oklahoman on Monday of his 28-9 team. "Im shooting too much. Im shooting too many threes. Im not helping them out at all. Doug Williams Youth Jersey . He scored two highlight-reel goals in a three-minute span -- the second on a sideways bicycle kick in the 78th minute -- to give the Whitecaps a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers before a crowd of 20,303 at B. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redskins-Montez-Sweat-Jersey/ . Lineup news, Fantasy tips and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES Blake Comeau – The Penguins winger had a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win against Toronto.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - With their owner Ed Snider in attendance, the struggling Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a season sweep of the defending Stanley Cup champions.Steve Mason made 37 saves against the Los Angeles Kings, and the Flyers got goals from Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds in a 2-1 victory on Saturday that snapped a six-game losing streak.Its always frustrating when youre losing. But by the same token, it happens to teams, Snider said. We were hoping for a good trip, and it could have been better.If we hadnt given up that goal in San Jose with 15 seconds to go, we wouldnt have lost in regulation in any of these games. So Im very proud of this team. Ive got a lot of confidence in our players. Weve got a lot of good kids, and I think were going to get better and better.The victory was only the second in 12 games for the Flyers, who avoided tying the franchise record of 10 consecutive road losses.I think you have to look at this as a turnaround for us, I hope, Snider said. Im very pleased with what Ive seen. Mason did the job today — but when you come into this building, its tough no matter who you are.The players werent intimidated at all by Sniders presence at a road game. Quite the contrary.Eds really good with us, and hes first class, Simmonds said. Hes been unbelievable to us, and we owe it to him and the rest of the organization to be better.Justin Williams scored for the Kings, who limited the Flyers to just 16 shots against Jonathan Quick. Los Angeles was 0 for 5 on the power play against a penalty-killing unit that came in with the league-worst 74.4 success rate.You know if you dont have your game against those guys, youre going to pay for it, Mason said. Theyre a measuring stick for the entire league right now and have been a model of consistently for the last few years — and they have two Stanley Cups to show for it. So when you see them on the schedule for the next game, youve got to make sure youre prepared right from the start.Los Angeles, coming off its third shutout victory in four games and second in a roow, fell behind 1-0 at 4:35 of the first period when Giroux got a pass in the slot from Mark Streit and beat Quick high to the stick with a 25-foot wrist shot. Sean Taylor Jersey. .We werent prepared for the 1:00 game today. We werent ready to go right away and we got behind, Williams said. At the same time, we certainly had our chances to come back and atone for our start. But the power play didnt get it done.Simmonds, who spent his first three NHL seasons with the Kings before he was traded to Philadelphia with Brayden Schenn for Mike Richards in June 2011, made it 2-0 at 2:08 of the second period with his 11th goal.Theyre the Stanley Cup champs and theyve won it two of the last three years, so youve got to bring your A game against these guys, obviously, Simmonds said. They play a heavy game. Theyve got a lot of big players on their team and they all finish their checks. I thought we did a good job of competing today, and it shows that we can hang in there with the big boys.Williams ended Masons shutout bid during a goalmouth scramble with 15:51 left in the third period, flipping his sixth of the season over the fallen goalie after Mason made the save on defenceman Robyn Regehrs wrist shot.The Kings had a great chance to tie it midway through the third, when Mason left a rebound after stopping Anze Kopitars 40-foot wrist shot with his glove. But Richards backhanded the puck over the crossbar.NOTES: The Flyers beat the Kings 3-2 on Oct. 28 at Philadelphia with Schenns overtime goal. The last time the Flyers played at Staples Center on Feb. 1, 2014, Simmonds scored his 100th NHL goal and Mason made 35 saves in a 2-0 victory. ... Richards, who averaged 28 goals during his final four seasons in Philadelphia, has 45 goals in 231 regular-season games with the Kings. ... Giroux entered Saturday second in the league in shots on net with 107, four behind Alex Ovechkin. ... Kings RW Marian Gaborik missed his fourth straight game because of an upper body injury. ... The Kings begin a five-game road trip Tuesday night at Buffalo. ' ' '