PHOENIX -- Of course, the NBAs most improved team would have its most improved player. John Carlson Jersey . Goran Dragic, whose breakout season helped the Phoenix Suns make a remarkable transformation, was presented the most improved award at a ceremony Wednesday at US Airways Center. The 6-foot-3 Slovenian, who turns 28 in two weeks, flourished under first-year coach Jeff Hornaceks double-point guard system, teaming with Eric Bledsoe to form a dynamic backcourt. "Were looking for players who can go out there every night and lay it all out there," Hornacek said, "play through injuries, do everything the coaches ask, play with confidence. Thats what Goran did." Dragic averaged 20.5 points and 5.9 assists per game, shooting 50.5 per cent from the field, 40.8 per cent on 3-pointers. He was the only player in the NBA to shoot better than 50 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from 3-point range. "The main thing was my confidence this year," he said. "I feel that my teammates, they trust me. The coaches trust me. I can play my game, be confident, be tough and then shoot the ball better." Dragic recalled the doubters when he came into the league. "I can remember one quote from a newspaper, somebody said that Im the worst player in the NBA and my last name should not be Dragic but tragic," he said. "That sticks in your head. It sticks in my head. On the practice court, I always have this in my mind." Dragic received 408 of a possible 1,134 points, including 65 first-place votes, from a panel of 126 sports writers and broadcasters in the United States and Canada. Indianas Lance Stephenson was second with 158 points and 13 first-place votes, and New Orleans Anthony Davis third with 155 points and 16 first-place votes. Two other Suns were among the top 10 -- Gerald Green fourth and Markieff Morris 10th. Under Hornacek, who finished second to San Antonios Gregg Popovich for NBA coach of the year, the Suns went from 25-57 in 2012-13 to 48-37 last season, a 23-win improvement, and they barely missed making the playoffs in the tough Western Conference. While the Suns were at their best when Dragic and Bledsoe both played, Dragic had to carry the brunt of the scoring and playmaking load when Bledsoe was out for two months following knee surgery. The left-handed Dragic is in his second stint with Phoenix. He was drafted in 2008 by San Antonio in the second round, the 45th pick overall, then was traded to the Suns for Malik Hairston, the 48th pick. Dragic was groomed to be Steve Nashs successor but just before the trade deadline in February 2011, the Suns sent him to Houston for Aaron Brooks. Brooks languished in Phoenix, and after Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2011-12 season, the Suns brought Dragic back, signing the free agent to a four-year, $30 million contract. He can opt out of the deal after next season. Dragic and the rest of the Suns struggled through a miserable 2012-13 season, but with the hiring of Hornacek and new general manager Ryan McDonough, everything changed. Hornacek said he could see Dragics emerging leadership when he watched the guard play for the Slovenian national team last summer. "We could tell from watching him that he was in charge of that team and that he has taken that next step," Hornacek said. "Thats the sign of a great player, when he can take his game to another level." Dragic credited the freedom and confidence that Hornacek and his staff gave him and the rest of the team. Now he and the Suns wont be a surprise but will be expected to win. "Next year, of course, theres going to be pressure," Dragic said. "Im not scared of pressure. I always like to take any challenges that you guys (reporters) or guys on opposing teams give me." Dragic was married last off-season and has a new son, Mateo. His wife and son were in the crowd when he was presented the trophy. Asked how he could be so low-key and at ease off the court and such a dynamo on it, he said it was basically a split personality. "Off the court, Im always shy, dont talk much. Im kind of calm," he said. "But on the floor, Im a different guy. I can express my will on the court. Im kind of cocky." He is the third Suns player to win the award, following Kevin Johnson in 1988-89 and Boris Diaw in 2005-06. Jonas Siegenthaler Jersey . Gough finished in fourth, 0.433 seconds behind American Erin Hamlin, who took the bronze medal at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rzhanaya Polyana. Lars Eller Jersey . The first of the three games will be played in Week 4, when the Oakland Raiders will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sept. http://www.officialcapitalsfanstore.com/authentic-dale-hunter-capitals-jersey/ .Y. -- A month ago, Syracuse was unbeaten, ranked No.SASKATOON -- The Prince George Cougars scored seven times in the opening period to defeat the Saskatoon Blades 10-6 in Western Hockey League action on Wednesday. Joseph Carvalho opened the floodgates with a power-play goal at 5:20 of the period, and Todd Fiddler, Troy Bourke and Jordan Tkatch scored in a 3:21 span made it 4-0. Prince George wasnt finished, as Jansen Harkins scored the first of his two goals to make it 5-0. Brad Morrison and Tate Olson also scored for the Cougars (20-26-7) in the period. Zach Pochiro reached the 20-goal mark for the season with goals for Prince George in the second and third period. Harkins scored his second goal of the game in the third period. Cameron Hebig scored twice for Saskatoon (14-34-4), while Logan Harland, Ryan Graham, Connor Sanvido and Mitch Lipon rounded out the scoring. Ty Edmonds made 36 saves for Prince George. Troy Tromblay started in goal for Saskatoon and was lifted after it was 5-0. Nathan Alalouf then came in to make his WHL debut, and allowed two goals on eight shots while finishing up the period before Tromblay returned. His bottom line was 21 saves on 29 shots. -- TIGERS 6 ICE 2 MEDICINE HAT, Alta. -- Curtis Valk scored 1:32 into the first period, and the Tigers took a 5-0 lead into the third period to defeat Kootenay. Miles Koules, Chad Labelle, Cole Sanford and Trevor Cox got the other Medicine Hat (29-17-30) goals in the first. Anthony Ast completed the scoring for the Tigers in the third. Luke Philip and Zak Zborosky scored in the third period for Kootenay (25-21-4). Marek Langhamer finished with 30 saves for the Tigers. Wyatt Hoflin made 28 stops for the Ice. -- HURRICANES 3 RAIDERS 2 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- Jonny Hogue made 41 saves, and Brady Ramsay scored the winning goal in the third period as the Hurricanes snapped an eight-game losing streak, as they came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Prince Albert. Josh Morrisey scored twice to give the Raiders (23-24-3) a 2-0 lead in the first period. Jamal Watson got one back in the first period for the Hurricanes (10-38-5-), and Taylor Cooper tied it in the second. Cole Cheveldave finished with 17 saves for Prince Albert. -- AMERICANS 4 HITMEN 1 CALGARY -- Brian Williams scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season and Eric Comrie turned back 39 shots as Tri-City defeated the Hitmen. The teams were scoreless going into the third period, before Greg Chase opened the scoring for Calgary at 1:24. Williams tied the game at 3:04 for Tri-City (25-21-5) and Braden Purtil scored the winner at 11:34. Ty Comrie made it 4-1 and Williams addded an empty-netter. Rod Langway Jersey. Mark Shields made 27 saves for the Hitmen (31-13-6), who lost their third in a row. -- REBELS 4 WHEAT KINGS 3 (SO) RED DEER, Alta. -- The Rebels went to a seven round shootout with Brandon to win their fifth in a row. Preston Kopeck, Scott Feser and Rhyse Dieno scored in regulation for Red Deer (27-21-2). Rihards Bukarts, Pulock, Ryan and Peter Quenneville replied for the Wheat Kings (26-18-6). Quenneville sent the game to overtime with his 16th goal of the season at 18:18 of the third period. Patrik Bartosak made 39 saves for Red Deer. Jordan Papirny turned back 26 shots for Brandon. -- WINTERHAWKS 8 SILVERTIPS 1 PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Winterhawks won their eighth in a row, with Paul Bittner leading the way two goals and two assists in their lopsided win over Everett. Chase De Leo, Ethan Price, Nicolas Petan, Dominic Turgeon, Brendan Leipsic and Oliver Bjorkstrand scored the other Portland (34-12-5) goals. Bjorkstrands was his 34th of the season. Patrick Bajkov scored for Everett (24-22-5). Corbin Boes finished with 27 saves for the Winterhawks. Austin Lotz stopped 20 of shots for the Silvertips, and Daniel Cotton allowed a goal on 10 shots. -- GIANTS 5 BLAZERS 3 VANCOUVER -- Dalton Sward had two goals and an assist to lead the Giants over Kamloops. Sward opened the scoring with a power play goal at 4:16 and assisted on Arvin Atwals power play goal a few minutes later to make it 2-0. Dominik Volek and Cain Franson got the other Vancouver (25-19-8) goals. Cole Ully scored twice for Kamloops. Collin Shirly also scored for the Blazers (11-35-5). Payton Lee made 16 saves for the Giants, while Cole Kehler stopped 26 shots for Kamloops. -- CHIEFS 6 ROCKETS 5 (SO) KELOWNA, B.C. -- Jason Fram scored the only goal of the shootout as Spokane got by the Rockets. Reid Gow scored twice for the Chiefs (31-15-4), who won their fourth in a row, and sixth in seven games. Mitch Holmberg picked up his league-leading 46th goal of the season and added a pair of assists for Spokane. Holmberg also leads the WHL in scoring with 90 points. Liam Stewart and Carter Proft rounded out the scoring for the Chiefs. Damon Severson, Rourke Chartier, Kris Schmidli, Colton Heffley and Ryan Olsen replied for Kelowna (40-8-3), which lost its second in a row Eric Williams allowed five goals on 27 shots in 40 minutes for Spokane. Teammate Garret Hughson stopped all eight shots he faced in the third period and overtime. Jordan Cooke made 25 saves for the Rockets. ' ' '