BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Javier Fernandez of Spain successfully defended his European figure skating title ahead of two Russian rivals despite several small mistakes in the free skate on Saturday. Nathan Beaulieu Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Sergei Voronov was second with 252.55 points and Konstantin Menshov had 237.24 in third as neither could challenge the Spaniards lead from the short program. Coming two weeks before the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the championships offered competitors a chance to assess their preparation. Fernandez, who had an awkward landing after a quad salchow and managed only a double lutz when a triple was planned, said it was essential to eliminate errors to be able to contend for a first Olympic medal. "There are mistakes where you lose points and points and points," said Fernandez, who skated to Henry Mancinis "Peter Gunn" and "Harlem Nocture," a jazz standard. "In a competition like the Olympics, every single point matters." At last years Europeans, Fernandez became the first Spaniard to win a major figure skating title. Plushenko, the Olympic champ in 2006 and a two-time silver medallist, skipped the Europeans but his absence nearly overshadowed the Russian mens trio. One of the biggest figure skating stars of the past 15 years, Plushenko is scheduled to perform a short and a free program behind closed doors for Russian skating officials on Tuesday for a chance to claim the countrys only mens slot at Sochi. Leading up to the Europeans, Voronov and Menshov were mentioned behind Russian champion Maxim Kovtun as contenders for the title and the position of Plushenkos main challenger. But Kovtun finished fifth here and afterward seemed resigned to his fate. "After the third quad attempt, I understood this wasnt going to happen," Kovtun said. "I dont really know what happened because it was all fine in the warmup and I had a great practice on (Friday)." Voronovs silver was his best result in international competition. Though he won the Russian nationals twice, in 2008 and 2009, his career had stagnated. He refused to speculate about Plushenkos tryout, but made it clear that if he were to be selected by Russia, he was ready for the Olympic challenge. "Of course I want to go, who doesnt want to go to the Olympics?" Voronov said. "Plushenko is an authority in figure skating but we all want to go and there is only one spot. Its not us who decides." Adding to the intrigue, International Skating Union President Ottavio Cinquanta was showered with questions by reporters in Budapest and had to explain at length the ISUs policy allowing countries to replace injured or ill skaters at the Olympics between the team event and the individual events. The team event makes its Olympic debut on Feb. 6, a day before the opening ceremony. With a solid free skate which included two quad jumps, Menshov managed to climb to third overall after finishing 11th place in the short program. "It seems like I always have to overcome some difficulties," Menshov said. The risk of a second quadruple jump in the short program, which he failed to complete both here and at the Russian nationals, made him fall so far behind. "Im not confident on it yet," he said. The Europeans end on Sunday with the pairs free skate. Jake McCabe Jersey .com) - The New York Rangers hope to punch their ticket to the second round when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a Game 6 battle at Wells Fargo Center. Thomas Vanek Jersey . Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks were proof of that on Wednesday night. http://www.sabresauthority.com/authentic-chad-johnson-sabres-jersey/ .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract.TAUPLITZ, Austria - A World Cup ski flying event was cancelled Sunday after fierce winds made jumping from the 200-meter hill too dangerous.Increasing winds of up to 80 kph (50 mph) started an hour before the scheduled start, prompting organizers to call off the evennt. Justin Bailey Jersey. The International Ski Federation didnt immediately announce a replacement.Severin Freund of Germany won Saturdays opening competition on the reconstructed Kulm hill.The next World Cup ski jumping event is in Wisla, Poland, on Thursday. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '