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September 7, 2009
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
CUP PARTY CRASHER
WHEN THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS bested the Detroit Red Wings in June to win the franchise’s third Stanley Cup, an on-ice scene the likes of which has rarely been seen erupted. As usual, players celebrated with family, friends and team officials, but the ice was flooded with media members as well, making it an especially hectic setting. “I’ll tell you, it was an unbelievable night,” said Ryan Kraft, a 32-year-old diehard Penguins fan. Unbelievable, but not only because Kraft was there to watch his favorite team win the Cup in dramatic, seven-game fashion, but because he managed to fake his way onto the ice and into the post-game dressing room party. That’s right. A regular joe – he’s a water-treatment company salesman – wearing a Sidney Crosby jersey and a Penguins hat joined…
Snapshots FROM AROUND THE NHL
WE KNEW WAYNE GRETZKY was good, but we didn’t know he was save-the-planet good. In a recent article on climate change that appeared in TIME magazine, U.S. secretary of energy Steven Chu said his country’s energy policy should take the same approach as Gretzky took to hockey, meaning don’t just chase the puck around, get yourself situated where it’s eventually going to be. Once again, the world should follow The Great One’s lead. THERE’S NO CONFIRMATION on this, but speculation is part of the deal that sent Aaron Ward back to the Carolina Hurricanes involved Ward getting the chance to cold-cock Scott Walker just once, right in the chops. GOOD ON SCOTT GOMEZ for taking French lessons this off-season leading into his first year with the Blue, Blanc et Rouge. Whereas some…
A SNOWBALL’S CHANCE AT NHL
IT BOGGLES THE MIND how sometimes people who are otherwise reasonable, rational and levelheaded can lose enormous amounts of perspective when it comes to the lure of a professional hockey career. When news surfaced in August 60 teenagers from southern Ontario had returned from what they thought would be an international tournament in France – and a chance to showcase themselves in front of European scouts – that turned out to be nothing more than an opportunity to play shinny and see the Eiffel Tower, people should not have been terribly surprised. It’s pretty easy to explain why players and families who probably should have known better embarked on a venture that had more red flags than a communist rally on May Day. No matter where they are in their hockey careers…
PIRATES PACE GAME DAYS
The Portland Pirates are taking steps to ease the consecutive-game load on their players. Of the 36 home dates the Buffalo Sabres’ affiliate will play at the Cumberland County Civic Center, eight will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, nontraditional game days. “We’ve gotten so heavy on weekends that it puts a strain on the players,” Pirates CEO Brian Petrovek told the Portland Press-Herald. “We owe it to the NHL affiliate to give the guys a little more rest.” Of the Pirates four remaining home games, two will be at Buffalo’s HSBC Arena, and two will be played in Lewiston, Maine. Portland is also hosting the AHL All-Star Classic Jan. 18-19. TOUGHENING UP The Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears have signed enforcer Brandon Sugden. Sugden, 31, had one assist and 136 penalty minutes in 56 games…
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