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February 22, 2010
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.
OCTOGENARIAN ON SKATES
The Chinese women’s Olympic team lost 4-1 to the Mississauga (Ont.) Chiefs in a late January exhibition game, but the biggest cheers came after the contest. Beloved Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion welcomed the Chinese team and starred in a special post-game shootout. McCallion, 88, skated on to the ice wearing skates from the 1940s, wound up at center and skated in on Chinese goalie Shi Yao. The mayor let go a weak shot that beat Yao – who let the puck get past her – delighting the crowd. McCallion, a big booster of women’s hockey, played for the Montreal Kik back in 1941.…
FAMILY COURAGE
THE COURAGE THAT steeled Claude Vilgrain to become a pioneer for the cause of black hockey players must have been inherited from his father, Alix, who could have fled their native Haiti after the earthquake, but chose to stay. On Jan. 12 from his home in Calgary, Claude – a former NHL player with Vancouver, New Jersey and Philadelphia – watched in dismay as TV reports showed the devastation on the tiny island nation. For years, Claude had tried to get his father to leave Haiti, but for more conventional reasons, like hurricanes and political unrest. When the 7.0 earthquake hit, lines of communication went down and agonizing hours passed before word got out that all members of Vilgrain’s extended family were safe. “He’s doing well and he prefers to stay,’’ Claude said. “We…
Chicago
CRISTOBAL HUET might be the least superstitious goalie in the NHL. He has no problem talking to reporters on game day. He lets the equipment guys touch his gear and once allowed a member of the PR staff to borrow his mask for a photo shoot on the morning of a game. What in the name of Ed Belfour is going on? Belfour wouldn’t even talk to teammates on days he played. “I don’t like to call it superstition, I have more rituals,” Huet said. “I tend to always put my skates on left then right, pads left then right, and do things with the same guys, but if I don’t do it, it’s not going to affect my game. I think it’s good to be a little detached from those things.”…
FAN SHOOTOUT with MILAN MICHALEK
AKSHAY GHOSH FROM OTTAWA, ASKS What kind of cars do you like? I’m not a big fan of fast cars, I like SUVs – Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne. I have a Cayenne. JAMES LAZETTE FROM RIPON CALIF., ASKS When you play your brother (Coyotes D-man Zbynek) do you smack talk? We talk to each other a lot on the ice. Sometimes it’s trash talk, sometimes not. When I played him more when I was in San Jose there was more trash talk. DAN RAKUSAN FROM OTTAWA, ASKS As a fellow Czech, I’m concerned about the Olympics. Our old players are getting too old, while the young players aren’t quite ready. What are your feelings about the state of Czech hockey in general? I think there are big concerns, there aren’t too many young guys coming…
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