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April 12, 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.
BEST OF THE REST HARDCORE HOCKEY
ECHL GAMBLE PAYS Goaltender Jimmy Spratt has reversed his fortunes in Las Vegas. The former Bowling Green standout went 6-2-1 in his first 10 games with the Wranglers, earning ECHL goaltender-ofthe-week honors. Not bad for a 2004 Calgary Flames draft pick with no team to begin the season after Johnstown cut him late in training camp. After a pit stop in Toledo and a stint with Louisiana in the SPHL, Spratt, 24, has strengthened a position depleted by injuries and call-ups. “He’s relished the opportunity,” Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel told the Las Vegas Sun. “He’s a competitor.” – MIKE MASTOVICH UNITED STATES LEAGUE FAMILY FUN Forget Philly, the Mile High city will be boasting some brotherly love, at least for Denver University recruits. Next year, Lincoln Stars center Jarrod Mermis, 20, will join the Pioneers followed…
DEFENDING DEFENSE
HARVARD SENIOR defenseman Alex Biega is a lot like a race car with a restrictor plate. The horsepower is still there, but it’s been scaled back a bit. After becoming one of the top offensive defenseman in the ECAC, the native of Pointe-Claire, Que., only had two goals and 10 points this year as the Crimson struggled to a 9-21-3 mark, the most losses in the history of Harvard hockey. But there was a reason for the statistical shortfall. “After going to summer programs and development camps, I learned that, a lot of times, more can be less,” said Biega, who never missed a game at Harvard. “This year, I tried to develop more as a defenseman. My stats are down, but I think I’ve matured a lot, defensively.” But there was no question…
MAD DOGS RISE UP
FROM HIS FIRST day on the job, Dave Tippett pushed the idea of a pack mentality and he found a receptive audience in a group that had to claw for what little respect it could garner in hockey circles. The Coyotes developed an ‘Us Against the World’ attitude with good reason; most dismissed the team as just a newer version of an old story about a squad that simply did not have the talent to win. Add to that months of off-ice turmoil – a bankrupt team that was a judge’s decision away from leaving the county, state and country – and all but the most hardcore of fans saw very little hope. Now that same collection of players, led by a coach who was fired in Dallas last summer, is probably…
LEHTERA LIGHTS OUT
Tampere Tappara’s Jori Lehtera was voted MVP in the Finnish SM-liiga. He received 67 firstplace votes (all 109 journalists named three candidates) while the runner-up, Juha-Pekka Hytonen, got 15 and third-place candidate, Sami Kapanen, six votes. The 22-year-old center also won the scoring race by a 15-point margin when he scored 19 goals and added 69 points in 57 games. “Of course it’s nice to get some awards, but there’s no time to enjoy these too much,” said Lehtera on the eve of the wild card round of the SM-liiga playoffs. In Finland, teams ranked sixth and higher go straight to the quarterfinals, while teams finishing seventh through tenth play a best-of-three series for the two remaining quarterfinal spots. The St. Louis Blues’ third round pick from 2008 (65th overall) recorded points in…
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