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.

Fully Loaded, Fall 2011

The Hockey News - Fully Loaded Fall 2011

<div class="byline">By Erika Vanderveer</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03691/9521242-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="608" height="765"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>fter a long</b> and grueling season, most hockey players exchange their twigs for irons and hit the greens. But to seek more of an adventure and adrenaline rush, scaling up shear vertical rock is a great addition to off-season training.</p><p>For goalies in particular, rock climbing offers a full-body workout and at the same time helps to strengthen you mentally. When you&rsquo;re hanging on by just your finger tips, balance and mental strength become key to climbing success.</p><p>Kalymnos, Greece offers a spectacular climbing destination because of the unique rock and friendliness of the island. You&rsquo;ll be climbing sharp, grippy limestone and before you know it, gigantic stalactites are hanging down, offering that next great hand-hold.</p><p>It may cost a pretty penny to get there, but once you&rsquo;ve arrived, it&rsquo;s very affordable. For about $10 a night, rent a studio apartment with its own balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. And after a hard day of climbing, swing by one of the many family-run restaurants and eat like a king or queen for less than $10.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-03

IN THIS ISSUE

CLIMBING IN GREECE

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05489/9520581-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg" title="f0008-05" width="420" height="540"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>N</span>ew season, new mask for Columbus goalie Steve Mason. Designed by Dave Gunnarson, Mason&rsquo;s helmet features imagery from Sam Raimi&rsquo;s cult classic horror film <i>Evil Dead 2</i>, mixed with the Blue Jackets&rsquo; Civil War theme.</b></p><p><b>&ldquo;We went back and forth for a couple weeks on the design and that&rsquo;s what we came up with,&rdquo; Mason said. &ldquo;I think the finished product looks pretty awesome.&rdquo; We whole-heartedly agree. Hopefully Columbus&rsquo; season isn&rsquo;t Dead by Dawn.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-06362/9520574-1-eng-US/f0008-062.jpg" title="f0008-06" width="416" height="538"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0008-05

SKULL SOLDIERS

<div class="byline">By Adam Scully</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>N</span>HL PLAYERS HAVE</b> the luxury of picking any equipment they want. Some are even paid to use certain gear. But what are the best players in the league using these days? Before Alex Ovechkin switched from CCM to Bauer, we researched what stick and gloves were used by the top-10 scorers from 2010-11, plus the nominees for the Norris and Calder trophies. For goalies, we chose the top 10 in save percentage, plus five of the other more prominent names in the game &ndash; Marc-Andre Fleury, Ilya Bryzgalov, Jonathan Quick, Ryan Miller and James Reimer &ndash; and found out what pads and catcher-blocker combos they use. Anaheim star and Hart Trophy-winner Corey Perry is an Easton man, while Habs savior Carey Price rocks Vaughn in the crease.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012290/9520543-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="764" height="1010"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021744/9520536-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="882" height="1018"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031230/9520529-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="2089" height="549"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04690/9520522-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="2091" height="406"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0008-01

ALL-STAR CALIBER TWIGS AND MITTS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0062-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-01181/9521828-1-eng-US/f0062-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Edmonton Oilers</b></figcaption></div><p>A whole lot of new NHL jerseys are coming out for the 2011-12 season. Here&rsquo;s a quick peek at the different looks being sported.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0362/9521821-1-eng-US/f0062-032.jpg" title="f0062-03" width="1185" height="875"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Los Angeles Kings</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0527/9521814-1-eng-US/f0062-052.jpg" title="f0062-05" width="1805" height="1338"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Tampa Bay Lightning</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-02104/9521807-1-eng-US/f0062-022.jpg" title="f0062-02" width="1289" height="1060"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Florida Panthers</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0446/9521800-1-eng-US/f0062-042.jpg" title="f0062-04" width="1352" height="1022"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Winnipeg Jets</b></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0062-0623/9521793-1-eng-US/f0062-062.jpg" title="f0062-06" width="906" height="1476"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Nashville Predators</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0062-01

THE GALLERY

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012173/9520429-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="696" height="858"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>YLER</b>&nbsp;<b>SEGUIN</b> and Mike Cammalleri have been chirping each other all day. As a Boston Bruin and Montreal Canadien, respectively, it&rsquo;s not hard to picture the two of them going at it. But this is the off-season and foes become friends once again. The two players are taking part in a Fully Loaded photo shoot which pairs them off with models in tight workout gear (pg. 50). Seguin is lifting a 150-pound log with cutouts in the middle for handles. It was a gift given to trainer Matt Nichol from a client who once competed in World&rsquo;s Strongest Man events. &ldquo;Why does <i>he</i> get the coolest piece of equipment?&rdquo; Cammalleri protests.</p><p>Seguin has a cheshire cat grin and unloads it on his Montreal rival. Cammalleri, whose Habs lost to Seguin&rsquo;s Bruins in the first round of the playoffs &ndash; you know, the one that ended with Boston hoisting the Stanley Cup &ndash; receives the unspoken answer loud and clear: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t even say it.&rdquo;</p><p>The duo, plus James Neal and Andrew Cogliano, stuck around after a full morning of workouts for the photo shoot and downtime was inevitable. If Cammo and Seguin had been chirping on the ice, someone might have taken a composite in the teeth. But today, it&rsquo;s all in good fun.</p><p>Months earlier, I&rsquo;m hanging out with even younger players &ndash; drafteligible Swedes Adam Larsson, Oscar Klefbom, Victor Rask and Rasmus Bengtsson. They&rsquo;re in Toronto for the annual combine and they, too, have time to kill. Each player gives us a 1-on-1 interview for <a href="http://THN.TV">THN.TV</a> and Larsson, a potential No. 1 pick in the draft, gets the final slot. He&rsquo;s almost finished when he stumbles on his last answer about what he does best on the ice &ndash; playing it calm and cool. When he can&rsquo;t save himself from cracking up, his buddies let him have it &ndash; all in Swedish of course.</p><p>Like Seguin and Cammalleri, the young Swedes were cracking on each other throughout their photo shoot (pg. 44), because that&rsquo;s what hockey players do. Chirping in another language still sounds sweet.</p><p>Now the summer&rsquo;s over and the time for talk is done.</p><p><b>The fuel:</b> Endless Dr. Pepper at the NewsRoom in Minneapolis, the Poutine Dog at RealSports in Toronto and &ldquo;Rumors of War&rdquo; by High on Fire.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0004-01

BULL SESSION

<div class="byline">By Brian Liu</div><h2><b>TALE OF THE TAPE</b></h2><p><b>Kelly Kelly vs. Sheldon Souray</b></p><p><i>The WWE Diva and Dallas D-man locked lips at SummerSlam 24, but how does the couple stack up against each other?</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012400/9520491-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="933" height="1845"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MICHAEL TRAN/GETTY IMAGES FOR DIRECTV)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021626/9520484-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1392" height="2085"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JENNIFER POTTHEISER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h3><b>REAL NAME</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Barbara Jean Blank</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>Sheldon Souray</i></p><h3><b>NICKNAMES/ALIASES</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Kind Girl, Barbie Blank</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>The Studly Wonderbomb</i></p><h3><b>MEASURABLES</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>5-foot-5, 108 lbs., 24 years old</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>6-foot-4, 233 lbs., 35 years old</i></p><h3><b>ROAD TO THE SHOW</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Bikini model for Hawaiian Tropic and Venus Swimwear before coming to WWE</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>1994 NHL Draft, 3rd Round, 71st overall by New Jersey Devils</i></p><h3><b>KNOWN FOR</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Kelly&rsquo;s Expose, her weekly striptease segment; was youngest WWE Diva at age 19</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>Blistering slapshot; being paid $4.5 million to play in minors</i></p><h3><b>INSIDE THE RING</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>21-5-2 (WWE)</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>14-0-6 since 2004, 50 NHL fights total</i></p><h3><b>CHAMPIONSHIPS</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Current WWE Diva Champion</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>Still looking for first Stanley Cup</i></p><h3><b>GLAMOUR MOMENTS</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Spreads in FHM and Maxim; No. 82 in Maxim&rsquo;s 2011 Hot 100 list</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>Appeared in Maxim and GQ; named Access Hollywood&rsquo;s sexiest man in the NHL in 2003</i></p><h3><b>HOLLYWOOD HIGHLIGHTS</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Appeared with other WWE Divas in the Timbaland music video &ldquo;Throw It On Me&rdquo;</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>Was married to former Baywatch star Angelica Bridges</i></p><h3><b>NOTABLE FEUDS</b></h3><p><b>KK</b>&nbsp;<i>Beth Phoenix, Layla</i></p><p><b>SS</b>&nbsp;<i>Edmonton Oilers management</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-01

LOADEDUP

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012261/9520640-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="258" height="375"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD DUBOIS)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>OW</b>&nbsp;<b>OFTEN DO</b> NHLers think about their looks? Depends on the player. But one thing&rsquo;s for sure: Just because they care, doesn&rsquo;t mean they know what they&rsquo;re doing. While the Ryan Smyth mullet has become an iconic image &ndash; no doubt the folicular love child of the Hanson brothers, who brought the look to the mainstream in <i>Slap Shot</i> &ndash; not every player wants a party in the back, no matter how popular it will make them in Edmonton. With that in mind, we tabbed Vanessa Craft, beauty director for <i>Elle Magazine Canada</i>, to give her unfiltered opinion on some of the different looks sported by prominent NHLers when they&rsquo;re not hiding under their helmets.</p><p>Naturally, there were some two-minute minors. But some of Craft&rsquo;s judgments were surprising &ndash; turns out some of the justgot-out-of-bed guys can reign victorious over those who practically made a second hobby out of their stylings.</p><p>Check out the Fully Loaded scorecard.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021650/9520633-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="475" height="633"></div><h2><b>ALEX OVECHKIN</b></h2><h3><b>WASHINGTON</b></h3><p><i>This is Alex&rsquo;s best barnet option. I'm assuming he trims it himself with his blades before he pads up and hits the ice. Messy, no nonsense, hockey hair. Wouldn't change a thing.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-031056/9520626-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="475" height="619"></div><h2><b>EVGENI MALKIN</b></h2><h3><b>PITTSBURGH</b></h3><p><i>This is a code-red hair emergency situation. Shaved lines should be left to middle America college-hazing rituals or unemployed MC Hammer backup dancers.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-04734/9520619-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="467" height="633"></div><h2><b>SEAN AVERY</b></h2><h3><b>NY RANGERS</b></h3><p><i>I may not know much about our national sport, but I know this: there is no place for ironic hipster glasses in hockey,</i> Vogue <i>resume or not. Hair looks great, but I'd like to</i> see <i>Avery a little less coiffed. A messy, textured cut with a little stubble, perhaps? Something to shake off the "I spent three hours priming this look" vibe he&rsquo;s giving off.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-05535/9520612-1-eng-US/f0010-052.jpg" title="f0010-05" width="475" height="634"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>SCOTT HARTNELL</b></h2><h3><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></h3><p><i>Long hair on guys can be sexy, provided the use of hair product is kept to a minimum. Tricky for a guy like Hartnell, as he&rsquo;s got to keep the curls looking bountiful without coming off all high maintenance. He needs to use a lightweight hair oil straight out of the shower. Or he could just buzz the whole thing off and we just pretend it never happened.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

HEADSHOT HEROES AND HOLDUPS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-06400/9520671-1-eng-US/f0010-062.jpg" title="f0010-06" width="842" height="1031"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>s a heart-and-soul member of the Chicago Blackhawks, Dave Bolland knows how to grind. That&rsquo;s why he held his first charity golf tourney over the summer for the Remix Project, a hip-hop inspired foundation that helps young people achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Bolland admits he&rsquo;s not the best golfer, but that&rsquo;s because winning the Stanley Cup kinda cut into his tee times.</b></p><h2><b>FAVORITE COURSES</b></h2><p>Cog Hill in Chicago, Ill. Redtail in London, Ont.</p><h2><b>CLUBS</b></h2><p>Nike</p><h2><b>CELEB BUDDIES</b></h2><p>Steve Mason, Rob Schremp</p><h2><b>BEST GOLFER ON THE HAWKS</b></h2><p>Jonathan Toews<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-06

BORN CHIPPY

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>S</span>ticks</b>&nbsp;<b>and skates</b> get the headlines, but hockey equipment is like an army: all soldiers must contribute to the cause. With that in mind we went under the jersey, then under the pads to seek out some of the more creative products on the market right now when it comes to gear innovations.</p><p>Athletic socks come in all stripes these days (literally) and many tweaks both big and small are being added to entice the hockey fanatic. In a similar way, under apparel (think Under Armour) is becoming trendy among manufacturers and new names are starting to pop up all over the place. One company making waves is Firstar, who gets its visibility from Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012208/9520723-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="554" height="1019"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Stable 26 Footgear</b>&nbsp;<i>Stable 26</i> $49.99 | <a href="http://stable26.com">stable26.com</a></figcaption></div><p>Stressing the need for feet to actually fit in a skate, Stable 26 brings a game-changer with this sock, featuring adjustable silicon pads that eliminate negative space to preserve power and momentum.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021733/9520716-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="1125" height="824"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Shoulder Wrap</b>&nbsp;<i>ActiveWrap</i> $69.95 | <a href="http://activewrap.com">activewrap.com</a></figcaption></div><p>Taping a huge chunk of ice to your weary limbs after a game might look cool, but it&rsquo;s not exactly the most efficient way to do things. This wrap can be used for both hot and cold packs and looks sleek.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031113/9520709-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="956" height="1116"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Longsleeve Triple Threat</b>&nbsp;<i>Firstar</i> $54.99 | <a href="http://firstarsports.com">firstarsports.com</a></figcaption></div><p>Tackling the age-old problem of what happens to your undershirt once you start moving in it, the Triple Threat is designed to eliminate bunching and also battles sweat through MST technology.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-04663/9520702-1-eng-US/f0012-042.jpg" title="f0012-04" width="560" height="696"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PowerSox</b> $10.99 | <a href="http://powersox.com">powersox.com</a></figcaption></div><p>These wool socks are perfect for skates, offering moisture management (always important in hockey) as well as a touch of spandex, improving on the contour of the sock in your skate. Also designed for arch support.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

WHAT’S UNDER YOUR HOOD?

<div class="byline">By Connie Jensen</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011946/9520754-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Shockbox gives a guideline for parents and volunteers to use to determine if their child or player has sustained a concussion.</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>C</span>ONCUSSIONS HAVE BECOME</b> a hot-button issue in minor  hockey after major-league injuries to high-profile players such as Sidney Crosby and Marc Savard. Now, everyone is looking for ways to make the game safer at every level.</p><p>The Shockbox is a sensor innovation by Impakt Protective that detects the impact of a hit to the head and sends the signal to your smartphone or laptop. Co-founder and CEO Danny Crossman is a former Army bomb disposal officer who has worked on many life-saving ventures, such as the bomb suit featured in the movie <i>The Hurt Locker</i>. But he rejects the possibility of upgrading the helmet. &ldquo;Our aim isn&rsquo;t to produce data so you can design a better helmet,&rdquo; Crossman said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been working in the protective helmet business and defense for years and you can&rsquo;t design a better helmet. You would have a marshmallow on your head.&rdquo;</p><p>Crossman says, especially in minor hockey, everyone needs to be more aware of concussion symptoms so players aren&rsquo;t sent back on the ice too soon. &ldquo;You know, everybody&rsquo;s a volunteer &mdash; coaches, trainers, a lot of these volunteers don&rsquo;t have all of the training to be able to understand concussions,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;What is a concussion? What are the methods to diagnose it?&rdquo;</p><p>The Shockbox is designed to fit on the crown of the helmet. A parent or coach could have a smartphone up to 80 yards away to monitor up to 128 sensors at once. Crossman says it&rsquo;s something that can be useful to players at every level. &ldquo;It can be used as a return-to-play guideline,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;So a minor league hockey coach or a trainer can see &lsquo;OK, these are all the hits of a certain threshold and these are the ones that were diagnosed as a concussion.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Currently 18 Canadian university teams are doing a trial run with the Shockbox and Crossman says some NHL and CHL teams have also expressed interest. Impakt Protective&rsquo;s hope is, after data has been compiled on how it&rsquo;s working, they can partner with a larger manufacturer so the Shockbox can be embedded into a helmet underneath the padding and made available for purchase as soon as fall of 2012.</p><p>Although the Shockbox is a cutting-edge product, Crossman stresses it won&rsquo;t stop concussions: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a tool. It&rsquo;s one of many tools that the trainer has to use because there&rsquo;s never going to be one silver bullet in this business.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0013-01

DETECTION PROTECTION

<div class="byline">By Rory Boylen</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012180/9520799-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pavel Datsyuk</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE REGINEK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>O</span>FF-SEASON TRAINING</b> is becoming more and more integral to success, but getting fit doesn&rsquo;t mean just picking up the biggest weight you can grab and pumping iron for hours on end. &ldquo;I think weights are over-rated,&rdquo; said Jeremy Clark, owner of the Minnesota Top Team facility and program. &ldquo;There are so many better exercises you can do to improve your core strength.&rdquo;</p><p>Clark began as a mixed martial arts instructor and fell into hockey since the training applications of the two sports crossover so frequently. But the hockey training Clark does isn&rsquo;t designed just for fighters.</p><p>He used to train the late Derek Boogaard, but Clark also works with Detroit&rsquo;s Pavel Datsyuk, an all-world star known for his impeccable balance and puck control, despite being undersized.</p><p>You can see how the dividends of the program can pay off for players of different sorts.</p><p>A key to Clark&rsquo;s regimen is muscle confusion. Rather than do the same reps of the same exercises each time, Clark says it&rsquo;s better to make slight variations so the muscles don&rsquo;t become accustomed to the workout and therefore make it easier to complete. &ldquo;Some people go in and just bench press as much as they can each time,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But you won&rsquo;t get the results you need as a hockey player doing just that.&rdquo;</p><p>Among the pieces of equipment integral to Clark&rsquo;s program are rubber resistance bands, medicine balls and yoga balls. He stresses basic workouts such as push-ups, sit-ups and running, but also implements unique exercises that test all muscles using this equipment.</p><p>Aside from core strength, Clark&rsquo;s program also promotes multi-directional movement, speed, agility and endurance. Neck strength development is also key, in order to help prevent spine and back injuries.</p><p>Combine all the elements and you get a fullbody workout that gets full marks on the ice.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021636/9520792-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="433" height="600"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Combat Sports Pure composite</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-031105/9520785-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="430" height="309"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bari Boots</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0014-01

LEARN FROM THE PROS

<p class="dropcap"><span>R</span>ight now, hockey equipment is largely governed by big players such as Bauer, Reebok-CCM, Easton and Warrior, with goaltending branching off into Sher-Wood and Vaughn as well.</p><p>But there are a slew of smaller companies and upstarts trying to break into the market and one stickmaker on the rise is Combat Sports, makers of the Pure one-piece model.</p><p>Made in Canada, the Pure composite is manufactured using NanoCamp molding technology and is a hot seller for the company, which boasts L.A. Kings captain Dustin Brown and new Philadelphia Flyers right winger Jaromir Jagr as boosters.</p><p>Combat Sports&rsquo; origins date back to 1994, when founder Terry Sutherland was a pioneer in composite stick technology.</p><p>Another interesting trend in rinks today are Bari Boots, which look like skates without blades, but are in fact shoes. They even have a rubberized toe cap to hammer home the look of a skate and kids have really taken to the innovative new boot.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Trendwatching For Gear

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011950/9520854-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Angie Lewis has been a Washington Caps fan since she was a kid.</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>NGIE LEWIS HAS QUICKLY</b> made a name for herself in the hockey journalism world, covering the Washington Capitals as a blogger (on her website, <a href="http://allwedoispuck.com">allwedoispuck.com</a>) and rising through the ranks to cover high school hockey for the Washington <i>Post</i>. She&rsquo;s also popular on Twitter (through her @LadyHatTrick account). Fully Loaded conducted a Twitter interview with her to discuss a number of issues.</p><p><b>Fully Loaded:</b> When did you become a hockey fan and how did you get involved in blogging about the game?</p><p><b>Angie Lewis:</b> I almost immediately became a serious fan after I went to a Caps/Habs game as a kid. I followed the whole league passionately, but being in the D.C. area, I followed the Capitals the closest. I started to record every Caps game in a notebook the following year. With a passion for writing about and following hockey and sports in general, I found interest in being a sports writer. I began blogging in college as a way to practice doing recaps of games, opinion pieces and features. When people noticed my best work came from writing about hockey, I put my focus in that.</p><p><b>FL:</b> Who are your favorite current and all-time NHL players?</p><p><b>AL:</b> My favorite NHLer ever has to be Ken Dryden. He was so dominant. I also believe Dryden has an incredible hockey mind, which was displayed in his book, <i>The Game</i>. As far as current NHLers go, Alex Ovechkin, Carey Price and Patrick Kane are my favorites to observe.</p><p><b>FL:</b> Your writing focus is on the Caps. Tell us how your experience has been covering a team that believes strongly in social media.</p><p><b>AL:</b> Once Washington drafted Alex Ovechkin and rebranded the franchise, a whole new following for the team was born. The emergence of alternative media started to compete with mainstream media in readership and even information. It&rsquo;s great the Caps embraced both sides of the media spectrum and allowed both to co-exist and have access to the team. It has given way for younger people and people who normally wouldn&rsquo;t have an &ldquo;in&rdquo; to the hockey media world to get their foot in the door.</p><p><b>FL:</b> The Hockey News has picked Washington to win the Cup this year. What are your thoughts on this year&rsquo;s edition of the Caps?</p><p><b>AL:</b>&nbsp;This year&rsquo;s Capitals are more balanced at both ends of the ice and more solid in net than they were last year. Skepticism is high in Washington, but I think on paper, they have a better chance to do it now than before. It&rsquo;s definitely a pick with a strong case to support it. Everyone should be healthy again, goals should be back up, defense/goalies are great, the tone is more serious &ndash; it&rsquo;s just a matter of whether it will all come through.</p><p><b>FL:</b> As a female and Guyanese-American, how have you been received in a predominantly male Caucasian sports culture like the one surrounding hockey?</p><p><b>AL:</b> I have experienced nothing but positive reception from readers and colleagues. Being in my early 20s has actually raised more eyebrows. Hockey writers are an exclusive-but-inclusive group of people. They are willing to accept anyone, as long as they are knowledgeable and diligent workers.</p><p><b>FL:</b> What advice do you have for other young writers interested in covering the sport?</p><p><b>AL:</b> Make your work stand out, whether that comes through finding unique hockey stories or angles, or through your delivery. Also, have thick skin. Your work will be criticized, people will strongly disagree with your opinions, or entirely misinterpret your work. But it&rsquo;s not a bad thing and if you are meant to be a writer, it will only motivate you to write even more.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-01

CAPITAL COMMITMENT

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021496/9520892-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="779" height="477"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-031094/9520885-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="217" height="203"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>P</span>ittsburgh Penguins DJ <i>Vinny Karpuszka</i> loves to pump up Pens fans by turning up the volume. He always keeps the building rocking and here are the five tracks he can&rsquo;t wait to blast in the Consol Energy Center this season:</b></p><h2><b>2011-12 DJ PICKS:</b></h2><p><b>&ldquo;RAINING BLOOD&rdquo;</b> by Slayer</p><p><b>&ldquo;CREEPING DEATH&rdquo;</b> by Metallica</p><p><b>&ldquo;GO WITH THE FLOW&rdquo;</b> by Queens of the Stone Age</p><p><b>&ldquo;GHOSTS N STUFF&rdquo;</b> by Deadmau5</p><p><b>&ldquo;BACK IN THE SADDLE&rdquo;</b> by Aerosmith (for Sid&rsquo;s return)<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-02

CRANK IT UP

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011829/9521014-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ovechkin cartoon T-shirt by Reebok</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011618/9521007-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="989" height="845"><figcaption class="caption-body">Canucks hat by New Era</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021216/9521000-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="1036" height="633"><figcaption class="caption-body">Lil&rsquo; Teammates figures by Party Animal Toys <span class="photo-credit">(JAMIE HODGSON/STUDIO34DESIGN.CA)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>D</span></b>ust off your old cassette tapes and bust out the Bulls or Raiders Starter jacket: The early &rsquo;90s are back. If there was one obvious trend at this year&rsquo;s NHL Exchange &ndash; the trade show where all the new licensed merchandise is showcased for retailers and official team stores &ndash; it&rsquo;s that throwbacks of a more recent variety are in vogue. Snapback hats from all the major brands are here and the designs are straight out of those halcyon days when the suburbs discovered hip hop and an NBA star could look cool dressed up like a grandmother. &ldquo;Snapbacks were the original high-crown headwear of that generation,&rdquo; said Kelly Burns of New Era. &ldquo;The consumer base (now) is a surprisingly younger demographic that is really connecting with the vintage and the older looks.&rdquo;</p><p>Burns points out &rsquo;90s throwbacks have done very well in the inner cities of America, which, given the roots of the trend in the first place, makes a lot of sense. For another big hatmaker, the trend is a return to the company&rsquo;s roots. &ldquo;These were the hats we were producing back in 1993,&rdquo; said Zephyr&rsquo;s Inger Olson. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve kept the green undervisor, the logo and color combinations. There&rsquo;s a whole new generation buying these, matching them with shoes&hellip;we can&rsquo;t keep them on the shelves.&rdquo;</p><p>So the hammerlock that fitted hats once had on the market is gone, but snapbacks aren&rsquo;t the only vintage products making noise. Labels such as Red Jacket and Mitchell & Ness are still producing throwback-style threads that harken back to an earlier era, but also expanding the borders past realistic Original Six sweaters or hats and moving into what could more accurately be described as lifestyle gear.</p><p>Elsewhere at the NHL Exchange, a few companies have gone the other way, with futuristic designs. Viral, for example, takes its influences from snowboard and skate culture, producing day-glo designs for today&rsquo;s NHL T-shirt. Similarly, Three60 Gear&rsquo;s all-over photo designs are so high-tech, the shirts come with a unique number that, when inputted online, contains info on the precise game the image came from. From the future to the recent past, there&rsquo;s a lot to get excited for this year.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011582/9520993-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="1296" height="3309"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-021142/9520986-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="1123" height="1360"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03816/9520979-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="867" height="599"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04561/9520972-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="755" height="667"><figcaption class="caption-body">Original snapback hats from Zephyr echo the early 1990s. Reebok&rsquo;s cartoon caricature T-shirt of the reigning Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins also harkens back to a time when athletes didn&rsquo;t mind having their image toyed around with. Chara, Bergeron, Marchand, Lucic, Thomas and Horton star in this kid&rsquo;s shirt. Colors are extremely important to the &rsquo;90s throwback trend, which is why any chance to get gold in is usually taken.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011470/9520965-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="1362" height="1369"><figcaption class="caption-body">Women&rsquo;s zip-up Chicago Blackhawks jacket by Mitchell & Ness.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-021081/9520958-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="1090" height="1633"><figcaption class="caption-body">Pittsburgh Penguins longsleeve T-shirt by Red Jacket Clothing.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04595/9520951-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="963" height="1006"><figcaption class="caption-body">Sidney Crosby T-shirt by Three60 Gear.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03806/9520944-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="762" height="1103"><figcaption class="caption-body">St. Louis Blues T-shirt by Red Jacket Clothing.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-06366/9520937-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="935" height="529"><figcaption class="caption-body">Headphones etched with Boston Bruins logo by Coveroo.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05453/9520930-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="1471" height="1051"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ottawa Senators keyboard by Pangea.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-07304/9520923-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="1178" height="959"><figcaption class="caption-body">NHL toasters by Pangea.</figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-01

OHHHH SNAP

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011413/9521059-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEBORA ROBINSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>JARED BOLL</b></h2><p>Columbus Blue Jackets, RW</p><p>Favorite summer exercise: Single-leg squat</p><p>Car I drive: 2010 Cadillac Escalade &ndash; black</p><p>First NHL fight: Stephane Veilleux</p><p>Best fight: Cam Janssen</p><p>Favorite NHLer to fight: Cam Janssen</p><p>Favorite non-hockey athlete: Chuck Liddell</p><h2><b>PAUL BISSONNETTE</b></h2><p>Phoenix Coyotes, LW</p><p>Car I Drive: Ford F-150 truck with black rims</p><p>Fun thing I&rsquo;ve bought: 3-D TV and a bar for man cave</p><p>First NHL fight: Matt Bradley</p><p>Best fight: Matt Bradley</p><p>Favorite NHLer to fight: Krys Barch, George Parros</p><p>Superhero: Duffman</p><p>Favorite non-hockey athlete: Aaron Rodgers</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-021013/9521052-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="1344" height="1129"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(NORM HALL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>GEORGE PARROS</b></h2><p>Anaheim Ducks, RW</p><p>Favorite summer exercise: Beach volleyball</p><p>In-season exercise: Mini-golf</p><p>Car I drive: Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle</p><p>Fun thing I&rsquo;ve bought: 1973 Cadillac Eldorado</p><p>First NHL fight: John Erskine</p><p>Best fight: Riley Cote</p><p>Superhero: Batman</p><h2><b>CAM JANSSEN</b></h2><p>New Jersey Devils, RW</p><p>Favorite summer exercise: Skating with the boys back home</p><p>In-season exercise: Skating and skill work with Northern Edge</p><p>Fun thing I&rsquo;ve bought: 600 horsepower Corvette</p><p>Best fight: Wade Belak (revenge for hit on Kaberle)</p><p>Favorite NHLer to fight: Krys Barch</p><p>Superhero: Batman</p><h2><b>KRYS BARCH</b></h2><p>Dallas Stars, LW</p><p>Car I drive: Ford F-150</p><p>Fun thing I&rsquo;ve bought: Amazon Kindle</p><p>First NHL fight: Chris Pronger</p><p>Best fight: Brad May</p><p>Favorite NHLer to fight: Brad May</p><p>Superhero: Iron Man, also my son&rsquo;s favorite</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-011253/9521045-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="1745" height="1348"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GLENN JAMES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0024-01

FIGHT CLUB

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02882/9521104-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="647" height="1022"><figcaption class="caption-body">Hockey footgear includes medial and lateral silicone pads in 2mm, 4mm and 6mm thicknesses.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03616/9521097-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="209" height="254"></div><p><b>&ldquo;</b>Optimizing the skating mechanics of hockey players involves a number of factors, including strength, speed, balance, and technique. None of these factors can be realized without a great skate fit. With Stable 26 footgear, my players show improved stability through the ankle, which translates to more force on every push and more power on every stride.<b>&rdquo;</b></p><p><b>Barb Underhill</b>&nbsp;<i>&ndash; Skating Coach for New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Guelph Storm</i></p><h2><b>Start with a better connection between foot and skate.</b></h2><p>An intimate level of connection between your foot and your skate is essential for great skating mechanics. However, skates come in a limited number of sizes, while there is an unlimited number of foot shapes and sizes.</p><h2><b>Stable 26 footgear optimizes the fit of the skate over time.</b></h2><p>Worn instead of a sock, Stable 26 footgear provides customizable support and unparalleled fit through various thicknesses of anatomically targeted silicone pads. From day one and as your skate changes, Stable 26 footgear can offer revolutionary improvement in skating mechanics, injury prevention and management, and overall comfort.</p><p>Developed by an experienced sports chiropractor in cooperation with professional hockey teams and players, Stable 26 provides players at all levels with a distinct performance advantage.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-04425/9521090-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="502" height="250"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0025-02

SKATES DON’T FIT PERFECTLY, EVER. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

<div class="byline">By Ryan Kennedy</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011427/9521142-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="944" height="1009"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span>ust</b>&nbsp;<b>because you</b> smell like hockey and recently got waxed by your archrival, doesn&rsquo;t mean you can&rsquo;t look good for the post-game media scrum. Hockey streetwear lines have exploded in recent years, with Gong Show playing the godfather of the scene. Giveaways have spurned the trend and even millionaire NHLers love free stuff. The fact they like the styles never hurts matters when it comes to showing off hats, T-shirts and hoodies from these companies.</p><p>We rounded up some of the latest fashions from a number of streetwear lines to give you a taste of what&rsquo;s out there. Though teamwear is most common for official interviews, this is the gear the players wear when they&rsquo;re goofing around with a soccer ball pre-game, or just sitting in the stands, visualizing that all-important goal.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-021024/9521135-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="3121" height="2795"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0026-01

GLARE WEAR

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>ockey players love</b> travel just as much as anyone else. OK, maybe not 12-hour bus rides in junior or the minors, but once they get to the NHL things are pretty sweet. Anyway, when the season is finally over, the pros have just as many hot spots they like to frequent as other folks do, so we did some digging.</p><p>If you like to travel and you&rsquo;ve already done Vegas or Cabo or wherever the cruise ship ends up docking, we&rsquo;ve got some suggestions for you. The following guide takes a look at some cool and distinct locations that offer different thrills and beautiful views throughout.</p><p>Some are favorites of NHL pros, some are places the elite players even call home. But each locale has its own special niche and some destinations may not even be that far from your home. Jam that carry-on into the overhead compartment and let&rsquo;s go.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

GREAT ESCAPES

<div class="byline">By Ryan Dixon</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011417/9521211-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>ishing is almost</b> the exact opposite of hockey. It can be solitary, it&rsquo;s definitely quiet (if you want to actually catch something) and if you win, you get to eat your opponent. For those reasons &ndash; and probably some better ones &ndash; the pastime is popular with numerous NHLers, including Philadelphia&rsquo;s Matt Carle and Chris Pronger, Colorado&rsquo;s Matt Duchene and New Jersey Devils top draft pick Adam Larsson. Carle goes home to Alaska for his fix, while Larsson loves his native Sweden. Pronger, on the other hand, has in the past been a guest of an elite father-son out-fit, whose lodge up in Northern Manitoba is known as one of the best at combining summertime opulence and great fishing.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011394/9521204-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="1032" height="1091"></div><p>Ken Gangler has had a number of passions in life, but the one he turned into a profession is fishing.</p><p>Ken and his dad, Wayne, operate Gangler&rsquo;s North Seal River Lodge, which is located in Northeastern Manitoba, about a threehour flight from Winnipeg. Growing up in Chicago, Wayne always had season tickets to watch the Black Hawks play at the old Chicago Stadium. Watching a team that featured megastars Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita made an impression on Ken, who began playing the game himself. &ldquo;Hockey was always my favorite sport and I was a goalie,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>He was also an avid guitar player and was actually involved with the influential industrial band Ministry in its early days.</p><p>But fishing was also a big love, fueled by trips north with his dad. &ldquo;We loved Canada, Canadian fishing and the whole experience,&rdquo; said Ken, who became a converted Lightning fan after he started spending winters in Florida.</p><p>Whenever the pair went on fishing trips, they not only loved casting, but also considering all the things that went into running a successful lodge. Around the time Ken was in his mid-20s and trying to sort out what exactly to do with his life, Wayne, a longtime player in Chicago politics, was also at a crossroads. Looking for a new venture, the Ganglers decided to start their own lodge in the 1980s. After running two outfits in Saskatchewan, they moved to their Manitoba location in the mid-90s.</p><p>The current state of Gangler&rsquo;s Lodge is the culmination of 25-plus years of experience. In addition to world-class fishing for a variety of species, the accommodations are plush. Guests can expect to stay in cozy cabins and receive an early-morning wakeup call when a member of the service staff drops off a thermos of coffee. After a day of guided fishing, whether closer to the lodge or on a fly-out mission, hungry anglers are treated to a threecourse meal. But before that, they often get to spend an hour or so lounging in the main lodge&rsquo;s intimate settings, doing what you do on a fishing trip: tell lies over a tasty beverage and maybe a game of pool. Ken said, having been to numerous lodges over the years, he and his dad knew exactly what kind of environment they wanted to create.</p><p>&ldquo;We always loved when we went on these trips and you met people and the atmosphere was good and you enjoyed yourself,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Then we went on a couple that weren&rsquo;t the same, so we understood the difference.&rdquo;</p><p>Pronger experienced the Ganglers&rsquo; touch first hand and was brought in by an incentive group when he was still a member of the St. Louis Blues. Like other NHLers who enjoy fishing, Pronger isn&rsquo;t afraid to get his line wet. And even though the lodge owners grew up Hawks fans, Ken and Wayne still decided to hang a picture of Pronger in his Blues uniform on the wall.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02940/9521197-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="895" height="760"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0030-01

FISHING IN MANITOBA

<div class="byline">By Budd Stanley</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011411/9521273-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.TOURISMKELOWNA.COM)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>or those who make</b> their living in hockey, winters can be long, hard, cold affairs. With long seasons in places such as Buffalo, New York, New Jersey, Chicago and Detroit, players are more than happy to see the light of spring. With a need to melt the winter&rsquo;s daily grind and warm in the sun, a number of NHLers &ndash; Tyler Myers, Carey Price and Jordan Tootoo, to name a few &ndash; are now calling Kelowna, B.C., home.</p><p>As the only desert in Canada, the Okanagan Valley is a slim northern finger of a massive desert that reaches north from the Sonoran Desert. As such, Kelowna&rsquo;s summers are particularly warm with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35&deg;C. However, while it may be hot, it&rsquo;s not stifling like the humid heats of Montreal or Toronto. Kelowna is a dry heat, which cools to a comfortable room temperature at night, ideal for drinks on the deck.</p><p>With up to 300 hours of bright sunshine per month in the summer, Kelowna has an ideal climate for growing grapes. If you are a wine lover, other than Niagara, there is no place in Canada where you will enjoy such a concentration of wineries, as the entire valley is riddled with vineyards and tasting rooms. With good wine, comes good food and Kelowna is in no short supply of fantastically unique fine dinning. Winos will want to grab a reservation at the Waterfront Grill, where head chef, Mark Filatow, will introduce dinners to fresh local produces, while the wine list is stacked with a who&rsquo;s who of Canadian vinos to be enjoyed with the best tapas in town.</p><p>With Okanagan Lake filling the floor of the Okanagan Valley, sandy beaches make the most out of a lazy afternoon. The most popular, City Park Beach, is a beautiful combination of warm waters, powder sand and green spaces only steps from Kelowna&rsquo;s boardwalk and nightlife. However, before you hit the clubs, best to pull out a set first. Hockey players love golf and here you will find a plethora of beautiful and challenging courses. A mid-afternoon nine holes at Tower Ranch is a wonderful way to end the day, ideally set high in the hills with the city and valley making an impressive backdrop as you watch your ball sail away into the rough.</p><p>After the activities, Kelowna also boasts a respectable nightlife once the sun goes over the mountains. It doesn&rsquo;t rival Toronto or Montreal, but several good bars and clubs can be found with a stroll down Leon and Bernard avenues where patios await.</p><p>Don&rsquo;t let Kelowna&rsquo;s popularity in summer make you think this is a one-season town. This is a four-season town and it is ideally situated in the heart of central B.C. activity with worldclass skiing, mountain biking, snowmobiling and hiking. Couple this with million dollar views as most neighborhoods are built on the narrow slopes of the valley and Kelowna has proven itself to be a popular off-season draw for those who shoot puck.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-01

CHILLIN’ IN KELOWNA

<h2><b>WHERE TO DINE</b></h2><p>Waterfront Grill</p><p><i>Specializing in Canadian wines, excellent tapas and fresh local eats</i></p><p>Raudz</p><p><i>Excellent food and fine bar for a good price right in the heart of the city</i></p><p>Wild Apple Grill</p><p><i>A cosmopolitan dining experience right on the lake</i></p><p>Minstrel Cafe and Bar</p><p><i>Casual dining with live music in the heart of wine country</i></p><p>Bouchons Bistro</p><p><i>Classic French-style bistro cuisine in a quiet setting</i></p><h2><b>WHERE TO LET LOOSE</b></h2><p>The OK Corral</p><p><i>Get your country fix and do a bit of bull riding</i></p><p>Flashbacks</p><p><i>A little bit of everything, from hard rock to hypnotic beats</i></p><p>LeVel</p><p><i>Popular club with a long list of guest DJs</i></p><p>Saphire</p><p><i>Hip-hop beats</i></p><h2><b>WHERE TO HAVE A PINT</b></h2><p>Doc Wallaby&rsquo;s</p><p><i>Great classic old-English atmosphere and style with lively music</i></p><p>Station Pub</p><p><i>Transformed train station with a cosmo atmosphere</i></p><h2><b>WHERE TO TASTE</b></h2><p>Cedar Creek</p><p>Burrowing Owl</p><p>Quailsgate</p><p>Tantalus</p><p>Calona</p><p>Mission Hills</p><h2><b>WHERE TO GOLF</b></h2><p>The Bear</p><p>The Predator</p><p>Tower Ranch</p><p>Shannon Lake</p><p>Gallagher&rsquo;s Canyon</p><p>Mission Creek</p><p>Sunset</p><p>Black Mountain</p><p>Harvest<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Survival TIPS

<div class="byline">By Uffe Bodin</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011311/9521328-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GOTEBORG.COM/GÖRAN ASSNER)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>G</span>othenburg might be best</b> known for its beautiful archipelago and the population&rsquo;s peculiar dialect. The past 10 years, however, hockey has also put the Swedish west coast on the map. Although hometown heroes Frolunda Indians have been struggling of late, the Gothenburg area has produced some intriguing players recently. Two of those are Ottawa Senators goalie prospect Robin Lehner, the reigning Calder Cup champion and MVP, and Winnipeg Jets hopeful Carl Klingberg, who made his NHL debut with the Atlanta Thrashers last season. THN caught up with the former Frolunda teammates to get the lowdown on their hometown, which is Sweden&rsquo;s second-largest city with 550 000 residents.</p><p>According to Klingberg, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to late-night activities, especially in the summer. &ldquo;We usually hang out along Avenyn&rdquo;, said Klingberg, referring to the main street in the city center. &ldquo;There you have clubs like Push, Lounge and Park Lane and that&rsquo;s usually where you end up during the weekend. It&rsquo;s where you run into old teammates and even guys that you&rsquo;ve been practising with during the week. Sometimes it feels like a big reunion.&rdquo;</p><p>Lehner enjoys spending lazy time at his parents&rsquo; house, but confesses the urge to taste the nightlife gets ahold of him every now and then. &ldquo;I can be a pretty impulsive guy, sometimes I just grab my stuff and go,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Gothenburg has a lot of great options and I pretty much go to different clubs every time.&rdquo;</p><p>Lehner usually starts his evenings at Restaurant Victoria, close to Avenyn. &ldquo;I have a bunch of friends that work there, so I get both good company and great food. A perfect combination.&rdquo;</p><p>Gothenburg is also famous for Liseberg, an amusement park located a block from Frolunda&rsquo;s 12,000-seat arena, Scandinavium. Klingberg spent a lot of time there when he was a kid. &ldquo;But now I&rsquo;m getting too old for that&rdquo;, the 20-year old laughed. &ldquo;I still go there at least once every year, that&rsquo;s like a tradition. My favorite ride is Balder, a big roller coaster made out of wood.&rdquo;</p><p>Lehner is not amused by the amusements of Liseberg. &ldquo;Not my idea of fun,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I went once this summer to keep my little sister company, but I don&rsquo;t like it. It&rsquo;s too crowded.&rdquo;</p><p>Instead he&rsquo;s more into what the coastline has to offer. His family used to live close to Marsstrand, a popular vacation spot for celebrities such as Frolunda alumni Henrik Lundqvist and the Swedish royal family. The village is best known for hosting big sailing events every summer. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a beautiful place with a soothing atmosphere,&rdquo; Lehner said. &ldquo;I used to enjoy the fishing out there when I was a kid.&rdquo;</p><p>That said, he&rsquo;s hardly a beach rat. In fact, the chance of seeing Lehner in the water is about as slim as seeing him suit up as a defenseman. &ldquo;No way,&rdquo; he chuckled. &ldquo;The water is always too cold for me.&rdquo;</p><p>To keep the hot goaltending he displayed during the Calder Cup, staying away from cold water is probably a good idea.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0036-01

GOTHENBURG ADVENTURES

<div class="byline">WRITTEN BY MIKE LOFTUS </div><div class="byline">PHOTOS BY BRIAN BABINEAU</div><div class="byline"> </div><div class="byline">BPBPHOTOGRAPHY.COM</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0038-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011270/9521394-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01864/9521387-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="3020" height="1752"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>THE BRIDGE IS OVER</b> Milan Lucic surveys the city of Boston, where he and hard-working teammates such as Andrew Ference (left) have been embraced. <span class="photo-credit">(HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span></b>ilan Lucic was drafted in June of 2006. Andrew Ference arrived via trade in February of 2007 and Shawn Thornton signed as a free agent later that year in July.</p><p>There had been better times to join the Boston Bruins, who had missed the playoffs twice in a row after the 2004-05 lockout.</p><p>&ldquo;There were lots of people telling me &lsquo;It&rsquo;s a hockey town, it&rsquo;s a hockey area &ndash; they&rsquo;re just waiting for you to win,&rsquo;&rdquo; Ference said. &ldquo;People weren&rsquo;t shy to tell you how long they&rsquo;d waited for you to win.&rdquo;</p><p>Now, guys like Lucic, Ference, Thornton and the rest of their teammates have to do some waiting of their own after winning it all for the city. &ldquo;I went to the grocery store to pick up some lunch meat,&rdquo; Thornton said this past August, &ldquo;and I had to take three pictures with people while I was there.&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s how life goes when you&rsquo;re a champion in a pro sports hotbed that has grown accustomed to winning after three Super Bowl victories for the NFL&rsquo;s Patriots (2002, &rsquo;04 and &rsquo;05), a pair of World Series crowns by MLB&rsquo;s Red Sox (2004 and &rsquo;07), and an NBA title for the Celtics (2008).</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s not as much sliding in and out of places,&rdquo; Thornton said, &ldquo;but this team is back where it was when a lot of people from around here were growing up, and that&rsquo;s a positive thing. You&rsquo;ve got to embrace that, because not as many people recognized us before.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02543/9521380-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="1024" height="1065"></div><p>True enough. If a Bruin&rsquo;s on the sidewalk, at the store, in a restaurant or nightclub these days, he&rsquo;s bound to be asked to pose for photos, sign autographs or stop by the table.</p><p>Thornton, Lucic and Ference had already had those experiences, though. Even when a growing majority of hockey fans in the Boston area had no appreciation whatsoever for the Bruins because of their lack of success or direction, the true die-hards had always appreciated the way Thornton (enforcer and energy winger), Lucic (power forward) and Ference (stay-at-home defenseman) played the game. These guys were a Boston fan&rsquo;s type of Bruin. &ldquo;I did hear that,&rdquo; said Lucic, whose big hits, spirited fights and immediate, obvious distaste for archrival Montreal quickly made him a fan favorite during his rookie season of 2007-08. &ldquo;A lot of people told me when I first got here that I just had to play the way I play and I was going to get a lot of fans on my side.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03419/9521373-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="1390" height="2089"></div><p>The fact Lucic&rsquo;s skill set and temperament echo one of the most beloved Bruins of all-time in Hall of Famer and current team president Cam Neely didn&rsquo;t hurt matters either. Thornton earned his share of popularity through toughness, too. &ldquo;I think the people have always appreciated the style I play,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That was the easy part.&rdquo;</p><p>Fans&rsquo; appreciation for their toughness and work ethic made it easy for Thornton, Lucic and Ference to embrace the city right back.</p><p>Thornton, who almost seems born to play in Boston (though officially he comes from another working-class location; Oshawa, Ont.), soon bought a home in the Charlestown section of the city, long known as a haven for Irishmen like himself. Ference and his family settled full-time in the North End, where they take family walks along steep, narrow streets lined with Italian restaurants, small grocery stores and specialty shops. Lucic lives in the North End, too.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01790/9521366-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="2909" height="1992"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(STEVE BABINEAU)</span></figcaption></div><p>Not so long ago, most B&rsquo;s lived in the suburbs. Today a good percentage can walk to and from games and practices at TD Garden and can expect to have a conversation or two along their route. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a city that&rsquo;s conducive to that attitude of wanting to get out and meet people and do things,&rdquo; said Ference, who regularly tours the North End with his wife, Krista, and daughters Ava and Stella. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no shortage of great people, interesting people, successful people, and neat things to do. It&rsquo;s been great for us.&rdquo;</p><p>The Bruins&rsquo; rise back to relevance on the area&rsquo;s sports map has undoubtedly helped, but when players are relatively ego-free and clearly consider Boston home, bonds become even stronger. &ldquo;I think the fact that I stick around all summer, and that people see me out doing normal things, adds to it,&rdquo; said Thornton, who enjoys taking his dogs to a nearby park with his wife, Erin, to hang out with friends they&rsquo;ve made in Charlestown.  &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a fairly normal person. I like people. I don&rsquo;t mind talking. I&rsquo;m pretty easy to get along with, for the most part.&rdquo;</p><p>For Lucic, Local fans&rsquo; immediate appreciation for his straight-ahead, full-contact style helped him settle into the NHL. (He made the team as a 19-year-old.) The Vancouver native played major junior for the Western League&rsquo;s Vancouver Giants, so Lucic had never lived outside his hometown before cracking the Bruins&rsquo; lineup. &ldquo;It was a change, that&rsquo;s for sure,&rdquo; Lucic said. &ldquo;It probably took four or five months before I really felt at home and a lot of it was because fans had started to embrace me, on and off the ice.</p><p>&ldquo;We also got back into the playoffs in my first year here (2007-08, where they lost to the Habs in the first round), and people started to pay attention to us. That helped me feel much more at home, too &ndash; like I was a true Bostonian.&rdquo;</p><p>Same for Thornton, who&rsquo;s called &ldquo;an adopted Townie&rdquo; by people in his area. &ldquo;Families who&rsquo;ve been around here for hundreds of years treat me like I&rsquo;ve been around forever, too,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been awesome.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>5 Guys named Murphy or Sullivan who&rsquo;ve suited up for the Boston Bruins over the years. Seems kinda low, doesn&rsquo;t it?</b></blockquote><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02505/9521359-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="883" height="1178"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Since so many Bruins have spent several seasons in Boston, they don&rsquo;t expect too much to change now that they&rsquo;ve won a Cup. Thornton doesn&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;ll have to stop visiting his favorite restaurants or bars, whether in different sections of the city or just down the street from where he lives (&ldquo;there&rsquo;s not too many places in Charlestown, so it&rsquo;s not too hard to find me&rdquo;) and Ference sees no reason why he won&rsquo;t be able to go out with some of his buddies and have a couple of beers as a kind of detox after the game.</p><p>Things can&rsquo;t stay completely the same, though, and the Bruins are happy about that. Now that they&rsquo;ve won their first Cup since 1972, they know they won&rsquo;t be asked when they&rsquo;re going to join the Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics as champions. &ldquo;Seeing the team grow, seeing our success on the ice grow, and more and more people around town actually liking the Bruins &ndash; over the last few years, that&rsquo;s been amazing,&rdquo; said Ference, whose name will be forever etched in Boston sports lore for flipping his &ldquo;unintentional bird&rdquo; at the Bell Centre after scoring a goal in the Bruins&rsquo; first-round victory over the Canadiens. &ldquo;A lot of guys can have long NHL careers and not get to be involved in a long build-up like that, that actually pays off with a Cup at the end of it.&rdquo;</p><p>As excited as fans are about the Stanley Cup win, they&rsquo;ve also welcomed and embraced many Bruins long enough to feel it&rsquo;s OK to be honest with them. And as the Cup was being toted from event to event throughout the city (Ference brought it to the team&rsquo;s championship DVD premiere at a downtown theatre in a pedi-cab during rush hour), fans weren&rsquo;t shy about letting players know they&rsquo;d love to see them do all this again. &ldquo;We made a lot of people happy,&rdquo; Lucic said. &ldquo;Fans have come up to me and said, &lsquo;We waited a long, long time for this &ndash; since the Bobby Orr days.&rsquo; They&rsquo;re more than thrilled that we were able to bring the Cup back to Boston, but it took too long &ndash; 39 years. So people have told me, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t wait that long to do it again.&rsquo;&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-01

Local BOYS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01772/9521425-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="480" height="855"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SHAWN THORNTON</b></figcaption></div><p>Think &ldquo;hit&rdquo; and &ldquo;Boston Bruins,&rdquo; and the names of wingers Shawn Thornton and Milan Lucic will quickly come to mind.</p><p>Put them together with a rowdy, sports-loving Celtic punk band formed on the outskirts of Boston, and you get a hit music video, too.</p><p>Thornton and Lucic are among the Boston-area celebrities (including a winking, smiling Bobby Orr) who appear in the Dropkick Murphys&rsquo; video for &ldquo;Goin&rsquo; Out in Style,&rdquo; the title song from the band&rsquo;s seventh studio album.</p><p>Thornton, befriended by Dropkicks founder, bassist and vocalist Ken Casey shortly after joining the Bruins as a free agent in 2007 (there was a previous Bruins-Dropkicks connection between Andrew Ference, a former Flame, and Dropkicks pipes player Josh &ldquo;Scruffy&rdquo; Wallace, who once lived in Calgary), appears in several crowd scenes at McGreevy&rsquo;s 3rd Base Saloon and Casey&rsquo;s Boylston Street pub and sports bar.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pretending to drink (shots at the bar),&rdquo; said Thornton, who gets a memorable, scowling close-up seconds after the bartender (played by actor/comedian Lenny Clarke of &ldquo;Rescue Me&rdquo; fame) screams in his face.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know about (acting) potential,&rdquo; Thornton said. &ldquo;I was actually surprised how well it turned out.&rdquo;</p><p>Lucic appears near the end of the video and is perfectly cast: He&rsquo;s chasing down someone who dared attack him. Lucic&rsquo;s motivation? Little kid nailed him in the shoulder with a snowball.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0043-01

Dropkick Murphys Score with Bruins

<div class="byline">By Ryan Kennedy </div><div class="byline">Photos By Jamie Hodgson</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0044-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01671/9521477-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Oscar Klefbom is wearing the Longines Master Collection Power Reserve automatic watch (<a href="http://www.longines.com">www.longines.com</a> or Birks) and shirt by Roots. Rasmus Bengtsson&rsquo;s shirt by Levi&rsquo;s. Victor Rask&rsquo;s shirt by Roots. Adam Larsson is wearing Omega&rsquo;s Seamaster Planet Ocean watch (<a href="http://www.omegawatches.com">www.omegawatches.com</a>) and shirt by Roots.</b></figcaption></div><p><b>T</b>he past five years have featured an amazing cohort of prospects from Sweden and this season was no exception.</p><p>But before players can attempt to become the next Peter Forsberg or Nicklas Lidstrom, they have to go through a lot of hoops. One such event is the NHL draft combine, held annually in Toronto. The combination of physical tests and highpressure interviews with NHL teams interested in the latest class of talented teenagers used to take place in a hotel near the airport, but media interest got to a point this year where the event was held at a nearby convention center.</p><p>Typically, the draft-eligible kids are in Toronto for a week and they stay by the airport &ndash; not exactly a hub of activity for people their age. True, some of those days are filled with interviews (the average player will see about 20 NHL teams, even if he&rsquo;s slotted to go in the first five picks) and one day is taken up by the physical testing, but even that will leave hours to fill up once cool-down has been achieved.</p><p>As a service to these hard-working young men, we enlisted the help of four Swedish imports with big upside and shot them in and around their hotel as they killed time during the combine.</p><p>Led by potential No. 1 pick Adam Larsson, the posse also included fellow defensemen Oscar Klefbom and Rasmus Bengtsson, as well as center Victor Rask. There was no shortage of teasing among the friends. Doing nothing has never looked so fun.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01583/9521470-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="2449" height="3350"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Adam Larsson&rsquo;s Seamaster watch by Omega. Clothes by Roots. Despite the fact the cool blueliner was slated to go in the top few picks, he interviewed with more than 20 NHL teams at the draft combine</b>.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01531/9521463-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="2466" height="3341"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Klefbom&rsquo;s watch by Longines. Bengtsson is wearing the Seamaster Aqua Terra by Omega. Shorts by Roots. Hanging out with friends from across the hockey world is one fringe benefit for young players at the NHL draft combine.</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01408/9521456-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg" title="f0048-01" width="2404" height="3308"><figcaption class="caption-body">Larsson&rsquo;s watch by Omega. Clothes by Roots. Already a veteran of two World Junior Championship tournaments with Sweden, his high-end skill may prevent him from a third &ndash; the NHL awaits him this season.</figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0044-01

The TIME is NOW

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0049-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01373/9521508-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg"></div><h2><b>ADAM LARSSON, D</b></h2><p>Drafted 4th overall by New Jersey</p><p><i>The Devils were overjoyed when the two-way blueliner fell to them at No. 4.</i></p><h2><b>OSCAR KLEFBOM, D</b></h2><p>Drafted 19th overall by Edmonton</p><p><i>Big and skilled, Klefbom ruled the under-18s and oozes leadership.</i></p><h2><b>VICTOR RASK, C</b></h2><p>Drafted 42nd overall by Carolina</p><p><i>Highly skilled and great in the faceoff circle, Rask can be a game-breaker.</i></p><h2><b>RASMUS BENGTSSON, D</b></h2><p>Drafted 59th overall by Florida</p><p><i>Boasts size, vision and the ability to quarterback the power play.</i></p><p>Bengtsson and Klefbom&rsquo;s watches by Omega. Bengtsson&rsquo;s clothes by Levi&rsquo;s, Klefbom&rsquo;s shirt by Roots.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-01

The PAYOFF

<div class="byline">WORDS BY RYAN KENNEDY </div><div class="byline">PHOTOS BY HARRY GILS</div><div class="byline">HAIR BY BEN BARKWORTH</div><div class="byline">MAKEUP BY LISA QUAIL</div><div class="byline">MODELS FROM ELMER OLSEN MODELS</div><div class="byline">SHOT AT BIOSTEEL&#x2019;S TRAINING CAMP, TORONTO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0050-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01357/9521567-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tyler Seguin&rsquo;s suit by Canali. Model&rsquo;s zip-up hoodie and bodysuit by American Apparel; leggings by Michi, from The Bay.</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span></b>he summer is all about looking good. Off the ice, players do all their heavy lifting in preparation for the upcoming season because once the campaign starts, it&rsquo;s all about maintaining and enduring. Two of the top off-season trainers in the game are Gary Roberts and Matt Nichol. This summer they got together at the BioSteel training camp at a secret location in Toronto, combining client lists for a star-studded week of dryland training, on-ice instruction, yoga and nutritional information.</p><p>Two seasons ago, Roberts helped Tampa&rsquo;s Steven Stamkos to a breakout season and a share of the NHL&rsquo;s Rocket Richard Trophy. Last year, it was Carolina&rsquo;s Jeff Skinner going right from the draft to the All-Star Game, then right on stage at the NHL Awards to receive the Calder. So who&rsquo;s next?</p><p>In order to do our due diligence on the matter, we told four NHLers to fix up, look sharp and brought in a couple taskmasters of a different stripe. If the boys couldn&rsquo;t get hyped for this assignment, then well, what would they get excited for?</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-01304/9521560-1-eng-US/f0051-012.jpg" title="f0051-01" width="2429" height="2325"><figcaption class="caption-body">Cammalleri&rsquo;s suit by Pal Zileri; shoes by Harris. Model&rsquo;s socks, jersey dress and headband by American Apparel.</figcaption></div><h2><b>JAMES NEAL</b></h2><h3><b><i>Pittsburgh, LW</i></b></h3><p>Neal was a big trade deadline acquisition in Pittsburgh, but with top centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin sidelined by injuries, he didn't get much of a chance to soar as a Penguin. Getting to skate at the BioSteel training camp gave him a leg-up when it came to his preparations for an important campaign. "We put in such hard summers,&rdquo; Neal said. "This was a chance to get on the ice with some great competition&rdquo;.</p><h2><b>MIKE CAMMALLERI</b></h2><h3><b><i>Montreal, C</i></b></h3><p>A workout fiend who has known and trained with Matt Nichol for years, Cammalleri is looking to avenge the Canadiens' heart-breaking first-round defeat at the hands of archrival and eventual Stanley Cup champs Boston. He&rsquo;s also a big booster of Bio Steel and its high performance sports drink. "It&rsquo;s a consistent level of focus and energy I can rely on,&rdquo; Cammalleri said. "It&rsquo;s not a sugar or caffeine spike, so I don't get a crash.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>ANDREW COGLIANO</b></h2><h3><b><i>Anaheim, C</i></b></h3><p>Cogliano is getting a fresh start this season after spending the first four years of his NHL career in Edmonton. Making a good impression with the more established Ducks was important to the speedy pivot, so the summer was all about being prepared for a new challenge on the West Coast. "I've been a part of Matt Nichol&rsquo;s crew for a couple years now and it&rsquo;s something I've enjoyed,&rdquo; Cogliano said. "He puts together a great program.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>TYLER SEGIJIN</b></h2><h3><b><i>Boston, C</i></b></h3><p>One year in the NHL, one Stanley Cup. Not a bad ratio if the teenager can keep it up, though Seguin knows he'll have to keep on his toes if he&rsquo;s going to become a go-to guy on the Bruins. Coming from the Gary Roberts school of training and nutrition, it&rsquo;s fair to say Seguin doesn't take his responsibilities lightly. "Last year was my first summer,&rdquo; he said. "I kind of look at it as the training camp before training camp.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01298/9521553-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg" title="f0052-01" width="4808" height="3303"><figcaption class="caption-body">James Neal&rsquo;s suit by Astor & Black, shirt by Hugo Boss. Mike Cammalleri&rsquo;s suit by Pal Zileri, shoes by Harris. Andrew Cogliano&rsquo;s suit by Zegna. Model&rsquo;s top and leggings by Michi.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01287/9521546-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg" title="f0054-01" width="2404" height="3308"><figcaption class="caption-body">Seguin&rsquo;s watch by Breitling. Models&rsquo; bikini top by Calhoun; leggings by Michi.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01253/9521539-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg" title="f0055-01" width="2407" height="3308"><figcaption class="caption-body">That pink stuff you see players drinking after games? That&rsquo;s BioSteel&rsquo;s patented sports performance drink, designed to improve power and endurance while aiding lean muscle mass. Model&rsquo;s hat by New Era, leggings by Michi.</figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0050-01

BUSINESS TIME

<div class="byline">BY MATT CARLSON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0056-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-01226/9521647-1-eng-US/f0056-012.jpg"></div><p><b>IT&rsquo;S HOCKEY SEASON. Leaves are landing on the ground and fresh twigs &ndash; the composite kind &ndash; are landing in retailers&rsquo; stick racks.</b></p><p><b>Manufacturers introduce most new sticks in fall and you&rsquo;ll find a bumper crop starting in October.</b></p><p><b>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s been this exciting in the stick category for a couple of years,&rdquo; said Evan Baker of Bauer Hockey. &ldquo;A lot of new stuff is coming.&rdquo;</b></p><p><b>Bauer&rsquo;s revamped Vapor line is part of the wave. Easton will unveil two new Stealth sticks. Reebok has replaced its O-Sticks with an A.i line. Sher-Wood has undergone a stick makeover with its Nexon series. Warrior has transformed its Dolomite model into a Dynasty.</b></p><p><b>It&rsquo;s a bold time for sticks, so read on and get the inside scoop in our 2012 stick preview.</b></p><h2><b>EASTON STEALTH RS</b></h2><p><b>The ultra-premium Stealth RS is designed to turn small holes into goals. You see where you want to shoot and the puck goes there.</b></p><p><b>Easton claims the Stealth RS is the &ldquo;ultimate sniper stick,&rdquo; that helps players finish their chances in elite play.</b></p><p><b>&ldquo;We looked at the player who&rsquo;s going to be using this stick,&rdquo; said Easton&rsquo;s Mike Mountain. &ldquo;At the pro level, that&rsquo;s the guy who has to hit a spot nine out of 10 times.&rdquo;</b></p><h2><b>EASTON STEALTH S65</b></h2><p><b>What will $99 get you? An Easton Stealth S65.</b></p><p><b>One-piece composite engineering hasn&rsquo;t just trickled down to the C-note level, it&rsquo;s now directed there. Easton says it took aim at making a true &ldquo;shooter&rsquo;s stick&rdquo; at this price.</b></p><p><b>&ldquo;There are AA and even AAA players at this price range,&rdquo; Mountain said. &ldquo;They play in leagues with kids using premium and ultra-premium sticks and they want to be a factor out there. We&rsquo;ve built a stick for them.&rdquo;</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-02149/9521640-1-eng-US/f0056-022.jpg" title="f0056-02" width="2287" height="607"></div><h2><b>WARRIOR DYNASTY</b></h2><p><b>It&rsquo;s easy enough to tell a left-handed stick from a right-handed one by the blade position. The Dynasty expands the difference with Axy Sym technology and alternate shaft profiles for lefties and righties. The front side of the shaft stretches further for added shot loading, while more tension builds on the back side to add pop and let the stick recoil faster. &ldquo;You feel the added tension in the stick when you shoot,&rdquo; said Warrior&rsquo;s Keith Perera.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-01225/9521633-1-eng-US/f0058-012.jpg" title="f0058-01" width="2286" height="355"></div><h2><b>WARRIOR WIDOW</b></h2><p><b>The Widow replaced the Kronik as Warrior&rsquo;s ultra-premium model last spring. Using True-1 Dagger technology in its taper, the Widow allows even ordinary players to get dramatic, picture-book flex in their shots. The Widow &ndash; and the Dynasty &ndash; can be custom-ordered with any of Warrior&rsquo;s flexes, patterns and grips profiles, as well as 10 base colors and multiple graphic treatments.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-02150/9521626-1-eng-US/f0058-022.jpg" title="f0058-02" width="2254" height="360"></div><h2><b>REEBOK A.i 9</b></h2><p><b>The A.i 9 has a higher kickpoint to help players with big shots boom &rsquo;em. According to Reebok, when one top NHL defenseman tried the stick last summer, his shot ripped through the net. The A.i 9 taps a 2:1 Power Taper ratio (a design where the face of the shaft is twice as stiff as the sides) for &ldquo;maximum power transfer&rdquo; and &ldquo;effortless shot loading.&rdquo; The XLerated blade has a reactive foam core, combined with a layer of extra-stiff carbon on the surface, for even more power and sweet stickhandling.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-0388/9521619-1-eng-US/f0058-032.jpg" title="f0058-03" width="2288" height="362"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-01182/9521612-1-eng-US/f0060-012.jpg" title="f0060-01" width="516" height="2653"></div><h2><b>BAUER VAPOR APX</b></h2><p><b>Bauer has revamped its Vapor line and the ultra-premium Vapor APX is the new flagship. It&rsquo;s designed for a forgiving feel and to help players get off sizzling, precise shots. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a super-elite product that lifts one-piece composite technology to a new category,&rdquo; Baker said.</b></p><p><b>The Vapor APX is held together using eLASTech resin that blends carbon nano-tubes and tougheners to inhibit microfractures that lead to breakage. The resin also helps the model retain a &ldquo;new stick feel and pop.&rdquo;</b></p><h2><b>BAUER VAPOR X 7.0</b></h2><p><b>The Vapor APX is positioned a notch above the previous top Vapor model, the X:60. For players who want to stay with an updated model of the X:60, Bauer offers the new Vapor X 7.0.</b></p><p><b>Like the Vapor APX, the X 7.0 is created as one piece in a mold &mdash; a.k.a. a monocomp stick. It includes Bauer&rsquo;s Intelli-Sense Technology, which engages alternate kick points for wrist shots and slapshots based on a player&rsquo;s hand position.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-02110/9521605-1-eng-US/f0060-022.jpg" title="f0060-02" width="344" height="62"></div><h2><b>SHER-WOOD NEXON n12</b></h2><p><b>Sher-Wood climbed out of the woods in the composite stick category last season with the T90. This year, its Nexon line puts the old-school brand squarely in the high-performance composite arena.</b></p><p><b>The top-of-the-line Nexon n12 retails for $189, but Sher-Wood claims the true one-piece, low kick-point model can compete with other manufacturers&rsquo; ultra-premium sticks when it comes to effortless loading and quick shots.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0060-0375/9521598-1-eng-US/f0060-032.jpg" title="f0060-03" width="1930" height="376"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0056-01

TWIGS of 2011

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-132/9521755-1-eng-US/f0057-132.jpg" title="f0057-13" width="426" height="581"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01210/9521762-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="113" height="112"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-02149/9521748-1-eng-US/f0057-022.jpg" title="f0057-02" width="426" height="579"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-03110/9521741-1-eng-US/f0057-032.jpg" title="f0057-03" width="426" height="582"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0490/9521734-1-eng-US/f0057-042.jpg" title="f0057-04" width="426" height="582"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0555/9521727-1-eng-US/f0057-052.jpg" title="f0057-05" width="426" height="581"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0635/9521720-1-eng-US/f0057-062.jpg" title="f0057-06" width="426" height="581"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0718/9521713-1-eng-US/f0057-072.jpg" title="f0057-07" width="426" height="570"></div><p><b>1 YEAR of The Hockey News including Future Watch, Draft Preview and the Yearbook</b></p><p><b>Daily email newsletter FREE</b></p><p><b>Full digital edition FREE</b></p><p><b>NHL</b>&nbsp;<sup>&reg;</sup>&nbsp;<b>team swivel key chain of your choice FREE</b></p><p><b><i>BONUS:</i></b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0813/9521706-1-eng-US/f0057-082.jpg" title="f0057-08" width="354" height="483"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0910/9521699-1-eng-US/f0057-092.jpg" title="f0057-09" width="354" height="483"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-108/9521692-1-eng-US/f0057-102.jpg" title="f0057-10" width="354" height="475"></div><p><b><i>PLUS:</i></b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-115/9521685-1-eng-US/f0057-112.jpg" title="f0057-11" width="495" height="841"></div><p><b>VISIT <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a> TO SUBSCRIBE NOW!</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-125/9521678-1-eng-US/f0057-122.jpg" title="f0057-12" width="162" height="289"></div><p><b><a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a> is now available as a FREE download on mobile devices Download the application today at <a href="http://thn.mobi">thn.mobi</a></b></p><p>NHL, NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League.</p><p>NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. &copy; NHL 2010. All Rights Reserved.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Search for your favorite player or team

Fully Loaded, Fall 2011

CLIMBING IN GREECE

SKULL SOLDIERS

ALL-STAR CALIBER TWIGS AND MITTS

THE GALLERY