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November 4, 2013
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.
HOCKEY’S BIGGEST SAVE
THE SAVE WAS IMPORTANT. AND iconic. And innovative. It was also, arguably, accidental. If he could have wielded his blocker or kicked up his pads or positioned his Montreal Canadiens logo to absorb the puck, goaltender Jacques Plante surely would have. Instead, a rising backhand from New York Rangers star Andy Bathgate 3:06 into the first period on Nov. 1, 1959, at Madison Square Garden pierced Plante’s face. The blood escaped easily and quickly onto his jersey before pooling on the ice. The list of Plante’s previous facial injuries was extensive: broken noses, a broken jaw and broken cheekbones totalling almost 200 stitches. He left the ice for repairs by the on-site doctor and the impact of the shot became apparent once Red Fisher, a legendary hockey journalist who spent 58 years…
DUBNYK’S DISTRACTION
LET’S NOT SUGARCOAT IT: Edmonton’s start to the 2013-14 season was ugly. The Oilers supposedly fixed their defensive deficiencies with additions like Andrew Ference and Anton Belov on defense and Boyd Gordon at center. That, in theory, meant less rubber for goalie Devan Dubnyk, who posted a .920 save percentage last season. Instead, the Oil regressed, allowing four or more goals in six of their first seven games. And as bad as the defense was, some of the blame landed on Dubnyk. He was caught guessing too often, something a 6-foot-6 stopper doesn’t need to do, and posted a 5.43 goals-against average and .829 SP in his first four outings. It’s hard to ignore the press that comes with a bad start, but that’s what Dubnyk does. “Not to say that every…
DEMKO ON THE FAST TRACK
TRUE STORY: ABOUT FIVE YEARS ago, legendary Boston College bench boss Jerry York got a call from Andrea Leonard, the school’s former women’s volleyball coach. She had moved to southern California and her neighbors had a 12-year-old son who played hockey and wanted to go to B.C. York told her to relay the message the boy should work hard and keep his studies up. That boy was Thatcher Demko and this year, he’s tending net for York’s Eagles. “I’m really excited,” Demko said. “It’s an unbelievable school and hockey program.” The youngest player in NCAA hockey this season, Demko got his high school diploma in time to qualify for the school academically and has begun fighting for crease time with returning junior Brian Billett. “They said everything’s up for grabs,” Demko said.…
GOALIE RANKINGS
1 JONATHAN QUICK JONATHAN QUICK’S SLOW START TO 2013-14 IS A stark contrast to the past two seasons, when he was the NHL’s most dominant goaltender and the Conn Smythe Trophy winner when his Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012. But he might be a victim of his own success. Quick has played 167 regular season and 44 playoff games in the past three years, so there’s some merit to the notion he may be tired. There’s little debate, however, that Quick will continue to be front and center for the Kings and the 2014 U.S. Olympic team. When he’s on his game, there’s nobody better at getting between an incoming puck and the goal line. “The explosiveness and the way he gets across the net is amazing,” says…
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