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September 12, 2016
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.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
When eight teams converge in Toronto this September, it will be the beginning of a new era. The World Cup of Hockey is a reboot, and, as Hollywood has proven lately, even reboots can spawn a lot of sequels. And while the format is a first, forming teams out of multiple countries (Europe) and ages (North America), that isn’t set in stone for the future. The first edition of this new tournament should be seen as a litmus test. If Europe and North America fall flat, then something else will be attempted the next time. But what if the Czech Republic gets bombed? The team’s current roster looks comparatively weak, and some of the top names (Tomas Plekanec, Ales Hemsky, Zbynek Michalek) will be finishing their careers by the time the…
GOODS | GEAR | LIFE
ALL ABOUT FAMILY Nashville Predators prospect Jonathan Diaby is an intimidating presence on the ice, but he’s also putting his weight behind several business enterprises. The defenseman, 21, owns a record label called La Famille, which has put out releases for Diaby’s best friend, Montreal rapper YB. Diaby also runs a studio, and his company has staged concerts in Montreal and Toronto. “It’s a lot of time,” Diaby said. “In the summer it’s not too bad, but during the season my cousin takes care of things.” That cousin also runs a streetwear line called Tropikal Mafia, which Diaby helps promote. Having close business associates seems to be the key. “We’re La Famille – the family,” he said. “So it’s easy.”(lafamilleent.com) – ryan kennedy HOCKEY TAPE 2.0 The Wrights were tired of spending big bucks…
RELYING ON A GREEN BLUELINE
Who says the Cold War is over? Long before the World Cup began, the Russians made noise by including Slava Voynov on their roster. Voynov, who pleaded no contest to a domestic assault charge in 2015, is under suspension from the NHL, and the league vetoed his inclusion. Looking at Russia’s D-corps, trying to bring Voynov back to North America was about much more than politics and saberrattling. The Russians will live and die by their blueline. With Voynov out, their best defenders are Alexei Emelin and Dmitry Kulikov – unless Andrei Markov pulls off a stunner and reverses the effects of aging. Otherwise, there are a lot of green soldiers, such as Detroit’s Alexey Marchenko, Tampa’s Nikita Nesterov and Toronto’s Nikita Zaitsev. The trio has a combined 164 games of…
BLAKE WHEELER
Those set in their opinions and unwilling to rethink perceptions will have missed the boat on Blake Wheeler. Not Team USA, not this time. They named the soon-to-be 30-year-old Minnesota-born right winger to their World Cup roster in the first round of selections in March. Wheeler enters the tournament riding a wave. He became nearly a point-pergame player in 2015-16, finishing tied for sixth in NHL scoring with 78 points, and assumed a more prominent role as an allsituation, go-to guy inside the Jets’ dressing room. In 2014, the speedy winger had only a bit part for his country at the Olympics, something Team USA’s braintrust regrets. “We think we made a mistake not using Blake more in Sochi,” said Brian Burke, senior advisor for Team USA for the World Cup. “This…
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