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Dream Teams
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.


AROUND THE BLOCK
The top 10 shot blockers in the NHL will earn an average of $4.3 million this season, and they have one Stanley Cup among them. Craig Ludwig has two. And in his best season, he earned just $850,000. Makes a guy wish he were born 20 years later. “Don’t get me started on that,” Ludwig said. So you don’t. But then he goes on, though not in a way you’d expect. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a fascination with shot blocking these days. Dan Girardi of the New York Rangers will make $5.5 million, in large part because he’ll block somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 shots, about 185 of which would probably be stopped anyway by his goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. Shot blocking has become sexy and valued. Almost everyone…


KLADNO KNIGHTS
2011-present formerly: HC Vagnerplast Kladno 2010-11 HC Rabat Kladno 2003-07 HC Velvana Kladno 1997-00 Poldi SONP Kladno 1977-95 HOSK Kladno 1924-48 HC GEUS OKNA Kladno 2007-10 HC Vagnerplast Kladno 2000-03 HC Poldi Kladno 1995-97 Sokol Kladno 1948-77 Kladno’s most famous player is also its most famous owner. Future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr has a 70 percent stake in his youth club, while Kladno, a major suburb of metropolitan Prague, has the rest. Kladno HC is also known as Rytiri Kladno, a.k.a. the Kladno Knights. The team name has changed many times over the years, depending on sponsorship. FRANCHISE DEFINING MOMENTS Jagr becomes majority owner, 2011 When Jagr took the reins from his father, also named Jaromir, the organization was in trouble, as the city had made some financial cuts. During the NHL lockout in 2012-13, when Kladno got some of its local…


A TALE OF TWO CAREERS
It was only Dan Bouchard’s fourth game as a pro when he spotted him, Frank Mahovlich, the ‘Big M’ himself, flying in down the wing. Bouchard crouched back in net. He had been a goalie all his life, but on this night, Oct. 12, 1972, inside the old Montreal Forum, that didn’t stack up to much. He was still just 21, a kid tasked with anchoring the brand new Atlanta Flames, and hockey royalty was coming at him. Fast. The game meant plenty to Bouchard. Although he was born in Val-d’Or, Que., he had grown up in Montreal, and now he was faced with trying to stop none other than one of the Canadiens’ greatest scorers. He narrowed his eyes as Mahovlich skated to the top of the circle, reared back and…


SPOKANE CHIEFS
1985-PRESENT formerly: Kelowna Wings 1982-85 Originally founded as the Kelowna Wings in 1982, the Chiefs moved to Spokane in 1985 and were bought by Hall of Fame baseball player George Brett and his brothers five years later. Based in Washington State, the Chiefs are one of only two American teams to win the Memorial Cup – the Portland Winterhawks being the other. FRANCHISE DEFINING MOMENTS Reversing History, 1995-96 Coming in as overwhelming favorites against Portland, the Chiefs dropped the first three games of their opening round series. But thanks to overtime goals in Games 6 and 7, the Chiefs became the first WHL squad to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. First Memorial Cup, 1990-91 The Chiefs didn’t just compete in Quebec City, they demolished the Memorial Cup field. Not only did the Ray Whitney-led…