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February 13, 2017
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.
22 THE LATE BLOOMER
BEING SENT TO Siberia isn’t as bad as it sounds. It’s not like being sent to Siberia or anything. Then again, it’s no walk in the park, particularly when you’re a 17-year-old kid who has spent his entire life in Moscow. Of the 120 days from Nov. 1 through the end of February, it snows for about 90 of them. But when Nikita Zaitsev was taken fourth overall in the 2009 KHL draft by Novosibirsk Sibir, the thought of not going never crossed his mind. So he packed his bags and travelled 1,747 miles as the crow flies, moved into an apartment on his own and began his new life. Zaitsev now looks at his 10-year-old little brother and wonders how he’d ever be able to make a move like that…
THE SEASONED FRESHMAN
THE BIG THINGS, like the 35-pound Stanley Cup goalie Matt Murray helped Pittsburgh win last spring, certainly stand out. Sometimes, an appreciation of the little things also helps define a person. As Murray burst onto the scene with that Cup run after playing just his first 13 NHL regular season games, he was as impressively collected off the ice as he was on it. No wonder. It’s tough to get too caught up in rising stardom when you’re going “home” to the confines of a hotel room. It wasn’t until the Penguins got their Cup rings in the fall that the club gave Murray permission to find a real home. “Way better,” he said of his rental place in the Pittsburgh area. “There’s a full kitchen. Fridge is always full. I…
12 THE SIDEKICK
EVERY DAY THAT Connor Brown walks to his team’s suburban practice facility, he passes by the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame. Kelly Gruber, former Toronto Blue Jay, and ex-NHLer Claude Lemieux are in it for some reason. So are Brendan Shanahan, Ken Dryden and Cliff Lumsdon, a barrel-chested guy who once swam 32 miles in Lake Ontario without a wetsuit in temperatures that ranged between 48 and 52 degrees. And that’s Fahrenheit, in case you’re wondering. The Etobicoke Hall of Fame is also home to Dan Brown, a local coaching legend whose youth hockey team once went three years without losing a game. One of his players on those teams was his son Connor, one of seven players from that team that ended up drafted to the NHL. Though Dan no…
WJC NEED TO KNOW
THE WJC’S OTHER MVP KIRILL KAPRIZOV (MIN) Kaprizov was essential to Russia’s success, leading the tourney in scoring and continuing his ascent up the prospect ranks. Thomas Chabot was named MVP, but Kaprizov was just as deserving. BEST DRAFT SHOWING NICO HISCHIER Hischier cemented a spot in the top five – maybe even top three – for 2017 with his performance for the Swiss. The hotshot scorer nearly beat the U.S. in the quarterfinal by himself, and he was deadly all tourney. MOST SURPRISING TEAM DENMARK The Danes posted a 2-1-1 record, grabbing second place in their pool and winning multiple games at the WJC for the first time. Joachim Blichfeld (SJ) led the way for a balanced squad. MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM FINLAND The Finns had to fight off relegation and fired their coaching staff during the tournament. Henrik Borgstrom (FLA)…
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