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February 18, 1994
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.
Leader of the flock
Don’t complain to Ray Sheppard about clutch-and-grab, slow-paced hockey. The Detroit Red Wings’ sniper likes it just fine. An average skater with an above average shot, Sheppard believes the tighter-checking style that is being played this season has allowed slower players like him to catch up to the pack. Fans may hate it, but Sheppard loves it. “The game has definitely slowed down and that helps me,” said Sheppard, who was second in goal scoring with 38 goals in 51 games. “It makes (slower skaters) look quicker. “Last season, speedy guys like (Alexander) Mogilny and (Teemu) Selanne dominated. This season, they are having trouble finding the room to unwind.” Neutral-zone traps and unrestrained retraining fouls have conspired to deaden the pace of games. There is less emphasis on individual play and end-to-end dashes are…
GAINEY WON’T MAKE CASE FOR NEW DEFENSE
PALM HARBOR, Fla.-Bob Gainey thinks defense-minded NHL teams are in danger of forgetting something central to the game. The puck. He said teams are concentrating more on eliminating players than executing sound defensive strategies that emphasize a total game. That’s one of the reasons the greatest defensive forward in hockey history draws no special satisfaction from the current wave of defensive dominance. “I think good offense is great,” said the Dallas Stars’ coach-general manager, “but (what about) the pucks that go in from 60 feet between a poor goalie’s legs? They add up to a goal, but I don’t call that good offense. “And because my 220-pound defenseman can go into the comer and take a 180-pound winger and hold him there until everybody else has done the work. I don’t see anything that I…
Gretzky central character in satiric opera
Wayne Gretzky’s advisors are reportedly checking out a satiric opera slated for Feb. 11-13 in Toronto. The opera is titled The Loves of Wayne Gretzky and has a homosexual theme. Brad Walton wrote the libretto featuring a pair of hockey-playing characters, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. The script originally surfaced in New York last year when The Village Voice carried excerpts. Walton insists the homosexual love story between the two characters (Mario and Wayne) makes no claim to real life. Walton told Bluelines he does not expect any problems, stressing that his group is a relatively small one…Don’t invite Washington Times columnist Tom Knott and Washington Capitals’ general manager David Poile to the same dinner party. Knott’s comment on the recent firing of Caps’ coach Terry Murray: “If Poile had…
Chase game for Russians
The St. Louis Blues might have added another Russian to their ROSTER. His name? “Chaisov,” Russian Igor Korolev said. “Maybe, Kelly Chaisov.” Maybe not. “We’ll see how long that lasts,” western Canadian Kelly Chase said. His new nickname might not last long, but it was a winner Feb. 5. The Porcupine Plain, Sask., native joined Moscovites Korolev and Vitali Prokhorov in the spot of injured winger Vitali Karamnov on the Russian line that led the Blues to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Chase tied the score 3-3 in the third period with his first goal of the season. Korolev and Prokhorov assisted. Then, Chase and Korolev assisted on Prokhorov’s winning goal. Prokhorov was the No. 1 star and Chase No. 2. Chase shrugged off his contribution, crediting instead his new comrades. “I didn’t do anything special,”…