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December 16, 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.


Swiss tips for easy immersion
The lure of playing in places such as Switzerland is understandable for NHLers frustrated by the lockout. The scenery is beautiful, the pay is decent and Swiss players dislike bodychecking. But as Doug Gilmour and Chris Chelios can attest, you should be prepared for more than larger ice surfaces. To make your overseas adventure an enjoyable one, here’s a list of things to remember: Don’t bring your Berlitz book: The Swiss hire coaches from countries with impressive hockey credentials, which precludes Switzerland. As a result, your coach won’t be able to communicate with you, so you’ll get along great. If for some reason you don’t get along with your coach don’t worry, because… You’ll have a new coach by the end of the week: NHL coaches get fired when their teams falter during…


QUOTABLE
“I’m going to miss Regina and the scenery. I’ll sure miss the two trees in Saskatchewan.” -Goalie Mike Walker after being traded from Regina to Tri-City. Page 32.…


WJC format to change after Red Deer tourney
If you like the current format of the World Junior Championship, enjoy it while you can because there are big changes in store starting next year. The 1995 WJC-slated for Dec. 26-Jan. 4 in Red Deer, Alta. will signify the last time the tournament is played under a round-robin format. Currently, the WJC structure calls for each team to play the seven others once. The team with the highest standing after seven games wins. But the 1996 tournament in Boston will be a 10-team affair with two divisions of five teams each. All eight teams from this year’s A pool will remain and the top two teams from the 1995 B pool are promoted. Teams will play round-robin schedules within their divisions and the top three teams in each will advance to a…


INSIDE HOCKEY
The International League put a temporary ban on the signing of players, partly to prevent a flow of NHLers seeking work should its locked-out season become cancelled. The moratorium extends from Nov. 30 through Dec. 16 and came after Philadelphia Flyers’ right winger Kevin Dineen joined the independent Houston Aeros. Ottawa Senators’ center Alexei Yashin is the only other NHLer who has jumped to the IHL. He’s with the Las Vegas Thunder. “We are in the final stages of ratification of our own collective bargaining agreement and I don’t want that to be jeopardized,” said IHL commissioner Robert Ufer. “This is a cooling-off period to minimize any possibility of our league being drawn into the labor unrest that seems to be spreading across pro athletics.” Ufer said the ban will also preserve the jobs…