Upper Deck at head of class

The good news is, you all passed this term. Some of you did better than others, but that’s to be expected. But let’s make a deal for next year, all right? You good little students cut down on all the foil in your lunch-bags and the teacher will try resist the urge to put you all in permanent detention. The marks are in for Series I and they are generally positive. Upper Deck, as usual, finished at the top of the class, even though its work wasn’t quite as good as it has been in past years. Without doubt, the gap between it and the rest of the student body is closing more with every passing year. Pogs seem to be the rage for school kids these days, but these students were more…

Arnott struggle continues despite blast from coach

Edmonton Oilers’ coach George Burnett tried to light a fire under Jason Arnott and slumping Doug Weight after a crushing 4-3 loss to Los Angeles Feb. 25. But it may not have worked. Burnett told the post-game media crush that “selfish frustration” had cost them the game and when asked if he was alluding to acts by both players, he replied: “OK.” Weight went ballistic the following day at practice. He went to Burnett for an explanation and within 15 minutes it was behind them. Arnott reacted bitterly when approached by reporters. “My coach. I can’t believe he’s saying that. Because I’m not (selfish). If I was trying to get out of the game, why wouldn’t I just walk off?” Wasn’t it a selfish act to go so far off the dial after a minor scuffle…

Are ’95 Whalers for real?

Let’s get the absolutes out of the way immediately ** If the Hartford Whalers lose a cumulative $30 million over four years, they are free to leave the city in 1998. Coach Paul Holmgren is stone-cold sober. As a banner unfurled at the Civic Center recently so eloquently pul it, “Sean Burke Is God.” And Brass Bonanza, that lovable little team jingle of yesteryear, is back and blaring. But here’s a tough one: After the Whalers dusted off the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Penguins, the Stanley Cup-champion New York Rangers and arch-nemesis Boston Bruins in the span of one week in February, was it fair to say the Whalers are for real? The answer: With Burke in net. anything’s possible. Without him? Well, Jeff Reese was 0-4-1. As wild-eyed as this may sound to outsiders who probably…

ELSTON