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June 30, 1995
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.
St. Louis should be cheered, not jeered
Why is it that in every other sport, teams which pursue the best players to achieve a championship are applauded, but in hockey a team such as the St. Louis Blues are constantly bombarded? A good example of this was your cartoon in the June 9 issue. Haven’t the Blues been penalized long enough? I learned growing up in Missouri that people who put their money where their mouths are should be respected. Stuart Fraser,Armonk, N.Y. Blame the players If you’re looking for someone to blame for the near-death of the Winnipeg Jets and the move of the Quebec Nordiques, look no further than the NHL Players’ Association. If the owners wanted some vindication to support their position during the lockout, they have it now. The demise of the NHL in small markets can be directly…
Rats! Albany breezes to title
Matt Ruchty remembers arriving in Albany in late September after being reassigned by the New Jersey Devils during training camp. The Albany River Rats played their first American League pre-season game and slopped out a 1-1 tie with the Worcester IceCats, an independent team that used a yard-sale lineup. “After the game I told a couple guys we were going to get the crap kicked out of us all year,” Ruchty recalled. Eight months and an AHL championship later, Ruchty was willing to admit his mistake. “I was just a little bit off,” he said. It was the River Rats who did the kicking all year and didn’t stop until they won the first Calder Cup in franchise history. Before this season, the River Rats were known as the franchise with one of the best logos…
Francis finally awards finalist
Officially, Ron Francis is a finalist for two major NHL awards. Unofficially, he could lay claim to a third. A nominee for the Selke and Lady Byng trophies, Francis is Jaromir Jagr’s Hart foundation. “You can’t overestimate the influence Ron has had on Jaromir,” said Penguins’ coach Eddie Johnston during the regular season. “Jagr’s a talent, but a lot of players with talent don’t learn how to use it. Ron leads by example and the respect he has for the game rubs off on the young guys.” Jagr’s selection as an MVP finalist is a tribute, in part, to Francis’ leadership and playmaking abilities. When Mario Lemieux announced last fall he was taking a leave of absence, Jagr was on the hot seat in Pittsburgh. Francis, Lemieux’s fill-in as captain, helped chill things…
Goalie becomes priority if Moss re-enters draft
If the Tampa Bay Lightning can’t sign goaltending prospect Tyler Moss, they might have to do the next best thing, said GM Phil Esposito: replace him. Esposito said he wouldn’t be opposed to selecting a goaltender with Tampa’s fifth overall pick if Moss, a standout this year with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario League, doesn’t come to terms. “If Tyler Moss doesn’t sign with us and goes back into the draft, we just might take a goalie with our first pick,” Esposito said. “There are three really good goalies available and since we need goalies and don’t know if we’re going to have Tyler, I wouldn’t for one minute rule out the possibility of us taking one of them. It depends on what Tyler does.” Moss, 20, was drafted in the second…
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