Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
March 29, 1996
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.
Impressive Wheat Kings hit magical 50-win mark
The Brandon Wheat Kings are reaping their best harvest since 1979. Brandon entered the final weekend of the regular season with a 50-19-1 record-the best in the Western League. The Wheat Kings had not hit the 50-victory plateau since the 1978-79 edition went 58-5-9 en route to the WHL title. “We tried to gear our year around winning 40,” said Wheat Kings’ GM Kelly McCrimmon. “We thought that, with the people we had coming back, 40 was attainable. Fifty wins is a benchmark. Not a lot of teams win 50 games.” McCrimmon should know. He played right wing on the formidable Wheat Kings’ club of 1978-79. Is his presence the catalyst? “Well,” McCrimmon said with a chuckle, “some may argue.” It is difficult to argue with the Wheat Kings’ success of late. They had missed the playoffs…
Flames to start anew without coach Pedrie
Unable to ignite the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames the past six seasons, coach Larry Pedrie has been let go. On the heels of the Flames’ last-place Central Collegiate Hockey Association finish and 9-243 overall record, UIC interim athletic director Jim Schmidt announced March 12 Pedrie’s contract would not be renewed. “Coming off the season we just endured, we thought a change was best for everyone,” Schmidt said. “We want to put this behind us, look to the future and build a winner.” Pedrie’s six-year record at UIC was 64-14019 (.315 winning percentage). The Flames’ best record under Pedrie’s regime was his first season, 1990-91, when they were 13-23-2. CCHA “Obviously, we made some mistakes in our decision making,” Pedrie said. “Other things happened that were beyond our control. But I blame nobody but myself. I…
Tonelli and friends merit place in Hall
I was shocked to see John Tonelli absent from your list of future Hall of Fame inductees (THN, March 8). If any hockey fan has made the mistake that plow horses are not as important as thoroughbreds, Tonelli’s four Stanley Cups, his selection to the second all-star team in 1982 and his MVP in the 1984 Canada Cup should serve as a reminder. At the very least, Tonelli deserves a longshot induction (two-star rating). Michael Henneberry, Milton, Ont. Isles are Famers Brian Costello brings up some good points in his “Hall Overhaul” story. But I must say I disagree with some of his thoughts. While I agree the qualifications for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame should be strict, I believe Clark Gillies, Butch Goring and John Tonelli should all be in. Let me tell you…
Schneider thrilled to be back in pressure cooker
From hot to cold to hot again, Mathieu Schneider has experienced the extremes of life for an NHL player. Schneider began his NHL career in hockey-crazed Montreal. Then he was off to the New York Islanders, where fewer than 10,000 fans is the rule for a home game at the Nassau County Coliseum. Now, after a blockbuster trade March 13 that saw Schneider and Wendel Clark traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with junior defenseman D.J. Smith for Kenny Jonsson, Darby Hendrickson, junior sniper Sean Haggerty and a 1997 first round pick, Schneider finds himself once again in the eye of the storm. “In cities like Toronto or Montreal where the game is so big, people don’t think about winning the Stanley Cup in ‘98 or somewhere down the road,” Schneider said.…
Made possible with the support of
