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September 20, 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.
Pro stick wizards stress practice
Pete Mahovlich, known as one of the best stickhandlers of his era, has a simple philosophy about the skill. “I always felt that if I had the puck,” he says,”then the other team didn’t,” And Mahovlich had the puck a lot as an NHL center for 16 seasons between 1965 and 1981, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins. A four-time Stanley Cup winner, Mahovlich collected 485 assists and 773 career points. Mahovlich knows the team that controls and dominates the puck is going to win its share of games. He employed that philosophy while coaching the Edmonton Oilers’ American League farm team, the Cape Breton Oilers, and now, as a pro scout, he eyes the opposition’s dominant players-speedsters who are very capable of controlling the puck. How did Mahovlich…
Mullen back in quest of goal No. 500
The Pittsburgh Penguins had one of the youngest teams in the NHL last season, but they aren’t likely to retain that distinction this winter. Not when GM Craig Patrick spent much of the off-season obtaining veterans such as Kevin Hatcher (30) and Dan Quinn (31) onto his depth chart. And he didn’t stop there. While firming up his training camp roster, Patrick signed right winger Joe Mullen who, at 39, is the oldest player in the league. Indeed, Mullen has been around so long that he’s on his second tour of duty with the Penguins. The future Hall of Famer spent five seasons with them before joining the Boston Bruins as a free agent in 1995. Mullen missed 33 games last season while getting over surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck…
Hull shines in World Cup
The World Cup has become Brett Hull’s stage. The St. Louis Blues’ right winger starred in the first round for Team USA, silencing critics, earning respect and perhaps making it more difficult for Blues’ coach-GM Mike Keenan to trade him. If his bosses let him, Keenan seems intent on trading the outspoken Hull, who blames Keenan for the sorry state of affairs in St. Louis. With the exception of Hull, Al MacInnis and two other players, Keenan has completely remade the Blues, trading popular Brendan Shanahan and Curtis Joseph, among others, and losing Wayne Gretzky to free agency. Hull could be next, but with a strong World Cup, he’s making it almost impossible for Keenan to justify a trade. How could Keenan trade a player who just starred on the world stage? Hull shrugs…
Cup champion Predateurs face challenge to repeat
Nobody in the Quebec League seems to think the Granby Predateurs have a chance of repeating as Memorial Cup champions this season. After all, they lost nine players from last year’s formidable squad. But don’t count Granby coach Michel Therrien among those who feel Granby can’t repeat. In three seasons as a coach in the QMJHL. Therrien has compiled a 141-52-4 record, won three straight regular-season championships (last season with Granby and the two previous years with the Laval Titan) and brought a Quebecbased team its first Memorial Cup since 1971. “We want to finish on top again,” Therrien said during training camp. “That’s always my goal and it’s no different this year. It’s not like I’ll be happy just making the playoffs. “The guys we lost were key factors, but I still think…
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