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November 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.
Swedish town hockey jewel on Gulf coast
Markus Naslund may not be the perfect player from Omskoldsvik-that distinction belongs to Peter Forsberg-but he may be the perfect person from the Swedish coastal town. “We have a joke here,” says Kent Forsberg, Peter’s father and coach of the Swedish entry in the World Cup. “If you don’t go into the church or hockey, you can’t live in Om-skoldsvik.” Naslund, a left winger with the Vancouver Canucks and practising Pentecostal, is the quintessential blend of church and state. He embodies the twin passions of the pulp and paper town of 22,000 that has about 15 churches and six arenas in the area. (Add in the surrounding area and population grows to 60,000.) Omskoldsvik (Ovik for short) has produced an astonishing number of excellent hockey players. It is to Sweden what Kirkland Lake…
Mironov goes through tough times
Dmitri Mironov’s time with the Pittsburgh Penguins has been something less than rewarding for both him and the team. Traded to the Penguins on draft day 1995-along with a second round choice in the 1997 entry draft-in exchange for Larry Murphy, Mironov brought a reputation as an offense-minded defenseman with adequate defensive skills. In his first year in Pittsburgh, he scored three goals and 34 points and was a surprisingly good plus-19. Highlights were few, however, and he and fellow Russian Sergei Zubov often became targets of the Civic Arena faithful. Things turned worse for him early in October when he was informed his father, Oleg, had died in Moscow after a series of heart attacks. He missed three games while with his family in Russia. “That was tough, obviously,” Mironov said after scoring the…
Smolinski deal rumors heat up
Doug Weight grew up playing against Bryan Smolinski. As fierce opponents and the best young centers in the Detroit area, they continued their rivalry through college, with Weight at Lake Superior and Smolinski at Michigan State. When they became teammates for Team USA during the World Cup, Weight gained a new appreciation for him. And that’s why he gave thumbs up to the news the Edmonton Oilers were making a bid for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ free agent. If they can convince Pittsburgh to take defenseman Jeff Norton and left winger Miroslav Satan-and then sign Smolinski-they may have found a perfect linemate for Weight. According to a source, that’s the deal the Oilers were pursuing. The Penguins covet defensemen Luke Richardson and Bryan Marchment ahead of Norton. “He’s just a strong presence on the ice,”…
Phillips performing in P.A., but he’s far from satisfied
Chris Phillips would like to address what he perceives as misconceptions. “I’ve heard people say that I think I’m too good for junior hockey,” said Phillips, a defenseman with the Western League’s Prince Albert Raiders. “That’s not the case at all. I felt I could play in the NHL and I wanted to play in the NHL this year.” The Ottawa Senators had other notions. Ottawa, which selected Phillips first overall in the NHL’s 1996 entry draft, sent him back to Prince Albert amid stalled contract negotiations. The move rankled Phillips and his agents, Stacey McAlpine and Gus Badali. The agents explored the possibility of having the 18-year-old Phillips spend this season in pre hockey with the International League’s Manitoba Moose. When that was quashed, Phillips returned to Prince Albert for a second season. Phillips…
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