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January 17, 1997
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.
Frustrated Belfour spouts off
Are Ed Belfour’s days with the Chicago Blackhawks coming to an end? The Hawks were already believed to be shopping their 31-year-old goaltender in search of some scoring when a series of off-ice incidents involving Belfour occurred to likely speed up the process. Belfour became angry after coach Craig Hartsburg started Jeff Hackett four straight games and had a meeting with Hartsburg to tell him he needed to play as often as possible. A few days later, Ron Salcer, Bel-four’s agent, spoke out about how his client felt he wasn’t being respected by Hawks’ management because of a lack of progress in contract negotiations. Belfour, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, sounded off a few days after Salcer, blaming management for dragging its feet in contract dealings. “Dominik Hasek got his…
NHL-FANtasy ’97 interactive affair
It was a scenario that stunned NHL officials. The temperature was well below the freezing point, but some 2,000 people were lined up at the rink at Rockefeller Center in New York waiting to take a slapshot in a promotion involving New York Rangers’ players. That was in January, 1994, during All-Star Game festivities in the days when the fan festival was in its infancy, an unofficial one with no admission fee charged. The Stanley Cup was made available at Grand Central Station for fans to see and pose with for a charity-related fee and NHL merchandise was on sale. “We had to stop the lineup for the shootout about an hour before it started,” recalled Frank Supovitz, the NHL’s vice-president of special events. “That convinced us hockey fans wanted to be…
Forsberg’s injury worse than originally expected
Peter Forsberg was skating with his Colorado Avalanche teammates Dec. 27 and his return to the lineup from a charley horse seemed imminent. Two days later, however, he was on crutches and no one knew for sure when he would be back. Forsberg underwent surgery Dec. 28 to remove a large collection of fluid that had built up on his ailing left thigh. The Swedish superstar suffered the injury Dec. 14 when defenseman Todd Simpson of the Calgary Flames kneed him. Forsberg was progressing well for the first week, but complications developed. Team medical personnel, while trying to remain optimistic, said there is concern Forsberg might develop long-range problems such as calcification of the thigh muscle-an injury that helped curtail Cam Neely’s career. “Any injury this significant can be career threatening,” said Avalanche team…
Capitals face more delays on new rink
The MCI Center in downtown Washington, scheduled to be the new home of the Washington Capitals and National Basketball Association’s Bullets, will not open as planned in time for the two pro teams to begin their 1997-98 seasons in new digs. Abe Pollin, owner of the teams and the new facility, announced the delay and blamed it on a variety of reasons, including the brutal winter of 199596. The current winter in the mid-At-lantic states has been tropical compared to last season’s Arctic-like conditions. “I’ve said all along it will open in the fall of 1997 and it will open in the fall of 1997,” Pollin said. “When in the fall of 1997 will obviously depend on the kind of winter we have here.” At the same time, a U.S. District judge ordered…
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