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February 21, 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.
Knee knock sparks fury
Did the punishment fit the crime? Veteran right winger Ray Sheppard and the Florida Panthers don’t think so. Sheppard, the Panthers’ leading goal-scorer, was knocked out of action for up to six weeks Feb. 1 when he was kneed by the Washington Capitals’ Peter Bondra and suffered an anterior cruciate ligament sprain. Sheppard’s sprain is the fourth such injury for the Panthers this season. Earlier this season they lost forwards Rob Niedermayer and Johan Garpenlov and defenseman Ed Jovanovski to similar knee injuries. GM Bryan Murray was so incensed over Bondra’s actions that, while talking with officials in a hallway after the game, he lashed out at the Capitals’ forward as he walked by. “You stuck your knee out,” Murray told Bondra. “You meant to hurt him.” Coach Doug MacLean called it “another cheap hit.…
Bam Bam Barnaby
Most of the callers to the weekly Matthew Barnaby Show this night are teenage girls phoning in to say how cute the host is and how much they love him. “You remember me,” one girl says with a giggle. “I’m the one who waved at you as you went off the ice the other night.” Bam Bam Barnaby, as he is referred to on the show, politely responds, “Oh, that was you?” Barnaby loves doing the radio show. Who cares if most of the callers are young and aren’t calling to talk about the state of the game, salaries and ice conditions? The hour is sliding by smoothly until Mr. Negative calls in. The tone of the show takes a distinct turn. “You guys are a one-man team and you’re going to get pounded 7-2…
Big hurt touches down on Habs
Face the facts: The Montreal Canadiens are a hurtin’ team. No, this is not about Hab-bashing-they’ve dealt with more than their fair share of bruises already. As of Feb. 3, the Canadiens had lost 275 man-games due to injuries, most in the NHL. At one point they had 11 regulars out of action. “I’ve never seen, over my 16 years of experience with the Habs, a team like this,” said trainer Gaetan Lefebvre. There may be consolation for the Habs next year, however; the New York Islanders were ravaged last season by concussion injuries, but this season had just 74 man-games lost, second-fewest to the Edmonton Oilers’ 57. Note: Figures include all players injured while with the NHL club, not just those on the regular 24-man roster. 21 Stan Mikita wore No.…
Nine not enough as Seiwood fired by hapless Knights
Brad Selwood, who coached the London Knights to the worst record in the Canadian Hockey League this season, was fired. Knights’ GM Paul McIntosh made the decision Feb. 4 and named himself interim coach the rest of this season. The Knights were 9-40-1 and are destined to have the worst record in the CHL a second straight year. They were 3-60-3 last season. It was Selwood’s first Ontario League job. “It comes down to the record,” McIntosh said. “The team is better than nine wins. I personally felt a lot of players should have progressed to a higher level, that we should have played more consistently and won more games.” Selwood received a cash settlement for the remainder of his two-year contract. “I’m not looking to throw stones,” Selwood told the Windsor Star, “but when you…
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