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November 28, 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.
Carolina causes numbers to sag
When the Carolina Hurricanes blew into Greensboro, N.C., last summer, they pretty much blew away any chance the NHL had at posting an attendance increase this season. The Hurricanes’ dismal numbers-an average of 8,375 in 10 home games-is one reason why attendance over the first 247 games of this season was down about 2.7 per cent over the same period last season. But Carolina was not the only reason. In fact, if you extract the Hurricanes’ (nee Whalers) fall-off of more than 4,500 fans per game, the NHL was still down 1.0 per cent, thanks largely to decreases in Washington, Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Boston. Nevertheless, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman isn’t fazed. “Some teams are up, some are down, but the overall picture really isn’t bad,” Bettman told The Hockey News. “Remember, in the…
Crease crashers should get major
How long will it take before the NHL rule makers wake up, smell the stench and toss out this absurd crease rule? We have seen pretty goal after pretty goal called back because some player inadvertently had a toe in the crease, with no goalie interference. Surely something reasonable can be done to protect goalies without limiting offensive output. My suggestion is an automatic five-minute major for contact with the goalie with rapidly escalating suspensions for further infractions. Nobody wants to be shorthanded for five minutes and coaches would very quickly refrain from goalie-running tactics. Terence Bowden,Toronto, Ont. No surprise here When I saw The Hockey News’ latest prediction for Canada’s Olympic team (THN, Nov. 21), I was not surprised to see Steve Yzerman absent. Seeing the likes of Michael Peca and Joe Nieuwendyk rated ahead…
In the Kids’ Room
Physical play helps Leahy’s overall game
Miami-Ohio should probably be grateful Tim Leahy’s parents weren’t hockey fans. Despite growing up in the hockey-mad Boston (Duxbury, Mass.) area, the senior center/right winger wasn’t pushed into the sport by his parents. That’s because they didn’t know anything about it. “My mother is from California and my father had played baseball,” said Leahy, whose younger brother, Pat, is a freshman forward with the Redhawks this season. “They didn’t know anything about it. It was good not having my parents really into it. You look at some guys whose parents push and push and they get burned out.” Miami coach Mark Mazzoleni certainly isn’t complaining about the way Leahy’s game developed without any parental pressure. This season, Leahy was the second-leading scorer in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association to Redhawks’ teammate Dan Boyle with…