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December 12, 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.
Kniahts enjoy best of times after worst of times
From cold days to hot Knights. There was nothing hotter in the Ontario League than the London Knights-worst to first in 23 games. The Knights were 14-8-1 and atop the West Division. They won just 13 games last season and only three the season before, a Canadian Hockey League futility record. The Knights drew more than 4,000 fans to each of three home games in mid-November. The turnaround is no fluke. A major move was ownership bringing back coach-GM Gary Agnew in May after he spent three years with the Kingston Frontenacs. Even though Agnew hasn’t put his stamp on this team yet from a player personnel standpoint, his presence has brought much-needed stability. The Tarry family, which owns the team, went through six coaches in those three seasons after letting Agnew go…
It’s deja vu for Schoenfeld
When the injury bug started nipping at the Phoenix Coyotes early in the season, coach Jim Schoenfeld had to wonder if he brought the critters with him from Washington. With the Capitals last season, he endured a staggering 361 man-games lost to injury that contributed to a 3340-9 record and a failure to make the playoffs. Ultimately, it cost him his job. With an 12-9-2 mark after 23 games with the Coyotes, Schoenfeld’s immediate future is safe. But once again, injuries are starting to hurt his team. With 81 man-games lost, Phoenix was on pace to finish with 284 over the 82-game schedule. Left winger Darrin Shannon returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with a broken left hand, but others, such as right winger Mike Gartner (tom knee ligaments) and defenseman…
Crimson pride
The first thing you notice about Harvard sophomore goalie Michael Ginal is, well, you don’t really notice anything at all. Like any other college goaltender, he spends most of his time in practice working on his angles and handling the puck and preparing himself for the day when he finally makes his debut for the Crimson of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. It’s when Ginal goes back to the dressing room after practice that you finally notice something is different. After he takes off all his padding, he also takes off the lower portion of his left leg. Ginal, a native of Depew, N.Y., had the lower portion of his left leg amputated when he was a child and is the only player in college hockey who wears a prosthesis. To Ginal, having an…
Jagr leads Czech Olympic team
A dozen NHLers will be on the Czech Republic team for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Pittsburgh Penguins’ right winger Jaromir Jagr heads the list of Czech NHLers. He is joined by six other forwards, four defensemen and goalie Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres. The remainder of the team will be made up of players currently playing in the Czech Republic. One of those players might be former Boston Bruin center Vladimir Ruzicka, who at 34 is still a top point producer with Slava Prague. Surprising omissions from the NHL list are left wingers Patrick Elias and Petr Sykora of the New Jersey Devils. Seldom-used Toronto Maple Leafs’ winger Martin Prochazka made the roster ahead of the two Devils because of international success Prochazka had playing with Tampa Bay Lightning…
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