Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
January 2, 1998
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.
Artful Irbe shuts down opponents
For 13 games, goalie Arturs Irbe watched new coach Mike Keenan give Kirk McLean the puck and the starting job with the Vancouver Canucks. He didn’t complain, even when McLean began surrendering soft goals, and quietly waited his turn. When it came, he made the most of it. “Things can change quickly in this game,” said Irbe, who shut out the Los Angeles Kings 7-0 in his first start for Keenan Dec. 15, then followed up by allowing just one goal to the Phoenix Coyotes in a 5-1 win Dec. 17 and registered another shutout in a 0-0 tie with the San Jose Sharks Dec. 18. “I hope they don’t change quickly again. It feels good to get some starts. Obviously, I like it.” Keenan said he had no regrets in waiting so…
Seawolves’ trap system gains respect, if not wins
The tactics used by the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves have promise. The Seawolves turn their games into chess matches, playing a trapping, defensive style hoping to take advantage of opposition errors. The result-a lot of close games. And, unfortunately, a lot of close losses. Anchorage was near the bottom of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as Christmas approached. “We can’t move up the ladder and get to No. 1 without a lot of hard work,” said Seawolves’ coach Dean Talafous. “We have a very realistic approach. But we also have a very realistic plan. The players and coaches are confident and we’re seeing a lot of improvement. The bad part is, we only have three wins (through 16 games) and that’s tough to live with.” While Anchorage is successful defensively, they are offensively stagnant. The…
NHL ROSTERS AND TRANSACTIONS
Transactions include NHL personnel moves from Dec. 12–19. Rosters and injuries are as of Dec. 19. Players in roster are listed in sequence ot line combinations and defense pairings (i.e. first center plays on line with first left winger and first right winger). Injured players status is either day-to-day (returning within the next few games), indefinite (extended period) or projected return date. ANAHEIM TRANSACTIONS Dec. 13: Marc Moro. D. and Antti Aalto. LW. assigned to Cincinnati (AHL). ROSTER C-Steve Rucchin. Sean Pronger, Mark Janssens, Matt Cullen. LW-Paul Kariya, Ted Drury, Jeremy Stevenson, Kevin Todd. RW-Teemu Selanne, Tomas Sandstrom, Scott Young. Joe Sacco, Jeff Nielsen. LD-J.J. Daigneault, Ruslan Salei, Bobby Delias. Pavel Trnka. RD-Dmitri Mironov, David Karpa, Jason Marshall. G-Guy Hebert, Mikhail Shtalenkov. INJURIES Shawn Antoski, LW, abdominal strain/orbital fracture, indefinite. Warren Rychel, LW, strained groin, day-to-day. Brent…
Utica Blizzard still raging in form of $500,000 lawsuit
A group of former investors in the defunct Utica Blizzard has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the United League, former Utica owner Jeff Croop, and Art Shaver, owner of the Winston-Salem Icehawks. Snow Cap Sports Group Inc., formerly headed by Croop, claims the UHL colluded with Croop and Shaver to take the Utica franchise away from Snow Cap and move it to Winston-Salem without compensation. “I feel as though there was a conspiracy to defraud the creditors,” Utica businessman and former Blizzard investor Bob Casey told The Winston-Salem Journal. The suit also claims the Icehawks are using the same assets and equipment that belonged to the Blizzard and the club was moved to avoid paying $800,000 in debts to Utica investors. The UHL contends the Winston-Salem club is new to the league and is…
Made possible with the support of
