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January 16, 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.
Even Christmas can’t save Fotiu from firing
Merry Christmas, Nick Fotiu. You’re fired. The Johnstown Chiefs gave their coach a pink slip instead of a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking Dec. 26. The Chiefs had gotten off to a 6-20-2 start-the worst record in the 25-team East Coast League-in Fotiu’s third year at the helm. They even slipped behind the first-year Chesapeake Icebreakers in the Northeast Division basement. The Chiefs were 51-97-20 under Fotiu and failed to make the playoffs each of the past two seasons. His dismissal didn’t exactly catch Fotiu off guard, since there had been speculation his job was in jeopardy since the beginning of November. “I wasn’t surprised,” Fotiu told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. “Let’s be honest. It’s a tough place to recruit players. It’s a tough situation the whole way around. We made a lot…
THN picks best of NHL mid-season
FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM G Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Excellent team, excellent goalie. D Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Best blend of offense/defense. D Chris Pronger, St. Louis Burgeoning tower of power. LW John LeClair, Philadelphia No better combo of skill and size. C Peter Forsberg, Colorado Best two-way player in game. RW Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Carried Ducks singlehandedly. Coach Scott Bowman, Detroit No Vlad, no Sergei, no hangover. SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM G Ed Belfour, Dallas Back on top of game, seven shutouts. D Scott Stevens, New Jersey Best defensive defenseman. D Al Maclnnis, St. Louis Resurgent offensive threat. LW Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix Overcame slow start to dominate. C Mike Modano, Dallas Only injury derailed MVP run. RW Pavel Bure, Vancouver Good health and scoring touch return. Coach Joel Quenneville, St. Louis Strong start turns out to be no fluke. THIRD ALL-STAR TEAM G Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Six shutouts in December. D Sergei Zubov, Dallas Even-strength play much improved. D Ray Bourque, Boston Back to being dominant force. LW Shayne…
Kurri eighth to net 600 goals
Waiting for the goal was starting to be like waiting for Godot. But, finally, just before Christmas, Jari Kurri got his 600th career goal. “It couldn’t have been at a better time of year,” a relieved Kurri said. “You can throw all the other presents away. I’ll keep this one.” Kurri, the highest-scoring European player in NHL history, was having a hard time scoring in this, the final year of his 17-year career. Picked up as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche, Kurri wasn’t expected to score on such a talentladen team. Still, most thought he would have notched No. 600 well before Dec. 23. Entering 1997-98, Kurri needed four goals to become the eighth player in NHL history to get 600. He scored two goals in the first two weeks of the season…
Gophers hope drought comes to end in 1998
You don’t have to be a psychic to guess what the Minnesota Gophers vowed for their New Year’s resolution. More goals. More goals. And more goals. The Gophers’ string of 13 straight appearances in the NCAA tournament was in jeopardy as the New Year dawned, thanks to a schoolrecord nine-game losing streak. Minnesota was 5-13-0, matching its total number of losses from last season and was averaging only 2.61 goals per game. The Gophers dropped into last place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. “We don’t have a problem generating shots, but we’re just snake-bitten when it comes to putting the puck in the net,” said Minnesota coach Doug Woog. Case in point: Minnesota lost 3-1 to first-place St. Cloud in mid-December despite outshooting the Huskies 42-9. The Gophers were 1-4-0 in games where…
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