ONTARIO SUMMER HOCKEY SCHOOL LISTINGS

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER HOCKEY SCHOOL LISTINGS

NHL rule changes may start in AHL

The American League may play guinea pig for the NHL, with the stretch drive becoming a proving ground for proposed rules changes that would add offense to the game. AHL president Dave Andrews and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman have had initial discussions on the matter, depending on what recommendations are proposed by the NHL rules committee in early February. “We don’t have a formal agreement but I’ve had discussions with Mr. Bettman,” Andrews said. “Obviously we would like to help improve the game as long as it isn’t detrimental to the development of our players. But at this point we don’t know what the NHL would like to do.” A number of suggestions have been made as a way to increase scoring, or at least scoring chances. Among the ideas: eliminating the red…

Kovalev going or going great?

Was, right winger Alexei Kovalev back in the good graces of the New York Rangers, or was he just being showcased? Rangers’ president-GM Neil Smith, who tried without success to find something of value for Kovalev, had at least a hand in convincing coach Colin Campbell to promote Kovalev to Wayne Gretzky’s line. Smith also reportedly had a heart-to-heart talk with the underachieving Kovalev, who had eight goals and 23 points in 46 games. “Right now we’re in a situation where we have to have Alex,” Campbell said. “It’s obvious his skills are in the top three of our team. He has tried this year. It has been frustrating.” Kovalev saw his ice time balloon from the six-to-eight minutes he’d been getting to more than 20 in his first game on the Rangers’…