Three times lucky makes it career year for scrapper Grimson

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim enforcer Stu Grimson was standing alone in the slot when Ted Drury got him the puck. Grimson buried the shot past Chicago Blackhawks’ goalie Mark Fitzpatrick Nov. 22, raising his hands in celebration of his third goal of the year, matching his personal career high for a season. His teammates were thrilled. “We all know how much Stuey means to this team,” Paul Kariya said. Grimson was an alternate captain for the Ducks during their inaugural 1993-94 season. But 31 games into the second season, Grimson was traded in a package deal to the Detroit Red Wings (with Mark Ferner and a 1996 sixth round draft pick for Mike Sillinger and Jason York). Last season, the Ducks lacked leadership and a strong physical presence to deter opponents from taking liber…

Committee to support tax breaks for Canadian teams

Canada’s six NHL teams should receive a federal tax break to keep them competitive with their American counterparts, a Commons sub-committee on sport is expected to recommend. Published reports suggest members of Canada’s federal parliament say the Liberal government will make the recommendation Dec. 3, provided the pro teams can show they are providing substantial revenues to their communities. The final committee report, headed by Liberal MP Dennis Mills, is expected to support a plea from the Canadian teams for tax relief to help cope with rising player salaries, a weak Canadian dollar and high relative tax rates when compared to those faced by American teams. “We’re not talking about propping anybody up,” Mills told the Toronto Star. He said the proposal would be accepted by the Canadian public if it ensures teams such…

NHL STATSTCAL REPORT

Johnson nailed from front by Campbell’s suspension

The Los Angeles Kings welcomed a six-day break in the schedule as a chance to regroup and to regain some of their injured players. But even as some of their wounded returned, enforcer Matt Johnson was lost to a 12-game suspension for his punch from behind on New York Rangers’ defenseman Jeff Beukeboom Nov. 19. Johnson said he reacted to Beukeboom having slew-footed Glen Murray in the same game and for Beukeboom having hit Kings’ center Ray Ferraro last season, which left Ferraro with an injured knee. Johnson and Kings’ GM Dave Taylor tried to plead their case for mercy during a hearing at the NHL’s New York offices, but Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior vice-president and chief disciplinarian, didn’t bite. “A punch from behind by Mr. Johnson resulted in a head injury…