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July 15, 1999
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.
Oilers head back to Finland for first round choice Rita
Jan Kurri, Esa Tikkanen, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Risto Siltanen, Matti Hagman and Raimo Summanen…the list just never seems to Finnish when it comes down to former Edmon-ton Oilers from the hockey-producing country. So it should be of no surprise that the NHL club went to the well one more time, drafting Jani Rita with its first pick, 13th overall, at the 1999 entry draft. “I'm very honored because there have been so many Finns,” the 6-foot-l, 206-pound rightwinger said of the Oilers. “The tradition is very famous-lots of Stanley Cups.” And one man who shared in five of those championships, new coach Kevin Lowe, was looking forward to having Rita around. “We hear about how he's a little bit like Esa Tikkanen,” Lowe said. “If he goes along those lines, we're lucky.” Rita is coming…
Hall of Fame builder Ivan was a 'Hawk for 40 years
Tommy Ivan, who coached the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cups in the 1950s and who built the Chicago Black Hawks into a 1960s powerhouse as GM, died June 24 in Lake Forest, Ill., at 88. Born Jan. 31, 1911 in Toronto, Ivan spent 60 years working in various capacities for NHL clubs. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974 and was Chicago's vice-president from 1977 until his death. “He knew so much about hockey,” Blackhawks' owner Bill Wirtz told the Chicago Tribune. “We lost a great builder, a great hockey man and a great friend. He was outgoing, but never tooted his own horn.” Ivan never made it to the NHL as a player. He played junior hockey in Brantford, Ont., until an injury forced him to…
Naslund predicts Sedins will make splash in NHL
The Vancouver Canucks may have to wait a year, even two, before Daniel and Henrik Sedin come to the NHL, but when they do. they will have an impact, predicted fellow Swede Markus Naslund. Naslund should know. He skated with the Sedins in last spring's world championship and shares the same home-town, Ornskoldsvik, as the talented twins. “They are good players already, but I think they're going to develop into real quality players,” Naslund said. “It was good that the Canucks managed to make the deal. I had heard they only passed the puck back and forth to each other, but that's not true. They have nice vision and they're good passers.” The Sedins became Canuck property at the entry draft after some clever maneuvering by GM Brian Burke, who grabbed them at…
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
BOSTON-Jani Rita cannot possibly know the Sedins. Because to know Daniel and Henrik, however little, is to like them. They are hopelessly pleasant, but not bland. They are remarkably adept in English, the second of three languages they speak-Swedish and German being the others. And the only thing bigger than the NHL con-tracts they will command is their desire to take on the hockey world together. But Glen Sather said his mind was made up about Rita when the Finnish draft prospect said he “hated” the Swedish twins. The Edmonton Oilers picked Rita 13th overall, 10 selections after the second of the Sedins was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks. Daniel, the goal-scorer, was picked second. Henrik, the playmaker, was selected third. That distinction was difficult to pick up when Canucks' GM Brian Burke,…
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