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December 31, 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.
Maclean: Columbus is big league
No, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ helmets won’t feature buckeye stickers on the back to help the home folks identify with the team. The NHL has come to the land where Art Schlichter is more famous than Art Ross. Ohio State football, despite a bowl-less season, remains the 800-pound gorilla in a city that is perceived as big enough for one big-time team; the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball are absent from the market. Columbus conjures up other thoughts, none major league: Triple A baseball, arena football and the East Coast League. Consider that people across the U.S. tell jokes about Detroit. People in Detroit tell jokes about Columbus. Whenever talk north of the border turns to endangered Canadian franchises, invariably Columbus surfaces as an argument against the Americanization of the NHL. The…
Bodger refuses demotion, retires
Saying his heart was no longer in it, Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Doug Bodger announced his retirement from the NHL after 1,071 games and 528 points. Bodger made the decision Dec. 14 after clearing waivers. He was not interested in reporting to the Canucks’ American League affiliate in Syracuse and finished his career without ever playing a minor league game. "Really my heart wasn’t in it anymore,” said Bodger, who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings and Canucks. “In this game, you have to dedicate yourself and hockey has to be your No. 1 priority. It wasn’t with me anymore. The fun was gone. “I had a good ride. As I said before, if you had told me a kid from Chemainus (B.C.) would…
Latest IceGators’ salary scandal cost Milne his job
Salary cap violations and the Louisiana IceGators are becoming an annual rite in the East Coast League. For the third time in four seasons, the IceGators have been fined for exceeding the league’s weekly cap, which has risen to $9,000 for 1999-2000. Louisiana was hit with a league-record $75,000 fine for a violation stemming from extra money paid to former IceGators’ left winger Paul Strand, who is now with the Pensacola Ice Pilots. According to Louisiana GM Jady Regard, the violation occurred when former IceGators’ director of hockey operations, Frank Milne, gave Strand an undisclosed amount of money above his posted salary shortly before he was released by Louisiana in November. Milne reported the payment to the ECHL office, but he was fired by the IceGators Nov. 17 as a result of…
Bell moves on as community service ends cab incident
Mark Bell said he can get on with the rest of his life after assault charges against him and former Ottawa 67’s teammate Nick Boynton were withdrawn by the Ontario Crown Dec. 13. Bell, 19, in his third season in the Ontario League, and Boynton, 20, playing with the American League’s Providence Bruins, were charged with assault causing bodily harm after a taxi driver was beaten up outside an Ottawa bar in the early morning hours of April 25. The 67’s were scheduled to host the Memorial Cup three weeks later. They won the national title when Matt Zultek scored in overtime against the Western League’s Calgary Hitmen. In lieu of a trial, the two had a five-hour mediation session with the taxi driver in the fall. Bell agreed to 50 hours of community…
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