Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
February 15, 2002
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.
Canadian QUESTION
Here’s the way it works, once every four years: You score and they wave the flag. You don’t, you get flagged as an utter disgrace. In Canada, the pursuit of happiness, virtually indistinguishable from the pursuit of the puck, is dead weight on the shoulders of the political prisoners sweating at another Olympiad. Since there is nothing lower that a Canadian’s estimation of his own selfworth when his best and brightest countrymen fail, Eric Lindros went high on Dominik Hasek and hoped for the best. “I went forehand to backhand,” Lindros recalls. “And it went off the side of his blocker and the post.” Five Canadians had chances to match the lone goal by Robert Reichel in the semifinal game shootout against the Czech Republic. Their captain came the closest, which was the farthest…
Raycroft determined to make NHL
After starting last season with the Boston Bruins, former Ontario League MVP Andrew Raycroft’s year was one of constant speed bumps. The 21-year-old Belleville, Ont., native, however, sounds now like he hasn’t many regrets and that he’s thankful for the experience. “Up in Boston, it was unbelievable, just a dream to start off with the big club,” said Raycroft, Boston’s fifth round draft pick in 1998. “But then I came to Providence, we had three or four (goalies) at certain times and it got really tough for me. I was trying to battle through it, but it seemed to get really hard and my numbers reflected that. “I didn’t play as well as I should have.” Raycroft had an NHL victory in his first start, Oct. 9, 2000 against Florida. He went 4-6-0 in 15…
Battle of Quebec was one Ogrodnick couldn’t win
John Ogrodnick was only a member of the Quebec Nordiques for 45 games, but it was a time he’ll never forget. Mostly thanks to the seven playoff games in 1987 that added a chapter to the Battle of Quebec. “Those were such intense games,” Ogrodnick, 42, said. “The players and crowds were so into it. That was the fiercest competition I’ve ever been in.” The Nordiques pushed the defending Stanley Cup champions to the limit in the Adams Division final, but lost 5-3 to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7. “We had our chances,” said the left winger. “We won the first two games in Montreal, but it’s a fickle game and things don’t always work out.” Unfortunately for Ogrodnick, that was the most playoff success he had in his 14-year career with Quebec, Detroit…
Olympic hero lives on
The Miracle on Ice may be more than two decades old, but for Jim Craig it lives on…and on…and on. He figures he is asked about his role in the Americans’ victory in the 1980 Olympics, oh, about five times a day. In every conceivable sense - how others saw him, how they put expecta tions on him, how they rejoiced with him in their triumph - it changed his life. As a 22-year-old college kid who found himself at the center of a Cold War David-slays-Goliath national celebration, it couldn’t be any other way. “It wasn’t just hockey fans that were excited,” says Craig, 44. “It’s a wonderful thing. When you become an Olympic athlete it’s much different than a pro athlete. You take on the responsibility of representing your country.” Picture…
Made possible with the support of
