Arnason’s progress helps land Simon

Tyler Arnason may be only a rookie, but the 23-year-old center was quickly becoming a go-to guy for Chicago and coach Brian Sutter. Partly as a result of Arnason’s strong play, tough guy Chris Simon is now a go-to-Chicago guy. The Hawks acquired Simon and forward Andrei Nikolishin from Washington Nov. 1 for center Michael Nylander and two draft picks. Arnason, the NHL’s rookie of the month for October, had been taking minutes away from Nylander in key situations, especially late in close games, with the Hawks’ 3-2 win over San Jose Oct. 27 a prime example. “(Arnason) did some things in the third period when the game was on the line that he would never have been on the ice for last year,” Sutter said. “I guarantee he wasn’t on the…

Lack of center depth dogs ‘wounded’ Coyotes

If the Coyotes had one gaping hole to fill entering this season, it was the lack of a strong, reliable third line center capable of taking important defensive-zone draws and marking the opposition’s top pivot man. A month later, the void still remains. And a less-than-inspiring 4-7-0-1 start re-ignited rumors that Phoenix might finally address the situation. Coyotes GM Mike Barnett hasn’t hit panic mode yet, but it is believed he has been working the phones on a daily basis trying to strike a deal if the right player becomes available. If a move is made, it will likely be via a trade because there aren’t any unrestricted free agents sitting at home that appeal to Phoenix at the moment. “A lot of teams are calling us, which means we’ll take the calls, but…

2002-03 NHL STATISTICS

Providence’s Fregoe master on ice and in graduate school classroom

Peter Fregoe is the best hockey player ever produced by the Iowa State Cyclones. That’s a stretch of huge proportions because he never played hockey at Iowa State. They don’t have a varsity program. But the Providence graduate student used to commute one hour each way to Iowa State while he was playing for Des Moines in the United States League in 1998-99. Fregoe, a center, transferred to Providence in 1999, earned his degree last spring and, upon being accepted into the master’s program (in management), he has continued his hockey career in dramatic fashion. Reunited with linemates Devin Rask and Jon DiSalvatore, who comprised one of the best freshman lines in the country in 1999-2000, the trio has been instrumental in Providence’s 5-0-0 start. Fregoe and DiSalvatore have 15 points each and the trio…