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April 18, 2003
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.
EYE ON EUROPE
Future and former NHLers are performing in Europe this season. Here are four such players with NHL rights in parentheses. • Alexander Semin, LW, 19 (Washington). The 17th overall selection in 2002, Semin scored three goals and seven points in five games for Lada Togliatti in eliminating Kazan in Russian league first round playoffs. • Josef Marha, 26, C (Chicago). The Czech pivot played 159 games in six NHL seasons. He is the top scorer for Swiss league finalist and defending champion Davos with four goals and nine points in 11 games. • Jani Puurula, G, 20 (Montreal). The 243rd overall selection in 2000 led Finnish league regular season winner Hameenlinna into the playoff semifinals with a .941 save percentage. • Brad Schlegel, D, 34 (free agent). A two-time Olympic silver medalist with Canada,…
UNITED STATES LEAGUE
After attracting his share of collegiate interest this year, Sioux City Musketeer forward Brandon Polich- son of former NHLer Mike Polich - finally got an offer he couldn’t refuse, choosing Colorado College, where he’ll report this fall. “I think Brandon had been lurking in (Colorado College coach) Scott Owen’s mind,” said Sioux City coach Dave Siciliano, “and I think he came to the realization he’d be a great catch.” At one point or another during the year, Merrimack, Miami of Ohio and Minnesota-Duluth all had designs on the Osseo, Minn., native, but the Tigers’ offer was best, so Polich chose the Western Collegiate Hockey Association school. Through 58 games, the 5-foot-8, 160-pound Polich had 17 goals, 59 points and an impressive plus-22. “He’s so defensively responsible,” Siciliano said. Mike Polich played in the NHL from…
SNAPSHOTS
From around the NHL • If Carolina finishes last overall this season, they would be the first team to do so after appearing in the final since the 1938-39 Chicago Black Hawks. The Hawks finished 12-28-8 a year after winning the championship. What is worth noting, though, is when the Hawks won the Cup the year before, they were 14-25-9, but came to life in the playoffs. In that regard, they are similar to the Hurricanes who barely made the playoffs last season. • When Patrik Elias scored four consecutive goals in a 6-0 win over the Islanders March 30, he became the first NHLer to turn the trick since Toronto’s Wendel Clark did it Nov. 9, 1996 in a 7-3 win over Edmonton. • Speaking of hat tricks, Brett Hull’s three-goal effort…
Hull signs for another year; taking it a season at a time
Brett Hull will be back with the Detroit Red Wings next season after signing a one-year, $5-million contract extension. “I’m just glad someone wanted me,” Hull said. “I’m happy. I’m excited. It’s a great place to play - great guys, great coaching staff, great ownership.” But will next season be the last for Hull? “Is it going to be it for everyone?” Hull said. “Who knows?” The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement expires in September 2004 and a work stoppage could disrupt - or wipe out - the entire 2004-05 season. “I’m just playing one year at a time now,” said Hull, who will turn 39 this summer. “That’s why we just did a one-year deal. You don’t even know if there’s going to be another year. You can’t take a year off and come back.…