HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF

OLYMPIC FORMAT SETTLED HERSONISSOS, Greece There will be no preliminary round at the 2006 Olympics, meaning countries such as Slovakia and Latvia will be on equal footing with traditional powers if the NHL decides to participate in the Games. Twelve countries will play in the round-robin portion of the event. Eight countries, plus host Italy, will receive automatic entry based on a to-be-determined ranking system. The other three teams must qualify through other international tournaments. The 12-team format means the NHL may have to shut down for up to two weeks if it takes part. In other news from the International Ice Hockey Federation, Canada was awarded the 2006 World Junior Championship and is hoping to host the first World Championship on North American soil in 2008. Canada was seeking the…

TWO MINUTES IN THE BOX

POS. Defense AGE 27 BIRTHPLACE Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que. Start the clock… Best practical joke you’ve seen? “There was one guy on the team who hated anything to do with hunting or dead animals, so another guy got a real pair of deer hooves and put them in the guy’s gloves before practice. He completely freaked out.” Growing up, who was your hockey hero? “Ray Bourque. Every time he played against the Canadiens was special to me.” What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen? “A Night at the Roxbury. I left after 15 minutes.” Hobbies away from the arena? “I play guitar and have my own music studio at home, so that takes up a lot of my time.” Most embarrassing CD you own? “An ABBA CD. I try not to show it to anyone.” Strangest piece of fan mail you’ve received? “Someone wrote…

SCOREBOARD

SMITH’S LINE PITCH GATHERS STEAM

Bobby Smith’s idea for a line change has found support in the NHL’s executive suites. Smith’s idea, explained in The Hockey News 2003-04 Yearbook, is to widen the bluelines and center ice red line from one foot to six feet. When combined with a minor adjustment to the offside rule, the effect would be to create more space in all three zones without expanding the actual playing surface. “I know that Gary Bettman likes the idea. He likes the idea of giving ice back to the neutral zone,” said Mike Murphy, NHL vice-president of hockey operations. “It has been talked about. I can’t say we’ve closed the door on it.” Murphy said the idea would have to be taken first to the GMs and ultimately to the NHL board of governors before it…