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December 23, 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.
Efficiency on penalty kill boosts Blues’ fortunes
One of the inconsistencies over the past two seasons that really gnawed at the Blues’ coaching staff was the team’s struggles on the penalty kill. What was once a source of pride became a reason for losses. However, it has been the way they have won this season. The Blues erased all seven Maple Leaf power plays in a 3-2 overtime victory Dec. 9 and had stymied 35 of 36 power plays in five games. “Guys are doing what we want,” said assistant coach Mike Kitchen. “They’re having success at it and that makes them more confident.” The Blues are finding success thanks to positioning and blocked shots. There were several games during which left winger Dallas Drake stopped more shots than goalie Chris Osgood. “As D-men we take pride in that, in getting in…
Kings banking on veteran Stumpel to pick up slack for injured mates
Jozef Stumpel could be the wildcard in the Los Angeles Kings’ efforts to remain near the top of the Western Conference. Stumpel returned to the Kings for his second tour of duty this season, but did not exactly shake the injury-prone tag that has dogged him in the past. The 6-foot-3,225-pound center missed a month with a bruised chest muscle that seemed to take forever to heal. But he is back, anchoring a top line of Martin Straka and Ziggy Palffy. With the future of Jason Allison (whiplash) and Adam Deadmarsh (concussion) uncertain, the Kings need Stumpel to provide stability. “When he is healthy, he is a point-a-game producer,” said Kings GM Dave Taylor, who has twice traded for Stumpel. “He is a strong presence in the middle.” Last summer, the Kings reacquired…
First-place Gatineau confident, not cocky
The Gatineau Olympiques are exactly where they expected to be at the Quebec League’s halfway mark in first place overall. The Olympiques were tabbed by many to be one of the top teams in the Canadian Hockey League after going to the Memorial Cup final last year. They have not disappointed. They have set the pace in the QMJHL for most of this season and have occupied the No. 1 rank in the CHL for several weeks. “We were pretty confident coming back this year because we had a lot of good players returning and there were a lot of guys who were young last year that were ready to play a bigger role this year,” said high-scoring right winger Jean-Michel Daoust. But the Olympiques won’t rest on their laurels. They treat each…
CANADA turning to young studs
As other countries continue to approach the World Junior Championship with more vigor and commitment, something the Canadian Hockey Association claims is unacceptable in one breath is trumpeted as a true accomplishment in another. On one hand, officials from the junior program claim Canadian hockey fans are wholly justified in holding their junior team up to the gold medal standard and that nothing short of the top bauble is an acceptable result. But they then point out with a certain amount of pride that Canada is the only country which has finished among the top three teams in each of the past five tournaments. All of which is of little consolation to fans who invest a good part of their holiday season watching this event and take losing at any level on…
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