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May 4, 2004
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THE FINALISTS
When two-time Lester B. Pearson Award winner Mark Messier played what may be his final game on Mar. 31, the legend was asked which of all the awards he received in his 25-year career was his most prestigious. Messier, 43, a six-time Stanley Cup winner had many awards to choose from, including the 1984 Conn Smythe Trophy and the 1990 & 1992 Hart Trophies, but he singled out the Pearson Award. “The Lester B. Pearson Award to me is one of the nicest awards I've ever won. You get selected by your peers as the top player in the league,” said Messier, who won the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1990 and 1992. This year the 34th time the award will be presented the honour will belong to Florida Panthers goalie Roberto…
Hockey hiatus helps Hajt
The most important year in Bill Hajt’s hockey career was one in which he didn’t even play. Four days into his first training camp after being drafted 33rd overall (in 1971) by the Buffalo Sabres, the rugged defenseman from the Western League’s Saskatoon Blades decided to take a year off from the sport he loved. “It was a combination of being homesick and intimidated,” said Hajt, a Radisson, Sask., native. “During that year off I went to school and got married. It was the turning point in my life.” The following year Hajt returned to the Sabres and played two seasons for Xtheir American League affiliate in Cleveland. He made the jump to the bIHL in 1974-75 a season that turned out to be one of his most memorable. As a rookie…
MILESTONES 2003-2004
The 2003-04 season saw 23 players attain 25 milestones. The NHLPA Milestone Awards Program, established in the 1992-93 season, recognizes achievements in skill and dedication. Skaters are acknowledged for reaching 400 goals, 600 assists, 1,000 points and 1,000 games. Goalies are recognized for 25 shutouts, 200 wins and 500 games. TONY AMONTE (NYR, CHI, PHX, PHI) 1,000 GAMES (MAR. 5, 2004 OTT AT PHI) The native of Hingham, Mass, became the 201st player to appear in 1,000 games. He made the event memorable when he assisted on the final goal of the game in Philadelphia's 5-3 win against Ottawa. In 13 seasons, the twotime U.S. Olympian has reached the 20-goal mark 11 times and he scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey final. ROMAN CECHMANEK (PHI, L.A.) 25 SHUTOUTS (JAN.…
Coyotes’ financial picture improving
Ask Steve Ellman about the Coyotes’ 22-win, 68-point season the worst since moving to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1996 and the team’s chairman and governor quickly purses his lips. “If we hadn’t lost so much money the last few years, I’d give a rebate to our season-ticket holders,” Ellman said. But the bottom line is finally improving. After shaving nearly $15 million from the payroll (down to about $30.5 million) with cost-cutting trades, coupled with the opening of the Glendale Arena in December, the Coyotes avoided the seven-figure debts that had become commonplace. And if the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement levels the fiscal playing field, Phoenix will look good moving forward. “We’ve turned the corner financially,” Ellman said. “We should be in good shape."… All the top Phoenix brass,…
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