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August 16, 2005
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.
Players’ time to shine
If darkness really peaks before dawn, the much trod-upon NHLer ought to keep his shades and sunblock handy. It may not look like it now, in the autopsy stage of the lockout, but the pendulum of fan support that swung so completely from players to owners is on the verge of getting back to where it once belonged. Whether or not you think they needed to, the players did all the giving to save the league from out-and-out obscurity. The Philip Anschutzes and Craig Leipolds of the NHL ownership posse were perfectly willing to board up the doors for two years and then some, so long as the NHL got a thorough idiot-proofing by the end of the process. To them, an extended High Noon was merely a bump in the…
TICKET PRICE PLUNGE
The free agency battle isn’t the only war being waged by NHL teams. Each team must now land the biggest UFA – their fans. In an effort to fill seats, some NHL teams have slashed ticket prices, provided free parking and in Ottawa even offered a free concert for faithful season ticket subscribers. “The clubs and the league fully recognize they need to give back to the fans who have been so loyal,” said Bernadette Mansur, NHL group vice-president of communications. “The teams need to restore the intimacy with the fans that they once had.” The Nashville Predators have re-introduced ticket prices to what they were in their inaugural season in 1998-99. In New York, owner Jim Dolan has followed through with his pledge to reduce all ticket prices by 10 per cent…
Change in philosophy for Sea Dogs’ La Rue
Christian La Rue has a new challenge on his hands next season in the Quebec League. He’s staying in New Brunswick, but in a much different scenario. Instead of coaching the host Moncton Wildcats in the 2006 Memorial Cup, he’ll be patrolling the bench for the expansion Saint John Sea Dogs. “We worked on the team in Moncton for three years,” La Rue said. “It’s a long process to build for the Memorial Cup and unfortunately I won’t be part of the end result. “Fortunately, I was able to get back on my feet with an expansion team in Saint John and I’m surrounded by tremendous people.” Moncton was second in the QMJHL at 29-15-4-1 and sixth in the Canadian Hockey League rankings when it fired La Rue Jan. 22. He guided the Wildcats…
Steelheads regroup after Olver departure
Idaho Steelheads GM Eric Trapp didn’t expect to interview prospective coaching candidates this summer. Not after veteran Steelheads coach John Olver had signed a three-year contract extension in May. But family ties led to Olver’s sudden mid-July resignation, and Trapp put an impromptu coaching search into overdrive. “We’re in the process of the job hunt,” Trapp said. “We’ve got a lot of quality candidates. We’re in the middle of narrowing it down.” Northern Michigan University hired Olver as an assistant soon after he resigned at Idaho, where he led the Steelheads to the 2004 Kelly Cup title. Olver’s oldest son, Darin, will be a junior at Northern Michigan, and his youngest son, Mark, has committed to play there in 2006. Olver’s close friend, Walt Kyle, is coach at Northern Michigan. “It was a…
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