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November 21, 2006
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.
Concussion conundrum
SUPPORT IS GROWING for a headshot rule, one that punishes all blows to an opponent’s block, even ones delivered by the shoulder. The logic sounds reasonable. Why, if it’s illegal to strike a foe with any other body part (hand, elbow, knee, etc.) is it OK to clobber him with an armored shoulder? At issue are concussions; we’ve witnessed a stream of players retire early due to brain injuries. But the matter isn’t black and white. Contact and physicality are important in today’s NHL and few want to see aggressiveness legislated away. The issue becomes more tangled when you consider disparity in heights. When 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara initiates hits on players 10 inches smaller than he is, it stands to reason one or two bells will get rung. There are also instances when players…
Don’t they know it’s game day?
Tom and Kerry Fitzgerald had their own game-day ritual. After the first of their four sons was born, Kerry took baby Ryan out of the house while her husband took his pre-game afternoon nap before suiting up with the Florida Panthers. “I used to take him out at that time to make sure the house was quiet,” Kerry said. “I would take him anywhere, like to the mall for a couple of hours, just to get him out of the house.” After Ryan came Casey. Life became more complicated. “You’re trying to juggle them,” she said. “I said, ‘Honey, I don’t know how long we can do this.’ ” Then came Jack, followed by Brendan, and the family had its hands full. “When the third one came along, there were pots and pans clanging and…
Bench life still fun for Kilrea, as wins keep piling up
Brian Kilrea says his first 1,100 wins were the toughest. After that? “It’s the fun of the game and the association with the kids that keeps you young,” said the 72-year-old, now in his 30th year coaching the Ottawa 67’s. Kilrea is the CHL’s all-time leader in wins and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. His career milestone is rivaled only in the professional ranks by Scotty Bowman, who had 1,244 NHL wins, and John Brophy, who’s a year older than Kilrea and has 1,037 wins and counting as he coaches in the Southern League. Thirty years on the bench, and retirement is not in sight. “I still look forward to going to practice and barking,” said Kilrea, whose players will say his bark is worse than his bite. So what’s Kilrea’s…
SECRETS OF THE SHOOTOUT
Through Nov. 6, there have been 205 games played, 28 of which have gone to a shootout. That’s 13.7 per cent. There have been a total of 230 shootout attempts, with 67 goals and 163 non-goals. That means goals have been scored on 29.1 per cent of shots, while non-goals account for 70.9 per cent. Deking gives players a better chance to score a goal. Players who took shots scored on 33 of 126 attempts (26.2 per-cent success rate), while those deking scored on 34 of 104 attempts (32.7 per-cent success rate). Right-handed shots scored 29 goals in 84 attempts (34.5 per-cent success rate). Left-handed shooters scored on 38 of 146 tries (26.0 per-cent success rate). Here’s the breakdown of where the goals have been scored in shootouts this season. The left-right refers to…
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