Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
December 19, 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.
All-American family: Kozlov sworn in
DID YOU KNOW? It’s far from an unprecedented move, but it’s one Viktor Kozlov never expected to make. Kozlov, who has emerged as a surprise scorer for the Islanders, attained dual citizenship – U.S. and Russian – in a ceremony in Miami Sept. 22. “My wife and daughter already are Americans, so it’s convenient for my family to all be American citizens,” he said. “It’s kind of unusual to grow up in Russia and then become a U.S. citizen. When I got to this country 10 years ago, I didn’t expect I would do this.” Kozlov’s wife, a Russian named Yana whom he met in New York several years ago, had been granted U.S. citizenship in 1989. Their four-year-old daughter, Alexandra, was born in the U.S. Kozlov, 31, can vote in U.S. elections, although…
Denis barred from Canada
Tampa Bay goalie Marc Denis is not traveling to any Canadian cities because of a visa problem and the team has been told by the U.S.government, there is no guarantee he will be allowed to return. According to immigration officials, the goalie’s U.S. visa expired in August. Denis is not expected to play in Toronto (Dec. 12) or Montreal (Dec. 14). The Bolts have eight more regular season games in Canada. NORTHWEST DIVISION BOSTON Career-long droughts ended at Montreal Dec. 4, when forwards Shean Donovan and Wayne Primeau scored 84 seconds apart. Donovan hadn’t scored in 26 games against the Habs; Primeau in 31. BUFFALO For the first time in a month, the Sabres had the same 12 forwards on the ice with which they started the season. Center Derek Roy (hand) was…
Christian ‘Buddha’ bound by his faith
DID YOU KNOW? Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj is one of the more devout Christians in the NHL. Sometimes peppered into Budaj’s post-game interviews are references to God and Jesus and giving thanks. Budaj does not preach to his teammates in the dressing room, but has made it a known part of his persona. Ironically, Budaj’s nickname, ‘Buddha’, is based in another religion entirely. Budaj gives at least 10 per cent of his income to the church and prays regularly. But he isn’t removed from teammates because of his beliefs. He “is one of the guys,” said defenseman John-Michael Liles. And Budaj likes some of the material comforts his salary affords him, such as a sleek new custom-made Audi he recently purchased. Unfortunately, the car was struck by another driver less than…
TOMAS KABERLE + BRYAN MCCABE
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice compares his top two defensemen to an old married couple. “There’s just a real comfort level there,” said Maurice of Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe. “It’s like they finish each other’s sentences.” And each other’s plays. The Leafs are hardly unique in their complete reliance on their top two defensemen, particularly on the power play, but it’s hard to imagine where the team would be without McCabe and Kaberle’s contributions. The two had combined for 28 points on the power play – second only to Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer of the Anaheim Ducks among top-two defensemen – and accounted for 93.3 per cent of all power play scoring by Toronto’s blueliners. Among the top five in scoring among defensemen and in the top three in ice…
Made possible with the support of
