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.
Yearbook 1997-98
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.
BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN
IN THE BLUE CORNER Keith Tkachuk BY MARK BRENDER Let there be no doubt on this point: Keith Tkachuk is prepared to go where even Mark Messier fears to tread. When the stakes are this high, duty calls the shots. Messier, 36-year-old godfather warrior of NHL power forwards, raised eyebrows after the World Cup last fall with his admission that he couldn't hit New York Rangers’ teammate Brian Leetch when they were on opposite sides of the Canada-U.S. border war in the tournament final. Tkachuk, 25, looks up to Messier. Ordinarily. he would relish any comparison to one of hockey's all-time smashmouth masters, but not this time. "Absolutely, Tkachuk blurted out when asked if he’d be able to hit his Phoenix Coyotes’ teammates during the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. When seconds later he repeats…
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
FINAL STANDINGS AWARDS Red Tilson Trophy (Most valuable player) Alyn McCauley, Ottawa Max Kaminsky Trophy (Best defenseman) Sean Blanchard, Ottawa William Hanley Trophy (Most gentlemanly player) Alyn McCauley, Ottawa Emms Family Award (Best rookie) Peter Sarno, Windsor Leo Lalonde Trophy (Overage player of the year) Zac Bierk, Peterborough Eddie Powers Trophy (Leading scorer) Marc Savard, Oshawa Jim Mahon Trophy (Highest-scoring right winger) Joe Seroski, Sault Ste. Marie AWARDS Dave Pinkney Trophy (Lowest goals-against average) Craig Hillier, Ottawa Tim Keyes, Ottawa F.W. (Dinty) Moore Trophy (Rookie with best G.A.A.) Shawn Degagne, Kitchener Goaltender of the Year Zac Bierk, Peterborough Bobby Smith Trophy (Scholastic player of the year) Jake McCracken, Sault Ste. Marie Karcher Humanitarian Award Mike Martone, Peterborough Matt Leyden Trophy (Coach of the year) Brian Kilrea, Ottawa Executive of the Year Ed Rowe, Peterborough First All-Star Team Alyn McCauley, F, Ottawa Daniel Cleary, F, Belleville Cameron Mann, F, Peterborough Sean Blanchard, D, Ottawa Andy Delmore, D, Sarnia Craig Hillier, G, Ottawa Brian Kilrea, coach, Ottawa Second All-Star Team Joe Thornton, F, Sault Ste. Marie Alexandre Volchkov, F, Barrie Dave Duerden, F, Peterborough D.J. Smith, D,…
Light at end of tunnel dimmed by limp offense
Their attendance fell for the fifth consecutive season and they missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but there’s reason to believe the worst of the tedious rebuilding process may be over for the Los Angeles Kings. They still have a long road to travel-especially in fortifying their offense, which last season was tied for 23rd in the NHL-but the performances of a few youngsters late last season and the selection of big Finnish center Olli Jokinen third overall in the entry draft should help them become more respectable this season. In addition, they will begin the season with a streamlined and committed management team. Dave Taylor took over from the fired Sam McMaster as GM during the offseason and immediately showed his decisiveness. Among his first moves was to demand…
NHL Team Statistics
For list of abbreviations see page 66 GP, Games played over past three NHL years; PPG, Points per game; P/82, Points per 82 games. For explanation of pool stats see pg. 190 and to enter Supreme Pool see pg. 224…
Made possible with the support of
