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April 24, 2007
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.
Walk the line and he’ll be fine
“WE’D RATHER tame a tiger than paint stripes on a kitty.” That was assistant coach Steve Spott’s take after the Kitchener Rangers acquired Steve Downie from the Peterborough Petes midway through this season. Taming a tiger isn’t always easy, as the Rangers were to learn late in the regular season when Downie drew an eight-game suspension for bullying. “We paid a heavy price to have him available at this time of the year,” said Rangers coach-GM Pete DeBoer as Kitchener began Round 2 with Downie and Oshawa’s John Tavares tied at 17 points atop the OHL playoff scoring race. “The fact he missed some regular season games is a non-issue with us. “He’s very intelligent and I’d say 99 per cent of the time he knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s those incidents in…
The best in the game
IT’S AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES and the reason for lopsided scores in women’s hockey; the best players in the world reside mainly in Canada and the U.S. Here’s a look at the top 10 players in the women’s game today: 1. Hayley Wickenheiser (28 years old), Canada A target every game, but uses her explosive speed, strength and puckhandling skills to make the big plays at crucial moments. 2. Krissy Wendell (25), USA Call her Captain Flash. She’s a true sniper who also has slick playmaking skills. 3. Jayna Hefford (29), Canada Can score under pressure, like the game-winning goal in the 2002 Olympic final. A two-way veteran, with acceleration and soft hands. 4. Natalie Darwitz (23), USA Wily and quick, she often tees up perfect passes for Wendell, whom she also played with…
Beasts of East jostle for top
After producing the Calder Cup champion the past two seasons, it would be no surprise if the last team left standing came out of the Eastern Conference’s East Division again. Hershey, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Norfolk spent the regular season battling for not only the division lead, but the best record overall. All three topped 100 points; Norfolk for the first time in team history and the Penguins and Bears for the second straight year. “One of the things when you’re at the top of league where we are, everybody guns for you,” said Wilkes-Barre first-year coach Todd Richards. “It’s a good thing, because we have to be ready every night. It’s a great challenge and I think it prepared us for each and every game and it’s preparing us for what’s coming up.” Hershey…
To the Point
ALL THEY NEEDED WAS A MIRACLE It wasn’t exactly “Dewey Defeats Truman,” but our failure to include the New York Islanders in our Playoff Preview (Vol. 60, No. 29, April 17) has left us red-faced. We’ll spare you the details of our press time decision, other than to say the Islanders pretty much needed a miracle to qualify for the post-season…and got one. And we got burned. For that, we raise our hands in accountability. At the same time, their stunning feat prompted us to think of the big “No way” moments from 2006-07. Here are 10 other jaw-droppers. • Rick DiPietro signs a 15-year (yes, 15) contract• Minnesota’s Pierre-Marc Bouchard scores a shootout goal using the Savardian spinorama• Ted Saskin takes a paid leave from the NHLPA• Niklas Backstrom becomes Minnesota’s…
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