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January 22, 2008
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.
WHY CAN’T A GOALIE PLAY IN ALL 82?
“It shouldn’t be any different than it is for a forward or a defenseman NICKLAS LIDSTROM AND Chris Pronger each play almost 28 minutes a game, almost all of them involving a lot of heavy lifting. They play 5-on-5, kill penalties, man the power play, are assigned to shut down the opponent’s top offensive players and are on the ice in virtually every crucial situation. And barring an injury, each of them will play all 82 games this season for the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks. Neither Mike Babcock nor Randy Carlyle would think for a minute to sit either one out for a game because, well, as coaches they like a steady paycheck. So why has the NHL not expected the same thing from its goalies in more than 40 years?…
MAKE IT AUTOMATIC
After seeing the Predators lose their second-best defenseman, Shea Weber, to injury on a race to touch-up for icing against the Kings Dec. 23, and seeing the Preds almost lose their third-best D-man, Dan Hamhuis, in the same situation against Columbus on the 27th, the NHL has got to eliminate touchup icing. Sure, there is the rare occasion that a forward wins the race and maybe even scores a goal, but does that one goal really outweigh a team losing one of its best defensemen for a game/week/month because he’s injured? The NHL needs to protect its players by making icing automatic.…
BEST OF THE REST
ECHL Peppered with experience At 29, in his 11th ECHL season with his sixth team, Colin Pepperall represents veteran leadership to a tee. He even spent the 1999-2000 season playing next to his current coach, Trenton’s Rick Kowalsky, then a Hampton Roads forward. But Pepperall isn’t “old.” His experience has helped a rookie-heavy Trenton team develop. After his Nov. 30 signing, Pepperall tallied 11 points in 10 games to earn an alternate captain’s letter. “I can take the young guys aside when I need to and just show them things,” he said. Pepperall won a Kelly Cup with Greenville in 2002, six years after the New York Rangers drafted him in the fifth round. – MIKE MASTOVICH UNITED STATES LEAGUE California boy headed east As far as anyone can remember, Western Michigan has never gone California…
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
WHILE TOWERING SWEDISH BLUELINER Victor Hedman, Canadian phenom John Tavares and American upstart Jordan Schroeder all made waves at the World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic, none of them are draft eligible until 2009. In the meantime, here are five young internationals who will have the fellas at the NHL draft tables drooling this summer. Colin Wilson, center, United States Playing on a line with Schroeder and Philadelphia first-rounder James van Riemsdyk, Wilson was practically unstoppable during the round robin for the Yanks. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder is a standout freshman with the Boston Terriers of Hockey East and his father is ex-NHLer Carey Wilson. Steven Stamkos, center, Canada It’s hard to improve your draft status when you’re already the consensus No. 1, but Stamkos drew raves for his work at the…
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