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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.
VERY STRONG HOCKEY SENSE
PHILLIP TRACY LOVES FEELING the Des Moines Buccaneers play. From a reserved seat in section 12, row C, the Iowa native experiences the United States League (Jr. A) game as only someone who has been blind from infancy can. Tracy, 30, feels the heavy crunch of bodychecks in the corner, the hard slap of shots from the point and the guttural roar of the crowd on breakaways. In fact, it’s the crowd’s excitement he enjoys most. “I remember my very first game,” said Tracy after admitting he had really gone for a racing car that was being shown at the arena. “What hooked me was, quite simply, the crowd. By the end of the game you couldn’t even hear. I was so taken aback by that, and my adrenalin was so high, that I…
BIG, BAD BRUINS ARE BORING
PERHAPS IF COACHES HAD long-term job security, this wouldn’t happen. Perhaps if commissioner Gary Bettman knew enough about hockey to realize the defensive aspects of the game are rewarded disproportionately, this wouldn’t happen. And perhaps if coaches had the wisdom to put the well-being of the NHL ahead of their own personal gain, this wouldn’t happen. But since none of the above happens to be true, it does happen. Time and again. An NHL coach, perhaps operating under the delusion he is making a pronouncement which has escaped the grasp of lesser intellects, decides it doesn’t matter how boring his team’s efforts may be as long as they win. “Winning is all that matters,” or some variation of that theme, is the phrase these deep thinkers use. For a short time, that may be…
TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED
SOME PLAYERS SEE college hockey as a quick route to the pros. But Clarkson senior defenseman Grant Clitsome saw it as a four-year training camp. That foresight has paid off for the native of Gloucester, Ont., who was drafted in the ninth round by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2004. Once viewed as a long-term project, Clitsome is now one of the top prospects in the Blue Jackets’ future. Attending the Jackets prospects camp during the summer was good for Clitsome’s confidence, but didn’t do anything to change his mind about finishing college. “I always planned on playing in college for four years,” said Clitsome, an unheralded blueliner who has never been named to the all-ECAC first team. “But I learned a lot at camp and it was great to talk with people…
THE QUIET EMERGING AMERK
WHILE HE HAS YET TO BEAT AHL goalies on a regular basis, there’s really little doubt Marek Zagrapan has all the tools to play in the NHL. The second-year center is a marvelous skater, a magician with the puck and is dangerous attacking the net. The one thing his game sometimes lacks? A smoke detector. “We would like to see more of a sense of urgency,” said Rochester Americans coach Randy Cunneyworth. “He has such calm when he has the puck. Maybe that’s because he’s so good with the puck. But there are times we want to see him really skating.” Zagrapan was selected 13th overall in 2005 by the Buffalo Sabres. The native of Presov, Czech Rep., was 19 when he started his pro career with the Amerks last season. He played two…