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February 12, 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.
NO TIME FOR NET LOSSES IN PITT
PENS CAN’T JUST HAND REINS BACK TO FLEURY FROM ALL INDICATIONS, Marc-Andre Fleury remains the Pittsburgh Penguins’ long-term answer in goal. That doesn’t mean he has to be their short-term answer. If Ty Conklin – make that “Win” Conklin – maintains his pace as of Jan. 23, he should be the Penguins’ playoff goaltender, assuming they withstand Sidney Crosby’s high-ankle sprain and make it that far. Check that. Conklin cannot possibly maintain that pace, because if he did, the Hockey Hall of Fame would be terribly inconvenienced by having to induct him in early April. Through 14 games this season, Conklin was 10-1-2 with a 1.82 goalsagainst average and a .946 save percentage. That can’t last. But if he merely continues to give his team a chance to win every night, why change? To save Fleury’s psyche? To…
BEST OF THE REST
ECHL Verbeek back in Stock A technicality kept Tim Verbeek on the Stockton payroll even after coach Chris Cichocki waived him. Three months later, the right winger is back on the ice. “I’m glad it worked out this way and all that matters now is that I get on the ice and play again,” Verbeek told The Stockton Record. The 28-year-old had six penalty minutes in his first two games. Verbeek tallied 19 goals and 33 points for Stockton last season, but was waived after camp. However, hernia surgery kept Verbeek on the payroll because rules prohibit teams from releasing injured players. When call-ups and injuries hit Stockton, Cichocki called on Verbeek. – MIKE MASTOVICH UNITED STATES LEAGUE Texas native on to big things Defenseman JP Maley is another example of hockey’s changing demographic. From Austin,…
BOUNCING BACK FROM TRAGEDIES
YOU HAVE TO GO down the hockey food chain to find Art Mnatsakanov these days. Way down. But all in all, life is good. Mnatsakanov is, as they say, in Jules Verne territory, about 20,000 leagues away from the Detroit Red Wings dressing room he hung around when he was growing up. But he’s playing hockey for a living and making about $450 a week doing it, his apartment is paid for and sometimes he has enough per diem left over to put a little money away. And to top it off, he recently became the highest-scoring defenseman in the history of the Southern Professional League, a seven-team loop that has been around for four years and snakes through minor hockey backwaters in Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. But sometimes…
KILLER INSTINCTS DRIVE KENNEDY
SOME PLAYERS GRIP their stick a little tighter when the game is on the line. Michigan State assistant captain Tim Kennedy is not one of them. “I just love playing in games that really mean something,” Kennedy said. “The CCHA championship or the NCAA tournament, it’s easy to get up for those kind of games.” And the Spartans junior left winger has a track record of producing in pressure situations. Last season Kennedy’s goal against Notre Dame, at the NCAA Midwest Regional final, sent the Spartans to the Frozen Four. He then scored the tying goal and set up linemate Justin Abdelkader for the game-winner against Boston College for the national title. “He has a burning desire to win and he scored some important goals down the stretch for us,” said Michigan State…
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