All Entries Tagged With: "russia"
Thoughts on World U-17 Tournament
As a hockey fan living in Michigan, I have always been accustomed to watching the Detroit Red Wings, but it’s not the only hockey ticket in town. About 30 minutes northwest are the Plymouth Whalers and they are one of the premier teams in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). If you want to cross the [...]
McCrimmon’s Life Was Taken Away Before Fulfilling Dream
First, I want to say my thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the Locomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club as well as the rest of those who were on the chartered Yakolev Yak-42 jet plane. Honestly, I didn’t know how to go about my next blog. This is probably the most dreadful summer [...]
The 2011-12 Boston Bruins: Part 1: The Forwards
Before I get started here, I would like to ask that you all keep the families, friends and teammates of all those lost in the terrible tragedy in Russia yesterday morning, in your thoughts and prayers. The plane crash that took down the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team is perhaps the biggest tragedy in [...]
Lokomotiv tragedy pierces the soul of global hockey community
The imminent start of hockey season and the usual excitement of seeing players slowly trickling into training camps enthusiastically looking forward to making a fresh start suddenly seems very irrelevant and very meaningless this morning. Writing off-season recaps to remember who went where in free agency or trades suddenly seems equally irrelevant and equally meaningless [...]
One year after World Hockey Summit: Player transfer agreements – Part 2
Part 1 of this retrospective article on the one-year anniversary of the Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit quickly reviewed the nature of NHL – European league Player Transfer Agreements and the refusal of the Russian Hockey Federation to enter into such agreements. The acrimony surrounding the movements of Evgeni Malkin from Russia to North America and [...]
One year after World Hockey Summit: Player transfer agreements – Part 1
The final notable topic that still resonates one year after the Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit was held in Toronto, is international player transfer agreements. With the exception of Russia, most European nations have a formal legally-binding agreement in place with the NHL that stipulates the price to be paid by a North American club to [...]
One year after World Hockey Summit: NHL players and the Olympics
It was one year ago tonight that the Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit commenced in the historic Great Hall at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. High-profile decision makers and players from Canada, the United States and Europe assembled for four days to discuss ways to improve and grow the game of hockey worldwide. The [...]
It’s a Hard Life: the Alexei Kovalev Story
Recently Dmitry Chesnokov of Puck Daddy’s Yahoo Sports translated a Russian interview Kovalev had with Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sports. Alexei Kovalev was pretty clear for his dislike of Ottawa during his 2 year deal. Kovalev is an interesting character. He has the skill set of some of the best hockey players in the [...]
Exhuming a legend and expecting greatness tends to disappoint
Jaromir Jagr, Penguins’ blueliner Zbynek Michalek and their Czech Republic teammates captured the bronze medal at the IIHF World Championship today ushering in an off-season that may see Jagr put on a new hockey sweater. There has been some speculation recently that the 39-year old forward would make a return to the NHL, possibly to Pittsburgh where he [...]
Does the WHC Even Matter?
It’s been referred to as the garbage bowl, the runners-up cup, and many more uncanny names, but the World Championship of Hockey (WHC) is starting to show more significance in the sport of hockey.
One week later, still stunned at Team Canada meltdown
Has one week really passed since the swift and stunning end to Canada’s quest to reclaim the World Junior Championship title in Buffalo? Seriously, you ask, how can someone still be stewing about that third period meltdown? Very easily. Hockey is in our blood; in our marrow, as Canadians. In that inimitable way that hockey behaves, [...]
This one’s for you, General Brock: Canada crushes U.S., to play Russia for gold
Luggages have been unpacked; lozenges have been swallowed; loquacious razzing has ceased. Back across the border safely, the last twenty-four hours have been a short time of revelry and reflection on Canada’s convincing semifinal victory over the United States on Monday night in Buffalo. The score: 4-1 on the ice and likely 80%-20% in the HSBC Arena [...]
World Hockey Summit Day 3: Gary Bettman media conference
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman did a public Q and A session on Day 3 of the World Hockey Summit hosted by TV broadcaster Pierre McGuire then took more questions from the media for an additional ten minutes, covering predictable topics such as NHL involvement in the 2014 Olympics, the Kovalchuk case and the potential for placing a franchise back in Quebec City. The full audio of the media conference is inside.
World Hockey Summit Day 3: AM session, audio from Jamie Langenbrunner
Inside: coverage of events during the morning session of Day 3 of the World Hockey Summit at the Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto. All the speakers and panellists were in agreement that after Vancouver 2010, the NHL should continue sending its players to the Olympics. Ten minutes of audio with New Jersey Devil Jamie Langenbrunner also featured.
World Hockey Summit Day 2: PM session, audio from USA Hockey’s Jim Johansson
Day 2 of the World Hockey Summit has finished. IIHF President Rene Fasel reiterated his desire to see NHL players at the 2014 Winter Olympics but indicated he would strongly resist any potential NHL efforts to expand into Europe. Slavomir Lener of the Czech Republic showed some grim statistics on the drain of many young, not-ready European players to the CHL. Audio clip of interview by this writer with Jim Johansson of USA Hockey also inside.
World Hockey Summit comes to Toronto August 23-26
The city of Toronto will welcome the world to a comprehensive four-day event starting tomorrow night that promises to generate attention, new ideas and debate on how to improve hockey at all levels and in every hockey-playing nation. The Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit will take place from Monday, August 23, 2010 until Thursday, August 26, 2010 at various [...]
10 Tidbits on the Kings’ Alex Ponikarovsky
Although the Kings newest addition, Alex Ponikarovsky, may have formerly been known as “The Poni Express”, out in Hollywood…er, Hockeywood…he’ll simply be Poni Boy. Here are 10 Tidbits you may not know about the left wing…with a special twitter twist.
OVECHKIN: Channeling Sean Penn?
Let it be said rather plainly. I think Alexander Ovechkin is the best NHL player bar none right now. But, his behavior from dodging the sports press in Vancouver, to pushing a fan…has been poor sportsmanship no matter what pressure, excuse or Milbury-insult launched from a host’s seat. Well, sadly it has continued as [...]
Mike Milbury’s Eurotrash Disco: Comments Override Canada’s Huge Win
“I was shocked that it was this one-sided. And I was really disappointed that these guys came with their euro-trash game. It was just. No heart, no guts, no nothing there to back it up. I mean Alex Ovechkin was an average player tonight. I know they’re going to bounce back, but to be that [...]
O Happy Day! Canada advances to semifinals, eliminates Russia
A flood of different emotions coursed through hockey fans coast to coast this morning, awaiting the Canada – Russia showdown in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Olympic men’s hockey tournament. Anticipation, hope, hatred and love, all mixing, simmering and percolating in all of us, anxious for the start of one of the most longed-for hockey games [...]
