Modern-day hockey has faced many crises; both on and off the ice. None have been bigger than player safety, particularly in regards to concussions. Hockey is by nature a brutal and ruthless game. One built around speed, contact and desire. Consequently, concussions have become commonplace. The league is making strides to reduce the risk; cracking down on headshots and levying hefty fines against offenders. Additionally, concussion testing has come a long way, and doctors are more inclined to ... Read More
No sleep ’till Brooklyn
No team in the NHL has been more maligned over the last 20 years than the New York Islanders. Playing in one of mankind’s ugliest creations, the Nassau Coliseum (which I’m still convinced was built to look like an oval-shaped garage), they’ve fought for relevancy amidst a declining fan base. For the past decade, there have been talks of moving the Islanders, and that time has finally arrived. Starting in 2015, the New York Islanders will become the Brooklyn Islanders (unless they decide to ... Read More
NHL coach takes on new job
When most people think of the lockout, they’re thinking mostly about the owners and the players. The players spend their time honing their skills overseas, while the owners bathe in money, or whatever it is they do. But seldom do people consider the coaches. Honestly, what is a coach supposed to do during a lockout? Go to an arcade to critique someone’s bubble hockey skills? Maybe develop new air hockey techniques? Boston Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien decided to take a slightly different ... Read More
A Ray of Hope
Martin Luther King Jr. once said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” While I’m quite certain he wasn’t talking about the NHL lockout, his words certainly ring true today. All of a sudden, shortly after 12 p.m. EST, Twitter pretty much set itself on fire with the news of the NHL making an offer to the NHL Players’ Association. I made a noise of shock that was not unlike that of a cat who just got his tail stepped on. I had to forage for some details. The gist ... Read More
Lockout Hinders Best NHL Season in Years
The 2012-2013 season was supposed to start tonight. Instead, the league is in a labor dispute with the Player's Association which has led to a lockout, and subsequent work stoppage. As a result, the first two weeks of the season, totaling 82 games, has been cancelled. What a shame. After rebuilding a league that was pushed to the brink of extinction in 2006, the owners and players simply cannot find a common ground to get a deal in place and start the season on time. The fans will always come ... Read More
Bikini Hockey League: Puck Bunnies Unite
Look out, Lingerie Football League. If you’re a red meat eating, testosterone-filled dude, or just a Canadian, then this is probably the greatest idea you’ve ever heard of (at least until someone invents the beer sandwich). Bikini-clad women trying to pull off a back heel toe-drag? Sign me up. The format of the league is actually quite different. Rather than just being a sporting event, it’s attempting to pattern itself after a reality show. There will be two teams of 10 players each, and ... Read More
Will the NHL use replacement players?
25 years ago today, the National Football League used replacement players in regular season games for the first time in its history. It was a groundbreaking move, one that the league had often threatened, but never reverted to until then. The strike lasted for three total weeks before finally coming to an end. So that begs the question, the NHL has canceled the first two weeks of the season, but could they possibly retain the rest of the schedule and bring in replacement players until the ... Read More
Summit Series 40th Anniversary: Canada vs. USSR
Before there was the 1980 Olympic “Miracle on Ice”, there was the 1972 Summit Series that pitted Canada vs. the Soviet Union. It was truly one of hockey’s biggest moments. Canada was a dominant force, with players like Bobby Clarke, Stan Mikita and Phil Esposito, among many others. Not to be outdone, the Soviet Machine was humming by ’72, lead by all-time great goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and long-time star Boris Mikhailov. It was an eight game series, set to take place in both Canada (first ... Read More
Why there is an NHL Lockout
Much has been written about the current NHL lockout, and what (if any) progress is being made. However, many writers, myself included, have been derelict in our duty of explaining why the lockout occurred to begin with. As every good historian knows, knowing why something happened is as important as knowing what happened. Let’s begin with the Collective Bargaining Agreement set forth by the league after the 2004-05 lockout. This agreement put the current salary cap structure (which is tied to ... Read More
Top five prospects in the 2013 NHL draft
The internet has done two things simultaneously: shortened our attention spans and yet somehow fostered a love for long-term projections. Considering that we have yet to even begin the 2012-13 season, it may seem a bit premature to start anointing the cream of next year’s draft crop. However, hockey fans have to do something to stave off lockout depression, and this is about the best we can do. 1. Nathan MacKinnon- Center- Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) MacKinnon is a naturally gifted ... Read More