Ice hockey officials referees ice hockey news

Concussions in Hockey

2011-10-15T00:23:00.000-04:00

The menace of concussions has been hidden in plain sight. On playing fields across America, lives are being derailed by seemingly innocuous jolts to the head. From the peewees to the pros, concussions are reaching epidemic proportions. This book brings that hidden epidemic and its consequences out of the shadows. As frightening as the numbers are--estimates of sports-related concussions range from 1.6 million to 3.8 million annually in the United States--they can't begin to explain the profound impact of a hidden health problem that can strike any of us. It is becoming increasingly clear that concussions, like severe head traumas, can rob us of our memory, our mental abilities, our very sense of self. Because the damage caused by a concussion is rarely visible to the naked eye or even on a brain scan, no one knows how many millions might be living lives devastated by an invisible injury too often shrugged off as "just a bump on the head." This book puts a human face on a huge public health crisis. Through narratives that chronicle the poignant experiences of real people struggling with this invisible and often unrecognized brain injury, Linda Carroll and David Rosner bring home its potentially devastating consequences. Among those you will meet are a high school football player whose college dreams were derailed by a series of undiagnosed concussions, a hard-driving soccer star whose own struggles with concussions pushed her to crusade for safety reform as a coach and soccer mom, and an economist who lost her career because of lingering concussion symptoms from a fender bender. "The Concussion Crisis "weaves these human dramas with compelling stories of scientists and doctors who are unraveling the mysteries of how an invisible injury can wreak such havoc. It takes readers into the top labs, where scientists are teasing out what goes wrong in the brain after a jolt to the head, and into the nation's leading concussion clinic, where patients get cutting-edge management and treatment.

Ankle and foot with proper taping and braces

2011-07-15T23:08:00.000-04:00

You can prevent injuries to the ankle and foot with proper taping and braces.
Most injuries to people happen in the ankle and foot areas from jogging or playing sports. Proper taping of the ankle and foot can reduce some of these injuries.

There are many ways to protect your ankle form getting injured. You can buy ankle braces to support and prevent post injury ankle sprains. If you cannot get your ankle taped before exercise then ankle braces are a way to go. You can buy different types of braces from foam, ankle and foot braces are more effective in the prevention of injuries then not wearing anything to protect you ankle area. If you have someone tape your ankles they need to be trained in proper ankle taping procedures. A bad taping job can hurt your ankle. Ankle sprain Foot pain

Reduce stomach fat for ice hockey

2011-06-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

Many people want to get rid of stomach fat try using a physioball.
The physioball is a great exercise tool to reduce stomach fat. There are many exercises and you only need a room, a ball, and a flat surface. You can do anything from simple to complex work outs, so just keep in mind that you need to work up to the more strenuous exercises.
To begin try an exercise called walk outs. Start by sitting on the ball, Make sure to keep your feet flat on the floor with good straight posture, flat back, shoulders back, hold your head up. You can begin the movement, trying to walk out on the ball and keep your back flat through out the exercise. If you feel ok, you can try walking out farther. You can move out to a bridge position, you can walk out to your mid back, and shoulders. You should do it for a certain amount of time or just do continuous repitionsions. This will work out your entire mid section and your legs will get a work out. Now you can make this more challenging, when you are out in the bridge position march with your feet, lifting them off the ground about six inches or more for more of a workout.

Physioball ab exercisest

Esporta machine MRSA

2011-06-06T17:26:00.000-04:00

You can spray the equipment with a disinfecting spray especially the equipment that gets high usage where people sweat. You should always wear flip flops in the shower room these are high traffic, damp areas that will contain the bacteria that can spread staph infections to your feet and ankle areas. You should always get your equipment cleaned they are companies that can clean them for you. Most ice rinks and other sports facilities will have a machine such as a Sanisport or a local business with a Esporta machine. The Centers for Disease Control which you can access online has more information on where there have been outbreaks of staph and mrsa in your area. If you suspect you have a infection you should consult with your doctor or go to an emergency room right away, a bad infection can be fatal. This is very important don't wait get to a doctor right away.

MRSA staph infection

Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

2011-03-19T20:55:00.000-04:00

Physical fitness doesn't happen overnight, and it's not a quick fix. Looking like the models on TV selling exercise equipment is not practical for most people. Getting fit is not that easy. On the other hand, it's not that hard. Understanding the benefits of being fit, feeling the benefits, and seeing the benefits keep us motivated and consistent.

Lower blood pressure
Here are some of the health benefits that can save your life. Physical activity has a direct effect on the heart. It increases oxygen supply to the heart, decreases oxygen demands and improves the strength of the heart muscle contractions.

hockey training program

2010-09-24T00:57:00.000-04:00

Just another update on my training with your Ultimate Goalie Training program. Almost immediately I noticed a positive effect on my game after starting your program. After one week I felt more in control of my movements in the crease. I have definately seen an improvement in my balance, both on and off the ice. It seems like I'm able to focus on the puck better as well.
There is a fine line between weight training and hockey training, the hockeystrong program is an all around, game changing curriculum that any serious hockey player should use.

I've been looking for a hockey training program that was versatile and completely improved my conditioning for hockey in every way, from strength to speed, agility, quickness and core. Hockeystrong is this and much more.

I can't say enough about hockeystrong. Thank you so much for your help. Hockeystrong is the best sports investment I ever made.Throughout my season I've made saves that I'd immediately think, "How did I stop that?" It's been great! Faster movements, faster hands, better balance! Being able to make stretching saves with a new found flexibility has been great as well. Anytime you can make that save that you and others know you had no business making, and hearing the rink fill with "oohs and aahs", that's an awesome feeling.

I just wanted to say, "thanks" again for putting this program together. It's been a great tool for me to build my physical game on. Thanks again.
What if I don't have access to a fancy gym? I want to train at home. I know many goalies who want to train at home, so I designed this program so you could do it at the gym or down in your basement with minimal equipment. You will need a good burst resistant stability ball, some bungees and some dumbbells that is all. If you are serious about taking your hockey to the next level then this is a small investment.
You are doing crunches thinking they will give you a strong core! This one is not your fault because there is so much misinformation out there regarding core training. The Stability manual of the Ultimate Goalie Training system will show you how to train your core so you can maximize your performance on the ice.

Ice hockey exercise program

2010-01-22T22:46:00.001-05:00

Simplified process of how to design a year-round training program
Should you or should you not test? The answer might surprise you. "The HTU Off-Ice Performance Training Course effectively covers all areas of off-ice team training. Kevin has done an excellent job of condensing a lot of information into a product that is easy to understand and implement. I have used many of the presented warm-up exercises with my athletes with success for years and added some of the novel exercises to my current programs. This course will be an excellent resource for hockey coaches of all levels that are looking to improve the quality and effectiveness of their off-ice program."
Hockey-specific Off-ice Training !

Ice hockey penalty

2009-11-02T18:48:00.001-05:00

MAJOR PENALTY: (Five minutes)
Called for fighting or when minor penalties are committed with deliberate attempt to injure. Major penalties for slashing, spearing, high-sticking, butt-ending and cross-checking carry automatic game misconducts.
MISCONDUCT: (Ten minutes)
Called for various forms of unsportsmanlike behavior or when player incurs a second major penalty in a game. This is a penalty against an individual and not a team penalty, so a substitute is permitted.
PENALTY SHOT:
A free shot, unopposed except for the goalie. The shot is awarded to a player if he is illegally impeded from behind on a breakaway, or if any player on the defending team throws his stick at a player trying to score. The team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond the penalty shot.
DELAYED PENALTY:
Whistle is delayed until the penalized team regains possession of the puck and is signaled by the referee with his arm raised overhead.

Proper fitting hockey skates

2009-09-07T16:52:00.000-04:00

Make sure to sharpen your skate blades after you purchase them. Most hockey stores will sharpen them for free when you purchase the skates. Get a regular cut on the blades if your just starting out. The size of the skates should be about 1 size smaller then your shoe size. It is a mistake to buy hockey skates that are to big. Your toes should just be able to wiggle and they should fit snuggly around your ankles. The skates should not be loose. When you lace up the skates there should be about 1 to 2 inches width across the laces. You can also get some extra padding to put under the tongue to help prevent skate bite.

Get paid to write sports articles

2009-09-05T17:50:00.001-04:00

If you like to write hockey articles or any kind of sports check out this site. They pay you to write articles. InfoBarrel is a Shared Revenue Social Media Community. We are creating a venue for writers, media producers and other content developers to publish their material and create an extra revenue source. Not only do we want to help content producers, but we also want to attract visitors from all around the world with information that provides value to their daily lives. Whether the value is created through a simple how-to tie a tie article, a salad recipe or instructions on how to make an amazing cocktail, it is our goal to be your information destination.

Hockey-specific Off-ice Training Product

2009-08-26T22:02:00.001-04:00

The First Ever Hockey-specific Off-ice Training Product. HTUs 'Off-Ice Performance Training Course' Provides Coaches Of All Age-groups With All The Information, Exercises, And Sample Programs They Need To Develop Their Own Team Off-ice Training Programs.
The process of designing effective programs is where things get tricky. Juggling the different types, intensities, sets, repetitions, and rest intervals of exercises might leave you confused and frustrated, but not anymore. This blueprint gives you all the tools and resources you need to develop your own off-ice programs, including:
4 ready-to-use dynamic warm-ups
4 weeks of core training programming
3 months of power training programming
3 months of speed and acceleration training programming
3 months of agility and quickness training programming
4 weeks of conditioning programming
A sample stretching routine
Explanation and rationale for all the sample programs
How to incorporate all training variables into one cohesive program
The best programs for athletes of all ages
A unique explanation on how to perform core training to maximize on-ice carryover

Ice hockey REFEREE

2009-07-13T00:43:00.002-04:00

REFEREE: HOOKING
Tugging motion with arms. Called for using the stick or blade to hook opponent.
Wears orange armbands. He supervises the game, calls the penalties, determines goals and handles face-offs at center ice to start the game, and after a goal is scored.
LINESMAN:
Two are used. They call offside, icing and handle all face-offs after the opening face-off. They do not call penalties, but can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called.

Hockey-specific Off-ice Training Product

2009-06-28T23:14:00.000-04:00

Former NHL referee-in-chief Bryan Lewis

2009-02-26T13:55:00.001-05:00

Former NHL referee-in-chief Bryan Lewis says fighting in hockey is on the way out.
Lewis was part of a Violence in Hockey Symposium staged Tuesday by the Middlesex-London Health Unit, a gathering of hockey officials, coaches, media members and a former professional player at the London Convention Centre.
"I believe the screw is finally being turned," Lewis said in an interview.
"I think it's slowly being removed from the game."

Hockey Helmets

2009-01-11T09:40:00.001-05:00

Helmets, at every level, are supposed to be securely strapped under the chin in order to keep it in place. The general rule of thumb is that no more than one or two fingers should fit between the strap and chin. However, only a fraction of players from high school to the NHL actually obey. And to make matters worse, unless it's an egregious violation with a chin strap down by a player's waist, the referees hardly enforce it.

Hockey-specific Off-ice Training Product

2008-12-04T10:02:00.000-05:00

The First Ever Hockey-specific Off-ice Training Product. HTUs 'Off-Ice Performance Training Course' Provides Coaches Of All Age-groups With All The Information, Exercises, And Sample Programs They Need To Develop Their Own Team Off-ice Training Programs.
"Whether you are a hockey coach at the youth, junior, or collegiate level, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Hockey Training U’s “Off-Ice Performance Training Course”. Kevin has put together a resource that can teach a coach with NO training experience how to put together off-ice training programs for their athletes. With everything from training progressions to nutritional discussions, it is truly a comprehensive one stop shop, with every thing you need to know to prepare your players to perform at their best.
The best part about this manual, is that Kevin speaks on a level that anyone can comprehend. High quality information has never been so easy to implement.
Off-ice training works. It’s no longer a fad. If you aren’t doing it, your team will be left behind. This blueprint will show you why you need an off-ice program and how to begin putting one together.The process of designing effective programs is where things get tricky. Juggling the different types, intensities, sets, repetitions, and rest intervals of exercises might leave you confused and frustrated, but not anymore. Off-ice Training Product!

Developing Hockey Players

2008-10-16T08:42:00.000-04:00

The World Leader In Developing Hockey Players Into Elite Competitors Using Proven Training Methods For Teaching The Secrets Of Scoring Bucket Loads Of Goals, Dominating The Blue Line And Becoming A Wall In The Net. Focused On-Ice Training. “Drills don't improve skills the RIGHT drills improve skills!”
Off-Ice Training for Skill-Specific Development “Every off-ice minute should have a purpose”
Mental Toughness And Sport Psychology Support Developing Hockey Players Book! “To ignore this aspect of hockey is the most critical mistake players, parents and coaches make.”
And, Nutritional Guidance for body and genetic specific requirements “Every body has different requirements, which is why nutrition needs to be targeted.”

USA Hockey announced

2008-08-22T11:07:00.000-04:00

The Twin Cities area is one of three potential sites for the 2011 world junior hockey championships, USA Hockey announced today.
Buffalo, N.Y., and Grand Forks, N.D., are the other finalists. USA Hockey officials will tour the three sites in September before making a decision.

USA hockey officials

2008-08-08T09:39:00.000-04:00

The registration season for the Officiating Program begins on August 1 and ends on May 9 of the following year. USA Hockey officials registration is valid for the entire season in any district or state in the United States. Membership in a State or Local Officials Association is not required for USA Hockey officials registration.
MINIMUM/MAXIMUM AGES

USA Hockey has no minimum or maximum ages for officials. It is highly recommended that, regardless of level attained, officials not work games of their own age classification or higher. Generally, officials can successfully officiate as young as age 10.
NEW OFFICIALS (NEVER BEEN REGISTERED)

All persons who have never officiated must register at Level 1 for the first season. The District Referee-in-Chief only, prior to registration, may make exceptions to this rule in extreme cases in which the applicant has extensive hockey officiating experience that would foster registration at Level 2. No first-time registered official may register above Level 2 for the first season.
CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Level 1 Complete Must make application
Must attain an open book exam score of 35/50
Must attend and complete an officiating seminar administrated by USA Hockey
Level 2 Complete Must make application
Must have been Level 1 or higher (Complete) within the last two seasons
Must attain an open book exam score of 85/100
Must attain a closed book exam score of 24/30
Must attend and complete an officiating seminar administrated by USA Hockey

Level 3 Complete Must make application
Must have been Level 2 or higher (Complete) last season
Must attain an open book exam score of 90/100
Must attain a closed book exam score of 40/50
Must attend and complete an officiating seminar administrated by USA Hockey

Level 4 Complete Must make application
Must have been Level 3 or 4 (Complete) last season
Must attain an open book exam score of 90/100
Must attain closed book exam score of 40/50
Must pass skating exam and attend / complete a level 4 specific USA Hockey seminar each season.
Must arrange to have an evaluation completed, while officiating a high level game, by a trained USA Hockey Evaluator at least once during the calendar year.

Mick McGeough

2008-06-27T23:05:00.000-04:00

Mick McGeough is hanging up his striped shirt, but he's keeping his skates on ice.
The veteran referee, who's retiring after 20 NHL seasons, has accepted a newly created mentoring position with the league's officials association.
McGeough, 51, will be back in the fold -- and back on the ice -- in September when NHL referees and linesmen convene for their annual training camp.
McGeough is blowing the whistle on his career after 1,083 regular-season games and 63 post-season contests, including the 2006 Stanley Cup final.
McGeough flirted with calling it quits after the 2004-05 lockout, but he didn't want to end his career on that note.

Thoughts on officials

2008-05-29T10:15:00.001-04:00

The one thing I always loved about sports was that they took a chaotic world and framed it in a set of finite, definable rules. Take away our officials, and the law is removed from the world of sports.
Anarchy would reign.
Hockey fights would deteriorate into riots. Goonery would run rampant in basketball. Baseball games would stretch into infinity with endless arguments over balls and strikes. Football would be unwatchable, a veritable orgy of violent destruction.

Muscle Building Program

2008-02-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

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Ice Skating Secrets

2008-01-01T11:38:00.001-05:00

You are about to discover a truly unique ebook entitled "Ice Skating Secrets.” This book will teach you step-by-step exactly how to begin ice skating like a pro in no time – even if you have never put on and laced up a pair of ice skates before!
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longest suspensions in National Hockey League

2007-12-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

The longest NHL suspensions:
30 games - Chris Simon, New York Islanders, Dec. 19, 2007, for slamming his skate into the foot of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu.
25 games - Jesse Boulerice, Philadelphia, Oct. 12, 2007, for cross-checking Vancouver centre Ryan Kesler across the face in a game on Oct. 10.
25 games - Chris Simon, New York Islanders, March 11, 2007, for the rest of the regular season (15 games) and playoffs for his two-handed stick attack to the face of New York Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg. Since Islanders played only five playoff games, suspension extended to first five games of 2007-08.
23 games - Marty McSorley, Boston, Feb. 2000, for knocking out Vancouver's Donald Brashear with a stick-swinging hit. On Nov. 7, 2000, the suspension was extended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to Feb. 20, 2001.
23 games - Gordie Dwyer, Tampa Bay, Sept. 19, 2000, for abusing officials and coming out of the penalty box to fight in an exhibition game against Washington.
21 games - Dale Hunter, Washington, May 1993, for a blindside check of Pierre Turgeon of the N.Y. Islanders after a goal in a playoff game.
20 games - Steve Downie, Philadelphia, Sept. 28, 2007, for leaving his feet to deliver a deliberate hit to the head Ottawa forward Dean McAmmond in a pre-season game Sept. 25.
20 games - Todd Bertuzzi, Vancouver, March 11, 2004, for his sucker-punch of Colorado forward Steve Moore on March 8. Bertuzzi's suspension was for 13 regular season games, plus playoffs. Bertuzzi was reinstated 17 months later, after the year-long lockout.
20 games - Tom Lysiak, Chicago, Oct. 1983, for intentionally tripping a linesman.
20 games - Brad May, Phoenix, Nov. 15, 2000, for hitting Columbus' Steve Heinze on the nose with his stick in a game on Nov. 11.
16 games - Eddie Shore, Boston, 1933, for hitting Toronto's Ace Bailey over the head with his stick.
15 games - (3 regular-season, 12 playoff games) Maurice Richard, Montreal, March 1955, for levelling linesman Cliff Thompson during a scuffle with Boston's Hal Laycoe.
15 games - Wilf Paiement, Colorado, Oct. 1978, for swinging his stick and hitting Detroit's Dennis Polonich in the face.
15 games - Dave Brown, Philadelphia, Nov. 1987, for cross-checking Tomas Sandstrom of the New York Rangers across the face and breaking his jaw.
15 games - Tony Granato, Los Angeles, Feb. 1994, for slashing Pittsburgh's Neil Wilkinson.
13 games (30 days) - Ted Green, Boston, Sept. 1969, for his stick-swinging incident with Wayne Maki of St. Louis. Green to serve after he was physically fit to play. Maki also received a 30-day suspension.
13 games - Dave Manson, Chicago, Dec. 1989, after coming back onto the ice to rejoin a fight against Toronto. Manson received three games for diving onto linesman Ron Finn and 10 for coming back onto the ice to rejoin a fight.
13 games - Andre Roy, Tampa Bay, for leaving the penalty box and physically abusing an official while trying to engage players in the New York Rangers penalty box in April, 2002.
12 games - Ron Hextall, Philadelphia, 1989, for attacking Montreal defenceman Chris Chelios in a playoff game.
12 games - David Shaw, N.Y. Rangers, Oct. 1988, for slashing Pittsburgh centre Mario Lemieux.
12 games - Matt Johnson, Los Angeles, Nov. 1998, for punching New York Rangers defenceman Jeff Beukeboom in the head.
12 games - Brantt Myhres, San Jose Sharks, Feb. 1999 for leaving the bench to attack Los Angeles' Mattias Norstrom.

amateur hockey league official

2007-12-14T21:22:00.001-05:00

An amateur hockey league official is calling a foul on criminal charges against a 65-year-old Columbiaville man accused of cross-checking a referee during a game last month.
"This has all been blown out of proportion," said Andrew Brown, a Fenton-based district chairman with the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association.
Brown said Tom Racosta should not face assault charges for allegedly hitting a 17-year-old ref with his stick with less than three minutes left in a game at Flint Iceland Arenas, 1160 S. Elms Road.
"There was no assault," said Brown, who held a league hearing on the matter last week.
Brown said Racosta admitted that he made contact with the ref. But the ref was able to finish the game and was not hurt, said Brown.
"He wasn't knocked to the ice," said Brown, adding the teen was able to attend school the next day.
After a 20-minute hearing that included statements from Racosta and the referee, Brown said a three-member panel suspended Racosta for 90 days and put him on probation for a year.
"He's the oldest fella in the league," said Brown.

Atom level Hockey Canada

2007-11-26T09:18:00.000-05:00

Hockey Canada has voted against a motion that would have allowed bodychecking in games with nine- and 10-year-old players.
For the past three years, Hockey Canada has tested bodychecking at the Atom level in Ontario and Saskatchewan. Starting with the 2008-2009 season, players must be at least 11 years old

amateur hockey player died

2007-10-27T20:58:00.001-04:00

An amateur hockey player died after a puck struck him in the chest and caused him to go into cardiac arrest late Thursday, officials said.
Nathan Crowell, 22, a University of New Haven student, was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital shortly after the incident during a league game at a Shelton hockey rink, police and team officials said.
His death remained under investigation Friday, but police said no foul play is suspected.

Hockey Specific Training Manual

2007-10-18T01:16:00.001-04:00

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Get in shape for hockey

2007-10-08T10:17:00.000-04:00

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Yankton Area Ice Association

2007-09-11T23:40:00.001-04:00

The Yankton Area Ice Association is looking for officials for the 2007-08 hockey season. Officials are paid for every game they officiate.
Officials must be 12 years of age or older, and must be certified. Level I certification training will be held Sept. 23 in Sioux Falls, Oct. 14 in Mitchell and Sept. 3 at Brookings. Level II certification training will be held Sept. 23 at Sioux Falls and Nov. 3 at Brookings.

Ice Hockey Playbook

2007-09-08T18:39:00.001-04:00

The Scholastic Ice Hockey Playbook: Strategies of a high school coach offers a unique approach at dissecting the game in a way coaches, players and fans will appreciate the fundamentals of hard work while understanding the vast array of systems and formations used in today's game.

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Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell

2007-09-04T21:09:00.001-04:00

Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell says he has been suspended indefinitely by the National Hockey League for his drunk-driving conviction last month.

Bell, who was working out with his new teammates at Lakeshore Lions Arena Tuesday, said he hoped to play in the NHL this season, but he would not challenge the NHL's ruling. He said the league told him a few days ago of the pending suspension.

NHL Officials

2007-08-10T23:57:00.001-04:00

NHL Officials have well-established forms of communicating with each other and many fans think it is a positively brilliant system that they have worked out. Every NHL Official uses hand signals to convey their thoughts while the action is in full flavor on the ice. These hand signals are but one part of the training that each Official must receive before they are considered totally Official for NHL purposes.

The Officials use their hand signals to convey that a player has exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct on the ice. They also have a treasure trove of signals that relay other infractions as well. If a NHL player decides to trip a member of the opposing team, then the referee or linesman would convey tripping in the hand signals by leaning forward and using their right hand in a chopping motion to the mid level of the calf area.

USA Hockey

2007-07-01T10:03:00.000-04:00

While hockey is not to the level that football is in the United States in terms of visibility and participation, it has made large gains over the past 25 years. There are more kids playing hockey today than ever before in our country; there are more rinks in the United States than ever before; and there are more junior programs, more college teams and more professional teams competing in our country than ever before. In addition, hockey is being played nationwide today. That was not the case 25 years ago.
USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States, has nearly 600,000 members nationwide. That number, which includes players, coaches and officials, was approximately 200,000 to start the 1990s.Ice hockey news and equipment.

Paul Stewart

2007-06-23T23:08:00.000-04:00

Paul Stewart, a one-time National Hockey League referee and former player at Penn, was named by the league.
"We are thrilled that Paul will join our League staff," said ECAC Hockey Commissioner Steve Hagwell. "His reputation and standing within the hockey community is incomparable, and his wealth of experience as a player and on-ice official at the highest levels of the sport provide tremendous leadership, knowledge and expertise that surely will enhance the League."

Pronger's reputation as a cheap-shot artist

2007-06-04T09:33:00.000-04:00

Pronger's reputation as a cheap-shot artist, a shameful choice for someone who has the talent to be so much better.
Any discussion of Pronger's career requires mention that he was the NHL's most valuable player and its best defenseman in the 2000-01 season. That he was a three-time Canadian Olympian and five-time All-Star.
It also demands mention that the suspension levied on Sunday by Colin Campbell, the NHL's chief disciplinarian, was the seventh of Pronger's career and second in two playoff rounds. He previously sat out one game for striking Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom in the head with his forearm in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals; that hit, like the blow to McAmmond, wasn't punished during the game but was judged illegal after video review.
As a repeat offender, Pronger might have been punished more severely had he done this during the season or early in the playoffs. He got off lightly only because Campbell, a former NHL player and coach, considers the Cup finals sacred and a one-game suspension to be harsher now than at any other time.

NHL has cleared Doan

2007-05-03T19:10:00.001-04:00

Doan says all he did was make a sarcastic remark to a teammate - Curtis Joseph - who was infuriated by a penalty call in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.
He says he told Joseph: "Four French referees in Montreal, Cuje, figure it out."

The NHL has cleared Doan but just last month linesman Michel Cormier testified in a court hearing that he was skating right next to Doan when he heard the slur.

referees Stanley Cup

2007-04-21T14:19:00.000-04:00

The referees are Mike Leggo, Wes McCauley, Dan O'Rourke and Kevin Pollock while the linesmen are Steve Barton, Jay Sharrers and Tim Nowak, who in 2003 became the first ECHL official to work in the Stanley Cup Finals.

officiating

2007-04-06T19:02:00.000-04:00

Hooking, holding and interference are once again in vogue as the season winds down and it appears no one is minding the store.
While officiating in general has been far from good this season, one can't put the full blame on the men in stripes. An evaluation here and there obviously isn't getting the job done. There needs to be far more scrutiny and maybe a better job in trying to recruit the best referees from amateur hockey.

New England Stars hockey game brawl

2007-04-02T21:12:00.000-04:00

A brawl that erupted at Danbury Arena's infamous Section 102 during a New England Stars hockey game Saturday night resulted in five arrests for breach of peace, three injured Danbury police officers, one 375-pound fan being subdued
The Stars' head coach, Stephan Seeger said the cause of the brawl could be directly attributable to the behavior of the Pounders' bench.
"They were pointing their sticks at the fans, they were trying to get up into the crowd,'' Seeger said. "One of their players left the ice and said he wouldn't play anymore.'' Amazing they didn't blame it on the officials.

hockey coach who is accused of assaulting a parent

2007-03-16T11:44:00.000-04:00

A local youth hockey coach who is accused of assaulting the father of an opposing player has filed a civil lawsuit against hockey league officials who banned him from all of his son’s practices and games.
The coach, Frank Ruocco of Cheshire, also is seeking monetary damages and punitive damages for "malicious" and "libelous" statements allegedly made about him by league representatives.

hockey officials

2007-03-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

Realizing there isn’t much information on how hockey officials deal with such pressures, a group of Canadian researchers has set out to study the stress faced by the people in the stripes.
We work with a lot with athletes, getting them ready to perform, but what is it about the official and how do they get ready?” asks Kim Dorsch, an associate professor in the faculty of kinesiology at the University of Regina and one of the researchers working on the study.
“They have to be able to deal with the same things an athlete does and perhaps even more with respect to working in an often hostile environment
Being the adjudicator of fact in a game as intense as hockey is seldom a picnic.
Aside from the wisecracks and jibes officials routinely face, there is the threat that a verbal exchange over a call could turn physical.
“The stress you are going to face is coming from the stands, coming from coaches and coming from players,” says Jeremy Shaw, a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League referee who is president of the Regina Hockey Officials Association.
“Often times the stress can border on unhealthy, hostile work environments because people are yelling and screaming at you.”

Southern California hockey goalie

2007-02-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

A University of Southern California hockey goalie put on a show, but it had nothing to do with stopping shots.
Mickey Meyer rode his stick like a horse, dropped his bulky pants, mooned the crowd and slapped his buttocks during a game against Brigham Young University, police said. He was ejected and ticketed for lewdness, a misdemeanor, after an officer who was working security at the rink said he witnessed the scene Saturday.
"I had my fill of these refs," Meyer said on an Internet broadcast of the game, according to The Herald-Journal of Logan. Meyer's antics occurred while play was stopped and referees were trying to sort out penalties in the third period of a consolation game in the ACHA West Regional tournament at Eccles Ice Center.
The junior from Clinton, N.Y., was "riding his hockey stick like a horse and slapping his butt," North Park Officer Mike Stauffer said in a report. After pulling down his pants, Meyer slapped his bare bottom several times, Stauffer said.

NHL Officials Association message board

2007-02-15T16:03:00.000-05:00

Hockey officials always lace up in white, but not the same white as the players. That's because the players' laces, whether waxed or unwaxed, are accented by dark ticking stripes, but the officials' laces are ticking-free -- they're pure white. Or at least that's the idea -- but linesman Jean Morin, responding to a Uni Watch query on the NHL Officials Association message board, reports that "almost every guy on our staff" wears the ticking-stitched laces. Uni Watch likes this, since the dark ticking creates a zebra-stripe effect that's perfect for the officials.
Then there's Paul Coffey, who liked his skates laced as tightly as possible, so he wore two laces on each skate -- one running from the bottom of the skate to the midpoint, and the other from the midpoint to the top. The resulting fit was so tight that the training staff would literally have to cut the laces off of him after each game.

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff

2007-01-23T16:13:00.000-05:00

Some 18 months after the work stoppage, the league continues to comb through the rule book and investigate radical changes. Scoring is down from 6.1 goals per game last season to 5.8 this year. Penalties have decreased 13 percent. Larger nets remain a possibility, but Campbell insisted the bigger issue was scouring the effects of all rules.
"We still have to refine our game and keep changing whether we think it's perfect or not," Campbell said. "We have to be ready to adapt. I don't know if we need a bigger net or not. It was my way of saying that we have to keep looking at everything no matter how crazy those ideas might be."
Teams have adjusted to the new rules and tailored their defensive strategies. Last week, Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff suggested officials were swallowing their whistles.

National Hockey League franchise

2007-01-03T06:48:00.000-05:00

Kansas City officials, eager to find an anchor tenant for a new arena, will get their first opportunity to lure the Penguins there today.
Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, who lead the franchise's ownership group, and other members of the team's front office accepted an invitation to travel to Kansas City and meet with representatives of the city and the Sprint Center, a $276 million multipurpose venue scheduled to open this fall.
The Penguins' lease at Mellon Arena expires in June, and they have attracted expressions of interest from cities across North America that are in the market for a National Hockey League franchise. This will be the first meeting between Penguins executives and people from one of those cities.

Ice hockey referees

2006-11-30T11:52:00.000-05:00

2 easy rules that will make life at the rink a little more pleasant for everyone:
1. Leave the referees alone
I can think of no job that is more thankless than that of a hockey referee.
An official can make the correct call 99 times out of 100 and yet be crucified for the one call they might miss. It’s an impossible standard to uphold.
The vast majority of officials do a great job ensuring the games are played fairly and safely. What more can we as fans ask of them?
The one thing the referees certainly don’t need are fans up in the stands screaming their opinions concerning how the game should be officiated.
When a coach screams at a referee, it completely undermines that official’s authority. The kids see their coach has no respect for the officiating crew and come to the logical conclusion that they don’t need to listen to those in charge, either, which is precisely when things get out of hand.
It’s good to be passionate, but it’s more important to think about the effect your actions are going to have on those you hold a great deal of influence over.
2. Remember that you are watching kids play a game
It never ceases to amaze me how caught up in the action parents can get while watching their children play sports.
Some parents live and die with every shift their child takes, and there is nothing wrong with that. I believe parents should support their kids in every way possible.

KANSAS CITY professional hockey team.

2006-11-19T20:30:00.000-05:00

Once construction is completed the Sprint Center could house a professional hockey team.
William Del Biaggio, a California businessman, said he plans to acquire a team and move it to Kansas City once the Sprint Center is completed.
Though the plan is still in its infancy, those surrounding the deal believe Kansas City could support such a team

Craig MacTavish and Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley

2006-11-05T20:44:00.000-05:00

Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish and Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley each were fined $10,000 by the NHL on Saturday for criticizing officials.
On Friday night, MacTavish snapped after referee Mick McGeough called off Ales Hemsky's goal with only seconds left in the third period. McGeough blew the whistle a moment before during a faceoff, convinced that Shawn Horcoff made a glove pass off the draw. It was something video replays showed didn't occur.
"I know he is a veteran official and at times I have found his antics humorous, but if this is the product of that, there is a problem," MacTavish said after the game. "It was a ridiculous call."

USA Hockey officiating seminar

2006-11-01T17:47:00.000-05:00

Hockey officials who have not attended a mandatory USA Hockey officiating seminar this year are reminded that their 2005-06 certification cards will expire Nov. 30.

Make a back yard ice rink

2006-10-13T14:40:00.000-04:00

Don't depend on snow for a border or a base, if you live in climates that often see mild temperatures. (Like where I live, Mt. Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada.) It will probably melt during one of those mild spells.
Cut up a piece of cardboard into 1 inch squares to use when stapling your plastic to the wooden frame. The cardboard squares will help prevent easily tearing the plastic, if you put the cardboard on the plastic where you want to staple and then staple through the cardboard.
Beware of wet slushy snow. If you leave it on your rink too long and the temperature drops, your rink could be ruined for the rest of the skating season.
When resurfacing, try NOT using a spray nozzle. Instead let the water "flow" out of the end of the hose completely unrestricted as you move it from one side of your rink to the other. Make sure the entire rink surface gets wet. I usually keep the end of the hose on the ice by picking up the hose about 3 to 4 feet from the end. I like the smooth surface this gives me and it is really help full when it is really cold. A spray nozzle can "rough up" areas previously sprayed that are partially frozen, resulting in a rough surface.
If you decide to make your own plastic liner and you have to join the plastic together, I would recommend doing it inside. We have a local gymnasium that will allow people to do this. Also, when putting the plastic in place, choose a day that isn't windy.How to make a back yard ice rink

NHL fighting penalties declined

2006-10-01T20:54:00.000-04:00

Another reason why carrying an enforcer may not be necessary in the "new" NHL: Sports Illustrated noted that fighting penalties declined by 41 percent last season from 2003-04. The number of fights dropped from 789 to 466. Mike Richards and Derian Hatcher will drop the gloves for the Flyers. No one wants to see a skill kid like Richards fight, but he is capable of doing so. ... The most exciting player in the NHL this season will again be Alexander Ovechkin, followed by Malkin and then Sidney Crosby Ottawa's Bryan Murray, older brother of Terry, begins the season having coached 1,139 games, more than any other active coach.

Hockey Hall of Fame writer Michael Farber lists

2006-08-03T18:54:00.000-04:00

Here's the list, put together by Hockey Hall of Fame writer Michael Farber:
1. Steve Smith firing the puck off Grant Fuhr into his own net in the 1986 playoffs against hated rival Calgary, ultimately denying the Edmonton Oilers five straight Stanley Cups.
2. John Spano "buying" the New York Islanders in 1997 for $168 million US. When it was revealed that the Dallas businessman had no money, he received jail time, while the league got a hard lesson in due diligence.
3. Marty McSorley and Todd Bertuzzi, for their cheap shots heard around the hockey world.
4. Bob Clarke's bizarre rant against cancer-stricken Philadelphia Flyers coach Roger Neilson in 2001.
5. The cancellation of the 2004-05 season.
6. Patrick Roy's hotdog save on Steve Yzerman in the 2002 playoffs. The Avalanche stopper held up the puck to taunt the Red Wings' star, only to see it pop out of his mitt and into the net. Colorado lost the game and the series to the eventual Cup champs.
7. The Boston Garden blackout in the 1988 Cup final. With Bruins fans fumbling their way home in the dark, the game was moved to Edmonton where the Oilers won the Cup.
8. Mel Bridgman got his wires crossed and made two ineligible selections at the 1992 expansion draft, setting the Ottawa Senators on a rocky road to respectability.
9. Angry at losing a 1988 playoff game, Jim Schoenfeld invited referee Don Koharski to "have another doughnut" on national TV. When Schoeny tacked "you fat pig" on the end of the sentence, the NHL suspended the coach. The Devils went to court to reinstate him, prompting the officials to stage a one-day strike.
10. With victory over the Montreal Canadiens in sight in the '79 playoffs, Don Cherry lost track of his Bruins bench. The too-many-men penalty allowed the Habs back in and they went all the way to a fourth championship.

Columbus franchise USHL

2006-06-27T19:30:00.000-04:00

The Columbus franchise of the United States Hockey League will be called the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets when they take the ice for the first time during the 2006-07 season
The USHL, which is in its 27th year as the country's premier development league, holds the highest classification of U.S. junior hockey with an emphasis on preparing players for the NCAA Division I college ranks and the NHL. Each year, the league sends over 100 players to Division I colleges on hockey scholarships and has 15 players selected in the NHL Entry Draft on average. There were nine players selected in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, including two first round picks, the No. 8 overall pick Kyle Okposo (Des Moines), who was selected by the New York Islanders and the No. 17 overall pick Trevor Lewis (Des Moines), who was selected by the Los Angeles Kings.
All players must be 20 years of age or under before the current season begins. The USHL averages more than one million in attendance each season with teams playing a 60-game regular season schedule. Among USHL alumni currently playing in the NHL are Blue Jackets defensemen Rostislav Klesla (Sioux City) and Duvie Westcott (Omaha). For more information on the USHL, visit www.ushl.com.

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson

2006-06-04T22:23:00.000-04:00

As the Edmonton Oilers - the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference - prepare to take to the ice tomorrow for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, it's safe to say that the new NHL has been a success. With one exception.
Did the salary cap make the Oilers more competitive? It would be hard to argue that during the regular season. We did finish eighth in the conference, after all, and scraped into the playoffs by the skin of our teeth. But this team has been hugely competitive during the playoffs, thanks in large part to the play of one of our big acquisitions at the trade deadline, goaltender Dwayne Roloson.
The NHL has, to its credit, largely followed through on its crackdown against holding, hacking and otherwise disrupting the flow of play. There's some fine tuning that needs to be done, but on the whole, the game has far less of the clutch-and-grab in it than it did before the lockout. The result has been a faster-paced, more exciting brand of hockey. It's been a pleasant change.

Central Massachusetts Hockey Officials Association

2006-05-21T11:07:00.000-04:00

The Central Massachusetts Hockey Officials Association has suspended one of its own for allegedly stealing at least $25,000 from the group's scholarship fund.
Officials said Joseph Jacobs was removed as a member in good standing following this past season. Jacobs was the longtime assigner of referees for the association.
The Telegram and Gazette reports that Jacobs since has paid back the money.
According to sources, money first was discovered missing last November at the start of the hockey season. The sources said Jacobs was given a deadline to pay back the cash.
Association secretary Gerry O'Neill has declined to discuss details of the allegations, or to provide evidence that Jacobs has paid back the money.
O'Neill also said the scholarship fund, which is financed in part by the $75 annual dues from its approximately 200 member referees, never stopped funding scholarships.

Hockey East and ECACHL supervisors of officials

2006-05-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

The new Hockey East and ECACHL supervisors of officials look to be announced by early summer
The JODP has a virtual monopoly over USA Hockey-sanctioned junior-level leagues, and has agreements with several professional leagues to allow the program's better officials to work those games.
"Please don't assume who we would use or who we would not use if we took over any league," added Brand.
Brand also refuted claims that the JODP staff was substantially younger than officials currently working college games, or that the program's hiring practices skew toward non-Americans, both of which would potentially be key issues.
He noted that "the average age of our full-time staff is 24.6 years old," and that "we have one official under the age of 21." He also affirmed the JODP's commitment to qualified American referees.

NHL rapup and suprises

2006-04-18T09:28:00.000-04:00

BIGGEST SURPRISES
Shootouts get a shout-out.
Public and players gradually won over by the idea of one team leaving the rink a guaranteed winner every night. But bonus points are a bone of contention.
JOE THORNTON TRADE
Boston gives up its star and kisses the playoffs goodbye; Thornton lights up San Jose and makes a charge at the Art Ross Trophy -- he was up three points heading into last night's finale vs. the Kings.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
A 36-point jump from 2003-04 to contend for Presidents' Trophy. The St. Louis Blues drop 35, ending their string of 25 consecutive years in the playoffs.
FAITH RESTORED
GM Glen Sather gets it right and the Rangers end a seven-year playoff drought. The Sabres stick with Team Regier/Ruff and also clear 100 points.
FAITH NO MORE
GMs Mike O'Connell and Mike Milbury finally walk the plank in Boston and Long Island, respectively. Will Craig Patrick follow in Pittsburgh?
WHAT'S THE FUSS?
Dealing for the first time with a salary cap, savvy GMs made $39 million US work and still made the right player moves, with an eye to a higher ceiling in 2006-07.
GAMBLING SCANDAL
Gretzky and the NHL were swept up in the speculation, but only Phoenix assistant coach Rick Tocchet is under the microscope.
NHLPA REVOLT
Some sore losers in the union have yet to sway the majority that Ted Saskin should be turfed. After a year of CBA rhetoric, the public couldn't care less.
TODD BERTUZZI
The so-called scourge of hockey didn't raise hell, but didn't do much of anything to help Team Canada or the Canucks.
OVERNIGHT SUCCESSES
- Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks. The first 50-goal Canadian since Joe Sakic in 2001 and just the fourth in nine years, with thanks to Thornton.
- Marc Savard, Atlanta Thrashers. More than 30 points better than his career-high 65 with Calgary.
- Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators. Attention Jacques Martin: He's an everyday player
- Brian Gionta, New Jersey Devils. Picks up the Munchkin scoring baton from Martin St. Louis.
- Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens. Possibly the best NHL goalie to come out of St. Martin D'Heres, France.
- Tom Renney, New York Rangers. Please come back to Vancouver, all is forgiven

ice hockey's worldwide popularity

2006-04-01T11:26:00.000-05:00

ice hockey's worldwide popularity is concentrated primarily in locales cold enough for natural, long-term seasonal ice cover. It is one of the four major North American professional sports, represented by the National Hockey League (NHL) at the highest level. It is the official national winter sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity (lacrosse is Canada's national summer sport). Tellingly, six of the thirty NHL franchises are based in Canada, which has only a combined two teams in the three other professional sports. Despite Canada having only about one-tenth of the population of the United States, Canadians currently outnumber Americans in the league by a ratio of almost three to one. Nevertheless, the sport is comparably popular in certain regions of the United States, notably the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and Alaska.
While most of the countries mentioned above have their own professional ice hockey league, the NHL is considered the world's premier professional ice hockey league and attracts almost all of the world's elite players. While Canadians and Americans rank first and second, respectively, in NHL representation, about thirty percent of the league's players are non-North Americans. The other five major hockey powers occupy the third through seventh ranks of NHL representation.

Columbus is becoming one of the premier hockey cities

2006-03-22T19:54:00.000-05:00

Columbus' image as a professional sports town should also get a boost from coverage given the draft by national media, she said.
The NHL ended weeks of speculation late Tuesday when it disclosed the Columbus Blue Jackets will host the 2007 draft.
Blue Jackets officials expect more than 10,000 fans and 500 media members to attend the June 23 event at Nationwide Arena. They will watch as NHL general managers and coaches select the world's top young hockey players for their teams.
"To have the draft here," said Blue Jackets President and GM Doug MacLean, "is a testament to the tremendous support of our fans who have proven without a shadow of a doubt that Columbus is becoming one of the premier hockey cities in the world."
It will be the first time the Blue Jackets have hosted the draft. The expansion team played its first NHL season in 2000.
The 2006 draft will be held at General Motors Place in Vancouver. Last year's draft was conducted in Ottawa.

NHL hockey news Bernie "Boom Boom'' Geoffrion

2006-03-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

COMEBACKS
Dallas earned its NHL-best ninth win when trailing after 40 minutes as Mike Modano scored two third-period goals to give the Stars a 2-1 victory at Vancouver on Saturday night.
STREAK ENDED
New Jersey's Martin Brodeur had won six in a row in Pittsburgh since Nov. 27, 2001, only to be pulled in the second period Saturday after allowing six goals on 16 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Penguins. It was Brodeur's 26th consecutive start.
SHUT DOWN
Mathieu Garon made 31 saves and stopped all three attempts in the shootout to lift Los Angeles to a 2-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday night. Garon earned his sixth win in seven decisions and 27th of the season - the most for a Kings goalie since Felix Potvin posted 31 in the 2001-02 season.
STEVE OF OLD
Steve Yzerman turned back the clock Saturday for his first two-goal game since Feb. 11, 2004 as Detroit defeated Chicago 6-4. The 40-year-old Red Wings captain is in his 23rd NHL season.
MOVING UP
Rob Niedermayer scored his first two goals since Dec. 18 and Teemu Selanne added his team-leading 28th goal as Anaheim pulled within two points of Edmonton for the final playoff spot in the West with a 5-3 win over Phoenix on Saturday.
SPEAKING
"Today is a very sad day across the hockey world and here in Atlanta. Boom Boom was an incredible man who meant a great deal to me, and I'm fortunate to have called him a friend and a mentor.'' - Thrashers coach Bob Hartley following the death of Montreal Canadiens great Bernie "Boom Boom'' Geoffrion on Saturday.
FAREWELL
Bernie "Boom Boom'' Geoffrion, the hockey Hall of Famer credited with inventing the slap shot, died Saturday before his No. 5 jersey was retired by the Montreal Canadiens in a pre-game ceremony. Geoffrion, who helped lead Montreal to six Stanley Cups in the 1950s and early '60s, died after a brief battle with stomach cancer. He was 75. The Canadiens went on to beat the New York Rangers, 1-0.
STREAKING
Mike Grier's goal with 4.6 seconds remaining in regulation lifted Buffalo to a 6-5 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday - the Sabres' fifth straight win and 12th in 15 games. Buffalo, which also had a 15-1-1 stretch earlier in the season, has climbed within two points of Northeast Division-leading Ottawa.
SCARY
San Jose enforcer Scott Parker and Phoenix's Brendan Witt attempted to scale the barrier dividing the benches during the second period of the Sharks' 3-2 overtime win over the Coyotes on Saturday. Neither Parker nor Witt, making his Nashville debut after a trade with Washington, managed to land any big punches. Both were ejected.
STRONG AFTER THREE
The Columbus Blue Jackets, who have only 26 wins, improved to 12-0-2 in overtime - the best record in the NHL - with a 4-3 win over Edmonton on Saturday.

Goaltenders trade possibilities

2006-03-07T22:52:00.000-05:00

Goaltenders
The question in Ottawa is Dominik Hasek's health. Ray Emery has played well in his absence, but do the Senators want to take him into the playoffs? We don't think so. Vancouver is in the same boat with Alex Auld, and Edmonton clearly has little confidence in its any of its goaltenders.
The prime targets are the Wild's Dwayne Roloson and Curtis Joseph of the Coyotes. If either is available in your pool, grab them on speculation right away. Their pool value will skyrocket in a starting role on a new team.
Other trade possibilities include Anaheim shipping off J.S. Giguere and Eddie Belfour flying the coop in Toronto. Marc Denis' days are numbered in Columbus and Jose Theodore is hair today, gone tomorrow in Montreal.

fighting is part of what makes a hockey game

2006-02-27T09:53:00.000-05:00

From this fan's perspective, fighting is part of what makes a hockey game such a thrilling event to watch. More importantly, any hockey veteran will tell you that fighting is central to the sport.
Dartmouth standouts Tanner Glass '07 and Grant Lewis '07 explain that fighting is ultimately about accountability on the ice. "It allows the players to police the game themselves," Glass said. "A chippy player skating around throwing sticks and elbows will get the crap beat out of him, so it creates consequences for stupid play."
I've heard plenty of people in the stands complain about hockey games getting "ruined" by fights, but Glass and Lewis help put its necessity in perspective. Hockey is a vigilante sport where the players keep each other accountable for every move on the ice. Unlike football or basketball where that burden lies on the referee, the players are ultimately responsible for maintaining the balance.
Considering our safety-conscious culture, I imagine plenty would disagree with the fact that hockey needs fighting. Personally, I love the idea that hockey exists as a renegade sport, resisting the forces that would like to see players clean up their image and place more importance on a good haircut than missing teeth.

4-on-4 Pro/College League NHL and AHL players

2006-02-20T22:31:00.000-05:00

The Minnesota 4-on-4 Pro/College League has already received several commitments from NHL and AHL players for the 2006 season.
Last year, the league featured NHL Stars Ryan Malone of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Duvie Wescott of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Brandon Bochenski of the Ottawa Senators. Combine that with more than 25 NHL draft picks and you can see why so many top professional players have already committed for the upcoming season.
The league will be at West. St. Paul Arena from June 19 through July 27. Game times are 6 and 7:45 p.m.
“This year the format is going to change slightly,” said Ray Fuerst, owner and league president. “We are going to have eight teams with only 12 players per team. The season will be longer, and we have selected team captains to pick the players. The bottom line is that this league is about the players. They know who the top guys are so why not have them help select the players and teams. Every player I’ve talked to tells me how good their team is going to be. They want the best players on their team. It may be summer hockey, but these guys are extremely competitive.”
Fuerst gives a great deal of credit to Scott Steffen co-owner and head of player development for drawing so many of the elite players into the league.
“Last year approximately 70 percent of the players had trained with Scott at some point in their hockey training programs,” he said.
“Scott called me up last spring and told me that I needed to get in the league,” said St. Cloud State forward Billy Hengen. “He said the league was going to draw several of the top professionals and college players. I made a few calls and I think we ended up having six current and four former St. Cloud players. With the quality of talent last year the league should be unbelievable this year.”
Along with development, player exposure continues to be a major focus for the league. This year, the league is sending information to all NHL and AHL organizations. They are trying to draw the best players and encouraging scouts to come check out the talented players.

Penalties with funny pictures

2006-01-19T14:16:00.000-05:00

15 people killed at ice rink

2006-01-05T12:13:00.000-05:00

BAD REICHENHALL, Germany (Reuters) - All but three of the 15 people killed when the roof of an ice rink in southern Germany collapsed were children aged between nine and 16, police said on Thursday.
Forensic experts from the nearby Austrian city of Salzburg who examined the corpses said all the victims were killed instantly by falling debris and none would have been saved if rescue workers had reached them faster.
"All 15 were dead immediately," Edith Tutsch-Bauer, head of forensic medicine in Salzburg, told Reuters. "They were all struck dead by the falling wreckage."
Emergency services recovered a 15th body on Thursday, identified by chief fire officer Rudi Zeif as that of a 40-year-old woman believed to be the last victim.
Two other women were also killed when the roof of the 34-year-old ice rink collapsed on Monday amid heavy snow.
"All those missing have now been recovered," Zeif said.
Authorities said they would not cancel their catastrophe alert until all the rubble had been cleared.
"The search will continue until it is certain there are no other victims under the rubble who have not been reported as missing," a police statement said.

How To Buy A Hockey Stick

2005-12-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

How To Buy A Hockey Stick
The hockey stick is an extension of the hockey player's arm. This means the stick has to fit properly, and the length, curve and lie angle need to match both your size and body type as well as the type of game you play. Shaft types The shaft you choose is largely a matter of personal choice. Shafts come in many different materials for sticks with different weights and durability's.

Goaltending in hockey

2005-12-07T12:57:00.001-05:00

Another important attribute for a goaltender to possess, is the ability to move forward and backward. The steps involved with both these maneuvers are quite similar to the ones discussed above with only slight differences. You may also hear people refer to this skill as "telescoping" because as you do with a camera lens, you are moving in and out to get a better look at the puck.

Goaltending in hockey

2005-12-07T12:57:00.000-05:00

Better Hockey Skate Better

2005-12-06T14:41:00.000-05:00

BetterHockey. is about helping you reach your full potential in hockey and in life. Our goal is to provide you with material which will educate, motivate and inspire you. It doesn't matter if you are a parent of a 4 year old learn to skate player, a house pee wee player, Division I bound college player, a female player, an adult non check player, a mites coach, a hockey parent or just a hockey enthusiast. Check in with us often for new articles, new features, new drills, and new interviews all designed for you. As you check in with us you will find experts in each area of hockey

Kid's Snowboard Gear

2005-12-01T14:36:00.000-05:00

Liquid Hot Rod Kids Package The House - Kid's Snowboard Gear
Young riders should be on what works best for the youth. Adult boards are heavy and usually too stiff for a light body rider to flex and get to respond properly. the Liquid Hot Rod is a great choice for the up and coming rider. It has a softer overall flex making learning quick and painless; for both rider and parent.

Ice hockey fights

2005-11-24T13:22:00.000-05:00

That's it exactly - fighting on the ice is okay, fighting off the ice isn't. Like it or not, fighting's part of hockey. I find it interesting how so many sportswriters and commentators, who rarely pay any attention to hockey, have become experts on what penalties should have been handed down.
In fact, seeing hockey on every news outlet (not just sports-related outlets) every night and day all week is rather ironic. For years people have called for an end to fighting in hockey, based at least partially on the idea that making the sport less violent will make the sport more appetizing to the casual fan and thus result in more full-time fans coming in. This presumes, of course, that people don't actually like to see the violent aspect of professional hockey

Stretching for skating

2005-11-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

Every hockey player's pre-game routine should include warm-up exercises. In addition to skill exercises and light drills, stretching should be part of a good warm-up. When executed correctly, stretching helps reduce the risk of injury and increases flexibility. The following stretching program is designed for hockey players who often are subjected to wet, cramped locker rooms where stretching from a position on the floor is difficult. These group stretches should be done both before and after activity.

Blue Jackets trade Wright

2005-11-15T20:36:00.000-05:00

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired six-time All-Star center Sergei Fedorov and a fifth round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for center Tyler Wright and defenseman Francois Beauchemin, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today.
WHAT A STUPID STUPID TRADE.

Hockey Violence

2005-11-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

There's no law that specifically exempts athletes from being prosecuted for assaults that occur during competition, so it's theoretically possible that a prosecutor could file charges every time a winger gets cross-checked or sucker punched. However, there's a gentleman's agreement of sorts that exists between professional sports leagues and the authorities: As long as the NHL polices itself, and metes out fines and suspensions to offenders, prosecutors generally leave it alone
Both sides prefer it that way: the NHL because it doesn't want the courts interfering with its business, and prosecutors because guilty verdicts would be few and far between. "Implied consent" is an accepted defense against assault charges, and it's clear that NHL players realize that serious roughhousing is part of their job. Many simple assault cases also depend on the willingness of victims to press charges, and few if any pro hockey players want to carry their on-ice feuds into the courts.

Snowboarding

2005-11-04T00:30:00.000-05:00

Fusion was founded on the idea that if you build a great product and sell it at a reasonable price, people will buy it. The new Fusion boards sell for a fraction of what other comparable boards are selling for. they are able to do that by cutting out all the BS that you end up paying for with with other brands like full page ads in all the magazines and the salaries of pro riders that you haven't even heard of.

Blue Jackets win over Nashville

2005-10-27T10:10:00.000-04:00

Adam Foote scored a short-handed goal in overtime to hand the Predators their first loss of the season, 3-2 in front of 15,110 at Nationwide Arena on Wednesday night.

EBooks-Building Wealth-Sports-Marketing-Much More: Starting a franchise

2005-10-21T09:12:00.000-04:00

Fitting hockey skates

2005-10-20T11:06:00.000-04:00

Most skates are manufactured with a combination of leather and synthetic materials for durability, performance, and comfort. The exact mixture of these components, with names like Kevlar® and graphite, depends on the quality of the skate and the cost.
Hard plastic boots offer better protection against pucks and provide more support for your ankles
Goalie skates are similar in construction to regular hockey skates but are designed differently with a wider blade and lower boot with more ankle and foot protection

Women in Hockey

2005-10-20T01:31:00.000-04:00

The history of ice hockey is one of the most contested in all of sports. The city of Montréal had been traditionally credited with being the birthplace of hockey (although more recent research indicates , but early paintings contest this claim; a 16th century Dutch painting shows a number of townsfolk playing a hockey-like game on a frozen canal. The origin of ice hockey is unknown, however, ice hockey probably evolved from the game of field hockey that has been played in Northern Europe for centuries.The chief difference between women's and men's ice hockey is that body checking is not allowed in women's ice hockey. After the 1990 Women's World Championship, body checking was eliminated because women in many countries do not have the size and mass seen in North American players

NHL penalties

2005-10-17T13:11:00.000-04:00

The league's director of hockey operations says it will take time for players to adapt to a crackdown on hooking, holding and other fouls that the NHL hopes will bring more offense and excitement to the sport.

"It's like we expected," Campbell said Monday. "You have a culture that's been ingrained for years.

"We don't know when it started, but the acceptance of so much hooking and holding will take a while to get out of the psyche. Even if they're told beforehand, people still tend to do it."
In my opinion there are way to many calls being made and its vry frustrating to watch a game when all the little shit is called.

Learn Snowboarding

2005-10-14T20:58:00.000-04:00

There is an amazing new ebook called "Snowboarding for Beginners". It covers nearly everything you need to know about learning how to snowboard ... as soon as you HIT THE SNOW!
Imagine gliding smoothly down the slope of a silent snow-covered mountain top ... or streaking toward a jump with a curtain of loose powder trailing behind you. Can you imagine how great you'll feel as you confidently carve a trail down the steepest slope?
Wouldn't it be great to know you'll be up and snowboarding all day instead of sitting on your butt in the snow, watching everyone snowboard past you? How would it make you feel to make that jump without falling in a heap... and everyone watching?

Blue Jackets Trade Sanderson

2005-10-10T10:01:00.000-04:00

The Blue Jackets have acquired D Cale Hulse, F Jason Chimera and F Mike Rupp from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for F Geoff Sanderson and F Tim Jackman, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today.I think they should have traded Merchont instead.

Violence in Ice Hockey

2005-10-07T15:17:00.000-04:00

The culture of violence that's so much a part of the NHL, though, will continue. It's too inbred in the league to stop without some drastic action. Maybe someone will have to pay the ultimate penalty for it to stop. Maybe someone has to die. And with players now bigger, stronger, faster and more reckless than ever, maybe someone will.

College Game used Jerseys

2005-10-04T16:07:00.000-04:00

Game used college jerseys

Ice Rinks

2005-09-29T14:40:00.000-04:00

ICEMAT™ provided the Tampa Bay Lightning with one of the best ice surfaces in the NHL, according toThe Hockey News

Stoll"s Report

2005-09-28T08:01:00.000-04:00

Stoll's conclusions are the result of a 17-year study during which 72,000 athletes filled out questionnaires designed to measure their moral reasoning abilities.
"The environment of athletics has not been supportive of teaching and modeling moral knowing, moral valuing and moral action," Stoll's 2004 study found, in part because there are few consequences for immoral behavior in sport.
Stoll operates the Center for Ethical Theory and Honor in Competitive Sports. The center contains the results of tens of thousands of Hahm-Beller Values Choice Inventory tests, developed by Stoll and her colleagues. It measures athletes ranging from junior high to college sports on their moral reasoning.

Adam Foote Blue Jackets

2005-09-21T13:49:00.000-04:00

Most notable was veteran Adam Foote, a member of both of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup championship teams. Big, strong, and mean, Foote commands plenty of respect in front of his net and should log lots of minutes, which will be a comfort to the goaltenders. Foote's value is in preventing goals, not scoring them, but he still posted good offensive numbers in 2003-04 with the Avalanche, scoring eight goals and 22 assists in 73 games. If anyone doubted how serious the Blue Jackets were about contending this season, signing Foote was proof positive that GM Doug MacLean is deadly serious about winning.

Hockey Fighting

2005-09-18T15:55:00.000-04:00

Are they dancing or is this a fight like the linemen did a good job of tieing up there arms.

Fitting Hockey Skates

2005-09-10T12:40:00.000-04:00

Hockey skates are comprised of two basic parts: the boot and the blade.
Boot
Most skates are manufactured with a combination of leather and synthetic materials for durability, performance, and comfort. The exact mixture of these components, with names like Kevlar® and graphite, depends on the quality of the skate and the cost.
Hard plastic boots offer better protection against pucks and provide more support for your ankles
Goalie skates are similar in construction to regular hockey skates but are designed differently with a wider blade and lower boot with more ankle and foot protection
Blade
Skate blades are made of steel and have a concave (hollowed out) shape
An important factor in performance is blade radius, or the amount of the skate blade that is actually in contact with the ice
The radius is measured by placing the blades together, bottom to bottom, and holding them up to the light. The length where the blade edges make contact is the radius.
If you are a beginning skater you will want a radius of about five inches. This increases your ability to propel yourself along the ice while providing stability.
A radius of 3-4 inches helps in cutting and turning
Forwards prefer blades with a shorter radius to help with maneuverability
Defensemen look for longer radius blades for extra stability
Players can also grind their blades to sharpen the edges and create a double edge for extra contact with the ice
The deeper the grind, the more maneuverable
Goalie blades have a less hollow grind and a larger radius
Tips
Choosing the proper size for your hockey skates is different than choosing the size for a pair of sneakers
Hockey skates need to be tighter for more stability and less abrasion when skating
Remember to measure yourself wearing thick hockey socks
Do not buy larger sizes for children to grow into. This hinders their ability to learn how to skate and could hurt their feet and ankles.

Fans Fighting

2005-09-05T10:37:00.000-04:00

As the old joke goes, "I went to a fight, and a hockey game broke out". Fighting has long been a part of hockey, though its role within hockey and the specialization brought be enforcers or goons, has definitely changed. Way back in the day, hockey players lived by some simple on-ice rules. If you stuck a guy with your stick or ticked him off all game, you two were liable to drop the gloves and go at it - no matter if these were two skilled players or not. The enforcer's role evolved into looking out for the skilled players, as was the case with Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers.

Need a job

2005-08-28T16:27:00.000-04:00

Anybody know where a Ice Hockey Official for 15 years thats out of work in Columbus Ohio can get a job?

fan violence

2005-08-24T10:57:00.000-04:00

Another type of violence in sports is fan violence. Fan violence is usually considered (by the fans) to be an act of celebration. “People who have power over the events, often team owners, indirectly influence the amount of spectator violence by encouraging the factors contributing to violence, in order to benefit themselves.”1 “Sale of alcohol, encouraging crowd intensity, creating rivalries, and targeting social groups, are factors affecting the degree of spectator violence and can be proven to be influenced by the owner’s actions.”1 Hooliganism started in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. In Europe, fans of the winning team would walk around chanting ceaselessly, “We’re Number One!” Then they might set fires or overturn things from garbage cans to cars. In Budapest, Hungary, skirmishes with stewards of a club went on for one and a half hours as fans tried to get into a soccer game for free. During the game, both teams were tied and fan violence broke out everywhere. One fan left the stadium with life-threatening injuries. In Banik Ostrava, Czech Republic, at a soccer game, fans fought with fists, boots, and seats.

Ice Hockey FUN

2005-08-23T09:07:00.000-04:00

Wow what a head shot ,NOT

Nhl Hockey Fights

2005-08-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

If there's ever an NHL season again, which fighter will be champ?

Nhl Rule Changes

2005-08-14T12:20:00.000-04:00

In addition to this change comes the elimination of the two-line pass… the area in which a goalie can handle the puck is reduced to a triangular area behind the cage, and as well the goalies equipment will shrink – including those extra baggy jerseys… the offensive zone has increased in size, with the neutral zone shrinking… these and plenty more should make things very interesting on the ice this season.
I for one look forward to the shootout part of the game… I always hated the ties and always wished for a shootout – now I’ll finally get the opportunity to witness it.
Don’t expect to see the shootout immediately following the end of a regulation tie… it’ll follow a scoreless five-minute overtime period. Here’s how the shootout will work:

¨ First comes a 5-minute sudden death overtime. First team to score wins. If no teams scores in the 5-minutes, then we head off to the shootout.

¨ Three players from each team participate in a shootout in the order the coach selects.

¨ Each team takes three shots. The team with the most goals after those six shots is the winner.

¨ If the score remains tied, the shootout will proceed to a sudden-death format.

¨ Regardless the number of goals scored during the shootout portion of OT, the final score recorded for the game will give the winning team one more goal than its opponent, based on the score at the end of overtime.

More Skating Power

2005-08-04T15:55:00.000-04:00

STT is divided into 3 levels:
Level #1 - This level will teach you how to Control and Master your Reflex, Timing & Rhythm, Speed and Speed in all your movements, techniques and performances.
Level #2 - It will teach you about Body Mechanics which will enable you to control and improve all your movements, techniques in the areas of Balance, Power, Center of gravity. It will also teach you about what to do, when your technique is off, where to look, how to fix it, when to fix it, why it happened at a certain point and time. It will give you full control right in your hands!
Level #3 - It shows athletes exactly how to control their Mental Focus, Control your Fears, Motivation and how to have perfect mental focus and mindset. Basically it's the Bible on how to use your mind to get whatever you want in your sport's training and performance.Other athletes from other sports were starting to notice our results, and asked what was the secret our success. I told them that STT was the answer in karate.
At that point, they wanted to know if STT would work in their sports like: Hockey, Track & Field, Tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf and others... I wasn't sure, so I told them I would try to customize my system to see if it would work in their sport.
I found that my system worked the same way in all other sports!

Hockey Joke

2005-08-02T22:48:00.000-04:00

St. Peter and Satan were having an argument one day about hockey. Satan proposed a game to be played on neutral ice between a select team from the heavenly host and his own hand-picked boys.
"Very well," said the gatekeeper of Heaven. "But you realize, I hope, that we've got all the good players and the best coaches."

"I know, and that's all right," Satan answered unperturbed, "We've got all the referees."

Referee abuse

2005-08-02T22:39:00.000-04:00

Referee abuse is a verbal statement or physical act not resulting in bodily contact that implies or threatens physical harm to a referee or the referee ’s property or equipment. Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee: using foul or abusive language toward a referee; spewing any beverage on a re f e re e ’s personal property; spitting at (but not on) the referee; or verbally threatening a referee. Verbal threats are remarks that carry the implied or direct threat of physical harm. Such remarks as “I’ll get you after the game” or “You won’t get out of here in one piece,” shall be deemed referee abuse.

A Great Hockey Store

2005-07-19T00:14:00.000-04:00

API Hockey Online Store...Your one stop hockey store!