Alexander Semin and Russia flies into the semifinals - Photo by Matthew Manor/IIHF-HHOF Images
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2008 IIHF World Championship Bracket - Semifinal Update
By The OFB Team
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Alexander Semin and Russia flies into the semifinals - Photo by Matthew Manor/IIHF-HHOF Images
“We have kept the way we played the game in Washington”
By The OFB Team
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pavel Lysenkov has been a busy man with interviews in Quebec City and therefore Dmitry Chesnokov has been a busy man with translations in Washington. Again, we thank both gentlemen for passing the following along.
Sergei Fedorov scored the game winner against Switzerland (5:3). After the game he met with Pavel Lysenkov at Hotel Concorde, right after dinner.
To be honest, the plans were to do a long interview with questions about the distant Soviet past [the last time Sergei played at the Worlds was when the Soviet Union still existed]. To debut for Team Russia at World Championships at 38 is a unique fact in itself. Just for that fact one can write odes to Sergei. But Fedorov did not want to talk about it:
“Oh, no, I will only talk about the game against Switzerland. If I start kicking up the past, my brain will start working backwards. And I need to look forward and not lose my concentration. Playoffs are close.”
Sergey sat behind a table, placed a glass full of blackberries [fruits] in front of him, and started talking, putting a blackberry in his mouth after every question.
“I was very surprised that in the first two periods the Swiss stood in front of their blue line and didn’t even attempt to go forward. I have never seen anything like that,” – Fedorov shrugged his shoulders. “And in the third period they changed and started to attack very constructively.”
Maxim Sushinsky said that you told everyone is the locker room during the second intermission the following: “This is it, the Swiss are getting ready for the quarterfinals. “
“The phrase was as follows: “This is a fake. The Swiss are not the way we see them.””
Did you try to warn your teammates against underestimating the Swiss?
“Actually, yes. I was worried that the opponent was planning some kind of a trick. I thought: “Guys, let’s work them up a little bit. Let’s play physical hockey.” But it turned out to be the opposite.”
You words didn’t make it through to your partners?
“That’s not the point. Guys started working on exiting the zone, passing through the neutral zone, entering the offensive zone, and not playing hockey. Actually, in games like this you can afford to improvise. The Swiss gave us full control of the game… They tried to catch us on counter attacks. What if it can be done? In the first two periods it couldn’t be done. We took the puck deep and didn’t give it away.”
Did it cross your mind that the Swiss coach Ralph Krueger told his team before the start of the third period: “Alright, stop fooling around. Let’s play like it’s the quarterfinal.”
“Exactly! They started playing hard. And our thoughts roamed around… I think Team Switzerland will look much better in the quarterfinal than in the third period today. They will kick it up a notch.”
Team Russia had a unique opportunity to “pick” its opponent for the quarterfinals. Was it tempting to take that chance?
“Let’s call things what they are. We are hockey players. We are preparing for a game. And we want to win. That is all. How can one physiologically prepare to play for a loss or a draw?”
But Team Sweden at the Olympics [in Turin] played out their strategy. And they won the gold.
“I don’t know about Turin. I wasn’t there. I can only say that I was giving it 100% while getting ready for the game against Switzerland. I wanted to play the game at a normal speed. It didn’t matter who we’d play in the playoffs. But it turned out to be the Swiss again. To be honest, it looked as if it was Team Switzerland trying to pick the opponent. They intentionally gave you control of the game in the first two periods.”
And what choice did they have?
“Either to play hard, or to save energy. Team Switzerland chose the second. They wanted to play [Team Russia] in the quarterfinals.” Continue reading ›
2008 IIHF World Championship Bracket
By The OFB Team
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Bronze Medal Match will be 5/17/08 at 3 pm.
All times Eastern Daylight Saving Time.
All games are broadcast on WCSN.com
“I don’t understand sometimes what’s going on at this World Championship”
By The OFB Team
Monday, May 12, 2008
As always, many thanks to our friend Dmitry Chesnokov for translating and passing on the following.
As a result of a poll conducted by “Sport” [Russia’s public sports channel] and Sovetsky Sport [Russia’s largest newspaper], Washington Capitals and Russian national team forward Alexander Ovechkin was named Athlete of the Month in April. Alex received 51.4% of the vote, overtaking Evgeni Malkin who received 48.6%. This interview Alexander Ovechkin gave to Pavel Lysenkov and Vitaly Slavin of Sovetsky Sport in Hotel Concorde two hours after the end of the Russia-Sweden game [3:2], where Alex the Great scored the game winner.
Alexander Ovechkin - photo by Pavel Lysenkov / Sovetsky Sport
I WOULD START BEATING THE SWEDE TOO
Honestly, we did not expect Ovechkin to give a candid interview. Right after the game Ovechkin entered the mixed-zone [you all know that access to players in the NHL is way better than the IIHF regulations], but he looked so tired that he only gave interviews to TV crews. When Ovechkin saw dozens of print media reporters, he sighed and went back to the locker room. Such incidents are very rare for Ovechkin, who always finds time to talk to the media.
What saved us at Sovetsky Sport was that a day before Alex promised to give us an interview. And he always keeps his word.
Are you getting ready to go out for dinner? Let us wait for you at the hotel.
“No, let me wait for you,” – Ovechkin replied. “How much time do you need? Twenty minutes? Let’s sit down right here then, on this couch, and talk.
Congratulations on becoming Athlete of the Month!
“Thank you, fans. But I would give it to Evgeni Malkin. He is still in the playoffs carrying Pittsburgh on his back. In my spare time I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I am happy about the way Malkin is playing. What a goal he scored against Philadelphia! He was hit, but still made it and slapped one behind Biron… I stand by my prediction that the Penguins will win the Cup this year.”
And what will you say about the game against Sweden?
“That the Swedes played very dirty in the first period and did not give us a chance to play our game. They started hitting us right away. As a result, we lost Morozov due to injury, and then Kovalchuk for fighting. Kovy was absolutely right when he stood up for his captain. If I were him, I would also show my fists to the Swede.
I was very surprised that Ilya got a game penalty. Why? Kovalchuk didn’t even drop his gloves. If he did drop his gloves, only bits and pieces would be left of the Swede… I also think that Sweden intentionally went for this exchange – sacrificed this Murray (sp?) to injure our captain and rid us of our best scorer.”
Did you miss Morozov on the ice?
“We were left with only 6 wingers instead of 8. All the other guys had to work more. But Nabokov played very well and saved us.”
Was it hard for you?
“For me personally, no. I played every other shift. Same way I play in Washington.”
Do you think Murray did it on purpose?
“I am absolutely sure. The puck was nowhere near. Morozov was turning trying to get back into his own zone, but was hit.”
After that you started playing very physical…
“I started playing very physical. And I didn’t care whether I get a game misconduct penalty or 2+10. I was very angry that the Swedes cowardly rid us of two players.”
But if you had got a game misconduct, our team would have been without our third leader!
“I didn’t think about it at the time. My mind was fixed on hitting someone and splashing them across the boards.” Continue reading ›
Sunday Bloody Sunday at the Worlds
By The OFB Team
Monday, May 12, 2008
A World Championship that in its first week was marked by superb officiating (you didn’t hear anything about the guys in stripes, right? That means something.) took an abrupt turn for the markedly worse Sunday, as incompetent on-ice work by the four men in stripes working Sunday’s U.S.-Finland tilt had a partner in crime off it.
Finland bested the U.S. 3-2, but few who watched or followed it will think much about the score when so much madness over the course of 60 minutes ensued thanks to the officiating crew. They’re pictured below. They shamed their mothers on Sunday. This is what U.S. head coach John Tortorella had to say after the game:
“I’ve heard about these horror shows as far as international refereeing. I have finally lived through one. It’s just ridiculous as far as how they’re calling the game when you have two pretty competitive teams willing to go toe-to-toe. Let the teams and players decide.”
It was a rare instance in international hockey in which a game’s officials constantly interjected themselves into what should have been a classic hockey game contested between two great hockey nations, robbing the game of flow and especially of its five-on-five strategies. The zebras whistled 23 infractions, and things got ‘74 Broad Street Bully-ish at the final horn. We recommend that you take a glance of the game’s official scoresheet here.
It was a disgraceful performance by the on-ice officiating crew. But it was matched by incompetency off it. Finland’s first goal of the game wasn’t a goal — it went through the side of Robert Esche’s net. The play was reviewed and, mystifyingly, upheld as a goal.
By the third period exasperated players and coaches on both sides, on the ice and on the two benches, could be seen laughing in surrender at the officials for their ludicrous efforts.
The IIHF was forced into a supremely embarrassing position afterward: acknowledging the non-goal mistake and firing the off-ice official! Give the Federation credit for swiftly taking action and attempting to restore credibility to its championships.
The NHL certainly could learn a lesson from this action.
Q & A with AO
By The OFB Team
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
[OFB Admin Note: Thanks to Dmitry Chesnokov for translating the following Q&A that Pavel Lysenkov conducted with Alexander Ovechkin.]
Sovetsky Sport continues the tradition of “on the road” Q&A sessions with players at major hockey tournaments. Sunday night, right after the game against the Czech Republic, NHL’s highest scorer and simply a great guy Alex Ovechkin answered questions left for him by our readers at our website www.sovsport.ru.
Alexander Ovechkin - photo by Pavel Lysenkov
“Wow!” - Ovechkin said. “What am I doing on the cover?”
Strange person, no? Mr. Shy. As if it wasn’t him, but we were lighting fire during the regular season in the NHL, filmed commercials, and became idols for women.
Do you remember who you gave these interviews to?
“No. I am trying to figure it out using the photos. Let’s see..” – Ovechkin is flipping pages. “Oh, this one was taken during the first season with the Capitals. I even have the front tooth in place. Alright, I will read it in my spare time.”
Well then let’s get to fans’ questions. User Hedgehog is asking: this was the first year you played in the NHL playoffs. Are these really such special incomparable to anything else games?
“Actually, yes. During the Stanley Cup playoffs every game is treated as if it’s the final battle. How can I explain it? Do you remember the Olympics in 2006 in Turin when we had a great game against Team Canada in the quarterfinals [2:0 - Ovechkin scored the game winner]? So with Washington I played seven such games against Philadelphia! When we needed either to win, or to die.”
Is it true that an NHL player is only paid during the regular season?
“Yes, we do not get paid for the playoffs. Not even bonuses.”
So why would you “die?”
“Everyone want to win the Stanley Cup. Believe me, these are not just empty words.” Continue reading ›
Hardware Hopes and World-Class Hockey Help Alleviate Some Local Heartache
By pucksandbooks
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Last week, in the throes of a sudden and sour end to the season, it was somewhat difficult to delineate just how successful a season the Capitals and their fans had enjoyed, wasn’t it? Lip service to a terrific run could be mouthed, but there was a pervasive sense that something quite magical had prematurely expired. But this week, virtually day by day, the formal acknowledgments of a transformative season began rolling in, affording more than a wee bit of perspective.
The beginning of the week brought word of Nicklas Backstrom’s designation as Calder finalist. By mid-week we received word of Alexander Ovechkin’s finalist status for the Hart. And near week’s end came the good word for Gabby — a finalist for the Jack Adams. None were surprise announcements, but their formal delivery captures the attention of the hockey world, and this spring — one quite unlike any other for the Caps as far as hardware nominations go — the NHL has helped create an echo chamber for the remarkable story that was, up until this week, rather parochial to Washington.
It wasn’t so much that Western Canada or the Maritimes or Minneapolis-St. Paul intermittently followed Alexander Ovechkin’s historical season; it was that we in Washington necessarily held the larger and more appreciative context for the Ovechkin-led rebirth of a franchise forming fast within frenzied-Red Verizon Center. This week, with the NHL’s press releases fairly screaming that something spectacular happened in HockeyWashington in 2007-08, room on the big story stage has been created for years to come for the Caps.
It’s really remarkable.
And this is much, much different from what we saw both Carolina and Tampa Bay acquire with their respective Stanley Cup victories. Neither team — Tampa especially — was constructed for a lengthy run with success. This May, there is, I venture to say, a pervasive acknowledgment in hockey that the Caps won’t be fun to play against for quite a while.
Really, you have to go back I think all the way to the dynastic Oilers of the early ’80s to find a parallel for a team that has accumulated so many world-class skilled parts so early in their NHL careers (and with more reinforcements fast arriving) and have guiding them an ascendant maestro — with all of them pursuing glory’s journey together for quite some time. Even Mario’s two-Cup Pens of the early ’90s were a more thorough blend of young and veteran. (To me, Tom Barrasso was a Sabre, Bryan Trottier an Islander.) It matters not how skilled a draft eye Lou Lamoriello possessed in New Jersey last decade and much of this — the product he peddaled as Cup winners was antithetical to marketing hockey.
Washington, however, attracts admirers in other NHL markets for precisely the style of hockey it plays. We saw this most individually on this blog this spring, as scores of fans of other teams stopped by to sing this team’s praises and profess a new-found allegiance to the Caps as an adopted team.
Another novel form of admiration arrived this week from Mother Russia: from Team Russia with love for the Russian Capitals, who in the 2008 World Championships have formed the entirety of that team’s first line. It’s as if international hockey wants to pay tribute to what Washington accomplished — and possesses — with such a lineup. And as luck would have it, the Worlds this year are being contested in North America, in time-zone friendly fashion, allowing Washington and anyone else on the continent to appreciate a key core to the Capitals’ renaissance. And as has been duly noted already, Ovechkin, Semin, and Fedorov have six additional teammates competing in the tourney.
These are small solaces for the disappointment of last week. Or maybe not so small. I forgot to mention that neither Paul Devorski not Don Koharski are working the Worlds
Where to Watch the Worlds
By Gustafsson
Friday, May 2, 2008
The 2007 edition of the World Championship Tournament found half of OFB watching the games live and in person. What about the other half? We, too, watched live — just not in person.
Like last year, we don’t believe that this year’s tournament will be on television, though we are hoping for a few games to be on the NHL Network. There is a way to watch ALL of the games… the World Championship Sports Network.
The games are live and WITHOUT COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTION (at least they were in 2007). Last year there was some analysis between periods, and the arena camera remained on live. We even got to experience the Russian version of the Kiss Cam. Though an internet feed is usually inferior to a television broadcast — especially in HD — the WCSN.com video stream was quite good, especially considering it originated half a world away.
A monthly pass is only $4.95 and includes live and “on demand” event coverage, plus access to thousands of hours of archived sporting events. During Team USA’s off days, if you are wondering how Ovechkin or Backstrom played in last year’s tournament, it is all archived here.
Here are the preliminary games for the United States and Russia.
| United States | Russia | |||
| Friday, May 2nd | vs. Latvia | 7:00 pm | vs. Italy | 6:45 pm |
| Sunday, May 4th | vs. Slovenia | 7:00 pm | vs. Czech Republic | 12:45 pm |
| Tuesday, May 6th | vs. Canada | 3:15 pm | vs. Denmark | 12:45 pm |
You can find the full 2008 Schedule here.
At the Worlds, More Home Flavor Leading Team USA
By pucksandbooks
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Potomac, Md.’s, Jeff Halpern has been named captain of the American hockey team competing this week at the IIHF World Championships in Halifax and Quebec City. The former Washington Capital follows current Caps’ captain Chris Clark, who wore the ‘C’ for the Americans in Moscow last May.
In all, nine members of the Washington Capitals’ organization will compete in this year’s World Championships: Nicklas Backstrom (Sweden); Sergei Fedorov (Russia); Alexander Semin (Russia); Alexander Ovechkin (Russia); Simeon Varlamov (Russia); Tomas Fleischmann (Czech Republic); Mike Green (Canada); Cristobal Huet (France); and Sami Lepsito (Finland).
There is speculation that Russia’s top line could be comprised entirely of Caps: Ovechkin, Fedorov, and Semin. The Russians, though, will be far from a one-line team. They’ll have the services of Ilya Kovalchuk, Maxim Afinogenov, and Alexander Radulov up front. None of the three Caps’ Russian forwards skated in Russia’s 4-1 win over Canada in a recent tournament tuneup.
Varlamov should see some action in preliminary round play, our man about Russian hockey Dmitry Chesnokov tells us. Beyond that, his performance will dictate additional playing time.
Team USA opens play in the Worlds this Friday against Latvia, and will follow with games against Slovenia and Canada before Qualification-round play commences May 8. Halpern is the only American forward or defender not born in the 1980s.
The Americans had one lone tuneup before their opening game, and this past Sunday night in Portland, Maine, the Americans smashed Sweden 5-1. Craig Anderson and Robert Esche split time in net for the Americans. Boston’s Tim Thomas is the third goalie on the American roster.
Defending champion Canada, in addition to enjoying home-ice advantage at this year’s World’s, will again have a formidable roster. They boast the tournament’s best goalie tandem in Cam Ward and Pascal Leclaire. Up front, they’re loaded with the likes of Spezza, Heatly, Nash, Doan, Staal, Getzlaf, St. Louis, and Toews. Jay Bouwmeester and Mike Green could make for a potent power play tandem on the blueline.
This is the first time since 1962, when the Worlds that year were held in Colorado Springs, that the championships will be contested on 200 x 85 sheets of ice. TSN will broadcast both the bronze and gold medal games.
The Chicago Blackhawks’ Adam Brurish, incidentally, is blogging during the tournament. His first file noted the American team’s distinctive youth:
“This is a young, energetic group of guys we have on this U.S. team, which makes it a lot of fun to be around. Everybody seems to be in the same position as far as being young in our NHL careers, and experiencing the world championships for the first time. Some of the “older” guys have made jokes about not fitting in because they are older than 25, which on this team seems like grandpa status.”
Varlamov: “I Am Ready To Spend a Year or Two in the AHL”
By The OFB Team
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday’s SovetskySport published an interview with Russian national team netminder and Washington Capitals’ 2006 first-round pick Simeon Varlamov. Russia had just played Switzerland in an exhibition in Canada in preparation for the World Championships this week. Russia won 6-2, and Varlamov was in goal. Portions of the interview include:
“At the team meeting before the game Bykov wished me a happy birthday, and told me that I would start the game against Switzerland. I consider it to be a present,” Varlamov said, smiling. “I wanted to post a shut out to make this birthday more memorable. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”
SovetskySport: How did you feel playing in a smaller [comparing to the IIHF standard] rink?
“I was not comfortable. I tried to play the puck behind the net a lot and made mistakes, because I kept bumping into the boards and the puck kept getting stuck between my skates. The rink was very different for me in Trois-Rivières.”
How many times have you been to Canada?
“Four times. The last time I was here was with the Juniors team for the Superseries of 2007. It wasn’t pretty . . . ”
And what can you say about the 0-8 in the final of the World Juniors?
“Very embarrassing. If I were to lose with such margin I wouldn’t talk to anyone for a week. Terrible. Dreadful.”
Maybe this is the difference between [Russian] hockey and Canadian?
“Perhaps. There are very good junior leagues over here. Players from them go straight to the NHL.”
Will you go straight to the NHL?
“I know that the Washington Capitals are waiting for me. They keep in constant contact with my agent. I am planning on going to North America. It will be very tough to break into the first team. But I will try my best. I am even ready to spend a year or two in the AHL.”
Two years? Ilya Bryzgalov told us that the pay in about $50 thousand per year.
“I know how much players are making in the AHL. But I am not interested in money right now. I could stay with Lokomotiv, where I was offered a great contract. Nevertheless, I have already told the management and fans that I will be leaving. I am not hiding it.”
Can a 20-year-old go straight to the NHL?
“There have been precedents. For example, 21-year-old Carey Price in Montreal – he is my idol. Or Marc-Andre Fluery from Pittsburgh. They are unique even by NHL’s standards.”
“Nej, tack”
By Gustafsson
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
With the World Championship tournament starting this weekend, Freelance writer and Off The Post author Risto Pakarinen has preview of Sweden and their coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson on the IIHF web site.
Coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson was hailed as a hockey genius in 2006 when he took his team to both the Olympic and the World Championship gold. Last season, Tre Kronor finished fourth, and this season, the wins have been far and apart. To be exact, Sweden won only three of its 12 games in the Euro Hockey Tour, and was pounded by Team USA in a pre-WC exhibition game.
That’s why it’s a nervous Team Sweden that’s entering the tournament even if Gustafsson knows how to build a team, and how to make it gel during the first stage of the tournament. However, having 25 NHLers say “nej, tack”, or “no, thanks” to the national team stings.
Who would have thought that Team Sweden enters the tournament with 11 forwards from the Swedish Elite Leage on its roster? The five best Swedish scorers in the NHL - Zetterberg, Alfredsson, Sundin, Sedin, Sedin - were all unavailable. Number Six, Nicklas Backstrom, is centering Team Sweden’s first line.
Visit the IIHF web site to read the rest of Pakarinen’s article, “Tough time for Gustafsson”.
Worlds Go Retro
By Gustafsson
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
This year’s IIHF World Championship Tournament is going old school, if only for one game. Fifteen of the sixteen participating teams will play one preliminary round game with retro sweaters. The sweater each country will wear was selected from what they considered to be a significant year for their national team programs. Belarus is the only country not participating as they did not have a national team until its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
CANADA: Commemorating the inaugural Canada Cup, the sons of the Great White North will be sporting the split-leaf jersey from 1976. The retro sweater game is May 6th against the United States.
RUSSIA: This one could not have been an easy decision with the all the success the Russians have enjoyed. Fedorov, Ovechkin, and Semin will be rocking the red in the retro threads from 1956 commomorating Russia’s first Olympic gold. The sweater will be “modern retro” with Rossiya replacing CCCP. Since the 1956 Olympics were held in Italy, the retro sweater game will be on May 2nd versus Italy.
UNITED STATES: Naturally, the US is going back to the miracle on ice. Though it’s the first one in 1960 that occurred in Squaw Valley, California. The US game is on May 2nd with Latvia.
Team USA Preliminary Roster Set for the Worlds
By The OFB Team
Friday, April 11, 2008
USA Hockey this week announced the selection of 17 players for the American entry in the IIHF’s World Championships next month. The Worlds this year will be contested in Quebec City and Halifax May 2-18. Among the early selections: Potomac, Md.’s, Jeff Halpern.
More Americans will be added after the conclusion of the first round of the NHL playoffs.
| 2008 United States Men’s National Ice Hockey Team | |||||||
| GOALTENDERS (1) | |||||||
| Name | Ht (cm) | Wt (kg) | Birthdate | S/C | Hometown | Most Recent Team (League) | College Team (if applicable) |
| Craig Anderson | 6-2 (188) | 180 (82) | 5/21/81 | L | Park Ridge, Ill. | Florida Panthers (NHL) | |
| DEFENSEMEN (4) | |||||||
| Keith Ballard | 5-11 (180) | 208 (94) | 11/26/82 | L | Baudette, Minn. | Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) | University of Minnesota |
| Tom Gilbert | 6-3 (191) | 206 (93) | 1/10/83 | R | Minneapolis, Minn. | Edmonton Oilers (NHL) | University of Wisconsin |
| Matt Greene | 6-3 (191) | 224 (102) | 5/13/83 | R | Grand Ledge, Mich. | Edmonton Oilers (NHL) | University of North Dakota |
| James Wisniewski | 6-0 (183) | 207 (94) | 2/21/84 | R | Canton, Mich. | Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) | |
| FORWARDS (12) | |||||||
| David Backes | 6-3 (191) | 216 (98) | 5/1/84 | R | Minneapolis, Minn. | St. Louis Blues (NHL) | Minnesota State University |
| David Booth | 6-0 (183) | 212 (96) | 11/24/84 | L | Detroit, Mich. | Florida Panthers (NHL) | Michigan State University |
| Dustin Brown | 6-0 (183) | 200 (91) | 11/4/84 | R | Ithaca, N.Y. | L.A. Kings (NHL) | |
| Dustin Byfuglien | 6-3 (191) | 246 (112) | 3/27/85 | R | Minneapolis, Minn. | Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) | |
| Paul Gaustad | 6-5 (196) | 225 (102) | 2/3/82 | L | Fargo, N.D. | Buffalo Sabres (NHL) | |
| Jeff Halpern | 6-0 (183) | 203 (92) | 5/3/76 | R | Potomac, Md. | Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) | Princeton University |
| Patrick Kane | 5-10 (178) | 163 (74) | 11/19/88 | L | Buffalo, N.Y. | Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) | |
| Peter Mueller | 6-2 (188) | 205 (93) | 4/14/88 | R | Bloomington, Minn. | Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) | |
| Patrick O’Sullivan | 5-11 (180) | 190 (86) | 2/1/85 | L | Winston-Salem, N.C. | L.A. Kings (NHL) | |
| Jason Pominville | 6-0 (183) | 186 (84) | 11/30/82 | R | Buffalo, N.Y. | Buffalo Sabres (NHL) | |
| Drew Stafford | 6-2 (188) | 202 (92) | 10/30/85 | R | Milwaukee, Wis. | Buffalo Sabres (NHL) | University of North Dakota |
| Lee Stempniak | 6-0 (183) | 195 (88) | 2/4/83 | R | West Seneca, N.Y. | St. Louis Blues (NHL) | Dartmouth College |
To Russia (Hopefully) with Appreciation and Goodwill
By pucksandbooks
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Ted Leonsis
“My bet is that in the next 13 years that Alex [Ovechkin] is here, at some point we’ll get him back [to Russia],” the owner told a couple of Russian journalists this past weekend.
Most assuredly, it won’t take 13 years for the Caps to make such a trip. The smart money is on a late summer excursion in 2009, right before that season’s training camp. The owner has already discussed the idea with team President Dick Patrick and Vice President and General Manager George McPhee.
While management is focused on the team making the playoffs right now, the trip to Russia is an idea Leonsis is committed to pursuing further this offseason. He will be talking to league officials about the idea then.
“Alex is Russian first and foremost,” the owner noted. “He’s a Washington Capital second, and he loves Washington, D.C., and America, but he loves his country, and he’s our player and we would like to do things that make him feel more and more comfortable.”
“The cultural exchange would be good for everybody,” he added.
There are scores of compelling reasons for such a scheme. For starters — and perhaps most importantly — Gary Bettman is supportive of it. The NHL, the owner noted, is encouraging teams to go play in Europe. “I think Gary Bettman would like us to go to Russia,” Leonsis said.
And it just so happens that largely because of Ovechkin the Capitals are the most popular NHL team in Russia. It’s why there are two full-time journalists covering the team for Moscow news organizations here in D.C.
Leonsis views such a trip as primarily an act of goodwill, but in listening to him discuss the idea it’s also clear that he’s made a link between the internationalization of hockey and the Internet. You can bet he won’t send his team over there crossing his fingers for old media coverage.
“In Washington, D.C., you want to be a global team, and I think it’s a reason that players like Alexander Ovechkin feel so comfortable here — it’s a very cosmopolitan city. We would want to show Russia some of the best players in the world, and celebrate the connection [between Russia and the NHL]. It’s not about money,” he said.
“Our team would be very popular in Russia, because of Ovechkin, Semin, and Kozlov,” he added.
There’s another reason driving this idea. Russia, it turns out, is one of the few countries in the world the owner hasn’t visited. “Russia is such a hockey loving country, and we’ve got such great [Russian] players, I think it would be a great thing for us,” he said.
In 1989, the Capitals joined the Calgary Flames in a headline-grabbing tour of the then Soviet Union for a historic series of exhibition games that September. The team traveled to Moscow and Leningrad for eight games against various Russian professional teams. Here’s how high-profile a happening that was: NHL Commissioner John Ziegler made the travel announcement from the United Nations Assembly in New York.
Twenty years later, the Capitals could be returning to Moscow. They’d be carrying a whole lot of Glasnost in their equipment bags. And quite a few thank yous for the Russian hockey development program.
Watching Hockey with Peter the Great
By pucksandbooks
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Morning Cup-A-Joe
But before I could ask my first question, an elated fan partitioned off from the press box but recognizing Peter shouted out to him and secured his attention, with which he appealed to the Caps’ great to come out to the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Maryland, for some six a.m. pickup hockey during winter weekdays. Here is what you might appreciate knowing about Peter’s passion for playing hockey, today: he scribbled down the times for the ice slots. Peter and his family continue to live in suburban Maryland.
Bondra acknowledged that he was attending last night’s game to take a close look at three Slovakian players: Marek Svatos, Peter Budaj, and Milan Jurcina. Budaj of course didn’t play, but Bondra had plans to talk to him after the game. In his reflections on Jurcina, it was clear that Bondra had watched him play plenty this season.
“Jurcina started playing early in the season for Glen Hanlon 22, 24 minutes, but unfortunately his game came a little bit down because of confidence, but now he’s showing again, playing well, getting ice time, so I think it’s a good time for him.”
Bondra is leading the Slovakian effort in international hockey at a particularly opportune time. When I asked him to identify Slovaks who’d caught his attention with their play in the NHL this season, he smiled widely and ran off a long list of high achievers: “I can name a lot of them . . . Marian Hossa, [Marian] Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, Big Z — Zdeno Chara — . . . we have a good team. There’s a lot of good players but they’re young and they’re [also] experienced, so it’s a good mix.”
I asked him if having this year’s World Championships contested in North America, on NHL-sized sheets, would influence his selection of players.
“You always try to take your best players,” he told me. “But I also think it’s very good to have the championships in North America, it’s great for hockey and it’s good for Canada.
“We are making preparations [for the change]. We adjust, we change our system a little bit, because we are going to play on the small ice. We will try to practice on it and maybe have a few exhibition games.”
His next observation about Slovakia’s approach to these Worlds really caught my attention: “We will try to play American style.” Likely, he meant “North American” style, but perhaps not.
Slovakia will host the Worlds in 2011, and the Slovakian hockey leadership, Bondra told me, was today carefully attempting to identify young Slovakian talent with an eye toward assembling a distinctly strong roster for those games. Bondra’s contract as General Manager is for one year, after which he’ll be reviewed, but he made clear how much he is enjoying the job.
“My number one priority is my family, but after that, if everybody is happy, if both sides are happy, I will be more than happy to continue.”
Regularly during our chat many folks in the press box who recognized Peter came by and interrupted our chat, which was fine by me. George McPhee was talking with Blackhawks’ assistant GM Rick Dudley when the two arrived near us. McPhee, pointing to Bondra, said to the former Tampa GM of the late ’90s, “Remember this guy?”
Bondra deserves a hero’s welcome in Washington’s hockey rink. I concluded my inquires by asking him if being in hockey management helped lessen his missing of playing.
“Exactly, you hit the button. It’s hard playing hockey for so many years and suddenly being away from hockey. This is helping me, coming here, to get something I’m missing. It would be nice to [still] be playing, but . . . my injuries, my body, it was the right choice. Now I enjoy being around my family, I enjoy taking my son to his hockey game.”
“Do you get out on the ice with your children to help with their practices?” I asked as followup.
“Yes — I do I do I do I do!” he exclaimed with beaming smile.
Young Guns to the North Are Golden Again
By pucksandbooks
Sunday, January 6, 2008
For the fourth consecutive year, Canada’s Under-20s claimed gold at the World Junior Championships. Two of them — Karl Alzner and Josh Godfrey — are Caps’ prospects. Ten players from Canada’s roster this year will be eligible for the next WJC, to be contested this December on Canadian soil.
Godfrey finished third in scoring among all defensemen with 5 points (all assists). Alzner had a goal and an assist in his seven games. Both blueliners finished a +2.
Canada’s Steve Mason was named not only the tournament’s best goalie — a .951 save percentage will often fetch that — but the Most Valuable Player as well. He’ll return to North America today to a new home, too: on Friday he was dealt by the London Knights to the Kitchener Rangers. Michal Neuvirth of the Czech Republic, also Caps’ property, had the 4th-best save percentage (.910); he stopped 101 of the 111 shots he faced, and four that got by him came on the oppositions’ power play.
American James vanRiemsdyk led all scorers in the tourney with 11 points. Teammate Colin Wilson also finished in the top 10 in scoring, with 7 points. But as feared heading in, American goaltending wasn’t elite. Jeremy Smith played well in the preliminary round but less so when it was most needed. Neither American goalie finished with a .900 save percentage.
A lot of attention heading into the tourney was directed at the Czech Republic’s Jacub Voracek, who was obliterating the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season (50 pts. in 25 games) in Halifax. But Voracek managed to finish just 29th in scoring and wasn’t even identified as one of his team’s three best players by the tournament’s coaches.
WJC Update: Early Dominance Against the Finns
By pucksandbooks
Monday, December 31, 2007
American Flag at Sunset
U.S. 5, Finland 0. And it’s still early.
JVR has already tallied a goal and three helpers. Colin Wilson has two goals and a helper. He’s a 2008 draft eligible — think he’s helping his cause for next June with this WJC showing?
Mercifully the second period has ended for the Finns. Updates forthcoming.
Update: Joe Palmer in the American net for period three. His first appearance of this WJC.
Update: There’s been a change in scoring from the first period — Colin Wilson’s now being credited for the U.S.’s first three goals, a natural hat trick.
The Finns have showed some third period heart, notching two power play tallies. It’s 5-2 U.S.
Final: U.S. 5, Finland 3. That third period will give what might have been a cocky bunch of unbeaten Americans something to stew on on New Years Eve. Or: my NHL scout was right about U.S. backup netminder Joe Palmer:
“Palmer has an .880 save percentage in the NCAA. One scout who does exclusively college hockey told me he thought Palmer was one of the worst goalies in the college game.”
But who needs negative thoughts in victory on New Years Eve? Not only is a win a win at the WJC, going undefeated through preliminary round play is stellar by any standard.
Congrats to Team USA, who now rest through the quarterfinals and await a semi-final opponent on Friday.
No Miracle: U.S. 3, Russia 2
By pucksandbooks
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Eddie Cahill as Jim Craig
Ruegsegger, van Riemsdyk (tourney’s leading scorer), and Mike Carmen with tallies today, Carmen’s the game-winner, in the Americans’ 3-2 victory over Russia. Meanwhile, Sweden stunned the Canadians 4-3.
A number of you emailed me overnight wondering what wager I had with Dmitry Chesnokov for this game. The answer rhymes with Filet-at-Smith-and-Wolenskys.
The 9-pt. U.S. has clinched first in its group and is assured of a place in the World Junior semifinals. Their opponent? Either Canada or Finland.
The U.S. will skate again on Monday against Finland.
Powering Past the Swiss: U.S. 4, Switzerland 2
By pucksandbooks
Friday, December 28, 2007
USA Hockey Logo
The U.S. outshot Switzerland 51-18 Friday.
The 2-0 Americans face 2-0 Russia Saturday.
Strong American Start at the World Juniors: U.S. 5, Kazakhstan 1
By pucksandbooks
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
USA Hockey Logo
Jeremy Smith in net for the Americans. Goals from Sweatt, Rakshani, Carmen, Fairchild, and Okposo. Max Pacioretty apparently took a knee, missed some action, but returned.
Karl Alzner and Josh Godfrey and their Canadian teammates kick off their tournament this afternoon against the Czechs (starting at 1:30 EST).
Hockey Rinks from South Dakota to South Africa
By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Ever wonder what professional ice hockey teams play in New Zealand? How about Dubai? Where can you catch a pro game next time you’re in Bahrain, or Spain, or mainly on the plain?
Well a dedicated French hockey fan named Sam has completed quite a project: a Google map of every professional hockey team’s ice rink in the world—over a thousand of them—including each team’s logo and a link to its home page.
From the SIJHL to the OHA; from the Mini-Big-Egg in Taiwan (home of the Sharks) to Boondall Iceworld (where the Brisbane Blue Tongues play); every arena that hosts a professional team is shown on this wonderful map.
Click here to see for yourself; it takes a couple minutes to load, but once it’s done you can zoom in and see just where the Heerenveen Flyers or the Neumarkt-Egna Wild Goose call home.
[Tap of the stick to Odessa Steps and the New York Times.]