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NHL Round-up
By Zippy, Wonder Chimp

General NHL News

Hartford Tries to Save the Whale
Although the Whalers' exit from Connecticut after the season appears set, the city of Hartford offered a $20 million bond on Monday in hopes of keeping the NHL team.

Mayor Mike Peters said the money would make up the losses Whalers owner Peter Karmanos claims he absorbs each year. The mayor estimated last week the team's departure would cost the city at least $20 million per year.

But the city's offer is less than half of what Karmanos says he needs -- $45 million. However, the main obstacle between the sides is a deal on a new arena. The team agreed to pay a $20.5 million penalty to leave at the end of the season, a year before its four-year commitment expires.

Howe's Wish Denied
Gordie Howe's comeback attempt has been put on the shelf. He had hoped to become the first professional hockey player to play in six consecutive decades, taking a turn on the ice for a minor league team one day after his 69th birthday.

The Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, who had planned to use Howe in Tuesday's game, canceled his return on Thursday. The team said it could not afford to have him make an appearance because it is vying for a playoff spot. It is also likely that the Crunch finally realized how ridiculous the Howe comeback attempt was. It is just plain silly.

Despite the setback, Howe is still hopeful that he will have an opportunity to play at a later date.

Women's World Hockey Championship
The women's world hockey championship started on March 31. As usual, Canada and the United States are the clear cut favorites in the competition. The top five teams will qualify for the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.

Results and Schedule

 
Pool A        	 W  L  T Pts  GF  GA
Canada        	 0  0  0   0   0   0
China         	 0  0  0   0   0   0
Russia        	 0  0  0   0   0   0
Switzerland   	 0  0  0   0   0   0

Pool B        	 W  L  T Pts  GF  GA
United States 	 1  0  0   2   7   0
Finland       	 1  0  0   2   5   0
Norway        	 0  1  0   0   0   7
Sweden        	 0  1  0   0   0   5

Monday, March 31
United States 7, Norway 0
Finland 5, Sweden 0
China vs. Russia, 7 p.m.
Canada vs. Switzerland, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 1
Sweden vs. Norway, 4 p.m.
Finland vs. United States, 7 p.m.
China vs. Switzerland, 7 p.m.
Canada vs. Russia, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 3
Norway vs. Finland, 4 p.m.
United States vs. Sweden, 7 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Russia, 7 p.m.
Canada vs. China, 7:30 p.m.

MEDAL ROUND
Saturday, April 5
Pool A first vs. Pool B second, 1 p.m.
Pool B first vs. Pool A second, 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 6
Third place, 4 p.m.
Championship, 8 p.m.

QUALIFYING ROUND
Friday, April 4
Pool B third vs. Pool A fourth, 4 p.m.
Pool A third vs. Pool B fourth, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 6
Fifth place, noon
Seventh place, 2 p.m.

Firings...Hirings...Signings...etc...

Coyotes Expand AHL Affiliation
The Phoenix Coyotes announced a three-year expanded affiliation with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, a deal that includes an extension option. The agreement covers the 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons and gives the Coyotes an option to lengthen the deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the Coyotes will provide the Falcons with coaches and 18 players.

Police Blotter:

Nazarov Appeals Suspension
San Jose Sharks left wing Andrei Nazarov has appealed a 13-game suspension given as a result of an incident during a game with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Nazarov was slapped with the longest suspension in the NHL this season on Tuesday for pushing linesman Brad Lazarowich while trying to break away and resume a fight with the Oilers' Bryan Marchmant. Nazarov has filed his appeal via the NHL Players Association.

1996-97 NHL Suspension

Date      Player/Team/Length      Opponent     Reason 
Mar 25    Andrei Nazarov          Edmonton     Pushed linesman
          San Jose                             Brad Lazarowich
          13 games    
Mar 7     Darren Langdon          Los Angeles  Initiated 
          New York Rangers                     altercation with
          2 games                              Matt Johnson
Feb 28    Bernie Nicholls         Florida      Flagrant cross-check
          San Jose                             on Ed Jovanovski
          2 games
Feb 26    J.J. Daigneault         Referee      Struck Don 
          Anaheim                              Koharski with his 
          10 games                             stick 
Feb 25    Michel Petit            Florida      Kneeing 
          Philadelphia                         Johan Garpenlov
          2 games 
Feb 25    Donald Brashear         Los Angeles  blind side punch
          Vancouver                            to Ian Laperriere
          4 games
Feb 18   Brent Severyn           Phoenix      Initiating 
         Colorado                             altercation with  
         2 games                              Kris King                  
Feb 5    Matt Johnson            San Jose     Flagrant elbow
         Los Angeles                          against Andrei 
         4 games                              Nazarov
Feb 5    Rob Blake               San Jose     High-sticking 
         Los Angeles                          incident against 
         4 games                              Shean Donovan
Feb 5    Tony Granato            Los Angeles  Cross-checking 
         San Jose                             Dmitri Khristich 
         4 games                              in back of head
Feb 2    Peter Bondra            Florida      Kneeing incident
         Washington                           against Ray Sheppard
         At least 1 game
         pending hearing
Feb 2    Todd Harvey             Buffalo      Flagrant elbow 
         Dallas                               against Matthew
         At least 1 game                      Barnaby
         pending hearing
Jan 30   Sean O'Donnell          Colorado     Involved in 
         Los Angeles                          altercation on
         1 game                               bench with 
                                              Valeri Kamensky  
Jan 23   Jim Cummins             Toronto      Drawing third
         Chicago                              game misconduct
         1 game                               of the season
Jan 19   Craig Berube            Ottawa       Slashing
         Washington                           Dennis Vial
         2 games
Jan 11   Rich Pilon              Pittsburgh   Stick swinging
         NY Islanders                         Mario Lemieux
         2 games
Jan 7    Mike Craig              Vancouver    High-sticking
         Toronto                              Mike Sillinger
         2 games
Jan 7    Troy Mallette           Dallas       Flagrant elbow
         Boston                               Grant Marshall
         2 games 
Jan 1    Keith Primeau           Washington   Slash
         Hartford                             Joe Juneau
         2 games 
Dec 31   Greg Hawgood            Edmonton     Slash
         San Jose                             Boris Mironov
         2 games
Dec 6    Pavel Bure              Buffalo      Forearm blow
         Vancouver                            Garry Galley
         1 game
Nov 30   Guy Lapointe            Edmonton     Attacking a fan
         Calgary assistant coach
         2 games
Nov 30   Kevin Constantine       Edmonton     Attacking a fan
         Calgary assistant coach
         1 game 
Nov 26   Grant Ledyard           Florida      Kneeing
         Dallas                               Rob Niedermayer
         2 games 
Nov 26   Sasha Lakovic           Edmonton     Attacking a fan
         Calgary
         2 games
Nov 15   Mathieu Schneider       Anaheim      Flagrant elbow
         Toronto                              Paul Kariya
         3 games
Nov 1    Alexei Zhitnik          Dallas       High-sticking
         Buffalo                              Jamie Langenbrunner
         2 games
Oct 16   Daniel Lacroix          Los Angeles  Elbowing 
         Philadelphia                         Kevin Stevens
         2 games 
Oct 11   Brendan Shanahan        Edmonton     Cross-checking
         Detroit                              Greg de Vries
         1 game
Oct 8    Mark Messier            Florida      Checking from behind 
         NY Rangers                           Mike Hough
         2 games  
Oct 8    Louie DeBrusk           Vancouver    Slashing  
         Edmonton                             Dana Murzyn 
         4 games
Oct 7    Scott Stevens           Detroit      High-sticking 
         New Jersey                           Igor Larionov 
         1 game 


LCS: Guide to Hockey

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