Before we get on with a look at the people and events that made up the All-Star Skills Competition as well as the related events in Syracuse, first we need to take a look at a few items included in my last column which were tragically consumed by Carl the Space Goat prior to publication.

Specifically: Providence's Randy Robitaille broke an ankle February 8 and needless to say was unavailable for the game, so he was replaced on the Canadian roster by Cincinnati's Bob 'Disco Duck' Wren. Also not appearing due to injury but not listed as an injured player was Springfield defenseman Brad Tiley.

Of the 11 players named to AHL All-Star teams who were in the NHL as of the Olympic break, ten were reassigned to the AHL for the game. The only no-show was Andrew Brunette, who was retained by the Capitals. (Buffalo assigned Vaclav Varada to the game on Feb. 9.)

Jason Molleken by Tricia McMillan

Also added were three bantam players from the Hamilton area to participate with the Canadian team in the Skills Competition: Mark Mazzetti, David Blais, and Jason Molleken. And if you're wondering, Jason is indeed the son of Hamilton Bulldogs head coach Lorne Molleken.

Robert Dome by Tricia McMillan

Peter Zezel, who was traded to Vancouver mere days before the game and had already played for the parent Canucks, was sent in for the game as well at his own request. His willingness to particpate proved fortuitous (this is called foreshadowing, by the way), however, Zezel was nowhere to be seen on Feb. 10, including at the Skills Competition. He wasn't seen until the Team Canada photo shoot prior to practice on game day. Also missing in action for many of the events was hometown boy Robert Dome. Dome was nursing a pulled hamstring which kept him out of practice and limited him for the Skills and game; his parents were in town for the first time this season as well, and Dome was pretty busy playing host to his family.

Alternative entertainment: Rochester's Craig Charron and his toddler son. Charron spent the whole two days chasing after the youngster, who got into pretty much everything everywhere...

The Skills Competition itself didn't begin in a particularly auspicious manner; actually, it began with the U.S. Anthem singer muffing the lyrics. "If the NHL can mess it up, so can we," declared a Crunch employee. Once things got going, however, they went smoothly.

Daniel Briere by Tricia McMillan

The Puckhandling competition included a team competition, an individual competition, and a round with the bantams. The PlanetUSA team of Vlastimil Kroupa, Josef Marha and Bates Battaglia easily defeated the Canadian group of Brendan Morrison, Stacey Roest and Marc Savard. The individual race was much, much closer, but PlanetUSA's Alexei Yegorov was ruled to have edged Canada's Daniel Briere. In the bantam portion, the Canadian kids lambasted the Americans. Score: PlanetUSA 2, Canada 1.

Jan Nemecek by Tricia McMillan

The fastest skater competition was lacking something - times. Times were never announced for any of the skaters, nor were the individual winners announced. However, PlanetUSA won all of the individual races (Jay Pandolfo over Mark Wotton, Jan Nemecek over Stu Malgunas, and Barry Richter over Daniel Briere) and naturally finished with the fastest average time. The only race won by the Canadian team was the bantam race, which was won by Mark Mazzetti over Brent Bucktooth. The fastest skater in the competition was Richter, who completed the course in 13.86 (according to the post-game press release) and edged Pandolfo for the win, but who didn't win his own race. Richter was matched up against Briere, who had a full step on Richter heading into the finish line. But Briere fell just feet short of the line and slid across it on his knees, taking out the camera which would have recorded his time and disqualifying himself from the competition. Richter didn't even know Briere had fallen until after the competition was over. PlanetUSA 4, Canada 2.

The Hardest Shot competition featured a few repeat offenders, one of whom traded one set of problems for another. Last year, Rich Brennan fell on his rear end on both shot attempts, disqualifying

Jamie Heward by Tricia McMillan

himself and suffering from a major case of giggles. This year, Brennan got off a monster 95.0 shot on his first attempt, then shattered his stick on his second. Evidently there was no regulation regarding how to handle such a situation and eventually Brennan was allowed a second shot. It didn't matter; for the second time in three years, the winner was Canada's Jamie Heward, who unloaded at 97.3 mph for the win. Also turning in heavy loads were Canada's Pascal Trepanier with 95.2 and PlanetUSA's Zdeno Chara with 96.8. Highly embarrassed was Scott Fraser, who couldn't get over 85. PlanetUSA finished with the highest average for one point. PlanetUSA 5, Canada 3.

Finally the goalies got into the act with the Rapid Fire shootout, as two players took turns launching ten quick shots on net. This time the Canadians finally got some points, as Norm Maracle stopped eight of ten shots to win the individual mark and Canada collectively beat PlanetUSA by a hair, or more specifically one goal. PlanetUSA 5, Canada 4.

Michal Handzus by Tricia McMillan

Next was Accuracy shooting. Last year one bantam player shamed his elders by nailing all four targets on four shots. No such luck for the kids this year, as all six used all eight chances and only Jason Molleken was able to hit at least three targets. That was good enough to give Canada a pair of points, which they needed. All three PlanetUSA participants nailed all four targets, with Michal Handzus needing just five shots to do it. Craig Darby and Craig Charron needed seven and six shots, respectively. No Canadian players hit all four, and only Bob Wren managed three, as Steve Guolla and Craig Millar only hit two. PlanetUSA took the team and individual honors; score now PlanetUSA 7, Canada 6.

So it was close going into the final event, although the Canadians were more than a little dependent on their bantam players! The final event was the Breakaway, with each goal scored counting as a point for the team. PlanetUSA's Brian Boucher

Brian Boucher by Tricia McMillan

kicked out all six shots launched at him, while Maracle could stop only four, giving up goals to Kevin Brown and Barry Richter on the first two shots. Petr Franek allowed just one to Daniel Briere in the second round, but Scott Langkow was beaten on his first three shots by Vladimir Vorobiev, Matt Cullen and Jay Pandolfo. In the final round, Robb Stauber stopped all but Mark Wotton and JF Labbe stopped all but Robert Dome for the one evenly matched round. But, the PlanetUSA team scored six goals to Canada's two, for a final score of PlanetUSA 13, Canada 8. Boucher stopped 13 of 16 shots in the two goalie events to earn top goaltending honors.

After the Skills Competition the league sponsored a reception at the Syracuse Museum of Science and Technology. Don't ask me where it is though; the shuttle bus made so many turns to and from the Museum I thought I was being kidnapped. The ride was all the more interesting as honorary Canadian captain Patrick Flatley and Canadian assistant coach Bob McGill spent the trip acting like old geezers and comparing injuries and aching joints. By the time the bus actually arrived at the museum, Jay Pandolfo appeared to be reconsidering his choice of career...

Nothing like a museum to give kids a chance to get in trouble. The younger Charron made his way into a faux operating room; Dad eventually found him under a gurney...

The Museum turned out to be a very happening kind of place even with its IMAX theater closed. Check this place out sometime. Also check out the Dinosaur barbecue - good stuff...

Goaltending Simulator by Tricia McMillan

For the fans, there was Fandemonium across the street at the OnCenter. Activities included Slam!-sponsored online chats with All-Star participants, lots of Sega video games, skills games including hockey, golf, football, basketball and baseball, a street hockey arena with a game that continued pretty much all day, souvenir stands, autographs and appearances from the mascots. There was also a large display from the Hockey Hall of Fame which briefly included the Stanley Cup - but that was gone after the first day, long before most people had even gotten into town. Nuts. A goaltending simulator was extremely popular and was mastered by the Rochester Americans' bus driver, who stopped 22 of 25 shots. The Amerks know where to find an emergency backup now.

Also included were the members of each team signing items for fans en masse. At least, that's what was supposed to happen. PlanetUSA was booked for 4:00 pm day of game; as of 4:00 pm, only six players had shown up and the staff had neglected to bring enough Sharpies for everyone. Festivities were further complicated because the players who were there on time all decided they'd rather sit next to someone other than their assigned neighbors and switched the nameplates. The session didn't start until 4:15, when all but Craig Charron and Robert Dome had turned up, an adequate number of writing utensils had been obtained, and Richard Brennan had been howling for some time. "When does the 4 o'clock autograph session start?"

Hnat Domenichelli by Tricia McMillan

The morning practices were open to the public and largely consisting of trying to move fans out of the way of the team photographs, at least, when not trying to move benches that had six players standing on them. The guys earned their paychecks clambering all over precariously balanced benches while wearing their skates, and eventually everyone was captured on film. Everyone that is except Canada's Hnat Domenichelli, who no-showed practice. (Domenichelli was later announced as having the flu.) Bob Wren further entertained the hundred or so fans by taking a stroll through the stands wearing only a towel. Canada's bantam players participated in the practice, while PlanetUSA's bantams...were in school. Bummer guys.

Mascots by Tricia McMillan

Nearly every mascot in the league stopped by game day and many were available the night before as well. Rochester's Moose was greeted by rival Syracuse fans with 'Shoot the Moose!' but earned a little respect by accidentally falling down the stairs, then getting back up and making a joke of it. St. John's 'Buddy', a giant puffin, did a such a remarkable job of befriending the Phantoms' Phan Club the 'real' Buddy was later introduced to the Phans. Hershey's Cocoa the Bear took the honors for team cheerleading, while Kentucky's Lucky made what will probably be his final appearance; he's been hired by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

The Booster Clubs for all 18 teams were invited to the party and many of them showed up, including the booster clubs for the defunct Baltimore Bandits and Carolina Monarchs. However, in a fit of questionable planning, all of the aforementioned groups were assigned seats in the same section of the building for both events. Fortunately everyone behaved themselves, but boy were the Rats' and Phantoms' entries loud...

Ever present throughout the events was Canada captain Dane Jackson, he of the broken ankle. Jackson managed to master the hotel stairs and the arena ice while finding a lot of creative places to prop up his foot, to include a window. Way to go Dane!

A local fan 'borrowed' an idea from a certain string of television commercials and arrived decked out as Philadelphia goaltender Brian Boucher and wearing a sandwich sign lamenting his inability to stop shots by Syracuse's Robert Dome. The sign on his back read, "Will stop (some) pucks for beer." Over the course of the game he switched to other teams' jerseys, although the signs stayed the same. Apparently he got a few beers, too...

Most players brought their wives, girlfriends, parents and children to Syracuse. Portland defenseman Stu Malgunas brought a very friendly bulldog. Apparently he and his wife brought their baby daughter as well, but she didn't make nearly as many public appearances as the dog...

Some players not involved in the competition showed up anyway, including Albany's Jiri Bicek and Syracuse's Jan Hrdina and Lubomir Vaic. Also stopping by was St. Louis defenseman Chris MacAlpine, who took the award for most schmoozing in a short period of time...

Harry Howell by Tricia McMillan

The younger Charron was on the loose again at the AHL Hall of Fame Luncheon, which featured HOFers Harry Howell, Bill Torrey and Bryan Trottier. Trottier graced the audience with a three sentence thank you speech. Blink and you missed it. Speaking of which, the AHL wisely opted to push back President David Andrews' State of the League speech in favor of an extended speech by guest Rob Bartlett. Who? Bartlett is the head writer for 'Imus in the Morning' and for hire as a standup comedian. By the time Bartlett was through, Andrews was laughing hysterically and Crunch owner Howard Dolgon was in tears from laughter. I'd tell you the one about the Amish hockey players except, well, there aren't any. Catch his act if you can.

OK, I confess. I didn't stick around for Andrews' post-luncheon State of the League address. Sitting in those luncheon chairs for two hours was more than enough for my back and I just couldn't make it through. However, the main gist of his address involved the addition of more teams to the league: Andrews hopes to have the league up to 24 teams by the end of the century, with four six-team divisions. While we know Lowell is joining up next year, Andrews indicated a 20th team is expected next season, likely either Hampton Roads, whose lease obligates them to upgrade, or Binghamton, who want back in big time and so would you if every road trip took you at least to Michigan if not further. The other known quantity is Wilkes-Barre, PA; other future possibilities include Landover, MD; New Brunswick and Atlantic City, NJ; Greensboro, NC; Dayton and Toledo, OH; and Lansing, MI. I was seated at the banquet with some of the Atlantic City group, who said they were more interested in joining the ECHL than the AHL. Also, Fredericton may be moving and Adirondack may not be far behind them.

Other points of interest: the AHL will definitely be used as a training ground for some NHL experimental rule changes during the month of March. Eight proposed rule changes will be tried out for one game each; the AHL wants to avoid affecting playoff outcomes, so get ready Providence, you're the guinea pigs.

Racial/ethnic/miscellaneous slurs will be dealt with on an individual incident basis rather than a rulebook basis from here on out.

Call it the New Haven rule: beginning next season, all teams must place an awning over any entrances to the ice used by either team or by the officials to prevent fans from starting something.

The cost of purchasing an expansion franchise will rise to $3 million, and the league is close to completing a collective bargaining agreement.

Finally, while not formally announced, it was indicated that Philadelphia will host the 1999 All-Star Game and Hartford is likely for 2000.

[ issues | web extra | stats | nhl archive | home | chat | mailing list | about us | search | comments ]

1998 © Copyright LCS Hockey All Rights Reserved