_ _ _ _ | | ____ __ | | ____ ___ | | ____ ___ | | ____ ___ | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY ================================================================ Five Star - ELECTRONIC EDITION - * * * * * ================================================================ Issue 86 Jan. - Feb. 9, 1998 560,000 bytes ---------------------------------------------------------------- Visit us on the web at http://www.lcshockey.com/ for all your hockey needs. Our web site provides daily news stories, stats, and more. To subscribe/unsubscribe from the LCS Hockey mailing list contact zippy@psu.edu You may access LCS Guide to Hockey on America Online at keyword "LCS Hockey". Our AOL coverage includes exclusive daily content not available on our website. ---------------------------------------------------------------- A TRIBUTE TO SWEDEN ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief Welcome to our tribute to Sweden! Or should I say valkommen! A lot of people don't know this, but LCS: Guide to Hockey is huge over in Sweden. The Swedes love the LCS. And we love the Swedes. We're like rock stars over there. Zippy can't even walk down the street in Sweden without being mobbed by adoring fans. And Swedes can't walk in our neighborhood without us mobbing them. Why do we love Sweden so much? It's hard to say really. A true love for Sweden isn't acquired, it's something that's born deep in the marrow of one's bones. It would be easier to ask why the sky is blue or the rose's scent so sweet. We don't look for explanations. We only search for ways to express our admiration for the great Scandinavian country. The reason for the timing of our tribute, however, can be explained. With the 1998 Winter Olympics just around the corner, we at LCS would like to make a very important announcement. It gives us great pride to throw our support behind Sweden in the upcoming international hockey tournament. Yes, that's right! LCS is predicting Sweden to win the Gold Medal! Sweden's Olympic roster is a brick house. Leading the way is the great Peter Forsberg. He led the blue and yellow to Gold before, and he's primed and ready to do it again. While Forsberg is undoubtedly the best all-around player in the NHL, not far behind is Swedish teammate Daniel Alfredsson. The Ottawa winger teamed up with Forsberg at the World Cup to put on a ghetto clinic. The Olympics just offers them another stage on which to dominate. See that right there is more than enough to win Gold. But Sweden's got more to offer. Oh yes, they have more. How about Mats Sundin? The Big Swede will humiliate the competition with his graceful skating and effortless stickhandling. You want a pure sniper? Look no further than the rifleman, Mikael Renberg. It's almost not fair. I'd keep mentioning the never-ending stream of talent on offense, but it would just intimidate the other countries too much. It's probably best if we just moved on. But things are just as strong on defense, where Nicklas Lidstrom, Calle Johansson, and Ulf Samuelsson keep things under control. And there's no weakness in net with Tommy Soderstrom and Tommy Salo manning the pipes. There's been talk that Soderstrom wasn't going to play, but that's just wishful thinking on the competition's part. We have faith that the li'l fella will be there. Because you know what they say about Soderstrom? I believe it's something like, "He's the greatest goaltender ever." Yes, LCS loves itself some Sweden. And we're sure the boys will skate away with the Gold. But we have a feeling that some of you, our valued readers, don't share our respect. That's the true purpose of this tribute, to help spread the good word of Sweden and open the eyes of the blind among us. For Sweden is great. Sweden is good. Now go forth in peace, to love and to serve Sweden. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden: What a Country! ---------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Iovino What would a LCS Hockey Tribute to Sweden Issue be without a little old school learnin'? If there's one thing we here at LCS Hockey love, it's knowledge. As a matter of fact, knowledge ranks right up there with our most favorite things in the world. I think it rates right behind malt liquor, classic television, more malt liquor, the Hartford Whalers, Don Knotts, Arnold Jackson and more malt liquor. Oh yeah, and Brian Burke. Boy do we love ourselves some Brian Burke. Anyway, we all remember those lame-ass elementary school reports we had to write as children, don't we? Well, this is kind of like those reports, but since I'm not getting a grade on it I have taken the liberty to only include cool stuff that everyone should know about Sweden. Like what the name ABBA really means... First of all, a geography lesson. Did you know that Sweden is approximately the size of California? That's right, their whole damn country is the size of an American state! Cameroon is just about the same size as Sweden, too. That's odd. And Sweden has a population of about 8.8 million people. That's not a lot. Now, I didn't research this, but Los Angeles has got to be close to the eight billion mark by now. (On a side note, Oprah has just climbed above seven million.) Sweden is also one of the countries on earth located farthest from the Equator. And the capital of Sweden? None other than Stockholm. Sweden has been at war with its neighbor, Finland, for thousands of years. Originally a holy war fought during the Viking period over the right to use frozen waterways on the West Bank, today the two superpowers are still fighting and there seems to be no end to the Cold War in sight. Finland, which was a part of Sweden until 1809, is a surviving member of the old Communist regime. The country is controlled by a militant communist dictator named Mikko Makkala, who sees Finland as pure and the Swedes as a lesser breed of Scandinavians. It is Makkala's goal to put an end to the Swedish race, and he vows to use any means necessary to do so. For the past 40 years, Swedish rebellion groups and freedom fighters have given up their lives in an attempt to win back their ever-decreasing borders and put an end to the bloodshed once and for all. Norway, usually a country known for its isolationism, has joined Sweden in order to help defeat evil. Their efforts took a major setback 13 years ago when Finland dropped a small atomic bomb on the Swedish civilian town of Amal. Luckily, the bomb wasn't a direct hit on Amal. It veered off course and landed in the deep waters of Lake Vanern, saving thousands of lives. God bless you Sweden in your quest to win back your freedom from a most impossible enemy. Now on to the good stuff. Sure, Sweden only has 8.8 million people, but four of those people made up the disco group ABBA. Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad survived the 70s and saw their songs become the anthem for many gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transvestites in the 90s. ABBA could be the most famous people to come out of Sweden, but there are many others who can't go unnoticed. When you think of cheesy 80s pop rock/techno crap, you just can't forget Ace of Base. Man, that one guy in the group that got really chunky freaks me out. I saw the sign, buddy, and it says your career is down the drain! And what about early 80s rockers, Roxette? They were glam rock at its best. Sweden's not just all about rock n' roll, however. The Swedes also know how to play tennis. Bjorn Borg was a wild and crazy Swede who kicked butt on the tennis circuit many years ago. Borg attempted to come out of retirement a few years back. He was still using his old wooden rackets and everything. Things were going well until a Finnish extremist nearly cost Borg his life during an attack at the Australian Open. The extremist, who was miffed that Borg knocked off Jari Varvio in straight sets, whacked Borg in the leg with crowbar. Borg was forced to hang up his rackets once again, this time for good. Other important Swedish heroes include Anders Celsius, whose centigrade thermometer bears his name and is now used in much of the world. Gustaf de Laval was a wonderful Swede who invented the cream separator, a milking machine and a steam turbine with a resilient axle. I have no idea what that means. Zippy's favorite Swede is Johan Petter Johansson, the man who invented the monkey wrench. And where would be today without the safety match? You can thank Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch for that every time you set fire to an abandoned warehouse. While you're at it, thank Carl Richard Nyberg for inventing the blowtorch. And who could forget Gideon Sundback? He is responsible for designing a well-functioning zipper. We all know how much fun it is to taunt the Amish with our zippers, don't we? Let's not forget some of the great export products to come out of Sweden. There are Volvo and Saab cars, IKEA furniture, Absolut Vodka and Ericsson telephones. Question: Does anyone really own a Saab? And If so, do they ever admit it? While inventors are great and all, nothing...I said nothing beats a Muppet. Sweden has their own very special Jim Henson character: the Swedish Chef. The Chef has entertained crowds for years with his zany cooking antics and mysterious semi-Swedish accent. His chocolate moose bit is an all-time favorite among many in the cooking community. So there you have it -- the best Sweden has to offer. Hopefully you've learned something new about Sweden. I know in researching this article, I was amazed to see how far the yellow and blue have come. From great inventors to heroic battles against the forces of evil, Sweden is a country all of us can be proud of. ---------------------------------------------------------------- World Factbook - Sweden ---------------------------------------------------------------- by LCS Hockey Source: The World Factbook is produced annually by the Central Intelligence Agency. 1996 statistics. Sweden MapLocation: 62 00 N, 15 00 E -- Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway FlagDescription: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) Geography Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total area: 449,964 sq km land area: 410,928 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km Coastline: 3,218 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 64% other: 27% Irrigated land: 1,120 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea Geographic note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas People Population: 8,900,954 (July 1996 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 860,940; female 815,967) 15-64 years: 64% (male 2,884,687; female 2,794,593) 65 years and over: 17% (male 654,439; female 890,328) (July 1996 est.) Population growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.) Birth rate: 11.55 births/1,000 population (1996 est.) Death rate: 11.43 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.) Net migration rate: 5.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.06 years male: 75.62 years female: 80.63 years (1996 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1996 est.) Nationality: noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish Ethnic divisions: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987) Languages: Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Government Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige Data code: SW Type of government: constitutional monarchy Capital: Stockholm Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan Independence: 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June 1809, a constitutional monarchy was established National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June Constitution: 1 January 1975 Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) was elected by the Riksdag cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.0% of votes for a seat in parliament Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen), judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet) Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Goran PERSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne FRANZEN; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64 Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) Economy Economic overview: Aided by peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately-owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In 1993, agriculture accounted for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary difficulties, inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU (European Currency Unit), and depreciation of the krona has boosted export competitiveness and helped lift Sweden out of its 1991-93 recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the government adopted an adjustment program in November 1994 that aims to eliminate the government budget deficit and to stabilize the debt to GDP ratio. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995. GDP: purchasing power parity - $177.3 billion (1995 est.) GDP real growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.) GDP per capita: $20,100 (1995 est.) GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 27% services: 71% (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1995) Labor force: 4.552 million (84% unionized, 1992) by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991) Unemployment rate: 7.8% (December 1995) plus about 6% in training programs Budget: revenues: $109.4 billion expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96) Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles Industrial production growth rate: 11.7% (1994) Electricity: capacity: 34,560,000 kW production: 141 billion kWh consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993) Agriculture: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the former Soviet Republics and Baltic states for the European market Exports: $61.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EU 59.1% (Germany 13.2%, UK 10.2%, Denmark 6.9%, France 5.1%), Norway 8.1%, Finland 4.8%, US 8.0% (1994) Imports: $51.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EU 62.6% (Germany 18.4%, UK 9.5%, Denmark 6.6%, France 5.5%), Finland 6.3%, Norway 6.1%, US 8.5% (1994) External debt: $66.5 billion (1994) Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.769 billion (1993) Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.7240 (January 1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) Fiscal year: 1 January - 31 December (Sweden changed its fiscal year from 1 July - 30 June in 1995) Transportation Railways: total: 12,624 km (includes 953 km of privately-owned railways) standard gauge: 11,767 km 1.435-m gauge (7,320 km electrified and 1,152 km double track) other: 857 km NA-m gauge (1995) Highways: total: 135,859 km paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,041 km (1991 est.) Waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges Pipelines: natural gas 84 km Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall Merchant marine: total: 169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,993,422 GRT/2,183,215 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 35, chemical tanker 24, combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 32, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 14 (1995 est.) Airports: total: 251 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 85 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 26 with paved runways under 914 m: 127 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.) Heliports: 1 (1995 est.) Communications Telephones: 7.41 million (1986 est.) Telephone system: excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional telephone channels international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway) Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0 Radios: 7.272 million (1993 est.) Television broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters) Televisions: 3.5 million Defense Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,133,816 males fit for military service: 1,867,031 males reach military age (19) annually: 51,357 (1996 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 2.5% of GDP (FY94/95) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Reunite LCS with a Swede ---------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Iovino It's not every day that people meet Swedes. But when it happens, it is considered a special moment. Considering that there are only 8.8 million people living in Sweden, the staff of LCS Hockey feels lucky to have known at least one of them. Our encounter with a real live Swede occurred back in our days at Greensburg Salem Senior High School in Greensburg, Pa. During my junior year, (the rest of the staff's senior year), our high school was infiltrated by a Swede named Ola Jorup. Ola was part of an exchange program in 1993. Lord knows how he ended up in Greensburg, but his presence helped all of us learn how to hate Finland, and our ice hockey team certainly loved the skills he brought to the team. Ola, who never declared a true hatred for Finland in public, is from Djurgarden, Sweden, which is right in the middle of Stockholm. A tall, lanky fellow, Ola was a fluid skater, just like most Swedes, I guess. By Swedish standards, Ola wasn't an outstanding hockey player. He actually quit playing organized hockey for a while because he thought he wasn't any good. But by Western Pennsylvania standards, he was one of the area's best defensemen. He made the all- star team after the season. On the ice, Ola was known for his smooth skating. Off the ice, he was known for his wit. He talked kinda slow in English, but I don't blame him since it was his second language. It was always entertaining when Ola said words like Malmo (MAL-mo) and Calle Johansson (KAL-ee yo-HAAAN-son). The language barrier didn't stop him from telling some great stories about life in Sweden, however. He, although deep down we knew it was there. Ola's favorite subject was none other than Kent Nilsson. His eyes would always light up when he talked about "Mr. Magic". For those of you who don't know who Nilsson is, here's some background information. Nilsson played nine seasons in the NHL for four different teams between 1979-80 and 1994-95. He was a prolific scorer who totaled 686 points in 553 NHL games and won one Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1987. Hockey analyst Al Strachan once said that Nilsson was the "greatest pure talent ever to play in Sweden." Nilsson is more famous in Sweden for his international play instead of his years in the NHL. Apparently Nilsson was a bad man when it came to playing against the world's best. Ola would always tell us about one great goal Nilsson scored against Finland (I think) that made him a national hero. Greensburg Salem only got to enjoy Ola for one year, because as soon as summer hit, Ola went back home. And that was the last we heard from Ola Jorup. Five years later, LCS is hoping that we'll be able to find Ola and find out what he's doing. That's where you, our valued European readers, come into play. You are our eyes and ears in Western Europe. If anyone can find Ola Jorup, we know you can. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Ola Jorup, or are personal friends of the lovable Swede, please e-mail us at sportif@westol.com. Here's the vital information you'll need for your mission, should you choose to accept it: Name: Ola Jorup Last known residence: Djurgarden, Sweden Height: about 6-foot-1 Age: 22 (or somewhere around there) Position: Defense Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Miscellaneous: We think his dad was really rich. His favorite hockey player is Kent Nilsson. (Picture on website) ---------------------------------------------------------------- SWEDISH RECIPES ---------------------------------------------------------------- by LCS Hockey Sweden is known for lots of things, including its fine cuisine. We searched the net and found some traditional Swedish recipes and gave them that subtle LCS Hockey touch.

Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients: * 1 pound ground beef * 1 pound ground pork * 4 tablespoons bread crumbs * 4 tablespoons cream or milk * 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion * 1 egg, beaten * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/4 teaspoon pepper * 1 bottle of Night Train Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 2. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into small meatballs and arrange on a baking sheet. 3. Bake for 15 minutes. Makes about 40 swell meatballs. But you'll only be able to eat a few before passing out. That Night Train is a mean wine.

Sillsallad - Swedish Herring Salad

Ingredients: * 1 can (400-500 grams) pickled sliced beets * 250 grams boiled, refrigerated, peeled potatoes * 150 grams marinated herring filets * 1 apple * 1 small onion * 1/3 cup dill pickle * 1 bottle of Night Train Directions: 1. Drain the liquid from the pickled sliced beets, reserving the liquid. 2. Drain the liquid from 3/4 cup (or one jar, 6-8 oz. size) marinated, snack tidbits or wine-flavored herring filet pieces. 3. Cut (into 1/4-inch cubes) the beets, herring, one medium sized tart apple (peeled), and potatoes (boiled and peeled, hot or cold) and mix them all together, while pouring in the Night Train. 4. Blend in 1/3 cup finely chopped dill pickle, one small (finely chopped) onion and the reserved beet liquid. 5. Put into a serving bowl or pack into a 4-cup mold. Cover and chill, at least over night or for as long as two days. This is good stuff. But you won't be able to eat much before you pass out. That Night Train is a mean wine.

Hasselbackspotatis - Hasselback Potatoes

Ingredients: * 12 medium-sized potatoes * 3 tbsp butter or margarine * 3 tbsp grated cheese * 1-2 tbsp dry bread crumbs * salt * 1 bottle of Night Train Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 2. Place the peeled potatoes in a wooden spoon and make vertical slices, 2-3 mm apart, about 3/4 of the way through the potatoes. The wooden spoon will protect the final 1/4 of the potatoes. 3. With the cut-side up, place the potatoes in a buttered baking dish. 4. Open bottle of Night Train and pour most of it over the potatoes, then sprinkle with salt. 5. Bake for 30 minutes, now and then basting the potatoes with the rest of the Night Train. 6. After 30 minutes, sprinkle with bread crumbs and, if desired, grated cheese. 7. Continue to bake for another 15 minutes. Damn, these potatoes are tasty. But you won't be able to eat too many before passing out. That Night Train is a mean wine.

Våfflor - Waffles

Ingredients: * 1 bottle Night Train (cold) * all-purpose flour (325 ml) * a pinch of salt * 400 ml heavy or whipping cream * melted butter Directions: 1. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the 325 ml of flour, 250 ml of the Night Train and the salt until you have a smooth mixture. 2. Whip the cream until it is firm and mix it carefully with the water-flour mixture. 3. Preheat a waffle iron (yes, unfortunately you do need a special iron; we have not been able to find a good substitute) and grease it lightly. 4. Pour 100 ml of the batter onto the waffle iron and cook until crisp and golden (approximately 2 minutes). Serve immediately together with whipped cream and a suitable fruit or berry jam. Some even like to sweeten the waffles with some granulated sugar. Although you wouldn't be able to eat too many before you pass out. That Night Train is a mean wine.

Glögg - Spicy Hot Red Wine

Ingredients: * one bottle of Night Train * half a cup vodka * 10 g whole cinnamon * 1.5 grams cloves (about 20 pieces) * a small piece of ginger * 2 g crushed cardamom seeds * the (dried) peels of half a bitter orange * 300 g (slightly more than a cup) sugar * one tablespoon vanilla sugar Directions: 1. Crush the cardamom and cinnamon, put all spices in a covered glass jar, add the vodka. Let stand for 24 hours. 2. Sieve the vodka, discard the spices. 4. Mix the Night Train and the spicy vodka in a pan, add vanilla and sugar. 5. Heat covered for a few minutes, but do not under any circumstances let the mixture boil. Serve sizzling hot. But you'll still eventually pass out. That Night Train is a mean wine. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Common Swedish Phrases ---------------------------------------------------------------- by LCS Hockey In case you, our valued readers, ever travel to Sweden, we've tried to piece together some common Swedish phrases using a Swedish-English dictionary. The syntax may not be the best, but the point should get across. Lang bor de Val! - Long live the Whale! Sicken det finns? - What it is? Han finns de action? - Where is the action? Har du sedd min kaslonger? - Have you seen my pants? Langa de vin. - Pass the wine. Jag var i Cleveland den vecka, officer. - I was in Cleveland that week, officer. Du ar a illa skona kvinnor. - You are a very beautiful woman. Skulle du lik att se de hem av a ensam, ensam man? - Would you like to see the home of a lonely, lonely man? Forlat, Jag tanke den var min ben. - Sorry, I thought that was my leg. Behagar skaffa ej slag mig om. - Please do not slap me again. Nej, nej, ej de paprika sprej! - No, no, not the pepper spray! Jasa Gud, min ogon! - Oh God, my eyes! ---------------------------------------------------------------- A WORD WITH THE KIDS ---------------------------------------------------------------- by LCS Hockey While planning our tribute to Sweden, we thought it would be a good idea to get the story directly from the source. So we contacted our friend Matti Merilaid of the Brannhallskolan school located in Nacka, Sweden, which is just outside of Stockholm. Last year, Matti's students, who range in age from 10-13, were working on a class project about pre-NHL hockey. When Matti wrote to us asking for some information to help their cause, we were more than happy to share the knowledge. So when we needed info on Sweden, we knew we could go to Matti and the kids. This is just a perfect example of the special rapport we have with the Swedish people. Which once again proves our theory, Swedes love the LCS. Anyway, Matti was kind enough to ask some of the youngsters at the school to write about their homeland. We would now like to share these writings with you, our valued readers. These wonderful kids, who are still learning English, did their best to share their thoughts on what it's like to live in Sweden. And we are eternally grateful for their kindness. Enjoy. "Hello! Here in Sweden we have no polarbears in our country. We have 25 landscapes. Our Capital is Stockholm. Sweden is a beautiful country. It's not so cold here but not so warm either. We live in a suburb to Stockholm. We have many museums here. We have landscapeanimals and landscapeflowers. Our landscapes are called: Dalsland, Blekinge, Bohuslan, Vastergotland, Halland, Skane, Smaland, Oland, Uppland, Norrbotten, Gotland, Gastrikland, Lappland, Ostergotland, Halsingland, Jamtland, Sodermanland, Medelpad, Harjedalen, Narke, Angermanland, Dalarna, Vastmanland, Vasterbotten, Varmland. That was the 25 landscapes. We have a very big cienam, called Cosmonova. They show films in omnimax size. Goodbye!" -- Sanna Bjurstrom, 12, and Hanna Sandberg, 12. "If you compare Sweden to USA you could easily say that USA have more 'life' than Sweden. Sweden is a very quiet country. I've been to USA myself and was chocked over that two countries could be so different to eachother. The food for example, USA have more junk food than Sweden, that's why the most people in USA are very fat, in Sweden the most people are tall and skinny. Buses, a very important thing here in Sweden. People go to work by bus, visit their friends by bus etc. The buses here are very comfortable. Sweden is very big with sports, hockey for example, my favourite team is Djurgardens I F. Other sports Sweden is good at is for example swimming. Sweden came on the second place last week in 100 m butterfly. It was a swim-WC compatition. Now it's snowing outside, I hate snow!" -- Roeida Alshagra, 12. "Sweden are a beuatiful country. You can swim on the summer and skiing on the vinter. In Sweden lives 9 millions, only in Stockholm lives 1 462 000 peoples. Swedens area is 450 000 km2. In Sweden we have a big mountain that's name are Kebnekaise. This winter we don't get so much snow so nearly everyone want snow now. Swedens ice-hockeyleauge are the best after NHL have I heard. I like to play hockey to. I playing ice-hockey in Aftonbladet cup. Thats a cup for all childrens." -- Viktor Lundbäck, 11. "Hi, my name is Alex I'm 12 years old. My idols is Wu Tang Clan and Cyppress Hill. I like football. Hello, my name is Linus. I'm 12 years old. My idols are Prodigy and Bloodhound Gang. I play hockey here in Sweden. My favourite team is AIK. Hello my name is Richard I'm 12 years old. My idols are Willie Smith and Coolio. I play football and hockey. I play football with Alex and hockey with Linus. Alex are a hip hoper. In Sweden we become more and more like Americans. We listen at your music (Willie Smith and Backstreet Boys for example). We watch your movies (Titanic) and we eating American food like hamburger and pan pizza." -- Alex Mugabe, 12, Linus Persson, 12, and Richard Lindstrom, 12. "In Sweden we have a zoo it's called 'Skansen', The zoo is in Stockholm wich is Swedens capital. In the zoo we have many wild animals. For example: bears, horses, foxes, monkeys and many more. The animals are inside fences. We can watch them. On the horses we can ride. Last year the bears had babys. They have it every year. The babys are so pretty. In a bassin we have seals.We can watch the seals on many floors. It's fun to be there. You can find a souvenirshop there. In the shop you can buy 'dala horses', keyrings, stickers, pens, sea shells, rubber animals and so on. In the zoo you can go in to the terrarium, there you can see snakes, spiders, crabbs, crocodiles they also have a nursery where you can see baby animals when they are born. Then you buy icecream and go home. If you want you can take the boat to Djurgarden or take the bus from central station. In winter here in Sweden it's rather cold. In Stockholm we don't have snow right now, but in Lappland in the north of Sweden they have a lot of snow (real winter). The last year we have snow. When we have snow all the kids go out and play, or rid snowracers, it's fun. many kids build snowcaves, snowlanterns and snowmen. We use to ski at Hammarbybacken, that's also fun. Some ski and some snowboard." -- Anna Olofsson, 13. "In Stockholm we have a tivoli we call it 'Grona Lund'. It's very fun too be there. Beside the tivoli we have a zoo we call it 'Skansen'. It's a lot of animals there. Many tourists visit Skansen and Grona Lund. I play football in a team Boo FF. In Stockholm we have 'Stockholm Soccer Cup', it's a fotball cup on grass. It's many country in it. 23th february we have sportholliday many people in Sweden go to the Swedish alps to ski or to snowboard." -- Elin Lindberg, 12. "Hello my name is Linus and I'm ten years old. We have no president we have a king we have a crownprinsess she is going to study in USA we have snow now we have a city-hall there we are giving out Nobelprice we have 25 landscapes in Sweden." -- Linus Eriksson, 10. "Hello! My name is Miretta Palmroth and I love Michael Jackson, I ride horses in Huddinge in south Sweden. It's very fun to ride. Today the 23 januari me and my class 6b are going to a ice house. There is very nice ice sculpturs in the ice house. The house is built of ice and snow. Everybody can go and watch in the house. We are a very small class, We are 11 students." -- Miretta Palmroth, 13. "We have a good hockeyteam whid name Djurgarden I F. Meny people in the school play football with Boo FF. We lives in Orminge one mils from Stockholm. We have thri letters more then USA: Å Ä Ö. We have a big mountain whid name Kebenikaise. The biggest sport in Sweden is football. We have a center ner by the school whid name Orminge centrum and a hospetale. We have a animal park in Stockholm whit name Skansen. This year is Stockholm kulturhuvudstad (don't know in English). Good by." -- Peter Sehlin, 12, Christian Bergius, 12, and David Granlund, 12. "Hello! In Stockholm we have a amusement park it called Grona Lund. There we have one roller coaster, lover tunnel. radio cars, goast tunnel and many more. When I go by a roller coaster I get butterflys in my stomach. In the lover tunnel you can see lover pairs and one crocodil and a few hobgoblins. You can ride radio cars. You should croquet with other cars. It's very funny to do that. When I go by a goast tunnel you can be scared. In the tunnel you can find animals and ghost that scare you crazy. They also have a flying carpet it's rotates round and round, the swinging is glories. You can buy som lottery tickets you can win soft animals. The animal can be very biggs. And later you going home and sleeping. Have nice day, buy, buy!" -- Camilla Ek, 13. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Why I Love My Swedish National Team Jersey ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Brad Kane, Carolina Correspondent It certainly gets a lot of strange looks. My jersey, that is. The one I got for Christmas about two years ago; a bright yellow and blue replica jersey of the Swedish national team. I've got a lot of hockey jerseys in my collection, but none quite like "Tre Kronor". I love it, I really do, just like I love most things related to Sweden -- the language, the snow, the big sweaters, the idea of a blond-haired, blue-eyed Swedish lass, heck, even the clogs. (OK, well, maybe it's really the fourth item on that list I really, really like.) But, there's always the jersey. It's a home model. Yellow, with blue shoulders and three blue crowns on the front -- hence the term "Tre Kronor", or "three crowns" for those of you not in the Swedish know. (No need to feel left out for not knowing that, though. There's only a select few that are truly up on their Swedish culture. Sadly, I am not one of them.) It's also got a lot of holes in it. It came like that. Tiny little holes that almost make it look like a practice jersey. After much thought, and some rather emotional and spirited debate with myself about this one (hey, I was pretty mad because I thought it WAS only a practice jersey), I've decided that the holes are there for a reason. In fact, I'd bet lots and lots of Swedish money (whatever it's called) that the holes are what make Swedish players skate so much better than mere North Americans do. Think about it -- more holes equals less wind resistance which means greater speed. A HA! Now you know. Peter Forsberg, I'm calling you out! My jersey pretty much goes where I go. That means it's been to some pretty exotic places. The convenience store right down the street, for one. Always gets a lot of weird looks there. Sort of makes it seem like the tub of butter that's been sitting in the back of the fridge down there for six months came alive and tried to buy a gallon of milk and a newspaper. It's also been to Florida and back. Yep, that's right. It saw more sun in one week that most Swedish folks see in a lifetime. I wore it to a Panthers-Avalanche game down there a few years back. Walking through the promenade at Miami Arena that's only slightly wider than the hallway in my house, I got accosted by a group of blond, smiling people that I assume were Swedish. Why? Well, they weren't speaking English, they seemed really excited and a few of them were pointing at my chest. After a few seconds I made the connection, and I moved around them as effortlessly as Mats Sundin on a breakaway. After avoiding what could have been an embarrassing setback for US-Sweden relations (hey, I don't know Swedish and trust me, you don't want me as an ambassador), I got accosted yet again. This time it was a drunk guy, which there seems to be a lot of in Miami Arena. His eyes lit up when he saw me. He slowly lifted his arm up and slowly extended his index finger in my general direction. (Hey, I did say he was drunk). I could feel it coming. That moment of recognition I've gotten so many times in the past, that moment when all the neurons connect and fire at once, that moment of true clarity that happens to people who've only ever watched hockey at the Olympics. Now, it was happening again. I closed my eyes in full anticipation of the blast... "Hey, isn't that Finland?" I stopped thinking about whatever I was thinking at the time (probably how good that girl in the group of Swedish folks looked), and started to shake my head. Slowly at first, then more rapidly. I shook. I trembled. I felt like vomiting. Finland? The hated enemy? The despised arch-rival? The country of reindeer-loving, funny-hat-wearing, Teemu Selanne lovers? How could he be so wrong? Even in a state of accelerated alcohol saturation, how could he be so tactless, so uncaring, so fast-and-loose with fact? The countries couldn't be any more different. I mean, come on, let's look at the tale of the tape: --Sweden is covered with snow nine months out of the year. Finland is covered with snow nine months out of the year. --Swedish people are predominately blond haired, blue eyed. Finnish people are predominately blond haired, blue eyed. --In Sweden, the main sports of choice are hockey and soccer. In Finland, the main sports of choice are hockey and soccer. --Swedish hockey players have great names like Hakan Loob and Per Djoos. Finnish hockey players have great names like Kari Takko and Jyrki Lumme. --The Swedish national team jersey is yellow and blue. The Finnish national team jersey is white and blue. There you have it. The two countries couldn't be any more different. He was clearly wrong, and after a brief explanation, I was on my way again. The jersey also brings me luck at my fantasy hockey league drafts. That's subjective of course, but I'd like to believe that it does. For some reason, though, every year I keep wanting to take Johan Garpenlov or Mikael Andersson with my first pick. That's a hard habit to break, and maybe one day soon I will... But you know what I like best about my jersey? It's the manufacturer's label on the back of the jersey near the waist. Where most jerseys say Starter or, God forbid, Nike, mine says neither. Nope, mine was made by Pro Joy. Pro Joy! What a happy, succinct, name for a company. You are pro, therefore you are joy! Or something silly like that...something really silly like that. Considering that I've never seen another person wearing a Pro Joy jersey, I'd like to think that I'm sorta, kinda cool, you know? I'm original, I'm hip, I'm now. It would be even better if the jersey had actually been made in Sweden. It wasn't, but it was made in a place that's almost as cool (uh, Canada). So, come February, when the Olympics are in full swing, guess where I'll be when Sweden takes to the ice? Um, asleep; the games won't be on until midnight EST. But, I'll wear my jersey to bed anyway. My dreams will be filled with the sights and sounds of Sweden running up the score on those poor, defenseless Finns, on the way to yet another gold medal. NOTE: The writer would like all readers to know that no Finnish people were harmed in the writing of this story. _____________________________________________________ CREDITS Michael Dell........................Editor-in-Chief Zippy the Wonder Chimp.................Computer Boy Jim Iovino.............................Ace Reporter Matthew Secosky............................Whatever Dan Hurwitz.............Force for Cultural Hegemony John Kreiser.....................Featured Columnist David A. Feete......................Featured Writer Alex Carswell.................Anaheim Correspondent Matt Brown.....................Boston Correspondent Joe Brunner...................Buffalo Correspondent Tony Wong.....................Calgary Correspondent Brad Kane....................Carolina Correspondent Dan Glovier...................Chicago Correspondent Greg D'Avis..................Colorado Correspondent Jim Panenka....................Dallas Correspondent Dino Cacciola.................Detroit Correspondent Simon D. Lewis...............Edmonton Correspondent Eric A. Seiden................Florida Correspondent Matt Moore................Los Angeles Correspondent Jacques Robert...............Montreal Correspondent Phil Aromando..............New Jersey Correspondent David Strauss...............Islanders Correspondent Alex Frias....................Rangers Correspondent The Nosebleeders..............Ottawa Correspondents Eric Meyer...............Philadelphia Correspondent Whoever.......................Phoenix Correspondent Joe Ashkar..................St. Louis Correspondent Al Swanson...................San Jose Correspondent Seth Lerman.................Tampa Bay Correspondent Jonah Sigel...................Toronto Correspondent Carol Schram................Vancouver Correspondent Jason Sheehan..............Washington Correspondent Tricia McMillan...................AHL Correspondent _____________________________________________________ LCS Guide to Hockey, Issue 86, January 27, 1998. Email address: sportif@oak.westol.com Good ol' postal address: 632 Hempfield Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. Web Site: http://www.lcshockey.com/ open 24 hours a day. AOL Keyword: "LCS" or "LCS Hockey", exclusive coverage. _____________________________________________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------- World Domination Report VIII, NO VII ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Zippy, Wonder Chimp STATE OF THE EMPIRE World Domination ain't easy, it takes time. Since we're impatient, the semi-brillant minds at LCS Hockey have decided to rally the troops and make a rejuvenated attempt at world domination. In the coming weeks, we will announce our plans to the world. Stay tuned for how you, our valued readers, can aid our noble mission. In the meantime, we'd like to give a shout out to Dom Giagnocavo, who recently turned 22. LCS Hockey on America Online We're still on America Online, however, our area is undergoing major renovations. It's all part of our doubled efforts for world domination. Check it out at keyword "LCS Hockey" to read exclusive semi-daily columns from the staff of LCS Hockey. Also try out the chat boards. LCS: Questions o' the Month The same questions have been online for months because, as usual, nobody can answer them. LCS Hockey Pool Third epoch has begun. What else is there to say? Updates every Wednesday. Coming Soon! New features, more excitement, and the Olympics. ---------------------------------------------------------------- CHIMP BYTES: GENERAL NHL NEWS AND NOTES ---------------------------------------------------------------- by Zippy, Wonder Chimp JAGR AGREES TO $48 MILLION, SIX-YEAR DEAL PITTSBURGH - Jaromir Jagr agreed to a new $48 million, six-year contract on January 27 that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL. The long-awaited deal was announced at an 11 a.m. news conference in Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old is already under contract through the 1998-99 season in a deal that paid him roughly $5 million per season. The new six-year contract will go into affect after the 1998-99 season. During the first two years, Jagr will continue to earn $5 million per season. The last four years, however, will be worth an average of $9.5 million per season. In 2003-2004, the last year of the contract, Jagr will be collecting $10.4 million. I suspect that Jagr and the Pens management developed this back-loaded deal in order to sign Ron Francis, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Jagr would be the first to admit that center Ron Francis has played a vital role in his success. Keeping him in a Pens uniform for another 2-3 years would be in Jagr's, and the team's, best interests. Expect a 2-3 year deal worth $3-4 million a season offered to Francis at the end of the year. Following the announcement, Jagr commented on his new contract, ''I've never had that much (money) before. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'll give it to people who don't have any.'' That Jagr is a great guy. You know, LCS Hockey is looking for a Mr. Drummond... The Penguins also announced a reduction in most ticket prices for the 1998-99 season. This annoucement wasn't surprising given the fact the Pens have only sold out two home games this season. HAWKS RE-SIGN LW PROBERT Left wing Bob Probert, one of the National Hockey League's top enforcers who is out for the season with a torn rotator cuff, signed a three-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Financial terms were undisclosed, but Probert will receive a raise from this season's $2 million salary. He also expressed hope that he might come back in time for the playoffs. WILLIE O'REE GIVEN NEW MISSION BY THE NHL In 1958 Willie O'Ree broke the color barrier in the NHL. Exactly 40 years later to the day, O'Ree is finally being being elevated to his rightful position as one of hockey's heroes. The tribute occured on Saturday between the periods of the NHL Heroes of Hockey game. The program also brought O'Ree onto the ice at G.M. Place to work with a group of young hockey players, helping them negotiate a series of drills. While celebrating O'Ree's past, the NHL also looked to his future as director of youth development for the NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force. The non-profit Task Force was created to introduce children of diverse ethnic backgrounds to hockey. O'Ree began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens at the Forum on January 18th, 1958. He played only one more game that season befpre returning for 43 games in 1960-61. For more than two decades O'Ree continued to play professional hockey, spending much of that time in the Western Hockey League with the Los Angeles Blades and San Diego Gulls. He currently works in the front offices of the Gulls organization. As many of you know, Willie O'Ree has been a hero of LCS Hockey for many years. In fact, the winner of our staff hockey pool is presented with a trophy dedicated to the NHL legend. Recently, we have been in contact with Willie O'Ree as we attempt to score an interview with the ground-breaking athlete. Negotiations are on-going, however, O'Ree has been kind enough to send the autographed picture displayed to the right. (see web site, http://www.lcshockey.com/) NHL ALL-STAR GAME SUMMARY NORTH AMERICA ALL-STARS 8, WORLD ALL-STARS 7 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- WORLD ALL-STARS 3 2 2 7 N AMERICA STARS 3 3 2 8 FIRST PERIOD -- SCORING: 1, World All-stars, Selanne 1 (Koivu), 0:53. 2, World All-stars, Jagr 1 (Bondra, Mironov), 2:15. 3, World All-stars, Selanne 2 (Lehtinen, Fetisov), 4:00. 4, N America Stars, LeClair 1 (Gretzky, Chelios), 4:13. 5, N America Stars, Tkachuk 1 (power play) (Fleury, Chelios), 10:50. 6, N America Stars, Niedermayer 1 (Sakic, Recchi), 18:25. PENALTIES: Fetisov, Wor (cross checking), 10:04. SECOND PERIOD -- SCORING: 7, N America Stars, Fleury 1 (Modano, Tkachuk), 1:53. 8, World All-stars, Selanne 3 (Lehtinen, Koivu), 7:11. 9, World All-stars, Kurri 1 (Koivu, Lehtinen), 12:36. 10, N America Stars, Lindros 1 (Chelios, Messier), 14:46. 11, N America Stars, Amonte 1 (Sakic, Bourque), 16:19. PENALTIES: Fleury, Nor (Obstr tripping), 18:48. THIRD PERIOD -- SCORING: 12, N America Stars, Tkachuk 2 (Modano, Fleury), 1:36. 13, N America Stars, Messier 1 (Gretzky), 4:00. 14, World All-stars, Kravchuk 1 (Sundin, Forsberg), 7:03. 15, World All-stars, Larionov 1 (Bure), 9:41. PENALTIES: Weight, Nor (tripping), 16:32. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- WORLD ALL-STARS 7 11 11 29 N AMERICA STARS 13 17 13 43 POWER PLAY: Wor - 0 of 2, Nor - 1 of 1. GOALIES: World All-stars, Hasek (13 shots, 10 saves), Kolzig (start of 2nd, 17, 14), Khabibulin (start of 3rd, 13, 11; record: 0-1-0). N America Stars, Roy (7, 4), Belfour (start of 2nd, 11, 9), Brodeur (start of 3rd, 11, 9; record: 1-0-0). Referee: Stewart. Linesmen: Cvik, Heyer. A:18,422. BLUES' HULL EXPECTED BACK THURSDAY FROM BROKEN HAND The St. Louis Blues, mired in a seven-game winless streak, may get a needed dose of offense from right wing Brett Hull, who is scheduled to return against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night after missing 13 games with a broken left hand. SABRES PICK UP 1998-99 OPTION ON HASEK'S CONTRACT Dominik Hasek, the first goaltender in 35 years to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, had his option picked up Thursday by the Buffalo Sabres for the 1998-99 season. Financial terms were not disclosed. FLAMES' ZALAPSKI ON THE TRADING BLOCK Flames defenseman Zarley Zalapski, who is being paid $1.6 million this season but is a minus-11 in 35 games, apparently is on his way out of Calgary. Zalapski, a 10-year veteran and former All-Star, has been a healthy scratch in several games recently and was left behind as the Flames embark on a two-game California road trip beginning Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif. Zalapski also has been asked not to practice with the team. EAGLESON TO SERVE 18 MONTHS IN CANADIAN PRISION Alan Eagleson, the founder of the National Hockey League Players Association, will serve 18 months in a Canadian prison after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud related to the sale of rink board advertising in Toronto. The 64-year-old Eagleson pled guilty to three counts of mail fraud in Boston on Tuesday. The United States allowed extradition to Canada via a plea bargain. Eagleson was taken to a Toronto city jail for processing and is expected to begin serving his sentence in a minimun security facility later this week. ISLANDERS REACH SETTLEMENT WITH BRETT LINDROS The New York Islanders announced a legal settlement Thursday with former forward Brett Lindros, who was forced to retire two years ago at age 20 due to a series of concussions. Financial terms of the settlement, called "unconditional" and "final" in a release by the team, were not disclosed. Various reports claimed the Islanders withheld portions of Lindros' salary because they felt he was not truthful about his medical history of past concussions. NHL FINES CANUCKS, SABRES $25,000 APIECE The NHL fined the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres $25,000 apiece Tuesday as a result of a series of multi-player brawls during their game in Buffalo, N.Y., on Jan. 15. In addition, Canucks coach Mike Keenan and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff were each fined $5,000. "The manner in which both teams conducted themselves in the third period goes beyond the level of what is acceptable in this league," NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations Brian Burke said. "The coaches and management of both teams are held accountable for the actions of their players in such a situation." MINNESOTA EXPANSION TEAM GOES STUPID, ERR... WILD, WITH NICKNAME Minnesota's new National Hockey League franchise selected Wild as its nickname. The announcement was made during ceremonies at Aldrich Arena in Maplewood, Minn., where several thousand hockey fans joined former North Stars coach Glen Sonmor and defenseman Tom Reid. Also in attendance was NHL Senior Vice President and Director of Operations Brian Burke and recently retired Neal Broten, who entered the arena with the Stanley Cup and was flanked by youth hockey players wearing jerseys of all 26 NHL teams. The logo, also unveiled Thursday night, depicts the word Wild in an "organic, naturalist form." The team colors are iron range red, forest green, harvest gold and Minnesota wheat. Wild was chosen by fans in a straw poll. Given the result, a strong case could be made for never using a straw poll again.

1998 Central Scouting Mid Season Report

Vincent Lecavalier continues to lead the 1998 draft class. Here is a complete list of top prospects in the 1998 NHL draft. This years draft will be held in Buffalo.

North American Skaters:

1. Vincent Lacavalier C 6-4 180 Rimouski (QMJHL) 2. David Legwand C 6-2 175 Plymouth (OHL) 3. Michael Henrich RW 6-2 206 Barrie (OHL) 4. Mathieu Biron D 6-7 212 Shawingan (QMJHL) 5. Bryan Allan D 6-5 208 Oshawa (OHL) 6. Manny Malhotra C 6-2 210 Guelph (OHL) 7. Rico Fata C 5-11 202 London (OHL) 8. Ramzi Abid LW 6-2 195 Chicoutmi (QMJHL) 9. Martin Skoula D 6-2 195 Barrie (OHL) 10. Brad Stuart D 6-3 215 Regina (WHL) 11. Jiri Fischer D 6-5 175 Hull (QMJHL) 12. Robyn Regehr D 6-3 211 Kamloops (WHL) 13. Alex Tanguay C 6-0 180 Halifax (QMJHL) 14. Mike Van Ryn D 6-2 186 U. Michigan (CCHA) 15. Simon Gagne C 6-0 165 Quebec (QMJHL) 16. Eric Chouinard C 6-2 195 Quebec (QMJHL) 17. Scott Gomez C 5-10 180 Tri-Cities (WHL) 18. Jeff Heerema RW 6-1 171 Sarina (OHL) 19. Blair Betts C 6-2 183 Prince George (WHL) 20. Randy Copley RW 6-2 205 Cape Breton (QMJHL) 21. Kyle Rossiter D 6-2 200 Spokane (WHL) 22. Mark Bell C 6-3 186 Ottawa (OHL) 23. Stephen Peat D 6-3 205 Red Deer (WHL) 24. Michael Rupp LW 6-5 218 Erie (OHL) 25. John Erskine D 6-4 197 London (OHL) 26. Steve Moore C 6-2 190 Harvard (ECAC) 27. Brett Allan LW 6-4 184 Swift Current (WHL) 28. Andrew Peters LW 6-4 195 Oshawa (OHL) 29. Bobby Allan D 6-1 197 Boston College (HE) 30. Mike Riberto C 5-11 150 Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) 31. Chris Dyment D 6-3 190 Reading (USHS) 32. Jon Cheechoo RW 6-0 205 Belleville (OHL) 33. Paul Manning D 6-4 193 Colorado College (WCHA) 34. Justin Papineau C 5-11 160 Belleville (OHL) 35. Jay Leach D 6-5 208 Providence (HE) 36. David Cameron C 6-2 180 Prince Albert (WHL) 37. Jeff Jillson D 6-2 200 Mt. St. Charles (USHS) 38. Doug Janik D 6-1 190 Select 17 (USA Hockey) 39. Chris Neilson C 6-2 185 Calgary (WHL) 40. Joe Dipenta D 6-3 200 Boston U. (HE) 41. Barrett Heisten LW 6-1 185 Select 17 (USA Hockey) 42. Pat O'Leary C 6-3 190 Armstrong (USHS) 43. Brent Gauvreau C 6-3 190 Oshawa (OHL) 44. Toby Peterson C 5-10 196 Colorado College (WCHA) 45. Mike Pandolfo LW 6-3 226 St Sebastains (USHS) 46. Justin Morrison RW 6-3 195 Colorado College (WCHA) 47. Jon Gagnon C 6-2 180 Cape Breton (QMJHL) 48. Mattias Trattnig C 6-1 208 Maine (HE) 49. Mike Fisher C 6-0 180 Sudbury (OHL) 50. Alex Henry D 6-6 216 London (OHL) 51. Norman Milley RW 5-11 185 Sudbury (OHL) 52. Garrett Prosofsky C 5-11 180 Saskatoon (WHL) 53. Allan Rourke D 6-1 214 Kitchner (OHL) 54. Jason Beckett D 6-3 203 Seattle (WHL) 55. Erik Cole LW 6-1 185 Clarkson (ECAC) 56. Edo Terglav RW 6-1 195 Baie-Comeau (QJMHL) 57. Pat Aufiero D 6-1 185 Select 17 (USA Hockey) 58. Tyler Bouck RW 6-1 185 Prince George (WHL) 59. Geoff Koch LW 6-1 190 Michigan (CCHA) 60. Krys Barch LW 6-1 195 London (OHL) 61. Maxim Linnik D 6-5 195 St. Thomas (WOJHL - tier II) 62. Chris Corrinet RW 6-3 215 Princeton (ECAC) 63. Kevin Holdridge D 6-3 202 Plymouth (OHL) 64. Todd Horung C 6-0 200 Portland (WHL) 65. Justin Hansen RW 6-2 193 Moose Jaw (WHL) 66. Michale Ryder C 6-0 170 Hull (QMJHL) 67. Chris Brennan D 6-2 180 Collingwood (tier II- Jr. A) 68. Martin Bertak LW 6-0 192 Rimouski (QMJHL) 69. Tyler Arnason C 5-11 185 Fargo-Moorehead (USHL) 70. Shawn Horcoff C 6-0 175 Michigan St. (CCHA) 71. Klye Clark RW 6-6 210 Select 17 (USA Hockey) 72. Matt Murley LW 6-0 185 Syracuse (MTJHL) 73. Jean-Philippe Morin D 6-1 188 Drummondville (QMJHL) 74. Cutris Rich D 6-4 200 Calgary (WHL) 75. Brad Twordik C 5-10 195 Brandon (WHL) 76. Liam McCarthy D 6-3 205 Harvard (ECAC) 77. Nanthan Forster D 6-1 191 Seattle (WHL) 78. Eric Laplante LW 6-0 185 Halifax (QMJHL) 79. Jesse Cooke D 6-5 205 Calgary (midgets) 80. Jeremy Goetzinger D 6-4 202 Prince Albert (WHL) 81. Rob Scuderi D 6-1 193 Boston College (HE)

North American Goaltenders

G1. Patrick Desochers 6-4 195 Sarina (OHL) G2. Mattieau Chouinard 6-1 200 Shawingan (QMJHL) G3. Phillipe Sauve 6-1 175 Rimouski (QMJHL) G4. Remi Bergeron 5-10 171 Chicoutmi (QMJHL) G5. Jomar Cruz 6-1 177 Brandon (WHL) G6. Fredrik Brindamour 5-11 175 Sherbrooke (QMJHL) G7. Jake McCracken 5-11 180 Sault St. Marie (OHL) G8. Jamie Hodson 6-1 180 Brandon (WHL) G9. Adam Huaser 6-0 185 Select 17 (USA Hockey) G10. Jason Labarbera 6-2 205 Portland (WHL) G11. Jonanthan Pelletier 5-11 165 Drummondville (QMJHL) G12. Dany Sabourin 6-2 165 Sherbrooke (QMJHL) G13. Josh Blackburn 6-0 185 Dubuque (USHL) G14. Chris Madden 6-0 177 Guelph (OHL) G15. Andrew Raycroft 6-0 150 Sudbury (OHL)

European Skaters

E1. Vitaly Vishnevsky D 6-0 183 Yaroslav (Russia) E2. Dimitri Kalinin D 6-2 198 Cheljabinsk (Russia) E3. Artem Chubarov C 6-1 189 Dynamo (Russia) E4. Milan Kraft C 6-2 178 Plzen (Czech Rep.) E5. Julien Vaucliar D 6-1 198 Luhano (Switzerland) E6. Anton But W 6-0 185 Yaroslav (Russia) E7. Adrian Wichser C 6-0 176 Kloten (Switzerland) E8. Petr Slobada D 6-1 178 Jihlave (Czech Rep.) E9. Maxim Krayev W 6-0 183 Yekaterinburg (Russia) E10. Josef Vasicek C 6-4 185 Slavia Praha (Czech Rep.) E11. Marc Reichert W 6-2 212 Davos (Switzerland) E12. Bjorn Christen W 6-0 183 Bern (Switzerland) E13. Sergei Kuznetisoc C 6-0 183 Yaroslav (Russia) E14. Ossi Vaananen D 6-2 196 Jokerit (Finland) E15. Niklas Hagman W 5-11 198 Helsinki (Finland) E16. David Jonsson D 6-1 187 Leksand (Sweden) E17. Tomek Valtonen W 6-1 191 Iives (Finland) E18. Christan Berglund W 5-11 180 Farjestead (Finland) E19. Miroslav Zalesak W 6-0 183 Nitra (Slovakia) E20. Gabriel Karlsson F 6-1 191 HV71 (Sweden) E21. Tomas Zizka W 6-1 198 Zin (Czech rep.) E22. Andrei Markov D 5-11 198 Chimik (Russia) E23. Alexander Ryazantsev D 5-11 198 Spartak (Russia) E24. Miiko Jokela D 6-1 207 Helsinki (Finland) E25. Lubomir Pistek W 6-2 187 Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) E26. Christan Backman D 6-1 180 Frolunda (Sweden) E27. Jari Vluhkola C 6-0 176 Karpat (Finland)

European Goaltenders

EG1. Zdenk Smid 5-11 172 Pizen (Czech Rep.) EG2. Alexei Volkov 6-1 185 Sovetov (Russia) EG3. Iija Bryzgalov 6-2 194 Togliatti (Russia) EG4. Niklas Backstrom 6-1 176 Helsinki (Finland) EG5. Mika Lehto 5-11 176 Assat (Finland) RECENT TRANSACTIONS: TUESDAY, JAN. 27 Calgary Flames: Recalled defenseman Rocky Thompson from Saint John of the American Hockey League. Dallas Stars: Claimed center Jarrod Skalde off waivers from the San Jose Sharks. Edmonton Oilers: Loaned defenseman Alexander Zhurik to the Belarus National Team. New York Islanders: Sent center Kip Miller to Utah of the International Hockey League and loaned right wing Dane Jackson to Rochester of the American Hockey League. Recalled right wing Dan Plante from Utah. Phoenix Coyotes: Sent defenseman Sean Gagnon to Springfield of the American Hockey League. Pittsburgh Penguins: Signed right wing Jaromir Jagr to a four-year contract extension through the 2002-03 season. Vancouver Canucks: Recalled defenseman Chad Allan and left wing Dave Roberts from Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Sent center Jan Bulis to Portland of the American Hockey League for conditioning purposes.
MONDAY, JAN. 26 Calgary Flames: Recalled defenseman Kevin Dahl from Chicago of the International Hockey League. New York Islanders: Recalled right wing Steve Webb from Kentucky of the American Hockey League.
SUNDAY, JAN. 25 No transactions reported.
SATURDAY, JAN. 24 Anaheim Mighty Ducks: Sent defenseman Pavel Trnka to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Recalled forward Terry Ryan from Fredericton of the American Hockey League.
FRIDAY, JAN. 23 St. Louis Blues: Recalled defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick from Worcester of the American Hockey League. Toronto Maple Leafs: Sent defenseman Per Gustafsson to St. John's of the American Hockey League.
THURSDAY, JAN. 22 Calgary Flames: Recalled center Hnat Domenichelli and left wing Todd Hlushko from Saint John of the American Hockey League. Chicago Blackhawks: Signed left wing Bob Probert to a three-year contract extension. Montreal Canadiens: Recalled defenseman Brett Clark from Fredericton of the American Hockey League. Tampa Bay Lightning: Claimed defenseman Jassen Cullimore off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 National Hockey League: Suspended Phoenix Coyotes right wing Rick Tocchet at least one game, pending a Jan. 22 hearing, for his hit on Edmonton's Ryan Smyth Jan. 20.
TUESDAY, JAN. 20 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Recalled center Matt Cullen from Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Boston Bruins: Recalled defenseman Mattias Timander from Providence of the American Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks: Recalled center Lonny Bohonos and defenseman Bert Robertsson from Syracuse of the American Hockey League.
MONDAY, JAN. 19 Buffalo Sabres: Recalled left wing Vaclav Varada from Rochester of the American Hockey League. Calgary Flames: Recalled center Erik Andersson, goaltender Tyler Moss and right wing Eric Landry from Saint John of the American Hockey League. Dallas Stars: Placed defenseman Richard Matvichuk on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Activated right wing Todd Harvey from injured reserve. Recalled left wing Juha Lind from Michigan of the International Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Recalled defenseman Terran Sandwith from Hamilton of the American Hockey League. Florida Panthers: Loaned goaltender Todd MacDonald to Cincinnati of the International Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Sent defenseman Brett Clark to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. New York Islanders: Recalled defenseman Jason Strudwick from Kentucky of the American Hockey League and right wing Dane Jackson from Rochester of the AHL. New York Rangers: Recalled left wing P.J. Stock from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Recalled goaltender Scott Langkow from Springfield of the American Hockey League. Tampa Bay Lightning: Recalled defenseman Mike McBain from Adirondack of the American Hockey League. Loaned defenseman David Shaw to Las Vegas of the International Hockey League.
SUNDAY, JAN. 18 No transactions reported.
SATURDAY, JAN. 17 Philadelphia Flyers: Traded center Vinny Prospal, right wing Pat Falloon and a 1998 second-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators for right wing Alexandre Daigle. Washington Capitals: Agreed to a four-year contract with right wing Peter Bondra.
FRIDAY, JAN. 16 Colorado Avalanche: Sent right wing Christian Matte to Hershey of the American Hockey League. Florida Panthers: Acquired right wing Dino Ciccarelli and defenseman Jeff Norton from the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick and right wing Jody Hull. Recalled goaltender Kevin Weekes from Fort Wayne of the International Hockey League. Los Angeles Kings: Released left wing Sean O'Brien. Phoenix Coyotes: Sent defensemen Sean Gagnon and Jason Doig to Springfield of the American Hockey League. Tampa Bay Lightning: Sent goaltender Derek Wilkinson to Cleveland of the International Hockey League.
THURSDAY, JAN. 15 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Sent center Bob Wren to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Buffalo Sabres: Picked up the option on goaltender Dominik Hasek's contract for the 1998-99 season. Calgary Flames: Sent centers Todd Hlushko and Eric Landry, right wing Erik Andersson and goaltender Tyler Moss to Saint John of the American Hockey League. Carolina Hurricanes: Sent left wing Bates Battaglia and goaltender Mike Fountain to New Haven of the American Hockey League. Dallas Stars: Sent left wings Juha Lind and Jamie Wright to Michigan of the International Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens: Acquired left wing Patrick Poulin, right wing Mick Vukota and defenseman Igor Ulanov from the Tampa Bay Lightning for right wing Stephane Richer, center Darcy Tucker and defenseman David Wilkie. New Jersey Devils: Sent left wing Jay Pandolfo and center Petr Sykora to Albany. New York Rangers: Sent defenseman Ronnie Sundin, left wing Sylvain Blouin and center P.J. Stock to Hartford of the American Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Sent right wing Brad Isbister to Springfield of the American Hockey League. Pittsburgh Penguins: Loaned goaltender Peter Skudra to Kansas City of the International Hockey League.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14 Detroit Red Wings: Sent defenseman Yan Golubovsky to Adirondack of the American Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Sent defenseman Sean Brown, center Scott Fraser and right wing Georges Laraque to Hamilton of the American Hockey League. New York Rangers: Recalled left wing Sylvain Blouin from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Claimed center Peter Ferraro off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins and assigned him to Hartford of the American Hockey League. Ottawa Senators: Loaned defenseman Radim Bicanek to Manitoba of the International Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers: Sent right wing John Druce to Philadelphia of the American Hockey League. Toronto Maple Leafs: Recalled defenseman Daniil Markov from St. John's of the American Hockey League.
TUESDAY, JAN. 13 New York Islanders: Sent goaltender Eric Fichaud to Utah of the International Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Loaned goaltender Stephane Beauregard to Chicago of the International Hockey League. Activated goaltender Bill Ranford from injured reserve.
MONDAY, JAN. 12 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Recalled center Bob Wren from Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. Sent center Kevin Todd to Long Beach of the International Hockey League. Colorado Avalanche: Recalled right wing Christian Matte from Hershey of the American Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks: Recalled left wing Larry Courville from Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Sent defenseman Bert Robertsson to Syracuse and right wing Lonny Bohonos to Syracuse on a conditioning loan.
SUNDAY, JAN. 11 Los Angeles Kings: Recalled defenseman Jan Vopat from Utah of the International Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Recalled goaltender Scott Langkow from Springfield of the American Hockey League.
SATURDAY, JAN. 10 Calgary Flames: Recalled goaltender Tyler Moss from Saint John of the American Hockey League.
FRIDAY, JAN. 9 Calgary Flames: Recalled forward Erik Andersson from Saint John of the American Hockey League. Carolina Hurricanes: Recalled goaltender Mike Fountain from New Haven of the American Hockey League. Sent goaltender Pat Jablonski to Cleveland of the International Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Acquired defenseman Bobby Dollas from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for defenseman Drew Bannister. New Jersey Devils: Sent center Sergei Brylin to Albany of the American Hockey League for conditioning purposes. New York Rangers: Recalled defensemen Geoff Smith and Ronnie Sundin from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sent right wing Robert Dome to Syracuse of the American Hockey League.
THURSDAY, JAN. 8 Chicago Blackhawks: Claimed center Jarrod Skalde off waivers from the San Jose Sharks. Florida Panthers: Signed defenseman Joey Tetarenko. Montreal Canadiens: Recalled goaltender Jose Theodore from Fredericton of the American Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Re-signed right wing Randy McKay to a multi-year contract extension. Traded left wing Reid Simpson to the Chicago Blackhawks for a fourth-round draft pick in 1998 and future considerations. Ottawa Senators: Sent center Derek Armstrong to Hartford of the American Hockey League. Phoenix Coyotes: Sent center Chad Kilger to Springfield of the American Hockey League. St. Louis Blues: Sent right wing Chris Kenady and defenseman Libor Zabransky to Worcester of the American Hockey League.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7 Calgary Flames: Sent center Jim Dowd to Saint John of the American Hockey League. Colorado Avalanche: Sent goaltender David Aebischer to Hershey of the American Hockey League. Detroit Red Wings: Re-signed right wing Doug Brown to a three-year contract. New Jersey Devils: Sent goaltender Rich Shulmistra and center Brendan Morrison to Albany of the American Hockey League; assigned defenseman Brad Bombardir to Albany for conditioning purposes. Vancouver Canucks: Sent left wing Dave Roberts to Syracuse of the American Hockey League.
TUESDAY, JAN. 6 Detroit Red Wings: Placed center Kris Draper on injured reserve. Recalled left wing Darryl Laplante from Adirondack of the American Hockey League. Edmonton Oilers: Claimed center Tony Hrkac off waivers from the Dallas Stars. Los Angeles Kings: Loaned goaltender Frederic Chabot to Houston of the International Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Recalled center Sergei Brylin from Albany of the American Hockey League. Ottawa Senators: Recalled defenseman Radim Bicanek from Manitoba of the International Hockey League. San Jose Sharks: Sent Alexander Korolyuk to Kentucky of the American Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Recalled center Andrei Nikolishin from conditioning at Portland of the American Hockey League.
MONDAY, JAN. 5 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Sent center Matt Cullen and defenseman Mike Crowley to Cincinnati Ducks of the American Hockey League. Boston Bruins: Sent center Cameron Mann to Providence of the American Hockey League. Buffalo Sabres: Recalled goaltender Steve Shields from Rochester of the American Hockey League. Chicago Blackhawks: Recalled left wing Ryan Huska from Indianapolis of the International Hockey League. Dallas Stars: Activated center Joe Nieuwendyk from injured reserve. Edmonton Oilers: Sent left wings Joe Hulbig and Doug Friedman to Hamilton of the American Hockey League. Loaned goaltender Steve Passmore to San Antonio of the International Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Recalled left wing Jay Pandolfo and center Sergei Brylin from Albany of the American Hockey League. San Jose Sharks: Signed free-agent defenseman Shawn Heins.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4 Los Angeles Kings: Recalled goaltender Frederic Chabot from Houston of the International Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Acquired center Jason Arnott and defenseman Bryan Muir from the Edmonton Oilers for right wing Bill Guerin and left wing Valeri Zelepukin.
SATURDAY, JAN. 3 Carolina Hurricanes: Recalled left wing Bates Battaglia and goaltender Tripp Tracy from New Haven of the American Hockey League. Los Angeles Kings: Sent left wing Donald MacLean to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. St. Louis Blues: Signed left wing Michel Picard to an offer sheet.
FRIDAY, JAN. 2 Boston Bruins: Sent defenseman Mattias Timander to Providence of the American Hockey League. Carolina Hurricanes: Traded goaltender Sean Burke, defenseman Enrico Ciccone and left wing Geoff Sanderson to the Vancouver Canucks for goaltender Kirk McLean and left wing Martin Gelinas. Dallas Stars: Activated left wing Benoit Hogue from the injured reserve list; assigned left wing Jamie Wright to Michigan of the International Hockey League; recalled left wing Patrick Cote from Michigan and placed him on the injured reserve list. New Jersey Devils: Sent goaltender Peter Sidorkiewicz to Albany of the American Hockey League. Recalled center Brendan Morrison from Albany. New York Rangers: Recalled left wing P.J. Stock from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Toronto Maple Leafs: Acquired defenseman Jeff Brown from the Carolina Hurricanes for a conditional 1999 draft pick. Recalled center Jamie Baker from Chicago of the International Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks: Sent goaltender Corey Hirsch to Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Washington Capitals: Sent left wing Andrei Nikolishin to Portland of the American Hockey League for conditioning. Sent center Benoit Gratton to Portland.
THURSDAY, JAN. 1 Calgary Flames: Loaned right wing Jesper Mattsson to Malmo of the Swedish Elite League. Florida Panthers: Sent right wing David Nemirovsky to New Haven of the American Hockey League. New Jersey Devils: Placed goaltender Mike Dunham on the injured list. Recalled goaltender Richard Shulmistra from Albany of the American Hockey League. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Olympic Preview ----------------------------------------------------------------- by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief Note: For daily Olympic coverage, visit LCS Hockey online. http://www.lcshockey.com/extra/1998/olympics/ Are you like us? Do ya... do ya got the Olympic Fever? Yes, the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, are just around the corner. While we anxiously await the results of the Biathlon, the whole ice hockey deal should be pretty cool, too. Now only if they'd let the players carry rifles... As everyone knows by now, this year is the first time players from the NHL have been allowed to compete in the global quest for spot metals, making this tournament perhaps the greatest in the history of the planet. Except, of course, for LCS' own Happy Birthday Baby Jesus Tournament, but that should really go without saying. While everyone is excited about the potentially great hockey, most are still sketchy on the details of the event itself. But that's why LCS is here, to help you, our valued readers. Hey, it's who we are, it's what we do. In order to free up its stars to compete in Nagano, the NHL will shut down for 17 days during February. The last day for NHL games before the Olympic break is Saturday, February 7, with all 26 teams set to take the ice. The schedule resumes on Wednesday, February 25. In between will be all the international hockey high jinks. There are 14 countries taking part in the competition. However, the details of who plays who can get kind of confusing, so pay attention. The competition begins with a preliminary round running from February 7-12. Eight countries will compete in the preliminary round. These countries aren't exactly hockey powerhouses, but they do all have sticks and matching uniforms so the Olympic committee said, "What the hell?" They've been divided into two groups of four: GROUP A Austria Italy Kazakhstan Slovakia GROUP B Belarus France Germany Japan Each team will play three games in a round-robin format with all the other teams in its group. Then the leaders of each group will advance to the second round while the remaining six teams go home with lovely parting gifts. It's the usual point system, two for a win and one for a tie. There are no shootouts in the round-robin stages of the tournament. If two teams finish tied for the top spot in points, the first tie-breaker is their head- to-head result. The second is goal differential. If the clubs remain tied, then the situation will be decided with a rollicking game of "Chutes and Ladders". The two teams that advance from the preliminary round are lucky enough to move on to the second round where they will compete with the big boys: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. The teams are once again divided into two groups of four: GROUP A Canada Sweden United States Group A winner from preliminary round GROUP B Czech Republic Finland Russia Group B winner from preliminary round The second round gets underway February 13 and runs through February 16. The second verse is the same as the first. Each group plays a three-game round-robin to decide the seeding for the quarterfinal round. The quarterfinal round is when stuff gets serious. It's single elimination. The quarterfinal matchups are determined by how the teams finished in their respective groups. All the games will take place on February 18. The first place team in Group A (A1) will play the last place team in Group B (B4). The first place team in Group B will play the last place team in Group A. The second place team in Group A will play the third place team in Group B. And the second place team in Group B will play the third place team in Group A. The four teams that survive the quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals on February 20. The winner of the A1 vs B4 game will play the winner of the B2 vs A3 game. And the winner of the B1 vs A4 game will play the winner of the A2 vs B3 game. See how that works? A similar system was used on "Hee Haw" for the weekly hoe-downs. The two semifinal losers will play for the Bronze medal on February 21. The two winners will compete for the Gold on February 22. Because of the time difference involved, all the games are going to be played while most of North America is sleeping. The majority of games get underway between midnight and 6 AM EST. So if you want to follow the games live, take a nap. And because the games are played under International Ice Hockey Federation rules, there are some noticeable differences from the usual NHL fare. Here's a quick rundown of some of the most important changes: * The two rinks where all the games will be played are called Big Hat and Aqua Wing. Wasn't that a superhero team in the mid 70s? Anyway, both rinks are 13-and-a-half feet wider than the standard NHL pond. So that means more room to wheel. * There are also two more feet from the goal line to the backboards. Which means there's more room to orchestrate plays behind the cage. That should make Wayne Gretzky all giddy. * Icings get whistled as soon as the puck crosses the goal line. No touch-up is required. * If a player is seen to be in the crease, the ref could blow the whistle and call for a faceoff at neutral ice. The puck could be over in the corner somewhere, but if a guy gets in the crease a whistle could be blown. * Fighting isn't really appreciated by the international crowd. Two majors earns a guy an automatic game misconduct. And if a player is deemed to have instigated the fight, he receives a match penalty. That means he is removed from the current game and is automatically suspended from the next contest, as well. * During the semifinals and medal rounds, if a game ends in a tie the two teams will take a 15-minute intermission and then skate a 10-minute overtime session. Except in the gold medal game, where the two clubs would skate a 20-minute overtime period. If the game still isn't decided at the end of overtime, then it goes to a shootout. Each team chooses five shooters and the clubs alternate penalty shots, with the order decided by a coin flip, until one team builds an insurmountable lead. If things aren't decided after the first five shooters, the clubs select another five each. But this time it's sudden death and only lasts until a decisive goal is scored. If a player is in the penalty box at the end of overtime he is not eligible to take part in the shootout. So that's the schedule and the rules for the big Olympic tournament. Earlier in the issue we already said that Team Sweden will skate away with the Gold medal. But how will the rest of the team's do? Well, let's take a gander, starting with the eight clubs in the preliminary round. Austria: Thanks for coming. Have a safe trip home. Belarus: Um, I have no idea where Belarus is. It sounds kind of made up if you ask me. It would be just like those wacky Olympic committee folk to invent a country. Those guys are nutty... France: The red-and-white striped jerseys, black pants, and black berets make for an eye-pleasing uniform, but France doesn't have much of a chance in the tournament. Germany: With Olaf "The Berserker" Kolzig in net, Sergeant Schultz on defense, and Colonel Klink in the middle, the Germans should emerge from Group B and advance to the second round. Kolzig played out of his skull at the World Cup. He'll need a similar effort this time around. Here comes Olaf, he's a berserker... Italy: It'll be tough for the Italians to get out of Group A. Unless they make Slovakia a deal they can't refuse, the Italians will be goin' home early. Japan: Do you really have to ask? Kazakhstan: Okay, now I know this one's made up! Kazakhstan... that's a good one. Slovakia: The Slovaks are clearly the team to beat in Group A. Their offense is stacked with the likes of Peter Bondra, Ziggy Palffy, Jozef Stumpel, Richard Zednik, Pavol Demitra, and the Prince of Darkness himself, Miroslav Satan. The great Robert Svehla is also around to anchor the blue line. The only problem for the Slovaks is that the preliminary round starts on February 7, and all those guys will still have one game left on their NHL schedule. So if the NHL clubs don't cooperate and let the stars leave early, Slovakia could be in trouble until the reinforcements arrive. Slovakia and Germany should leave the pups on the porch behind and meet the big dogs in the second round. Here's a look at the tournament powers. Canada: With the memory of the US World Cup victory still turning stomachs, the Canadians will be mission men. Whether they have the players to get the mission accomplished is still open to debate. The Americans were clearly the better team at the World Cup. That forced Canada GM Bobby Clarke to make some changes in his lineup. He tried to build a better overall team, adding a grinder like Shayne Corson, a solid two-way center in Joe Nieuwendyk, and a defensive role player in Rob Zamuner. The forward ranks have a pretty good mix of talent, size, and role players, but the Canadians don't really have that much speed. That could be trouble on the big international rinks. And if Eric Lindros, Joe Sakic, and Paul Kariya fail to deliver the big goals, there could be some problems. While the offense is a bit questionable, Canada is rock solid on defense with Ray Bourque, Scott Stevens, Adam Foote, and Chris Pronger leading the way. The one man that could have Canada challenging Sweden for the Gold, though, is Patrick Roy. Never bet against St. Patrick in big games. Czech Republic: The Czechs are the wild card of the tournament. They don't have a team strong enough to compete for Gold, but they do have Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek. If those two get hot, the Czechs could pull off a major upset along the way. Finland: Team Vowel is always a force. They play exceptional two-way hockey and they always skate as a cohesive unit. Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu will power the offense, while Jyrki Lumme, Teppo Numminen, and Janne Niinimaa will pace the defense. Finland's only real weakness is in net. Unfortunately, you can't be weak in net and win a medal. Looks like it'll be another fourth place finish for the Finns. Russia: The Russian hockey federation is still a mess. You know it's bad when guys are turning down invitations to play. The club is coming off an incredibly disorganized performance at the World Cup and there's not much hope they'll be able to right the ship. The roster is void of stars such as Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Mogilny, Vladimir Malakhov, and Nikolai Khabibulin, who all declined to play. It doesn't look good for the Russians. With some luck, they might be able to supplant Finland for fourth place. Sweden: Peter Forsberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Mats Sundin, Nicklas Lidstrom, Tommy Soderstrom... Gold medal. United States: The USA has it all. The Americans will once again be led on offense by the baddest of the bad, big John LeClair. He'll be joined by a superstar supporting cast that includes Brett Hull, Pat LaFontaine, Mike Modano, Keith Tkachuk, Tony Amonte, and Doug Weight. The blue line will be secured by Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch, and the Hatcher boys. USA's biggest worries could be in goal, where Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck, and Guy Hebert have struggled for most of the season. Failing to select Tom Barrasso could come back to haunt the Americans. Overall, the US has the most talented group of forwards. Canada has the deepest defense and the living legend, Patrick Roy, in net. But neither one has real wizard yellow jerseys. Sweden will win the Gold, leaving the US and Canada to fight it out for Silver and Bronze. LCS will have more in-depth looks at the teams in our next issue, due out Tuesday, February 10. But it won't matter, we'll still pick Sweden. Yee-haw! Sweden! Yee-haw! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Team Finland Could Pose Threat to Sweden ----------------------------------------------------------------- by Gina Corallo, Correspondent 1998 Olympic Hockey will be the most exciting ever. The best players in the world will be representing their countries and going for the Gold. Of course we all think of LCS favorite Sweden, or maybe even Canada or the USA, grabbing that precious medal, however one team that could have a legitimate shot for the first time is Finland. In fact, Finland has never won an Olympic Gold medal. The closest they came was in 1994 in Lillehammer to catch the Bronze, and in 1988 at Calgary to win the Silver. Sweden, its archrival, is the defending World Champions, winning the gold in 1994. Finland would love to have a chance at that title. The question is - can they do it? Offensive Punch None other than Teemu Selanne will lead Team Finland. Selanne is having one of his best years in the NHL, being third in the league in scoring, and was MVP at the All-Star Game with a hat trick. He carried the Ducks on his shoulders in the absence of their captain Paul Kariya, as well as scoring goals at a rapid pace. He has explosive speed, great instincts, hard accurate shots, and is as a good playmaker as he is a finisher. Expect Selanne to be a leader for this team, and cause heartache for many goalies. One of the best young players today, Saku Koivu makes things happen every time he touches the ice. His speed and playmaking abilities can burn any defensemen in their tracks. He scored 56 points in 50 games last season in Montreal, and is on another scoring rampage. Even though he lacks size, he will not be intimidated. He is a key offensive player, and will be looked upon with Selanne to lead his team with scoring. Jari Kurri. This veteran player is one of the best defensive forwards in the league. Even though he is no longer a scoring sniper, do not underestimate his playmaking abilities. He is able to play center or wing, is used on both special teams, and his intelligence within the game makes him a great asset to any team. Being that Kurri will retire after this season, there is no doubt that he will want to go out with a medal, as well as another Stanley Cup. There is no better agitator than Esa Tikkanen. He's best known for his grit, enthusiasm and scoring the big goals in big games which is what the Olympics is all about. He will go up against any player and get under anyone's skin no matter what size or height. Any coach would love to have a player like this on their team. He has the capabilities of taking any top player off his game. He always plays a tough style, is used on both special teams, and has one of the most powerful slap shots from the point that could stun any goalie. A major problem, however, is that he has been struggling with injuries and is still doubtful to play. If this is the case, Finland will lose a key player, not to mention depth which they already lack. Winning the Bronze medal with Team Finland in the 1994 Olympics, Sami Kapanen knows what it takes to win. Leading The Hurricanes in scoring this year, Kapanen provides Finland with speed, strength, and intelligence. He is a small forward, but what he lacks in size he makes up in spirit. Jere Lehtinen has improved within each of his three seasons in the NHL. He is a dependable forward and is becoming more and more of a complete player. A candidate for the Selke trophy last year, Lehtinen is a good all-around player who plays hard, is strong with the puck, is a good playmaker, and never gives up on the play. His offensive abilities are improving, partly due to playing with Mike Modano. He is a reliable player, and can be called upon for any situation. Defense Janne Niinimaa brings Finland what they need desperately - size. Niinimaa (6'2", 190) is a strong skater and excellent puckhandler. He is an offensive defenseman, who can jump into the play when it presents itself, and can make plays happen. Using his size to his advantage, Niinimaa will take the body, and will make a player pay the price if they try to become a threat. He plays with enthusiasm, grit, and intelligence. He is an elite player who will do what it takes to win. He is a key player if Finland has any chance of winning. Jyrki Lumme provides Finland with an intelligent defense which leads to smart offensive plays. He quarterbacks a power play, having the ability to set the tone, and he is excellent on the penalty kill with excellent hand skills. He challenges the player at the blue line, in which he usually comes out the winner due to his range. Lumme is a finesse player. He doesn't throw body checks, but will take a hit and plays hard one-on-one. Bringing added size and power to Finland is Teppo Numminen. He is a smart defensive all-around player who adds solidity to any hockey club. Numminen plays a physical game but not a mean one. He will do what it takes to win the battles of the puck, forechecks hard, is a strong asset on the penalty kill, and plays a smart passing game. Janne Laukkanen will also be a key player for Finland. He played in the '94 games, and proved that he possesses great skating, physical, shooting and stickhandling skills. He is a smart player that can excel in all situations. Goaltending a Problem? This is where Finland lacks its talent and confidence. There are three goaltenders who are not of NHL caliber, but could prove to do very well. Jukka Tammi is a German netminder who has played for Finland in the 1988, 1992, and 1994 Olympics. Jarmo Myllys played for a short time in the NHL with Minnesota and San Jose, now plays for Sweden, and probably has the best experience. Ari Sulander, a Finnish goaltender recorded a league record of 10 shutouts. We will see if these goaltenders can handle the overload of NHL superstars. The team will have to have the utmost confidence in these goaltenders in order for them to play to their full potential. Team Finland can put up a great challenge to any team on a good day. Every player must step up and play to a higher level - especially the defense. Finland's defense has size and grit but will have to protect their smaller players from being pushed around, and they have the ability and players to do so in Aki Berg (LA), Niinimaa, and Tuomas Gronman (PIT). Their offense lacks depth and will be put to the test in keeping up with the scoring of the other top teams. With inexperienced goaltending and lack of size on offense, these players will be put to the test against the tournament's elite. Do not underestimate this team however, they have a realistic shot at bringing home a medal and have the capability to cause an upset - especially against rival team Sweden. Because Sweden and Finland are in two separate Olympic groups, their first chance to meet would be in the semifinals. There's even a chance that they won't meet at all. But if they do, it'll be a war. And as history as proven, there's no war like a Finnish-Swedish war. ----------------------------------------------------------------- VANCOUVER GETS GOOD, CLEAN HOCKEY FUN DURING ALL-STAR WEEKEND ----------------------------------------------------------------- by Carol Schram - Vancouver Correspondent The Gary Bettman era of the National Hockey League has hit upon a clever formula for its All Star Games: award the event to cities with lousy hockey teams, so the community can't help but be swept away by the excitement and star power. Since the weekend was cancelled in 1995 due to the lockout, it has been held in Boston, San Jose, now Vancouver, and next year it heads off to Tampa Bay. I suppose that when the game was awarded to Vancouver last season, it wasn't with the idea that the Canucks were going to be cellar-dwellers in January of 1998. Truth is, though, the team's dismal, controversy-plagued season certainly helped to shine a positive light on the wholesome, non-threatening All-Star festivities. Of course, the weekend wasn't quite as meaningless as it has been in years gone by. The new "North America vs. the World" format added a certain degree of intensity, and with the start of the Olympics just three weeks away, both players and coaches used the time away from the daily NHL grind to start turning their thoughts to the upcoming events in Nagano. While the roster of Team North America obviously didn't include all members of the Olympic Team Canada and Team USA, both management squads used the opportunity to gather their players, take team photos, and start planning strategy. Friday night, a crowd of over 14,000 gathered to watch Team Canada take on Team USA - in women's hockey. The rivalry between these two squads has grown steadily over the past four years, and is building towards the first-ever Olympics featuring the women's game as a full medal sport. In fact, the turnout for the game in Vancouver was the largest crowd ever for a women's hockey match - and the game was one of the better contests that local hockey fans have seen this year. No shrinking violets in this bunch, Team Canada was out to avenge its loss to the Americans in the Three Nations Cup just before Christmas, and a fierce game resulted in a one-goal victory for the home side. Canada's Men's Team also got together for the first time on Friday, holding its official media kickoff that evening with a party at Planet Hollywood. The only member missing was Rod Brind'Amour, home with his wife who was about to give birth to their first child. Due to Olympic deadlines, Rod's spot was taken by a stand-in for the official team photo, and his head will be added in later through the magic of some program like PhotoShop. The players also got to check out a mockup of their Olympic village dorm-rooms, including cots that are not even long enough to hold many of the NHL's "biggest" stars. Nevertheless, unlike the NBA Dream Teamers, Team Canada is adamant that it wants to absorb the full Olympic experience. Celebrity sightings abounded all over Vancouver on Friday night.particularly at the swankier hotels and busier nightspots. The official event was a "Cigar Party" on Granville Island, but the players seemed to spread out pretty effectively where the good times could be had. While countrymen often hung with countrymen - players like Teemu Selanne and fellow Finn Jari Kurri were virtually inseparable all weekend - NHL teammates also stuck together, and "Teddy Flash" was also happy to spend some quality time with fellow Mighty Duckling Paul Kariya - here only to visit family and perform his Olympic duties. For the most part, let's just say Friday wasn't a night when many players were concerned about getting their rest and making curfew in preparation for Saturday's taxing Skills Competition. Normally, when you attend a hockey game, you feel like the true spectator at the event, while the television audience has a chance to peek into your world. The game's the thing, the crowd keeps it honest, and that was essentially true during the Heroes of Hockey portion of Saturday's events. The NHL Heroes squeaked past the Vancouver Canucks Heroes by a 3-2 score in a suspenseful contest with some good play, some good laughs, and a sense of wonder about whether or not Garth Butcher or Thomas Gradin might still be able to help today's Canucks. The two fifteen- minute periods flew by, and the Heroes truly left the people wanting more. Certainly, they got more glitz and flash during the Skills Competition - from the player introductions to the pure number of TV personalities and technical crew members scattered all over the ice. But it was clear from the get-go that the Skills Competition was a made-for-TV event: the live audience was present to provide little more than ambient crowd reaction to enhance the effect for the television viewer. Event M.C. Dave Randorf, now of Canada's TSN, kept the crowd well-informed, but he and long-time Canucks arena announcer John Ashbridge were noticeably lacking in the high-energy leadership that ESPN probably would have liked, in terms of keeping the crowd pumped up. Of course, the crowd would have probably been happier if their view of the events wasn't blocked by various camera crews on the ice, and if the scoring for the competition made even the slightest sense. Goals were omitted, non-goals were counted, the fastest-skater competition was a joke, and it never even occurred to the technicians to check the cable between the radar gun and the display device as poor Dimitri Mironov took shot after shot after shot after shot. When you see the lack of attention that the show's producers pay to the actual "skills" involved in this event, it's easy to understand why the players have no particular interest in bringing themselves to the arena in tip-top form. When results are recorded willy- nilly, instead of according to actual performance, what exactly would be the point of giving your all?? In truth, the haphazard running of the competition is the one part of the weekend that really looks like it could be improved in future years. The most heart-warming smiles of the whole event came from the representatives of (company name omitted due to LCS Hockey policy against The Man) and the promotions firm that put together that $5 Million Shot contest - when hapless Wayne King went in the tank and their dream came true - it cost them a lowly $10,000 for all that publicity! After the hockey events, it was off to Ballantyne Pier, on the waterfront, for the big schmooze- fest of the weekend - a huge party with a Hollywood theme called Ice, Camera, Action. The guest list numbered between 3,000 and 4,000 - with probably 2/3 of attendees being hockey- related VIPs from out of town. The giant hall was arranged as a number of different movie sets, with different themes, different food and beverages, and different activities. Since the powers that be at the National Hockey League once again cheaped out on a media pass for your faithful reporter, all I can tell you is that, from players to league elite to local media to crew people, everyone said the event was quite a spectacle and a great time was had by all. Oh - I can also tell you that not every All-Star stayed at the event till closing at 2:00 am. A few members of Team USA, in particular, seemed determined to make the rounds around town until the wee small hours. At least one certain member of Team Canada who has been hamming it up with his great comic timing in a series of pre-Olympic commericals decided that he would go in for the jazz-and-cigar vibe, and Canuck rookie and Team Sweden member Matthias Ohlund seemed determined to take advantage of the weekend by spending every moment he could spare with countryman Daniel Alfredsson. But where, oh where, was Mats Sundin???? Here in Vancouver, bars close at 2:00 every day but Sunday, but All Stars obviously are truly superhuman. With clothing and equipment companies, food and drink makers, and everyone else under the sun wooing players for sponsorship and endorsement, let's just say that the boys' options are still pretty wide open when the rest of ours start to close. I won't name names, but if you get your hands on a videotape of the All Star Game from Sunday afternoon, I'm guessing you can pick out the culprits when they do those close-ups on the faces during the player introductions. I'll confess right here, too - I was supposed to go check out the Pinnacle FANtasy interactive event on Sunday morning at 9:00 am. I didn't make it, but my Mom got Bobby Hull's autograph and got her picture taken with the Stanley Cup. Again, by all reports, the event was a raging success and a lot of fun for even the casual fan. If it ever comes to your town, don't be like me - make sure you take it in. I did get up and running in time for the game itself, though, at 1:00 p.m. The show opened with local "puck rockers" the Hanson Brothers doing their rendition of Stompin' Tom Connors' "The Hockey Song". While they showed tremendous enthusiasm, the sound was so perfect that I suspected them of lip-syncing, a detail that was unfortunately confirmed midway through a verse when the lead singer dropped his wireless microphone: no thud, no feedback.and the vocal part continued perfectly while the mic lay on the ice. Hmmm. Smoke and mirrors, anyone? Unfortunately, show organizers also erred, this time on the side of spontaneity, when they allowed Bryan Adams to go cold with the Canadian Anthem. Apparently our national hero had flubbed the words in rehearsal - what exactly does it mean when he forgets the "glorious and free" part? The tension was obvious when he stepped out onto the red carpet in his swankiest grey t-shirt.and sure enough, he made two small mistakes, drawing partly from the older version of the lyrics that were officially changed a couple of decades ago. One word of advice for your upcoming world tour Bryan - TelePrompTer! After the anthem, the puck was finally dropped by some fancy flying spaceship, and the All Star Game was officially underway. Unlike the distinctly partisan crowd, I got pretty excited by Teemu Selanne's pretty first goal 53 seconds into the contest: after all, I hardly ever see anybody score on Patrick Roy! But GM Place went as quiet as it often does in the first period - as the "home team" falls behind. Anways, you know the basic story of the game. Despite Ken Hitchcock's "so simple it's brilliant" strategy of forming World Team lines based on country of origin "and hoping the Czechs and the Slovaks can get along," the big man maintained his perfect record of being winless as a coach in every All-Star appearance he has made at every level of hockey. The All- Finn line of Selanne, Kurri, and Saku Koivu was probably the most cohesive unit on the ice for either team, although there were also flashes of brilliance between old teammates Gretzky and Messier - and between Pavel Bure and the free-agent center that perhaps the Canucks should have pursued even more diligently this past summer - Igor Larionov. As a Canadian, it was a little tough to cheer for the squad featuring those dreaded Team USA members who caused such a big blow to our national pride during last year's World Cup tournament. Leave it to Theoren Fleury for the defining quote. After playing a great game lined up with Keith Tkachuk and Mike Modano, the gap-toothed one quipped "If I'd had two Canadian forwards on my line, I would have celebrated my goal more." Frankly, despite a good performance from Lindros, Sakic, Scott Stevens, and a number of other Canadians, and despite the fact that the Americans seemed focused on excelling at some of the more social sports during the weekend, the gang of LeClair, Tkachuk, Amonte, Chelios and the rest are a big, strong bunch who appear to be at the top of their games right now. Watch out in Nagano! On a lighter note, some of the best between-play entertainment I have ever seen came courtesy of the Nike Goalies, who are really coming into their own. This season's Montreal Canadiens goalie, forced to become a gardener because of Mats Sundin, is a classic - "Die, Maple Leafs, die!" Throughout the game, they interspersed brief clips on the Jumbotron. First, the goalie dropped a banana peel on the floor outside the Leafs' dressing room - then Sundin is shown walking out the door and absently stepping around the slippery threat. The joke continued throughout the game - with more and more banana peels. Then, in the third period, they switched to the goalie spray-painting graffiti on a white brick wall: first, the tremendous insult "Sundin is a..Swedish person", and my personal favorite "Mats Sundin likes ABBA". They also featured Florida's bank-robbing goalie, and debuted a commercial featuring another former NHL netminder, now working as a babysitter, who erupts into a fit of rage over his inability to stop Theoren Fleury. The centerpiece of his rant: "Five-foot-six - he's only five-foot-six!!!" Those Nike spots are always clever and entertaining, and that 30-second clip drew one of the biggest ovations of the afternoon from a generally happy and enthusiastic crowd. The three live goalies also provided terrific comic relief throughout the two days of festivities - constantly doing pratfalls and getting into scraps on the ice, then, during one intermission, "taking action" by chaining themselves to a GM Place net in an effort to "be recognized" by the National Hockey League for their past efforts. That's just great stuff. The screen was also used to great effect during play stoppages with a number of Saturday Night Live-style commercial parodies produced for last year's NHL Awards. Two favorites of mine: the NHL Campbell's Soup collection featuring flavors like Turkey Lumme, Cam Chowder, and Nikolai Khabiboulliabase.and Keith and Wayne Primeau presenting a new hockey helmet for the nineties - with the hair attached to the outside. Despite the steady presence of entertainment industry celebrities in this city, the "Hollywood Star" designated to play EA Sports' NHL '98 between periods was none other than former Full House star Dave Coulier - a longtime NHL fan who was also pressed into action as co-host of the Skills Competition. Scanning the crowd, the best they could do was James Doohan from Star Trek and some guy who was in Slap Shot. But on Team North America's bench, young television commercial star Ty Gretzky spent the game hangin' out with the trainer, gazing at the many NHL mascots roaming the arena, and occasionally tapping his famous father on the shoulder with a question or a comment - sometimes right in the middle of play. Truthfully, though - and I don't usually go in for this sort of thing - one of the most endearing sights of the whole weekend was during the post-game presentations, when young Ty was curled up, sitting on top of the boards at the home bench, in the lap of the Florida Panthers' team mascot. What could make a kid happier? After the game, the All Star VIPs headed off to the PNE for their wrap-up party, at the Pinnacle FANtasy site. They got unlimited access to all the events and displays, and partook of yet another magnificent feast of food and beverages. Sunday was also Mark Messier's 37th birthday, so he took off to one of the most fashionable Italian restaurants in town for his celebration with friends and family, then many of the boys hooked up again at a local nightclub to wind out the weekend. Only problem, though - due to a crazy B.C. liquor law, bars close at midnight on Sundays, so many of the players were only just showing up as the night was winding to a close. By the time all was said and done, though, it was another who's who of hockey, with everyone from Mess to Chelios to Saku Koivu and Patrick Roy in for the last hurrah before headin' back to their day jobs. It's been a pretty bleak year to be a hockey fan in this town. Absorbing, sure, but not with much to celebrate. The pure "fun-first" attitude behind the All Star festivities was a refreshing blast of fresh air, and the entertainment value of the whole weekend far surpassed my expectations. Even though I didn't get a press pass, congratulations nonetheless to the NHL for putting on a first-class event, and to the City of Vancouver for being such warm and gracious hosts. In a way, All Star weekend is nothing more than a giant trade show, but there's no doubt the NHL knows how to do it with style. Now, just clean up that Skills Competition! ----------------------------------------------------------------- All-Star Weekend Witnesses Three Deals ----------------------------------------------------------------- by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief The All-Star Break witnessed more than just a mediocre pick-up game between a bunch of international millionaires. There were also three significant trades made. The Tampa Bay Lightning used the time off to try and reinvent their modest roster with two separate deals, while the Philadelphia Flyers rolled the bones on a highly-skilled underachiever. The Bolts kicked off the trade bonanza on Thursday, January 15, sending Patrick Poulin, Mick Vukota, and Igor Ulanov to Montreal in exchange for Stephane Richer, Darcy Tucker, and Dave Wilkie. What the Bolts Get This trade boils down to talent for toughness. With franchise leading scorer Brian Bradley still on the shelf with post- concussion syndrome, the Bolts are desperately trying to find anyone who can put the puck in the net. The men with lightning bolts on their pants have scored just 87 goals in their first 49 games. Wow, that blows. The Bolts are hoping that Stephane Richer can help fill the net. The 31-year-old right winger is a two-time 50-goal scorer and a five-time 30-goal man. The only problem is that he hasn't scored 50 since 1989-90 and he hasn't bagged at least 30 since 1993-94. He has, however, scored at least 20 goals in each of the three seasons since then. That automatically makes him a major weapon for the Bolts. Richer was in and out of the Montreal lineup this season with injuries, limiting him to five goals and nine points in just 14 games. The trademark of Richer's game has always been his cannon slap shot. Few players in the league can bring it like Richer. He's also an excellent skater with a powerful stride. And power is probably the part of Richer's game that often gets overlooked. At 6'2, 215 pounds, Richer is a big strong guy that isn't scared to play physical. Because of his rather blase attitude and some of his comments during his younger days in Montreal, a lot of people perceive Richer as a floater and a one-dimensional player. But that's not really true. He's vastly underrated when it comes to his overall game. He knows how to play both ends of the ice. Sure, Richer may not always be motivated to do so, but when he is he can be a force. He's played under Pat Burns and Jacques Lemaire, so he knows what it means to play smart, defensive hockey. Darcy Tucker gives the Bolts something they're in dire need of, namely a center. Having lost Chris Gratton to free agency, Johnny Cullen to illness, and Bradley to numerous injuries, Tampa Bay is extremely shallow down the middle. Tucker was a scoring ace in juniors where he collected 64 goals and 137 points in 64 games in his final year with Kamloops (1994-95). But the 22- year-old hasn't had the opportunity to do much scoring in the big leagues. Last season Tucker got his foot in the door with Montreal, posting seven goals and 20 points in 73 games while playing mostly in a checking role with the likes of Turner Stevenson and Chris Murray. He was seeing similar duty this season, with just one goal and six points in 39 games with the Habs. One reason Tucker was used as a checker in Montreal was his grittiness. Despite being just 5'10, 178 pounds, Tucker plays a physical style of hockey and isn't shy about sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. He had 110 penalty minutes last season with the Canadiens, including 10 fights, and rang up 57 more minutes at the start of this year. Tucker knows how to score, he has toughness, he's young, and he plays center. He'll be a welcomed addition to the Lightning lineup. David Wilkie was Montreal's first-round pick (20th overall) at the 1992 Entry Draft. Like Tucker, Wilkie was also a product of Kamloops. The 6'2", 202-pound defenseman gained a reputation early on as a mobile guy that could move the puck and put points on the board. In his last year of juniors (1993-94), which was split between Kamloops and Regina, Wilkie racked up 38 goals and 77 points in 56 games. The next year he moved up to Fredericton of the AHL and continued to produce, potting 10 goals and 53 points. He split 1995-96 between Fredericton and Montreal before becoming a full-time Canadien last season, when he appeared in 61 games and notched six goals and 15 points. Before being traded to Tampa, Wilkie had dressed for just five games with the Habs this season and earned a single goal. Wilkie definitely has the tools to be a significant contributor along the blue line. He's good with the puck and owns a heavy wrist shot. He could develop into a very competent pointman on the power play. But at 23, Wilkie still needs to earn experience in his own zone. Defense is the toughest position to learn and it often takes youngsters a while before they can contribute. He should be given that time in Tampa. What Montreal Gets Montreal made this trade to add some toughness and tenacity to its small, skilled lineup. Obviously, Mick Vukota was acquired to bust heads. The 31-year-old earned the reputation as one of the game's premier fighters during his 10 years on Long Island. In 510 games with the Isles, Vukota had 16 goals and 45 points to go along with 1,879 penalty minutes. Over the summer Vukota jumped ship and swam to Tampa, where he had one goal and 116 penalty minutes in 42 games with lightning bolts on his pants. The Canadiens want Vukota to protect their talent up front. If anyone starts running Saku Koivu and the boys, Vukota will be around to drop the hammer. When Patrick Poulin first broke into the league with the Hartford Whalers in the early 90s, the left winger was ticketed to be a perennial 30-goal scorer. Hey, remember when Upper Deck called Poulin the next in line to Brett Hull? And Michael Nylander was next in line to Wayne Gretzky? Aw, that was great, that was fun. Needless to say, those lofty expectations never came to fruition. Though this is his sixth full season in the NHL and the Habs are his fourth club, Poulin is still just 24 years old. So there's still plenty of time for him to find his old scoring magic. But don't bet on it. Poulin has never scored more than 20 goals in a season, and he did that in his rookie year of 1992-93 when he hit an even 20. While he has never lit the lamp as expected, Poulin did develop into an excellent checking line winger and penalty killer during his nearly three years in Tampa Bay. He'll add some quality depth to the Montreal forward ranks, bringing a hardworking presence to the club's talented array of scorers. Igor Ulanov has been somewhat of an enigma over his six-year NHL career. The 28-year-old Russian blueliner gained the reputation as a hard-hitting, borderline cheap player during his early days with the Winnipeg Jets. But unfortunately he didn't come to play with the same intensity every night. That same tag stuck with him in two forgettable stints with Chicago and Washington before moving on to Tampa in 1995-96. Ulanov seemed to find some of his old rage with the Bolts, once again making a name as a banger. He waged an absolute war with Eric Lindros in the '95-96 playoffs, matching the Flyer behemoth hit for hit. When he brings the intensity, Ulanov can impact a game with his physical play. That's something the Canadiens have been looking for since they let Lyle Odelein go to the Devils. Dave Manson hasn't really been the answer. Outlook: The edge has to go to the Bolts on this one. Both teams got what they were looking for in this deal. The Bolts get a young scrappy center in Tucker, a youthful blueliner with potential in Wilkie, and a proven scorer in Richer. The Habs get their puncher in Vukota, another physical presence in Ulanov, and a hard-working role player in Poulin. But over the long haul, the youth of Tucker and Wilkie will serve the Lightning well. How much of an impact the inconsistent Ulanov and the oft-injured Vukota can have in Montreal is anyone's guess. But mine is not much. Tampa Bay followed up the six-player deal with Montreal by engineering another trade the very next day. This time they didn't even have to cross state lines, sending Dino Ciccarelli and Jeff Norton to the Florida Panthers for Jody Hull and Mark Fitzpatrick. What the Bolts Get Tampa Bay has had some major goaltending problems ever since Daren Puppa's back gave out at the start of last season. With Puppa expected to be healthy this season, the Bolts traded Rick Tabaracci back to Calgary over the summer. Bad move. Puppa has once again been plagued with injuries, forcing Tampa to play Corey Schwab and Derek Wilkinson between the pipes night after night. Yeah, that'll suck. The Bolts know that if Puppa is healthy they're set in goal. But they needed a proven backup netminder that could step in and do the job when called upon. That's why the phone rang in Florida. Mark Fitzpatrick has served as John Vanbiesbrouck's backup in Florida since the Panthers joined the league in 1993-94. While he knew the Beezer was the man, Fitzpatrick often clamored for more playing time. Well, he'll get his wish in Tampa. Fitzpatrick, 30, is a big (6'2", 198 pounds) standup goaltender that relies on strong angle play. He's not exactly nimble in net. In fact, he can resemble Herman Munster at times with his stiff-legged movement. He can get used side to side. And now that you mention it, while Fitzpatrick does have good size, he doesn't look all that big in net. He's pretty thin in there. He can also get picked apart upstairs by quality shooters. So all in all, Fitzpatrick isn't exactly an elite level netminder. He's been a backup for a reason. But then again, he has been a backup. It's that experience that makes him a valuable commodity to the Lightning. He's definitely better than anything else they have. Jody Hull is another original Panther. The