The best Hockey coverage is at HockeyJournal.com http://nyhockeyjournal.com Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:37:47 -0500 RSSCreator 1.2 http://nyhockeyjournal.com/images/design/logo.gif http://nyhockeyjournal.com New England Hockey Journal http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/02/01_hometown_heroes.php Bentley sophomore goalie Branden Komm, already down about giving up a goal early in the third period that let Connecticut tie a recent game at 2-2, was about to receive another small dose of bad news. He realized that UConn sharpshooter Cole Schneider, also a sophomore, was the one who got it. “I heard he was the one who scored and my heart kind of dropped,” Komm said. “Right after ... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/02/01_randolphs_success_story.php Ever since making it to the New Jersey state public final in 1999, the Randolph High School boys hockey team has just kept rolling along. "They're one of our better sports, and to win state championships has been outstanding," said Randolph vice principal and athletic director Theodore Loeffler of the program, and its state tournament success in the last decade. Ever since a 5-1 loss ... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/02/01_expansion_plans.php Defenseman Meagan Mangene’s hockey background is as Long Island as they come – growing up in Miller Place, N.Y., on the south shore of the Sound, and playing in the Suffolk Police Athletic League from the age of 7. Her talent’s taken her to Boston College, where her coach – Katie King – holds the distinction of being one of New England’s best-known Red Sox fans. Culture ... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/31_progress_report.php NEWARK, N.J. -- Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon stepped to the podium at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn., and promptly announced the third overall pick: "The Florida Panthers are proud to select, from the Saint John Sea Dogs, Jonathan Huberdeau." Instantly, the New Jersey Devils knew they would get their man. Originally slotted to draft eighth overall, the Devils ... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/31_steadying_influence.php So far this season, the dream of "Hockey Heaven" hasn't gone quite as well as fans had hoped for. The Buffalo Sabres have been bothered by injuries but also have had issues with what many are considering underachieving performances by top players, including some of the recent, high-paid free agency catches. One of the steady go-to guys in all this, however, has been Thomas Vanek. Even ... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/31_back_from_the_brink.php No one can ever accuse Patrick Maroon of not knowing how to celebrate a goal. He even has a couple variations in his repertoire. There's the deep-knee bend and fist-pump combination. Then there's the one where he thrusts his arms skyward as if he's soaking in every bit of the reaction. After scoring a goal at the Glens Falls Civic Center in November against the Adirondack Phantoms, Maroon ... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/31_family_business.php When you hail from a place that's pretty much off the hockey radar screen, it takes an extra strong family support system to make it to the top. For North Bellmore, N.Y., native Matt Gilroy, the proof is right on his back. The Long Island-raised Gilroy, a defenseman now in his third NHL season, wears the number 97 in memory of his kid brother, Timmy, who lost his life at age eight in a bicycle ... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/31_split_decision.php Entering this season, Windsor Spitfires defenseman Nick Ebert was riding a wave of high expectations and promise after an outstanding rookie campaign in the OHL. Things haven't been quite as smooth or successful for the Livingston, N.J., native in his draft year, but Ebert nonetheless brings an impressive blend of size, mobility and long-term potential. His physical attributes, plus the promise ... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/31_isles,_devils_to_play_in_new.php The New York Islanders will play the first-ever NHL game at Barclays Center on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 when they take on the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m. The preseason game will mark the first hockey event at Barclays Center, the new major sports and entertainment venue, which will officially open on September 28 with the first of multiple JAY-Z concerts. The game will also mark the first NHL game ... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/30_nielsen_ratings.php Frans Nielsen is not what you'd call a goal scorer. But if you're the other team, there are two situations where you might want to reassess that opinion: when you're on the power play and during a shootout. Last season, Nielsen, a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, helped the Islanders to lead the league in shorthanded goals. And, recently, Nielsen gave ... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/30_man_of_the_moment.php PHILADELPHIA -- The first time Michael Rupp got his name on a Winter Classic score sheet -- as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins last year at Heinz Field -- it was for a fight with the Capitals' John Erskine in which the then-Penguin staggered his foe and brought him down to one knee, but couldn't quite finish him off. Earlier this month, playing his second Winter Classic in as many seasons ... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/29_bettman_addresses_devils_financial.php The NHL acknowledged this weekend, at the NHL All-Star Game festivities, that the New Jersey Devils have been advanced money by the league. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said that the Devils are "stable" and that their issues have more to do with disputes between the team's principle owners -- Jeff Vanderbeek and Ray Chambers. Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner, said the league was ... Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/27_the_maven_where_do_we_go.php Unless you're a hockey columnist from Charles Dickens' era named Ebenezer Scrooge, the verdict on NHL outdoor Winter Classics can simply be put this way: They get better every year. That helps explain why even the calmest of critics was doing handstands of joy in anticipation of the Jan. 2 extravaganza between the Rangers and Flyers at Citizens Bank Field, just off Broad Street in the city ... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/27_model_of_consistency.php Plattsburgh State coach Bob Emery isn’t saying much. The Cardinals, the defending SUNYAC champions, began the new year with an 8-2-3 overall record and, despite that less-than-perfect mark, are ranked No. 3 in the country in the USCHO.com poll, Oswego, Utica and Elmira are all in the top 10. It’s a nice distinction, but Emery would rather focus on the season as it unfolds. “I think ... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/26_rebounding_drill.php Last season could not have been any worse for Colgate, or for Austin Smith. Picked to finish near the top of the ECAC Hockey standings, Colgate ended up dead last, without a league win until February. Smith, coming off two strong seasons, saw his goal total plummet into single digits. A pair of series victories in the ECAC tournament did a little to soften the blow, but not much. As the old adage ... Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/24_fourth_times_a_charm.php Western New York is a hotbed for hockey. Blue-collar, frost bitten towns continue to churn out some of the top American-born players. From Ryan Callahan (Rochester, N.Y.), Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.), and Brian and Stephen Gionta (Rochester, N.Y.) in the NHL, to recent World Junior Championship team members Adam Clendening (Wheatfield, N.Y.) and Andy Iles (Ithaca, N.Y.), players from the region are ... Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/22_devils_get_ponikarovsky_from.php The Devils have acquired forward Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for minor-league defenseman Joseph Sova and a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. Ponikarovsky, 31, had seven goals and 15 points in 49 games for Carolina this season. He was scoreless in 15:20 of ice time in Carolina's 3-0 win against Washington on Friday. He's a four-time 20-goal scorer, most ... Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/19_devils_lose_tallinder_for.php Devils’ President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello tonight released the following statement in regard to defenseman Henrik Tallinder: "Henrik Tallinder has been diagnosed with acute thrombophlebitis of the lower left leg and will be out six to eight weeks.” The 33-year old had six assists and a minus-11 rating in 39 games this season. He last missed a game in the 2008-09 season ... Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/16_nabakov_wins_300th.php Evgeni Nabokov won his 300th career game Saturday, as the Islanders defeated Buffalo 4-2 victory. Nabokov made 23 saves, though he got help from the post late. With 1:24 remaining in the third period and the Isles up by one, Sabres sniper Thomas Vanek was awarded a penalty shot. Vanek wound up hitting the post. “I was thinking about his 300th victory,” Isles Jack Capuano told NHL.com. ... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/14_dipietro_to_have_another_surgery.php The New York Islanders announced that Rick DiPietro will undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia. The procedure will sideline the Islanders goaltender for 10 weeks. DiPietro, 30, has been sidelined since December 3, first with a groin strain and then with what is classified as a sports hernia and knee swelling. The Winthrop, MA, native has appeared in eight games this season, posting a 3-2-3 record. The ... Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/11_de_haan_goes_to_ir.php The Islanders announced that prospect defenseman Calvin de Haan is out 4-6 weeks with a left shoulder injury. De Haan has played this season with Bridgeport, plus one game with the Islanders -- his first season of pro hockey. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, and had recently been selected to the AHL All-Star Game. De Haan has two goals and nine points with Bridgeport this season. Also ... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/11_zajac_shelved_for_now.php Devils center Travis Zajac is going to miss the next couple of weeks, recuperating from soreness in his injured Achilles. He is hopeful to return after the upcoming All-Star break, Jan. 26-29 in Ottawa. The Devils' first game after the break is a home matchup with the Rangers on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Zajac missed the first 30 games of the season following offseason Achilles surgery. Since then, he ... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/08_islanders_suspend_klementyev.php The New York Islanders announced that defenseman Anton Klementyev has been suspended for failure to report for his ECHL assignment to the Idaho Steelheads. Klementyev began the 2011-12 season with the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Klementyev played one career NHL game with the Islanders during the 2009-10 season on Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010 against the Columbus ... Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/08_tortorella_to_coach_all-star.php New York Rangers coach John Tortorella has clinched a spot as coach in the All-Star Game, upcoming the end of the month in Ottawa. The coach of the team in each conference with the best points percentage through games played on Jan. 9, which is the exact halfway point of the season, gets to be on the coaching staff. The Rangers currently lead the NHL in points. Boston's staff, which also includes ... Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/06_adirondack_plays_in_front.php The Adirondack Phantoms, the affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and a team that once played in Philadelphia, set an AHL attendance record Friday playing in the Phillies baseball stadium, across the street from their old home. The record crowd of 46,653 watched the Phantoms defeat the Hershey Bears 4-3 in overtime at Citizens Bank Park, four days after the NHL's Winter Classic at the baseball ... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2012/01/04_tortorella_fined_for_post.php New York Rangers coach John Tortorella was fined $30,000 for his comments about the officiating following Monday's Winter Classic. "There is no acceptable explanation or excuse for commentary challenging the integrity of the League, its officials or its broadcast partners," NHL Senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement. "People can disagree ... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_worth_the_wait.php Feb. 11, 2011 was the most significant night of last season for the New York Islanders and their fans. Tired of getting run over by the mighty Penguins -- including a 3-0 loss just nine days prior, in a game where Pittsburgh goalie Brent Johnson literally broke the face of New York goalie Rick DiPietro -- the Islanders ran roughshod over the Penguins in more ways than one. New York scored nine goals ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_man_for_all_seasons.php The Canisius golf team has a spring break trip to Florida in March scheduled to kick off its upcoming season. If he has his way, Scott Moser, a determined and committed senior golfer for the Golden Griffins, will be unable to get away from the Buffalo, N.Y., area for the sunny climes and links of the Sunshine State. Fact of the matter is, golf coach Todd Hummel feels that way, too. “Hopefully ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_force_field.php Time is of the essence for Alex Iafallo. The 17-year-old Eden, N.Y., native made the move to Fargo, N.D., to begin his junior career this fall. If it was up to the Fargo Force, Iafallo would have been with the team in late 2010, but instead the young forward decided to stay at home. The Force would have liked to have added Iafallo at midseason, even offered him a spot on the team. But Iafallo thought ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_model_of_resilience.php Oswego State is weathering the storm. It’s only December and the USCHO.com national rankings place it second in the country, this despite losing All-American goaltender Paul Beckwith to injury. Still, there’s a lot of hockey left to play and it’s the time of year when every loose puck matters. “We’ve had some adversity,” said ninth-year Oswego coach Ed Gosek. “Our ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_for_better_or_worse.php After a weekend in late October that saw Clarkson earn a tie and a win against Boston University and New Hampshire, the respective present and past powers of Hockey East, co-head coaches Matt and Shannon Desrosiers gathered their team together and left it with this thought: They were pregnant. A different kind of coaching dynamic in Potsdam, N.Y.? You could say that. This is the fourth season that ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_transition_game.php Nine Division I teams changed head coaches over the offseason, but none of them did it like St. Lawrence did. Just weeks before the start of the season, St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh, the man behind the Saints bench for 26 seasons, took an indefinite leave of absence for medical reasons. Last season, Marsh missed two separate periods of time for medical reasons as well, battling an esophageal disease ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_obstacle_course.php After a college hockey game at Clarkson his freshman year, Shawn Weller’s mom, Kathy, met him outside the locker room. Weller was locked in the worst scoring drought of his career and she had a helpful suggestion. “Maybe you should get your eyes checked?” she asked, completely serious. Welller, who has better than 20/20 vision, declined the exam. But he did start a tradition he ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_just_getting_started.php Though he stands 6-foot-2, Luke Adam is still a kid among men in National Hockey League rinks. Yet, just 24 games into his rookie campaign, the 21-year-old Adam has shown promise that, with further experience and maturity, he could well be one of the Buffalo Sabres’ go-to guys in the future. Adam recorded eight goals and eight assists in his first 24 games. That tied him for third in team scoring ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_go_his_own_way.php Sean Avery is known as a man who likes to talk, but the Rangers winger also has a certain fondness for the written word. In 2007, he told the New York Times’ Style section that he’d like to be editor of a fashion magazine – he’d go on to intern at Vogue the following summer – and admitted the difficulty of reading Jared Diamond’s Pulitzer Prize winner “Guns ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_doing_the_devils_work.php NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk is doing his part to keep his team competitive in the tight Eastern Conference. What a difference a year makes. A year ago, and on the heels of signing a controversial long-term extension that ultimately cost the Devils a couple of future draft picks, Kovalchuk got off to the worst start of his career. Nothing seemed to go right for the former ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_the_hockey_maven_we_three.php A dragon, a giraffe and a lion have as much in common with each other as John Tortorella, Peter DeBoer and Jack Capuano. The Metropolitan Area's three NHL coaches display remarkably differing characteristics, personalities and ways to just plain win hockey games. DeBoer, who was given the thankless task of following the inimitable Jacques Lemaire behind the New Jersey Devils bench, is a certified ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_skys_the_limit.php Stand outside on a clear, moonlit night somewhere near Utica, N.Y., and, if a comet crosses the sky, you might not think much of it. But once upon a time, the name of that heavenly body became a hockey team, leading to one young boy’s dream of someday becoming an NHL player. The club was the Clinton Comets. And the kid was Nick Palmieri, now an emerging star whose incandescence burns a little ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_goalie_guru_on_equal_playing.php Aside from team placement, there’s probably no thornier topic in youth hockey than playing time. And, like most issues regarding hockey, sports and life in general, it’s typically easy to identify — “My kid’s not getting enough ice time!” — but more difficult to address. That’s because it can be a complex issue. This is especially true for goaltenders ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_boo-lievable.php Cristoval “Boo” Nieves streaks up center ice, receives a pass from his teammate at the point and is immediately confronted by two Russian defenders. With nowhere to go, “Boo” amazingly drags the puck between the pair and tucks the puck past the goaltender on his backhand. The goal not only helps the U.S. Under-18 team beat Russia, 5-4, in overtime this summer at the prestigious ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/28_hanging_out_with__patrick.php What other sports did you play as a kid? “I played baseball for a bit, and when lacrosse picked up in the area, I played that all the way up to sophomore year of high school.” Who’s the hardest goalie to beat in the NHL? “I’d say Ryan Miller. I have to face him every day at practice.” Who’s the fastest player you’ve ever gone up against? “Probably ... Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/19_rangers_defense_corps_takes.php The New York Rangers welcomed Marc Staal back to practice, and a day it found out that two other defensemen would be out of the lineup. Staal has been out the entire season with concussion symptoms. He said he would be cleared for contact in practice within a few days. Meanwhile, Steve Eminger will be out 8 to 10 weeks because of a separated right shoulder he suffered in Saturday’s 3-2 win ... Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/19_vanek_hurt,_probably_wont.php Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek was held out of practice today because of an upper-body injury. Although he is likely not to miss any games, the Sabres recalled two players from the AHL. Vanek's 17 goals are tied for sixth in the NHL. He was hurt during an 8-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Forwards Derek Whitmore and Marcus Foligno were promoted from Rochester. Foligno, a rookie 2009 fourth-round ... Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/15_fischler_head_injuries,_realignment.php CHRIS PRONGER'S latest injury -- concussion symptoms -- coupled with the troubling uncertainty surrounding Sidney Crosby has turned medical issues into as much an attention-getter as the games themselves. The Flyers captain means as much to his club as Crosby to the Penguins. Which means that the media focus – more than ever – moves to the good and welfare of players. This, in turn ... Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/14_leino_out_with_injury.php Buffalo Sabres forward Ville Leino will be out "for weeks" with a lower body injury, says coach Lindy Ruff. Leino missed practice Wednesday. He was hurt in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Ottawa. Thanks to a pile up of injuries, the Sabres, who got off to a hot start, are just 3-5-3 in the past 11 games. Leino's production has picked up after he got off to a slow start in his first ... Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/13_devils_acquire_pair_from_anaheim.php The Devils have acquired defenseman Kurtis Foster and goaltender Timo Pielmeier from Anaheim in exchange for forward Rod Pelley, defenseman Mark Fraser and a seventh-round pick in 2012. Foster, 30, has one goal and one assist in nine games this season with the Ducks. Listed at 6-foot-5, 225 lbs., he was slowed by a thigh injury to start the season. The Devils add an experienced, right-handed shot ... Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/13_islanders_prospect_trivino.php Boston University senior Corey Trivino pleaded not guilty to six separate charges stemming from an incident that occurred Sunday night, according to several published reports. Trivino, who leads the conference in goals with 13 after scoring twice on Saturday in the Terriers' 5-1 win over Maine, has been kicked off the BU hockey team coach Jack Parker told BU Today, a university news organization. In ... Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/08_devils_green_out_4_weeks.php Devils defenseman Andy Greene will miss the next four weeks with a non-displaced toe fracture. Greene did not play in Thursday's game against Ottawa. With nine points, he's tied with Adam Larsson for the most by a Devils defenseman. He appeared in all 82 games last season. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/05_nhl_approves_radical_realignment.php NHL officials approved a radical realignment plan Monday. If approved by the NHLPA, it would give the league four conferences instead of the current two-conference, six-division format. It could go into effect as soon as next season. The league considered a different plan following Atlanta's move to Winnipeg, with the Jets simply moving to the Central Division and either Detroit or Columbus to ... Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST http://nyhockeyjournal.com/news/2011/12/05_boogaard_had_cte.php Former Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain ailment related to Alzheimer's disease that is caused by repeated blows to the head, the New York Times reported. The 28-year-old Boogaard died in May of an accidental overdose of alcohol and oxycodone. Boogaard had previously been in rehab for his addiction, which stemmed from trying ... Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST