First of all, there was the Kaberle – Janssen hit on March 2, and that has had tongues wagging all through the league. During a game, Kaberle was smashed in the side of the head by Janssen’s elbow–deliberately. Kaberle fell to the ice, hitting his head off the surface on the way down. He was removed from the play area by stretcher and diagnosed with a minor concussion, and is already eager to get back on the ice. According to Kaberle (1), he doesn’t expect an apology. “It doesn’t matter to me really,” he said. He’s expected to return later this week. Janssen was suspended from the league for three games and fined.

The nastiest hit so far is definitely reminiscent of the McSorley – Brashear hit of seven years ago. On March 8, New York Islanders player Chris Simon delivered a two-handed blow to Ryan Hollweg with his stick, leaving Hollweg bloody and unconscious on the ice for several minutes. Simon was immediately ejected from the game, and has been suspended for the remainder of the regular season as well as from the playoffs (2). In terms of games missed, it is the longest suspension yet in NHL history. Hollweg is recovering nicely, requiring only a few stitches, and is expected to return to the ice with the New York Rangers in their upcoming game versus Pittsburgh.

This just goes to show the extreme tension the players are under during this rush to the playoffs. The only guaranteed shoo-ins are Buffalo and New Jersey in the East, and Nashville and Anaheim in the West. All the other spots are still up for grabs, leaving players desperate to pull off the performances of their lives. The following is a list of the teams in the order they stand at the moment, most points to least, according to the NHL’s online standings (3). Remember, only the top eight teams in each division (East and West) will make the playoffs.

Eastern Conference: Buffalo, New Jersey, Atlanta, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, NY Rangers, Carolina, Toronto, Montreal, NY Islanders, Florida, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia.

Western Conference: Nashville, Anaheim, Vancouver, Detroit, San Jose, Dallas, Minnesota, Calgary, Colorado, St. Louis, Edmonton, Columbus, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix.

(1) The Sporting News. ?Kaberle expects to return on Friday.? Retrieved March 22, 2007. http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=189241

(2) CBC Sports. ?Simon suspended for rest of season, playoffs.? Retrieved March 22, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/03/11/chris-simon-suspension.html

(3) The National Hockey League. ?Standings.? Retrieved March 22, 2007. http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=StandingsPage&type=CON

>>> For all us working stiffs, it’s tax season again but this year there was an interesting twist. A computer glitch in the Canada Revenue Agency’s computers prevented people from filing online for several days, delaying the entire process. Yet a statement from Stephen Harper reveals that there will be no extension on the tax deadline (2). Sorry folks. Taxes still have to be filed on time ? but don’t expect the same about your return. Many fear that the only effect felt from this “glitch” is a definite delay in the acquisition of the tax returns.

>>> Artificial limbs have become commonplace in humans, but what about within the animal kingdom? A Chinese rescue team in the northern reaches of China are attempting to find a way to give a panda bear a replacement paw. The panda was rescued after a vicious fight with two other pandas, resulting in the loss of its paw. The panda’s ability to walk and eat have been severely impaired, leaving the rescuers no choice but to attempt at a replacement as they believe that the panda will certainly die without it (3).

It’s been a tough time for some Hollywood parents. Johnny Depp spent days in an England hospital with a desperately ill daughter. Lily-Rose Depp became seriously ill with a blood disorder that went undiagnosed for some time, but which has been revealed today to be the deadly E. Coli. The virus apparently shut down the child’s kidneys, putting her life in danger. Depp and his partner, French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis stayed at the child’s side for days, with Depp taking time away from filming Tim Burton’s Sweeny Todd. Filming will resume next week (4).

* Did You Know: Bill Clinton’s cat, Socks, was the only “First Cat” to ever hold residence in the White House? While all the other Presidents were animal owners, all coming before and after Clinton boasted dogs as their pets.*

(1) Forbes – The World’s Billionaires
http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/07/billionaires-worlds-richest_07billionaires_cz_lk_af_0308billie_land.html

(2) Canada.com – Harper: No deadline extension despite glitch
http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=a9bb250e-b72c-4d5f-b025-0acf7d012e1e

(3) Yahoo News – China panda seeks artificial paw
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/070308/oddities/china_animals_panda_offbeat

(4) Hollywood.com – Depp’s Daughter Had E. Coli Virus
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Depps_Daughter_Had_E_Coli_Virus/3672691

Back to the here and now, the play is heating up with the playoffs right around the corner. Teams are battling it out for the top eight positions in each conference and the race is far from over. The teams are neck and neck, with only a few expected shoo-ins. Even these may fail if they are unable to maintain their strong playing. The Buffalo Sabres, for example, should definitely slide into the playoffs in the fourth position at least, provided they don’t crack under pressure and let another team by. Detroit and Nashville are in similar positions. Don’t count the rest of the teams out yet though. This is the home stretch, when it’s nothing but surprises.

Perhaps this is why gambling experts warn those who play Pro-Line to avoid betting on games this time of year. Chances are slim anyone can predict an outcome. With play strategies changing from game to game, fans are unable to guess at the results. Coaches are not only changing strategies, but practices as well, putting less emphasis on conditioning and more on various attacks to create breakaways and scoring opportunities. This close to the playoffs, every point counts and the coaches, trainers, and players are doing everything in their power to ensure a win.

The current standings can be viewed at http://www.nhl.com. The teams are in no specific order on the chart, but the figure at the far end of the row shows their overall points. The higher points, the higher they are in the rankings, and the higher a team ranks, the better the chance they’ll make the playoffs. Only the top eight teams in each conference will progress. For newcomers to the sport, the playoffs comprise multiple rounds of games that determine the most coveted title in the NHL ? the Stanley Cup.

Over the next 6 weeks, watch the teams closely. Their strategies will change, as will their playing styles, attitudes, and even penalty minutes. Coaches are meaner, players are louder, and referees are stricter. It’s almost like a different game than the one we normally watch. Cheer on your favourite team, but don’t underestimate the opposition. And above all, avoid Pro-Line for the time being! See you next week!

As it stands in the National Hockey League (NHL) right now, the teams are all picking up their games. Seeing as the majority of players have returned from their medical leave, the games are more exciting than usual. Of course, the All-Star break is coming up, and players want to earn their spots on this all-encompassing team.

Yet no matter the motivation, there is no denying that the games are edge of the seat, non-stop action. The point spreads are staggering, and the penalties astounding. The standings are interesting, with the rare happening of over 75% of the teams being within four points of the other teams in their division. This indicates that it could truly be anyone’s season (although teams such as Detroit, Buffalo and Minnesota still have a fairly decent lead).

Within these standings, of course, we see the usual patterns of high-scoring players and top goal-tenders. Yet even within these, the differential is still very low, and it is anyone’s game. The constant battle for the trophy has actually been usurped by the race to make the All-Star team. As a result, the standings are switching daily, as each player works to achieve yet another hockey goal.

Next week, I’ll begin my holiday coverage, including all the special events and games. To top it all off, the announcements regarding the All-Star team will be made soon. As soon as I know, you’ll know. That’s all for now.

This season, injuries are becoming commonplace. Within the six Canadian teams alone, there have been over 20 injuries keeping players out for five games or more. While this has not seemed to directly affect the teams’ play, morale is lower and tensions rise. However, it is inspiring to see how well the teams rally and pull together in order to maintain their position.

The standings of today reflect the very interesting outcomes of some recent games. Leading the Atlantic division is New Jersey with 21 points. Topping the Northeast is Buffalo with 31, and the Southeast is dominated by the Atlanta Thrashers at 27 points. Within the West, Detroit leads Central division with 23 points, and Minnesota is holding the Northwest at 22 points. Anaheim shows their talent with the Pacific divisions’ leading score of 30 points. Overall, the Eastern Conference is being led by the Buffalo Sabres at 31 points, and the Western Conference is owned by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at 30 points.

Keep in mind that these scores do not take into account all the games played or the latest scores of the last day. However, the statistics are beginning to shape up, and allowing one to begin to make predictions as to the outcomes of this season. However, this reporter has very little to say at the present time regarding possible results. Check back later for my thoughts.

Player Spotlight
Mats Sundin – Toronto Maple Leafs
Height: 6 foot 5 inches
Weight: 231 pounds
Position: Centre
Shoots: Right
Born In: Bromma, Sweden
Born On: February 13, 1971
Acquired From: Quebec Nordiques in 1994
2005/2006 Highlights:
“¢ Played 70 games for Toronto collecting 78 points (31 goals and 47 assists) with 58 penalty minutes;
“¢ Ranked first on the team in points, goals, shots and third in assists;
“¢ Returned after missing 12 games, due to an eye injury November 5 vs. Tampa Bay;
“¢ Registered his 1100th career NHL point (assist) November 26 vs. Montreal. Collected two points (one goal and one assist) including the game winner in overtime November 26 vs. Montreal;
“¢ Played his 1100th career NHL game November 30 at Tampa Bay;
“¢ Selected as Captain of Team Sweden for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games;
“¢ Won Sweden’s first Olympic Gold Medal;
“¢ Registered his 800th point (goal) as a Leaf March 7;
“¢ Won the Leafs Molson Cup with 53 points and seven first stars;
“¢ Ranks first in career regular season NHL overtime;
“¢ Has scored more game winning goals than any other NHL player since the start of the 2000-01 season; and
“¢ Ranks first in Maple Leafs history in game winning goals, third in goals, third in points, fourth in assists and ninth in games played.

Every year, Ottawa has its memorial cenotaph at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honouring those who have died, leaving behind nothing but a legacy. The Tomb honours those who were never recovered and those without a name or family. Many people are present at the Remembrance Day ceremony, including the veterans of the numerous wars, families of those who fought, representatives of many clubs and organizations, as well as the Prime Minister. Speeches are in abundance, reminding us all of what these men and women gave to our country. There is also a wreath ceremony, where representatives from all over the country lay a wreath at the Tomb as a sign of respect for all the lost souls.

Many other provinces and cities have celebrations of their own with similar traditions. In each school, workplace, building and street, the country is united as one, for one blissful minute at 11:00 a.m. , when the country is silent, giving thanks and prayers. We also all wear a poppy as a sign of respect.

The poppy was brought into use in 1921, after a poem written by Col. John McRae came to light. McRae, a soldier doctor in Flanders, wrote “In Flanders Fields” for a friend who had died in battle. An excerpt of the poem, from which the poppy became the symbol of remembrance, follows.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
:

The full poem is available on the Royal Canadian Legion website.

Although we take it for granted, freedom was not always such an easy thing to come by. Thousands of lives were lost, millions more shattered, throughout the course of the many wars that gave us what we have today. Let us always remember these gifts, and always show our gratitude and pride in the veterans, soldiers, and their families for the generous sacrifice they made, and continue to make, everyday. On November 11, wear your poppy, take a moment at 11:00 a.m. and remember. “Lest We Forget.”

We all know what the season of hockey concludes with the Stanley Cup. Purchased by Lord Stanley in 1892, the cup originally measured only 7 1/2 inches high by 11 1/2inches across, a huge difference from today’s cup. It was, under Lord Stanley’s terms, to be awarded to the team who was victorious after a series of championship games (what we now call the playoffs). The Stanley Cup has become one of the most sought-after awards in the sporting industry and the ultimate victory for a player.

However, there are many other awards and trophies that can be won in honour of good hockey playing. To begin with, there is the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is given to the Rookie of the Year. This is the rookie player who has the most points at the end of the player’s first National Hockey League (NHL) season. Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals team was last year’s winner. The top goal scorer in the league receives the Maurice Richard Trophy, and the top goalie the Vezina Trophy. One of the most coveted awards is the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NHL. The present winner (from the 2005/2006 season) is San Jose’s Joe Thornton.

Many other trophies are given out for such achievements as: Top Defenceman, MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Top Point Scorer. The coach can also receive an award for good coaching, called the Jack Adams Award. There are also numerous other trophies given for things from humanitarian efforts through to leadership and gentlemanly conduct.

Although all these awards are available to be won, nothing beats winning the Stanley Cup. It is the dream of all hockey players to stand on the red carpet, hold that shiny silver cup above their heads, and listen to their fans cheer.

This week’s instalment of the player spotlight is Jarome Ignila with the Calgary Flames. The following information is derived from the Calgary Flames website.

Jarome Iginla – Calgary Flames

Height: 6 foot 1 inch
Weight: 204 pounds
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Born in: Edmonton, Alberta
Born on: January 7, 1977
Acquired from: Dallas Stars on December 19, 1995

“¢ 2005/2006 highlights: One of only four Flames to appear in all 82 games leading the team with 67 points.
“¢ 1st on team in points, goals, PP goals, shots, 2nd in assists, 2nd in PP points and T-3rd in GW goals Scored his 35th goal and added an assist on Apr. 17 at ANA.
“¢ Posted his 500th NHL career PIM on Apr. 3 vs. DET.
“¢ Played in his 700th career game on Apr. 1 at EDM.
“¢ Scored the GW/PP/penalty shot goal while adding two assists and a fight (to complete the ‘Gordie Howe Hat Trick’) on Nov. 10 at PHX – was also his first successful penalty shot goal.
“¢ Averaged 21:41 of ice-time.

Hockey has a simple premise. Get the puck, and shoot the puck into the opposing team’s net. That’s a goal and the entire purpose of the game. However, within the confines of this simple premise, the complexities begin. There are numerous game errors, or penalties, that make the game much more exciting. That doesn’t even include game delays (icing and off-sides) and strategic plays. Throughout this article, I will be using a real NHL (National Hockey League) team to convey what I am speaking about. I chose the team named the Toronto Maple Leafs, because they are my personal favourite team and also the team that I am most familiar with.

First off, let’s begin with the basic rules. There are six men from each team on the ice at a time. The players include the goalie, two defensemen, two forwards, and a centre. There are typically two or three goalies (one starting and one or two serving as backup). The defensemen and forwards are usually classified as either right wing or left wing (sort of like politics). These players are assembled into various groups known as lines. There are normally four strings, or lines, of players, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. There is always one main scoring line and one main defensive line. There is also sometimes a more versatile line, usually used during power plays. In the case of Toronto, there is #13 Mats Sundin (centre), #16 Darcy Tucker (left wing), and #42 Kyle Wellwood (right wing) as the scoring line. On the defensive front there is commonly #3 Wade Belak (defence) and #24 Bryan McCabe (defence). #1 Andrew Raycroft is usually the Leafs’ starting goalie. This is an example of a typical line, although throughout the game the lines change to give players a rest, as well as use them to their best advantage (i.e., power plays, face-offs, etc.).

Then there are penalties, which are given for any sort of illegal play. The officials, two linesmen and a referee, are responsible for this discipline, as well as face-offs. There are two types of penalties, termed minor and major. Minor penalties result in two minutes in the penalty box, causing that player’s team to be one man short on the ice. This is known as a power play. Occasionally, a team receives two penalties at the same time, resulting in their opposition having a two-man advantage. These penalties are usually given for errors such as hooking (i.e., using the bend in the stick to stop, slow or knock down an opponent), tripping (i.e., intentionally causing a player to fall) or too many men on the ice (i.e., if a player leaving the ice touches the puck after his replacement has already joined in play, basically more then six players in play). A major penalty is much more severe. A major penalty is quite uncommon. This results in five minutes in the penalty box. These penalites are usually given for errors such as unsportsmanlike conduct (i.e., rough-housing to the point of injury) and fighting (i.e., again similar to unsportsmanlike conduct, but without referee involvement). Although rare, it has happened where these incidents accelerate to such a level that a player is thrown from the game, benched for numerous games, or suspended for the season. As an interesting point, if a fight breaks out between players after the horn signalling the end of a period blows (usually at the time of intermission or at the end of game) those involved can be charged with a criminal offence.

There are also delays-of-game, icing and off-side, which do not result in penalties. However, whichever team erred then has the face-off in their zone. An icing call is simply when the puck crosses two blue lines and the goalie line without being touched by a player. It is basically clearing the ice from one end to the other. An off-side is a little more complex. When an off-side is whistled, it means that a player skated into the opposing team’s zone ahead of the puck. For example, were Toronto to play against Edmonton, an off-side would be if Toronto player Bryan McCabe was over the blue line in Edmonton’s zone, and received the puck from a team-mate. This is considered an unfair advantage.

Well, I believe that covers all the basic rules of hockey. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, but the minor complexities are for another day. I hope reading this article has invigorated hockey fans, and enlightened those who haven’t fallen in love with the sport. Try watching a game now, with all this new knowledge. I’m sure you’ll love it. Join me next week when I discuss the different injuries the teams are facing, and how I think they’ll affect the standings!

Although rookies have been the exciting new talent for years, more and more we find ourselves behind the veterans. Why? Because these are the men that have carried us through game after game, rarely wavering in their determination to win the big one. But are they actually better players? Sometimes. Yet it appears to me that it’s the rookies that are succeeding best with the new NHL. The veterans are still stuck in their ways, having trouble shifting from the old to the new. Look at Todd Bertuzzi, for example, taking useless penalties because of the old knock-’em-down, clear-a-path style of play. Darcy Tucker of the Toronto Maple Leafs seems to have trouble adjusting to the new goalie rules, seeing as he spends a large amount of his ice time in the net.

The rookies, however, soar through their games with fewer penalties and more goals. Is it because they are better, younger, and faster? I doubt it. It’s more about the way they were trained throughout the years. The minors had adopted the new rules long before the NHL made its adaptations, so the rookies knew only that style of play. It probably doesn’t hurt that the new players have not sustained near as many injuries as the veterans, and do not suffer the long term effects as these injuries come back to haunt the older players.

Personally, I think the best teams are those that combine rookies and veterans. A younger player’s speed, agility and ease with new rules, combined with veterans’ finesse and stick handling can create an unbeatable team. Take Kyle Wellwood and Darcy Tucker of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Separately, they are decent players, but together, almost unstoppable. And Jerome Iginla of the Calgary Flames can count on his rookie counterpart, Dion Phaneuf, to have his back. Overall, the Canadian teams have put together some daring player combinations that just may be the winning set to take home the big prize. But I’m not going to predict anything yet. After all, we’re just getting started!

Over on the West Coast, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames have been duelling over Alberta fans for years. So far this season, Edmonton is shaping up to be the team to beat, with their astounding defence and even greater offence. Calgary runs the risk of being left behind as Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Edmonton shows. However, they have done this before, keeping fans on the edge of their seats with their propensity for cutting it close. Vancouver is also shaping up to be a fairly decent team, proving it with a 3-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings, although their weakness – defence — is already apparent.

Over on the East Coast, two main rivals have once again taken centre stage and already made their debut. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens rivalry is the oldest and most well known opposition in the National Hockey League (NHL). These two teams have been battling it out since the conception of the NHL, and fans of both teams are eager to go at it again. This Saturday is their opener at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. I’ll bring you that score next week. However, the Leafs-Senators rivalry is also a big one, although much younger and less abrasive. The Leafs took on the Sens on Wednesday, and suffered a 3-1 loss, but redeemed themselves the following night, shattering the Sens with a 6-0 win. We’ll have to wait and see how the rest of the season will pan out for those two.

The rest of the teams in the NHL have shown the same promise as last year, with the biggest surprise of all being the Pittsburgh Penguins apparent recovery after an embarrassing last season. Now that the regular season has started, I will list the top eight teams in each conference at the end of the article once a month. Remember, “Hockey Time” is your space for everything HOCKEY! See you next week when we will discuss the difference between veteran and rookie teams, and which teams have the advantage when it comes to game time!