Hockey

Blues Clues: When Everything Isn't Enough

Alex Pietrangelo

On paper, it would seem that the St. Louis Blues have all the necessary pieces to take home the Stanley Cup come June 2014. Fans and prognosticators both see plenty to like in the current incarnation of the team, with the latter becoming evidenced by publication The Hockey News’ preseason prediction of St. Louis besting […]

Hockey

How to Create Hysteria: The Roberto Luongo Chronicles

Roberto Luongo

I’ve never taken a course in Public Relations so I won’t claim to be well versed in its intricacies, but I imagine part of PR 101 is following through on a course of action one says they’re embarking upon. Mike Gillis, the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, must have eschewed the Public Relations courses […]

Hockey

Oil Stains: Why Edmonton's rebuild hasn't gone according to plan

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. After suffering through a terrible stretch of years that saw the Edmonton Oilers make the playoffs just once between lockouts (in 2005-06 no less), change was supposed to be on the horizon. Buoyed by a triumvirate of first overall picks from 2010 to 2012, netting them Taylor Hall, […]

Hockey

The Inseparable: Sport and Destiny

In sports, much like life, there are moments bound to live on forever. Whether it’s a moment filled with joy or heartbreak, an inspirational moment or a deflating one, experiencing glory in victory and agony in defeat is evidence of how inexorably linked sports and life have become. Sport is woven into the cultural fabric […]

Hockey

The NHL's Barnum and Bailey Act

By now you’ve probably seen the circus act that was Game 3 between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. Myriad opinions abound about the tactics used and the actions undertaken in that game, with some fans revelling in the “old-time hockey”-style of play, while others, such as Ken Campbell from The Hockey News, have denounced […]

Hockey

Steve Ott, Boos Brother

For those who follow the NHL, Steve Ott falls into one of two categories. He’s either a beloved player or a hated rival. Checking in at 6’0″, 193 lbs., Ott isn’t the most physically imposing player in the league, but he’s a “shift disturber” extraordinaire, the epitome of a “pest”, and until recently a player […]

Hockey

Requiem for a Draft: Fantasy hockey at its finest

I’ll admit I live a life of fantasy. I’ve been doing so for some time now. Although that fact is no secret to my family and friends, what started as a ‘hobby’ has become not only a time consuming passion, but also a painstaking pursuit of glory and salvation bordering on religious fanaticism. It’s been […]

Hockey

An Early Look at Team Canada: Part 2 – Forwards

With goaltending and defensive predictions made just over two weeks ago, today my predictions for Team Canada’s 13-man forward unit are revealed. With the depth of talent Canada possesses, there will no doubt be surprises and controversy with some exceptional players finding themselves on the outside looking in once the final roster is announced. With […]

Hockey

An Early Look at Team Canada: Part 1 – Goalies and Defense

The NHL is back, finally. However, as refreshing as it is to see actual games being played and hockey highlights daily in lieu of witnessing Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr bickering at each other in public in a sad, vain attempt to win a public relations battle, the hockey fan in me is rarely satisfied. […]

Hockey

Adding Intent to Injury: A Hockey Headshot Story

As it usually does at the World Junior Hockey Championship, controversy once again reared its ugly head. There was no shortage of controversial moments, from suspect officiating (see Ty Rattie’s bizarre goal) to questionable suspensions, but no incident sparked more debate than Anthony Camara’s devastating hit on Slovakia’s Patrik Luza. IIHF officiating rarely draws rave […]