Justin Bonhard | May 20th, 2020
The first overall selection in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets is our topic of conversation, left winger Rick Nash. What came after that selection, would be a marvelous career, stretching 15 NHL seasons for three franchises. Continue reading
Craig Petter | May 15th, 2020
“My dad always said: ‘a centreman’s job is to disperse the puck, share it…’”
High school physics teachers usually deploy the word ‘dispersion’ in reference to refracting light through a prism, where a single beam scatters into multicolored spurts. The process projects a rainbow because dispersion shows the individual wavelengths swirling within the single white light so they gleam and glitter on their own.
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Dale Money | May 14th, 2020
Considered by many observers, as arguably the greatest American goaltender to don a pair of pads, Mike Richter is one of the special players who was able to stay with one NHL team his entire career. A native of Abington, Pennsylvania, Richter grew up a fan of former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Bernie Parent. Due to his mesmerizing playing style, Richter would blossom into a popular player among young hockey fans during his prime NHL years. His Statue of Liberty mask is still one of the most iconic designs.
Dom Lunardo | May 13th, 2020
Desire, personality, talent, charisma, passion, skill, and a burning will to win. These are just some of the adjectives used to describe Hall-of-Fame goaltender, Patrick Roy. If one was to make a “Mount Rushmore of NHL goaltenders”, Patrick Roy would be forever enshrined in history. Continue reading
Craig Petter | May 12th, 2020
“Domi flips it high… Selanne goes after it! Teemu Selanne breaks in, he scores!”
Listen closely to fuzzy replays of that goal from March 2, 1993, and you just might hear the sound of gunshots. Winnipeg Jets phenom Teemu Selanne burns past two paralyzed Quebec Nordiques defencemen, flips a loose puck over a lunging Stephane Fiset and pick, pack, pock; three distinct cracks ring out to suit the equally thunderous occasion. After all, Selanne just netted his 54th goal to surpass Mike Bossy’s previous rookie goal-scoring record.
Joel Dorcas | May 11th, 2020
Mario Lemieux, “the magnificent one”, quite possibly the most gifted player to ever play the game. As enjoyable as it was to watch Wayne Gretzky park himself behind the net and make a great play, it was equally as enjoyable to watch “Super Mario” weave and deke through the teeth of the defense for a goal. Lemieux left an ever-lasting impression on the game with his incredible offensive skills that won’t be forgotten. Let’s queue up another Blast From the Past and look at the great career of number 66 Mario Lemieux. Continue reading
Dom Lunardo | May 10th, 2020
Draft: 1st overall, 1991, Quebec Nordiques
NHL Clubs: Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars
NHL All-Star Game Appearances: 7
Hall-of-Fame Inductee: 2016 Continue reading
Joel Dorcas | May 7th, 2020
Dominik Hasek, “the dominator” was a very special player and perhaps the best goalie to ever put on a pair of pads in, at least, the modern era. Hasek was a nightmare to play against in the 1990s and 2000s winning multiple trophies for best at his position and for the entire league for any position. Let’s take a closer look at one of the leagues’ most interesting and intriguing characters, Dominik Hasek. Continue reading
Dale Money | May 5th, 2020
Valeri Kamensky has a very full and fascinating Ice Hockey story. Born and bred in the town of Voskresensk Russia. It’s a town in which several former NHL players were born, including Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, and Andrei Markov. Known as one of the more dynamic players during his generation, he was a fluid skater along with being an adept passer and skills man. Kamensky’s infamous mid-air spinning goal on John Vanbiesbrouck, would, in fact, be added as the intro to the EA video game NHL 98. Continue reading
.Craig Petter | May 4th, 2020
“Here he comes, Datsyuk in on goal… and he does it again! What a beautiful goal! How many does he have in his repertoire, oh my!” Continue reading
Dom Lunardo | May 4th, 2020
One of the finest Swedish hockey players of all-time appears in the form of Peter Forsberg. As a player, Forsberg was a superstar power-forward with an incredible skill set. A proven winner, Forsberg is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion and member of the Triple Gold Club (Olympic Gold, World Championship, and Stanley Cup). Hockey fans all around the world have adored both his on-ice vision and elite style of play. Let’s rewind and enjoy a “blast from the past” by taking a closer look at the life and playing career of Peter Forsberg. Continue reading
Craig Petter | April 30th, 2020
“Iginla- Crosby- Scores!”
Hints of both irony and tragedy tint the moment where Jarome Iginla engraved his name on the slab of Olympic hockey history in 2010. First, as the most gifted goal-scorer of his generation, Iginla ironically helped seal Canada’s gold-medal victory with an assist instead of potting the puck himself. Plus, in rather a heartbreaking retrospect, the longstanding Calgary Flames captain experienced the greatest triumph of his career while wearing a different shade of red. Although he never hoisted the Stanley Cup himself, Jarome Iginla enjoyed a lengthy spell of both NHL and international superstardom that deserves a second glance. Continue reading
Joel Dorcas | April 30th, 2020
Mats Sundin was the first European born player to be drafted first overall in the NHL and shares the distinction as one of the longest-serving captains born outside of North America. He became the first European captain in Toronto Maple Leaf history in 1996-1997 and will go down in Leaf history as one of their best ever. Let’s dig into another Blast From the Past and take a closer look at the great career of 6’5″ center, number 13 Mats Sundin. Continue reading
Dom Lunardo | April 30th, 2020
Next up in our “Blast from the Past” series is a Hall of Fame defenseman. Graceful, intelligent, smooth-skating, soft-spoken, and a heck of a hockey player. These are just some of the many words used to describe NHL legend and Hall-of-Fame defenseman, Scott Niedermayer. Continue reading
Dom Lunardo | April 30th, 2020
Over the last 15-20 years, the United States has seen a surge of talented, American-born hockey players. From Mike Richter, Tony Amonte, Jamie Langenbrunner, Bill Guerin, Pat LaFontaine, Brian Leetch, Patrick Kane, Ryan Suter, Auston Matthews, and Jack Eichel, the U.S. presence in the National Hockey League continues to rise at a steady rate. Enter Livonia, Michigan native, Mike Modano, and you have perhaps the cream of the crop of USA hockey. Let’s take a closer look at the NHL career of Mike Modano and the road he paved for the next generation of hockey players south of the Canadian border. Continue reading
Dom Lunardo | April 30th, 2020
99. “The Great One”. “Gretz”. Holding or sharing a grand total of 61 NHL records, will garner you a few nicknames now, won’t it? When you think of the beautiful sport of hockey, it won’t take long for the name, Wayne Gretzky to pop into your head. Continue reading
Joel Dorcas | April 28th, 2020
Nicknamed the “moose” because of his large frame and presence on the ice, Mark Messier will go down in NHL history as the ultimate team-leader and captain. Many will regard him as one of the best of all-time in any sport. His likeness will be forever referenced to when teams start building Championship Franchises. Let’s throw it back to the ’80s and ’90s and take a closer look at Mark “Moose” Messier. Continue reading