Posted by admin on 17th, 2008
Peter Pocklington is well known in hockey circles, being the owner of the Edmonton Oilers during their glory days of the 80’s.
At an auction recently, Pocklington sold off a range of hockey memorabilia at auction. The value of the sales is believed to be worth $294,269 US.
Included in the sale are 5 Stanley Cup Rings (84, 85, 87, 88 & 90), 3 Edmonton Trappers PCL Rings (84, 96 & 97), a 1987 Clarence Campbell Bowl replica and a 1985 Miniature Stanley Cup.
“It’s just memorabilia,” Pocklington told the Edmonton Journal. “I remember being there in real life and those memories will last forever.
“To look at a hunk of gold, that I keep in a safe most of the time anyway, every five years, doesn’t make much sense,” he said. “I’d just as soon use that money and the interest on it to look after my grandchildren.”
- Pocklington auctions off his Stanley Cup rings
Pocklington isn’t new to the sales game of course. He is the man who sold Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, and in past years has sold other items at auction, including another Stanley Cup miniature and a replica of the Clarence Bowl.
Tags: PeterPocklington, edmonton oilers, nhl, ice hockey, wayne gretzky, auction, stanley cup ring
Posted by admin on 16th, 2008
With a huge win over The Bears in their season home opener, the pressure was on the Blue Tongues to once again prevail over the league leaders. Having been introduced to the smaller rink and hard checking style of play produced by Gold Coast, The Bears were expected to hit back, and fast, against the Blue Tongues in their second game of the double header.
The Bears did not disappoint, coming at the Blue Tongues early in the game and changing their tactics to not only start playing a physical game, but also stamping their authority over the control of the game. Both teams seemed to lack the energy they had during Saturday’s game, and some simple rookie errors caused a line change for the Gold Coast team, starting to run two lines instead of three. Despite The Bears claiming control of the puck for majority of the first period however, it was Dave Upton of the Blue Tongues who netted the only goal of the first.
Tempers flared in the second, with roughing calls on both teams, and it was clear that neither team were giving up on their race to be the next to pot a goal. Both Sydney’s goaltender John Daugulis and Gold Coast’s Simo Mustonen had their work cut out for them in net as each team made shot after shot on goal. However, once again the Blue Tongues made some silly mistakes, costing them dearly on the penalty kill. It was The Bears that led going into the third, winning the period 3 goals to the Gold Coast’s lone goal, ending the period 3-2.
Excitement ruled the third, as the Blue Tongues tied up the scores on 3 a piece, before The Bears took advantage of a lapse in concentration and took the lead once more at 4-3 with little more than 8 minutes left in the game. The Blue Tongues never gave up, and with just under 2 minutes left, tied the game 4-4.
Anticipation was high in the stands as the teams took to the face off after a penalty was called on The Bears, giving the Blue Tongues a powerplay with a minute left in the third. Their fans behind them, Gold Coast focused on the job at hand and with 46 seconds left in the game, defenseman Ross Howell netted the game winning goal. The Bears failed to even up the scores in the dying seconds of the game, giving the Blue Tongues their third victory in the last three games.
The first star of the game was Blue Tongues Captain and centre, Billy Crumm. Second star of the game was Blue Tongues Defenseman, Don Burke and third star of the game was Bears’ Roberto Franchini.
Next weekend, the Blue Tongues face the Newcastle North Stars on June 21 & 22 at Gold Coast Iceland, Bundall. Games start at 3.30pm.
Article Source: Gold Coast Blue Tongues
Tags: IceHockey, AIHL, Blue Tongues, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney Bears, Gaetan Royer, Brian Lachance
Posted by admin on 15th, 2008
The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues have done what many believed to be the impossible. After starting out 5-0 on the road, they have come back to win back-to-back games against the AIHL league leading Sydney Bears. The game, a hard checking, end-to-end battle came right down to the wire, with the final puck going in the net just 40 seconds before the end of the third period while the Blue Tongues were on the Power Play.
The Blue Tongues now have a week to recover before playing the Newcastle Inski North Stars next weekend.
Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues Ice Hockey Club
Posted by admin on 12th, 2008
The San Jose Sharks have hired a new head coach. Todd McLellan, formerly an assistant coach with the Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings will be formerly announced as the new head coach on Thursday.
“It’s a very good feeling,” McLellan said in a statement released by the team. “From the first moment Doug called to the moment he offered the job, I felt comfortable. I think the Sharks have done a tremendous job. You don’t get that close to 50 wins for a number of years in a row without a lot of talent. It’s a matter of getting over the hump. There are some real parallels between the Wings and the Sharks.”
- NHL – Yahoo! Sports
The Sharks hope that McLellan, who has experience with cup winning teams will help take the Sharks all the way.
Tags: sanjose sharks, detroit red wings, todd mclellan, ron wilson
Posted by admin on 11th, 2008
After a conference low 71 points last season, the Los Angeles Kings have given head coach Marc Crawford his marching orders.
Crawford, who’s record over his 2 seasons with the Kings is a dismal 59-84-21. Last season the Kings tied with Eastern Conference bottom feeders, the Tampa Bay Lightning on points.
“In the end it just comes down to fit,” Lombardi said in a conference call Tuesday afternoon. “It’s just a gut call on fit.”- Yahoo! Sports
In a division that includes strong teams such as the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, the Kings need to do far better to compete.
Tags: losangeles kings, dallas stars, anaheim ducks, san jose sharks, marc crawford, dean lombardi
Posted by admin on 11th, 2008
A month after being fired from the San Jose Sharks, Ron Wilson has a new job, one that to many, could be considered a promotion.
It was announced today that Ron Wilson has been hired as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I’m the happiest person in the National Hockey League today,” Wilson said. “I’m fulfilling a dream.
“Obviously if you lose your job in the league you often wonder if you’ll get another opportunity,” he said. “The furthest thing from my mind at any point in my hockey career was that I would have an opportunity—ever—to coach a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs with their incredible history.”
- NHL – Yahoo! Sports
When talking about the Maple Leafs as a team, Ron Wilson was quoted as saying;
“I view the Leafs as a team in transition,”. “It’s going to require a lot of work and a lot of attention to detail.
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NHL – Yahoo! Sports
Ron Wilson, who’s coaching career in the NHL stands at 518-446-127 has coached for the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks before heading to his last post in San Jose.
Tags: sanjose sharks, toronto maple leafs, ron wilson, nhl, national hockey league, head coach, coach
Posted by admin on 5th, 2008
NHL – Detroit Red Wings/Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score Wednesday June 4, 2008 – Yahoo! Sports
Just 5 minutes until puck drop in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Detroit Red Wings are looking for the win that will give them the Cup. The Penguins trying to force a series deciding game 7.
Keys to the game:
- M.A. Fleury repeating his stellar performance that helped win game 6. If he can, the Penguins can make a game of this.
- Pittsburgh need to shut down the Red Wings top line. If Zetterberg and Datsyuk are free to skate on open ice they will do damage. The Penguins need to shut that line down.
- Evgeni Malkin. He was quiet in most games of this series, but got the assist on Sykoras game winner in game 6. If Malkin can get on a roll, he could be the difference maker.
Game on!
Tags: detroitred wings, pittsburgh penguins, nhl, stanley cup, game 7, zetterberg, datsyuk, crosby, malkin, igloo
Posted by admin on 4th, 2008
Tortorella fired as coach of Tampa Bay Lightning – NHL – Yahoo! Sports
It comes as not surprise to those who have been watching the Tampa Bay Lightning over the last few weeks. Now, it’s officially confirmed. Tortorella has been fired as head coach of the Lightning, opening up yet another head coach position around the NHL.
It is rumored that former LA Kings coach Barry Melrose is interested in the job.
Tags: Tortorella, tampa bay lightning, head coach, nhl, barry melrose, fired, la kings, bolts
Posted by admin on 16th, 2008
NHL Disciplinarian Colin Campbell announced today that Chris Pronger of the Anaheim Ducks will receive an 8 game suspension after stomping on the calf of Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler.
“In attempting to free himself, Pronger carelessly and recklessly brought his foot down,” Campbell said in a statement.
- Yahoo! Sport
The suspension has raised an outcry among the public who are shocked to yet again see a double standard from the NHL when it comes to handing out discipline to players.
Earlier this season the NHL suspended Chris Simon for 30 games after he was found guilty of stomping on the ankle of Pittsburgh Penguin Jarkko Ruutu. Does it not seem odd then that Chris Pronger would only receive 8 games?
The Chris Simon suspension was long because Simon was considered a “repeat offender”, and someone that needed to learn the hard way.
What does that make Pronger, who now has been suspended 8 times in his career. Surely we don’t need to remind you of last season where he received 2 suspensions during the playoffs for rough / dirty play, including that elbow to the head of Dean McAmmond in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The answer is there, if you look hard enough. Chris Simon is not an all star player, nor a big point scorer, or a crowd drawing player. Chris Pronger is. Chris Simon is not a Norris quality player. Chris Pronger is.
Is the NHL too scared, maybe even gutless to come down hard on an all star player? Chris Pronger has shown that these stupidly small suspensions do nothing to encourage him to clean up his game, so why don’t Gary Bettman and the NHL do something about him?
Something to think about.
Pronger will be able to play again on the last day of the regular season, meaning he will be free to throw his weight around in the playoffs. Let’s hope, for the sake of the opposition players that he learns to control himself before then.
Posted by admin on 12th, 2008
Joe Pavelski and Milan Michalek led the San Jose Sharks to a new record tonight, defeating the Nashville Predators 2-1 on the road. The win, the Sharks 10th in row has them sitting atop the Pacific Division, 1 point ahead of the Dallas Stars and 4 points ahead of the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Anaheim Ducks.
The Sharks, 10-0-0 in their last 10 games have been surging since acquiring Brian Campbell from Buffalo at the Trade Deadline. They have been favorites to win the cup since the beginning of the season, and are starting to make the push at the right time of the season.
Ross McKeon commented in his latest column…
“It is a battle in that Pacific Division,” said Joe Thornton, the team’s leading scorer. “I believe we’re going real good right now, and it’s a good time to play those good teams and see how good we actually are.”
Three key factors have put San Jose on track. First, Jonathan Cheechoo is healthy. Second, Patrick Marleau rediscovered his game. And last, the addition of defenseman Brian Campbell at the trade deadline added a new dimension to the team.
- Yahoo! Sports
Threatening the Sharks for the Division Title are the Dallas Stars who are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. The Stars made big news recently by acquiring Brad Richards from Tampa Bay in a blockbuster move at the Trade Deadline. The Stars have been leading the Division for the last month, but a few recent losses now see them having to compete hard to win the Division.
4 points back from the Sharks sit the Anaheim Ducks, who have also started to make a push. They are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The Ducks have been on again off again however and will need to push harder if they wish to compete with the Sharks and Stars.
The Sharks have 2 games in hand over both the Stars and the Ducks which could put them a few points ahead of their Division Rivals come the end of March.
