Kukla's Korner

You Have To Experience It

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/26/08 at 07:48 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Shawn Merrithew of the Bugle-Observer,

My excitement mounted as I stepped off the train at Union Station, which is only minutes from the temple to the hockey gods.

You see I have always loved hockey, you might even say I live and breath it. In my younger days, I laced up the skates and played the game in subfreezing weather on ponds and outdoor rinks. I continue to play these days, just in another form – ball hockey.

For as many years as I can remember, I have also sat before the television on Saturday nights to watch Hockey Night in Canada with my dad, cheering on the red, white and blue of the Montreal Canadiens. Now I cheer for the red, white and black of the Ottawa Senators.

Nothing could prepare me for the feeling a true hockey fan experiences upon their arrival to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Words cannot describe it, you have to experience it.

read on

Filed in: Hockey Related Stories, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: hockey+hall+of+fame

Mitchell Ready For Leadership Role

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/26/08 at 07:43 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province,

Nudged by coach Alain Vigneault, (Willie) Mitchell is committed to setting an example this offseason, trying to take a step forward into the leadership void created by the departure of Canuck mainstays Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison and Trevor Linden….

Mitchell hasn’t had much time for leisure this summer. He said he took just one fishing trip. He started skating regularly in July in Minnesota, his earliest ever start, and already has ramped up his off-ice training to five days a week.

“It’s not easy and it’s not fun,” Mitchell said. “This isn’t exactly the most enjoyable time of year for hockey players—you’re running stairs and doing things where you’re almost passing out. That’s not fun.

“But No. 1 for me is to get ready to have a great season and if I do that it’s really going to help this team. I’m not happy with how last season turned out. No one can be.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: willie+mitchell

Richardson Hopes To Play One More Season

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/26/08 at 07:13 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

Luke Richardson wants to play one more season in Ottawa.

But whether the Senators can accommodate the 39-year-old defenceman remains to be seen….

Richardson, who made $500,000 (all terms US) last season, is ready to go to camp without a contract, but with the Senators already committing more than $48 million under the $56.3-million salary cap for 2008-09, there might not be much left in the kitty for the 19-year NHL veteran.

Richardson pondered retirement in the off-season, but wants to give it one more shot.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: luke+richardson

Hey Kid, Want To Play Goal?

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/25/08 at 08:49 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen,

One minute late Monday morning, the 13-year-old house league goaltender was laughing with his friends, taking off his equipment in the dressing room after a hockey camp session at the Bell Sensplex.

The next minute, he was back on the ice, facing shots from the Ottawa Senators’ Chris Kelly, Chris Neil, Chris Phillips, Shean Donovan, Anton Volchenkov and Jason Smith and several other National Hockey League players.

“I was undressing and a guy just came running in and said, ‘We need a goalie,’” Christian said after his 90-minute whirlwind taste of life in the big leagues. “There were three other (goalies), but their stuff was already off, so, I guess, well, they picked me.”

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Berard Gets Tryout With Flyers

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/25/08 at 06:32 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Kevin Allen at Mucking and Grinding,

Former Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Mark Popovic became the latest NHL player to be lured away by the new Russian Super League, agreeing to play for St. Petersburg next season for approxately $1 million….

Bryan Berard, unable to secure a contract from any NHL team, has agreed to attend the Philadelphia Flyers’ training camp on a tryout basis. Berard, whose career was derailed several years ago when he was blinded by an errant stick, played last season for the New York Islanders

more

added 4:36pm, from the Delco Times,

“Bryan has been around a number of years now (and) he has been a good defenseman for quite some time,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. “I’m excited about Bryan’s willingness to come here on a try out. It will certainly pick up the competition level of what is going to take place in training camp anytime you can add a player like him.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, Philadelphia Flyers, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: bryan+berard, mark+popovic

Afternoon Line

Blog: KK Hockey By Alanah McGinley

08/25/08 at 03:57 PM ET | Comments (0)

“My goal with my kids is for them to play beer league hockey when they get older.”

Dallas Drake shares his thoughts on how to give kids “a love of the game that will last a lifetime.”

Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: dallas+drake

The New Lightning Captain

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/25/08 at 02:45 PM ET | Comments (0)

via Adam Proteau of the Hockey News,

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will name Vincent Lecavalier their captain sometime in the coming weeks, a Bolts official told The Hockey News.

“You would not be in the wrong to expect that kind of announcement,” said the official, who requested anonymity. “There’s no doubt this is Vinny’s team and we’re going to recognize that officially.”

added 1:36pm, from Damian Cristodero at Lightning Strikes,

Caught up with Vinny Lecavalier the other day, and the Lightning’s superstar center, coming off arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, said he is skating in his native Montreal and has no doubt he will be ready for training camp. As for being cleared for contact and being ready to start the regular season, he said, “I’m sure I’ll be ready to play.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: vinny+lecavalier

Be Careful Nikita

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/25/08 at 09:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch,

If the Blue Jackets must lose players to injury, they would prefer it happen during the season—and while they are representing, you know, the Blue Jackets.

The franchise has asked first-round draft pick Nikita Filatov to stop playing exhibition games with the junior club of his former Russian hockey team. The Jackets made the request to ensure that the 18-year-old forward does not get injured before arriving for rookie training camp, which starts Sept. 12, general manager Scott Howson said.

Earlier this summer, second-year forward Jared Boll suffered a broken right hand playing a pickup game in Toronto.

“We knew (Filatov) was working out with the (Russian) team, but we were not aware he was playing,” Howson said. “When we became aware of it (last week), we asked him to stop and he said he would.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: nikita+filatov

Prepare To Pay For 2010 Gold Medal Hockey Game

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/25/08 at 08:29 AM ET | Comments (0)

Hockey fans planning on heading to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the ticket prices for the Gold Medal game have been set.  Prices range from $350-$775(Can).

The Seattle Times has a story up on how to get tickets for the games,

Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Pre-Season Rankings

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

08/24/08 at 11:14 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Kevin Allen of Mucking and Grinding at USA TODAY,

As an antidote to Sundin rumor fatigue, I offer my pre-labor special power rankings, fully acknowledging that they will undoubtedly change dramatically once Sundin decides whether he loves this game or not.

1. Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings are the New York Yankees of the NHL. You can hate them if you want, but they have more talent than other team by far. The only caution is that there was another pro sports team in Detroit that was supposed to march to the title this summer and that didn’t go as planned.

2. Montreal Canadiens: This team may score 280-plus goals this season. Mike Komisarek is one of the more underrated players in the league. I didn’t like Bob Gainey’s decision to turn over the goaltending to Carey Price last spring, but I think he will be ready this season.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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