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Category: Hockey-Related-Stories

2020 HHOF Class Will Be Honored Next Year

by Paul on 10/30/20 at 10:31 AM ET
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TORONTO (October 30, 2020) – Lanny McDonald, Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, announced today that there will be no Honoured Membership elections in 2021 while confirming that the inductees elected in 2020 will be honoured as a stand-alone class during the Hall’s 2021 Induction Weekend/Celebration (scheduled for November 12-15, 2021). The decision was made at a Board of Directors meeting held yesterday via teleconference.

At meetings held virtually on June 23/24, 2020, the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee elected six new Honoured Members, namely Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre and Doug Wilson in the Player Category, and Ken Holland in the Builder Category.  In a release dated August 10, 2020, the 2020 Induction Weekend/Celebration was officially postponed due to continuing consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The magic of the induction weekend from the perspective of the new inductees is participating in several days of close interaction with family, friends, former teammates, fellow legends and fans,” said McDonald.  “On that premise, the Board felt that this was the right decision to bestow upon the Class of 2020 the recognition and lifetime experience they so richly deserve in all ways consistent with past induction classes.”

In other Board matters, David Branch, Brian Burke, Marc de Foy, Mike Gartner, Anders Hedberg and Pierre McGuire were re-appointed to the Selection Committee each for a further three-year term expiring December 31, 2024.

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This Was Tom Webster

by Paul on 10/11/20 at 07:33 AM ET
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from Gare Joyce of Sportsnet,

Tom Webster was, if not a shy man, then at least an unassuming one, almost painfully self-effacing around those who didn’t know him well. That’s rare in the hockey business that is, like the game, built on confidence and the bluster of people too eager to exaggerate their influence. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that his death in April wasn’t big news in the media, that #Webbie and #RIPHawkeye never trended. Across the NHL, players, coaches, scouts and executives mourned his passing in a way that escaped notice, at least in part because the COVID-19 lockdown deprived them of the opportunity to attend his funeral.

A lot of famous names would have made it out to pay respects and celebrate his half-century in the game. Many Tom Webster stories would have been shared. I have a few of my own but I’m going to go with just one here.

Back in February 2008, I headed down to Windsor with a very sad assignment: to cover the Spitfires’ first game after the sudden death of their captain, Mickey Renaud, at the age of 19. An outgoing, charismatic kid, a genuine live wire, Renaud had grown up in Windsor and seemed to know everyone in town. He drew his last breath when he was sitting down to breakfast with a couple of younger teammates. An autopsy would reveal an undiagnosed heart condition. A few games were cancelled in the wake of Renaud’s death. When the team again took the ice, against Belleville on a Thursday night, there was a ceremony before the game that no one in attendance would forget.

continued

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A Demographic Snapshot

by Paul on 09/16/20 at 11:19 AM ET
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added 12:30pm, more below...

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Video- Brian Burke With A Memory Of 9/11

by Paul on 09/11/20 at 08:51 PM ET
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via Sportsnet,

Sportnet's David Amber joins Brian Burke in remembering the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and the lives it directly impacted in the hockey community.

 

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HDA Ask Of Th NHL

by Paul on 08/29/20 at 09:22 PM ET
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from the HDA,

PRESS RELEASE

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NHL Considered Safe To Play By 146 Doctors

by Paul on 08/24/20 at 08:43 AM ET
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via Stephanie Apstein and Michael Rosenberg of Sports Illustrated,

Professional sports are back, but are they safe?

Leagues say yes. And the vast majority of athletes have chosen to compete. But doctors surveyed by SI tell a more complex story: They worry COVID-19 could cause many serious health problems down the road, and say that sports played outside a bubble are not worth the risk—even for young, healthy athletes who get paid millions to play.

Sports Illustrated asked doctors with expertise related to COVID-19 around the country: If your full income came from playing in one of the four major U.S. men’s professional sports leagues, how likely would you be to play?

The results were stark. Roughly 90% of the 146 doctors who responded to SI’s survey said they would definitely or probably play in the NBA (which has built a locked-down “bubble” in Orlando) or the NHL (which has two bubbles in Canada). But majorities said they probably or definitely would not play in the NFL (62%) or Major League Baseball (59%) under current protocols.

Regarding the NHL, 43.8% of the surveyed responded would definitely play, 47.9% said probably play.

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Happy Father’s Day

by Paul on 06/21/20 at 08:54 AM ET
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My dad loved sports.  He was an all-state catcher in high school at Fordson (Dearborn, Mi.), then WWII came about and off to North Africa to serve under George Patton.

Then 37 years at the 'Rouge' working for Ford Motor Company.

Retirement was brief for him, he died at age 68 with a brain tumor.

But his drive to succeed remains with me every day and I know he is up ther chatting with all the greats from the sports world.

My dad was great to me before this guy...

 

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Morning Line- Kevin Paul Dupont

by Paul on 06/20/20 at 07:34 AM ET
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...if we’re going to continue trotting out Uncle Sam to throw out the first pitch or drop the puck, then let’s take some time now to create a song that works for all of us. One that’s relevant in 2020. One that plays to the better angels of our nature. One that is versed in inclusion, hope, trust, and equality for all. The e pluribus unum of anthems.

Obviously, not an easy one to write. But when have we had a better opportunity to hit pause and fix a song that just isn’t working for all of us?

-Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe where you can read more on the National Anthem debate.

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Erik Gudbranson’s Thoughts On Racism

by Paul on 06/09/20 at 08:14 AM ET
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from Erik Gudbranson at Sportsnet,

I’d like to begin by saying that I hope everyone is doing all right during these difficult times. My thoughts over the past few months have been with you all.

But that is not what this article is about. It’s about an issue I’ve been wrestling with for a long time: the violence and systemic racism faced by Black people.

It’s an issue that has deeply concerned me, but one that I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t ever felt confident enough to speak about publicly. If I’m honest, I’m still nervous to write this, because I know there’s still so much for me to learn and I’m afraid to say the wrong thing.

So, why now? What’s changed? It’s a very fair question and my answer sucks. Basically, I was too consumed with what I was doing to act on my feelings, something I’m very disappointed about. But in the past three months, being away from hockey has allowed me time to reflect a lot. To learn more and talk about issues and the current state of the world unselfishly.

And now I’m determined to stop being quiet when I know that speaking up in the name of racial justice is the right thing to do. I’m hoping that by speaking up now, I’ll encourage other people to do the same.

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  Tags: erik+gudbranson

The Culture Of Hockey

by Paul on 06/04/20 at 08:45 AM ET
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from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,

The NHL, its teams and players have been speaking out against racism, and for racial justice since George Floyd, a black man, died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25.

William Douglas, a staff writer for NHL.com who writes The Color of Hockey blog, said on this week's episode of the NHL @TheRink podcast that he believes the statements, specifically from several prominent white NHL players, have made for a significant moment and a real chance for change in the League and society.

"You're getting players of all levels," Douglas told co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke. "Your Blake Wheelers and Alex Ovechkins joining players who have spoken out before, like J.T. Brown. To have those star players contribute their voices amplifies the issue and that helps things move forward."

Douglas said players speaking out also helps facilitate a conversation about the culture of hockey and the need for change that the NHL discussed at the Board of Governors meeting in December, when Commissioner Gary Bettman unveiled a multi-point plan for conduct aimed at promoting and fostering inclusion and diversity.

continued

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