from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,
As part of his duties as vice president of hockey operations for the Detroit Red Wings, Nicklas Lidstrom is often assigned with the task of checking in on hockey’s future. While he’s doing so, the Red Wings legend readily admits that these kids have no recollection whatsoever of his spectacular past.
And he’s okay with that.
“I have no problem with that,” Lidstrom 54, told Swedish website Expressen.se. “It’s a bit fun in a way. There’s a new generation coming up and I actually think it’s charming.”...
Today’s up and coming hockey stars can Google all of that information about Lidstrom. They can watch his career highlights on YouTube. What they can’t do is recollect witnessing any of those magical events occuring.
“It was the same for me when I was growing up,” Lidstrom admitted. “There were players whose names you knew, but you had never seen them.”
from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,
Lyon caps off the season being the starting goaltender for Team USA at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) men's world championships in Czechia.
"It's always an honor and to even get asked is an honor," Lyon said of playing on the U.S. national team, adding he takes the opportunity "seriously."
Lyon played two periods Tuesday in an exhibition game against Slovakia, stopping 17 of 19 shots in a 6-2 U.S. victory. Trey Augustine, a Red Wings prospect and Michigan State standout, played the final period and stopped all four shots he faced.
But for Lyon, it's a success story of a season for a guy who was thinking he'd be with the Griffins out of training camp.
"You shoot for the stars and you want to believe in the best-case scenario, but realistically I thought I'd probably be in Grand Rapids this year," Lyon said. "Given what happened last year (the Wings' goaltending injuries), I knew they might be a little more inclined to play me here. I also just saw this group (when Lyon signed) as up and coming, and I know what I bring to the table, and I just felt it would have been a good fit bringing that energy and consistency on a day-to-day basis. That's one of my strong suits.
"This year, the way it played out, was crazy. I'm just happy to play a lot of games."...
As Lyon heads into the summer after the world championships, there will be one obvious area to improve and work on. Carrying the majority of the workload, Lyon seemed to fade in the season's final weeks. Lyon won only three of his final 16 decisions (3-10-3) while allowing four or more goals 10 of those 16 games.
Building his mental and physical endurance is something Lyon will focus on heading into September.
"Trying to find that consistency over the course of a full season," Lyon said. "It's a difficult thing and it gets me excited, honestly and motivates me to the best version of myself. I have a better understanding now of what that is going to take.
"I feel like I learned a lot and I just have to use it and make sure that I use it wisely going forward."
more ($)
via the Pittsburgh Penguins,
Below is Team USA's Preliminary Round Schedule. All games will be broadcasted on NHL Network.
How time flies too quickly. Thanks, Boss.
Two empty netters for Sweden, they win 5-2 in a prelim game.
FYI, they are playing on the larger ice surface.
Still waiting for that large ice surface to come stateside.
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