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Gaming Season: NHL Hitz Pro Preview Sep 6, 2003 David M Singer
September for hockey fans means a few things: training camps, preseason - and video games. Every year, early fall marks the time when game makers release the latest titles of their hockey line. This season looks to have some of the best competition hockey gamers have ever seen. A revamped NHL Hitz from Midway, big improvements to EA's NHL 2004, Sega's renamed ESPN NHL Hockey and a new comer to the field, Microsoft, with NHL Rivals.

We'll start our preview and interview series with NHL Hitz Pro from Midway. A big change to the NHL Hitz franchise this season with 5 on 5 play (former years were 3 on 3). A stricter rules set and higher level of customization also have come to the game. Still billed as the fastest and hardest hitting series, is it trying to make the jump into realism? I was able to get some answers from Nigel Franks at Next Level Games. He is the Executive Producer of NHL Hitz Pro.
Q & A: Paxton Schulte Aug 18, 2003 Graham Smyth
Paxton Schulte hails from Edmonton, Alberta and was drafted by the NHL's Quebec Nordiques (sixth round, 124th overall) in 1992. Schulte only played two games in the NHL, one with the Nordiques and one with the Calgary Flames but in his six seasons in the AHL (with the Cornwall Aces and St John's Flames) he proved that he could do more than drop the gloves, passing the 30 point mark on four occasions.

Schulte moved to Britain in 1998 to join the Bracknell Bees, and after two seasons he followed coach Dave Whistle to a brand new franchise in Belfast.
The Ultimate Character Aug 5, 2003 Tony Tornberg
His right arm swung ferociously. His eyes were squinted and his jaw clenched tightly as he delivered his fury. His aggression exploded with the kind of raw anger and contempt that you’d expect from someone who had been coldly betrayed by an archenemy. But this was no climactic confrontation between two bitter rivals; rather, it was the first intra-squad game of the Okanagan Hockey School’s Program of Excellence. Some poor soul has just made the unfortunate mistake of crossing paths with Dale Purinton.
Wonderful World of Sergei Jul 19, 2003 David M Singer
It took almost three weeks into the free agent season before Sergei Federov signed his big money contract. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, turned out to be the “winners”, who were bidding aggressively for the star after losing long-time Duck Paul Kariya to the Colorado Avalanche weeks ago. Just two days after signing another team’s top scorer in Vinny Prospal, Federov should give the Ducks what they need to repeat in the playoffs next season, and not suffer the same fate as former Cup Finals losers.
Q & A: Paul Kruse Apr 25, 2003 Graham Smyth
Paul Kruse played over 400 games in the NHL, racking up more than 1000 PIMs between 1990 and 2001. Paul was drafted by the Calgary Flames and played there for several seasons before moving to the Islanders, then the Sabres and finally the San Jose Sharks. Last season Kruse was captain of the Sheffield Steelers, and led them to glory in the playoffs. Paul has been captain of the Belfast Giants this year, scoring 5 goals and 13 assists in the regular season, and 3+5 in the playoffs. Despite not taking any fighting majors in the regular season, Paul has fought four times since the start of the playoffs.
Q & A: Dion Darling Apr 1, 2003 Graham Smyth
Dion Darling is a tough, no-nonsense defenceman with the Sheffield Steelers in the British Ice Hockey Superleauge. Dion was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, but has spent most of his career in the minor leagues in North America. Before coming to Sheffield, Dion had played for the Fredericton Canadiens in the AHL, the Manitoba Moose in the IHL and in Russia with Omsk Avangard. Darling became the Sheffield Steelers’ main enforcer this season, taking on the likes of Dody Wood, Dennis Maxwell and Jason Clarke. When I spoke to Dion, the Steelers had just been beaten 1-0 at home, by fierce rivals the Nottingham Panthers.
Q & A: Dennis Maxwell Mar 20, 2003 Graham Smyth
Dennis Maxwell is currently nearing the end of his first season with the London Knights in the ISL. Dennis was drafted in 1992 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, but never played a game in the NHL. He has played on seventeen different teams in twelve years, including St John's Maple Leafs and more recently Jackson Bandits in the ECHL. During the regular season "Max" scored nine goals and seven assists, and in the playoffs has 6+3. He has fought six times since joining London.

Maxwell has become a fan favourite in London. I caught up with Dennis after his team had beaten the Sheffield Steelers 3-2 in overtime, with Maxwell getting a goal.
Feeding the Fire Jan 12, 2003 Sarah Green
Coach Todd Lalonde was working the Fort Worth Brahmas hard during Christmas-time. "Move your f’ing ass!" "Go, Go, GO!!!" A loud whistle screeched, and twenty more colorful expletives followed. Players raced the rink as Lalonde chased them down, ready to kick their butts into full throttle. A couple of guys stopped during the drills to puke on the ice. Lalonde characteristically showed little to no mercy, and after ordering them to take off their gear, he made his team run bleachers. Lalonde ran the stairs with them, making steady sprints then hopping a couple of steps at a time. Then he ordered a wrenching session of push-ups. Most of the guys appeared wet and winded afterwards. A few hunched over and I thought maybe another vomit session was in the offing. It was enough to do the hardiest man in. I expected Chad Woollard to need at least a few minutes to recover from such a torture session, but the 6'3" left winger got up from the floor, took one long deep breath and sat down with me, appearing none the worse for wear.
The Need for Unbalance Dec 20, 2002 David M Singer
When you think of the most unique major sport, hockey probably comes to mind. The ice, the puck, few things in hockey can be seen in other sports. That is why it is odd that the NHL should look at MLB and follow their lead. Obviously, not referring to ridiculous salaries here, but baseball made a change that hockey should follow: unbalanced schedules. More passion, more attention and better economics, what’s not to love?
Ready to Rumble Nov 22, 2002 Sarah Green
There's something kind of beautiful about minor league hockey. Stripped of all the glitz and glamour of the NHL, the minors still mirror all the elements of "big time" hockey... the emotion, the rabid fans, the travel, the grind. Some guys are on their way up, some guys are on their way down, and others have settled into a nether world somewhere in between. All of them are playing professional hockey, though, even if they do have to work a little construction in the off-season to supplement their incomes. Lee Jacobson is a guy on the way up. The 6'4", 230 lb. defenseman has just turned 21, and has the whole wide world before him.
Warning: Emotion Ahead Nov 20, 2002 David M Singer
In a year that has seen the NHL promote speed and scoring, we have yet to see too many contests where emotion and passion are high on a player’s required list of things to bring to game time. This Saturday afternoon features this season’s first Islanders-Rangers game, a rivalry that never fades, no matter what position either team is placed in the standings. Will these two teams shy away from the physical play and raw emotion that has taken over the series of past years? Even in this NHL, it’s unlikely.
Sitting Down with Downey Nov 7, 2002 Sarah Green
Walking into the Dallas Stars' locker room for the first time is like stepping into an unapproachable inner-sanctum. For a first-timer like me, the experience makes you want to measure your breath, keeping it slow and quiet so as not to disturb the rarified atmosphere. It's a place that many wish to enter, but few ever gain access to. Like a Methodist penetrating Mecca, there I stood. A woman in the middle of the most manly of manly worlds.
Fantasy Hockey - Just Why Do Women Like the Game? Oct 21, 2002 Sarah Green
Hockey is a very sexy sport. You didn't realize that, did you? No, you thought it was just a good time with your buds, a chance to get out and drink some beer, and yell for your team. But there's a whole group out there watching with you, hockey-boy, and if you play, then they're evaluating you in ways you might never have imagined.
Preseason News & Notes Sep 30, 2002 John Lebow
This preseason is quite interesting for a number of teams around the NHL. Many hours are spent fighting for jobs, or to maintain a place in the NHL hierarchy. Throw into this a number of rule changes, and this is one of the most interesting preseasons on record.
Q & A: Dennis Bonvie Sep 11, 2002 David M Singer
Dennis Bonvie is a player of heart. He brings whatever he can to whichever team he's on at the time. His work ethic is not questioned. Overall, he seems like a good natured Canadian kid (we're all kids aren't we?) and most likely because of the directions his career has taken, he's still very down to earth. His attitude about the game is still "I play a game for a living". He knows he's lucky to be doing this and no fan can ask any more then that.

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