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Olympic Primer Feb 12, 2002 John Lebow
While it's true that the qualifying round has already begun, it is still not too late to help all of you prepare for the medal round. Along with the top ten players to watch in this Olympic tourney, I'm also going to go over a few little rule changes because... well, because I'm such a helpful person.
A Golden Preview Feb 12, 2002 Dwight Wakabayashi
The Olympics are here and it is time to compete for the best of the best to put money aside and compete for flag and country. There is a tremendous spotlight and focus on the Ice Hockey tournament this year, as this may be the last time for a long time that the best go after Gold on the largest stage in the world. Here is my look at the "BIG SIX" and how they will fare when the snow settles.
Canucks Christmas Confidence Jan 24, 2002 Dwight Wakabayashi
With snow falling for the past couple of days in beautiful Vancouver, one couldn't help but think it was Christmas time all over again. You won't hear any complaints from the Vancouver Canucks or their fans. It is now clear what Santa left under the Canuck tree this year: their game. During a hair pulling first half for the Canucks, not player, coach nor fan could figure out exactly where the A-game had gone. It wasn't at General Motors Place. It wasn't at Burnaby 8-Rinks, the Canucks full time practice facility. It certainly wasn't packed away in their luggage, waiting to emerge at each visiting rink along the schedule. No one, in a million years would have thought that Jolly Ol' St. Nick was holding it ransom at the North Pole. Come December 25th, Santa delivered the game everyone in Vancouver had been searching for. It hasn't been lost since.
Leafs Losing Ways Continue Jan 19, 2002 John Lebow
There was a robbery performed in Toronto last night, and Roman Cechmanek was driving the Philadelphia Flyers getaway car. The Leafs had 31 shots against the goalie, including 9 on the powerplay...none went in. Two of the Flyers 26 shots beat Curtis Joseph, and another went into an empty net.
Sitting On the Second Half Jan 10, 2002 John Lebow
The halfway point in the NHL has passed, and looking back, a lot of people made predictions for what teams to watch, and what players would truly break out in the 2001/'02 campaign. But I'd just like to talk about a few things that have happened (and weren't supposed to) and haven't happened (That were supposed to).
Half a Loaf of Hockey Dec 31, 2001 Dwight Wakabayashi
The halfway point of the 2001-2002 National Hockey League season has quickly come upon us and there have been bright spots and low points thus far. Every hockey season is a unique, up and down journey for organization, player and fan alike and that is the unpredictable beauty of sport. Here are some thoughts, questions and musings about the state of the game.
Hockey's Surprise Present Dec 16, 2001 John Lebow
Christmas time is coming, and now is the time to watch the best hockey you'll get to see before we have (hopefully) another Edmonton vs. Dallas, and Toronto vs. New Jersey series. What hockey is this, you might ask? The Olympics, perhaps? Nope. The All-Star Game? Come on, I said good hockey, not a goalie drill gone terribly wrong. The International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championships. Every December, the best kids in the world (with the few exceptions that are deemed "too valuable" for their NHL teams to allow them to go) battle it out in an Olympic style format.
Leafs Alone on Top Dec 9, 2001 John Lebow
I watched these past two games grinning ear to ear. The Toronto Maple Leafs against the New York Rangers, two of the top teams in the Eastern conference going at it in a home-and-home series. After watching both games, it is a wonder that the Rangers are anywhere close to first place, as they seem to have been carried there against their will on the backs of Theo Fleury, Eric Lindros, and Mike Richter.
A Canadian Olympic Plea Dec 8, 2001 Dwight Wakabayashi
The day of selection for the Canadian Olympic Men's hockey team is approaching faster than Paul Kariya in full stride, and it is time for me to make my plea. Canadian hockey fans are starving for an international triumph. It seems we have gone a surprising amount of time without having claim to international hockey supremacy. The reasons have been debated, discussed and rehashed over and over since the World Cup loss to the United States, and the medal zero in Nagano. The debate will rage on until we take back our place in hockey's penthouse, a place currently occupied by the Czechs. It seems we have lost our international confidence, our swagger, and our "attitude" if you will. It is time to get it back. It is time to get the great Red Maple Leaf Machine going and we as fans and media can take the lead.
The Countdown Begins Dec 1, 2001 John Lebow
What a difference a couple of months can make. With December 22nd being the last day to name an Olympic Team, executive director of Team Canada Wayne Gretzky has a lot to think about. The top two scorers in the NHL this year were not even invited to the Olympic "not a training" camp before NHL training camps opened. Brendan Shanahan, who failed to score in 1998 against Dominik Hasek, when the shootout was on the line, is second in NHL scoring and playing with a fire that had been missing from his game for the past two or three seasons. Jarome Iginla, first in the league's scoring race must be making Willie O'Ree feel that everything he went through on the ice being the first black player in the NHL is worth it.
Blackhawks Are Back With Accountability Nov 16, 2001 Dwight Wakabayashi
After four years of struggle against mediocrity and missing the playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks are back in familiar form. The form of the successful Chicago teams of the 1980's and early 1990's were built on accountability and honest effort. On the Chicago teams of that time, you had to sit in the dressing room beside the likes of hard-nosed players like Dirk Graham. You had to ride the plane beside lunch pail Troy Murray. You had to attend team meetings with the infamous Sutter warriors. There was accountability in every corner. There was a team filled with time-tested players who were there for one reason, to win. In today's National Hockey League of youth, expansion and personal agenda, having veterans who will hold the youngsters accountable to themselves and their teammates is a very valuable ingredient to have on your team.
The Vancouver Canucks: Over or Under? Nov 8, 2001 Dwight Wakabayashi
Sixteen games into the 2001-2002 National Hockey league schedule, The Vancouver Canucks find themselves on the wrong end of "the season of surprises". In a season dominated by the pleasantly surprising starts by teams like the Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks sit at the opposite end of surprise. The Canucks have compiled a record of 6 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie, good for 13 of possible 32 points and last in their division. From a team standpoint, it is easy to point to the 48 goals against (second worst in the league) to see why the Canucks are four spots out of the playoffs. If you look at the play of each player individually, it is apparent that the majority of Canucks are struggling to find their game.
Meaningless? Nov 5, 2001 John Lebow
There is a phrase that has been uttered so often it has become a hockey cliché. It has been around since the NHL expanded to twenty-one teams, and changed the playoff format, allowing sixteen of those 21 teams to make the playoffs. I realized that I, myself was guilty of uttering it on more than one occasion. That is, until I heard my friend Daniel mention it, and I realized... that it is a total untruth.

The phrase: The regular season is meaningless.
Flyers No Longer Top Favorites Nov 1, 2001 Alexis Nicgorski
So the Flyers were a strong favorite to win the Cup this year. On paper they were a formidable team to play. Ask the Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadians, they know of this. They have experienced first hand the goal scoring prowess of Mark Recchi, Keith Primeau, Simon Gagne, John LeClair, Jeremy Roenick. Roman Cechmanek and Brian Boucher have kept them in those games. If only they could be stopped!
Islanders to NHL: We're For Real Oct 29, 2001 David M Singer
The NHL has been full of surprises so far in this young season. Rejuvenated franchises such as the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers along with a couple of original sixers like the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, all have winning records. The NHL is smiling on them. On Long Island, a franchise once the mightiest in all of hockey-land has been quite a joke for much of the 90s. This year, the Islanders have joined the rejuvenation crew and are on top of the Eastern Conference and the entire league 10 games into the season.

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