Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Hockey is an emotional game. In a sport played at high speed, where sticks and bodies clash and tempers run high, it’s only to be expected that controversy will flare up from time to time. And sometimes, those controversial moments linger in our memories for years […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd The IIHF World Championships sometimes provide a rude awakening for top Canadian NHL players who struggle to find their game against talented Europeans on the big ice surface. Then again, some Canadian NHLers look great in front of the European crowds, showcasing skills that they never […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd When Cassie Campbell announced her retirement from competitive hockey in August 2006, she had clearly established herself as one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian women’s hockey. During a career highlighted by two Olympic and six World Championship gold medals, she captained Canada in 50 […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd Geraldine Heaney is often called “the Bobby Orr of women’s hockey,” and just like the great Boston Bruins defenceman, one spectacular goal this Canadian legend scored always stands out in the minds of fans. Who can forget the image of Orr sailing through the air after […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd To the uninitiated passerby, the scene inside the suite at Winnipeg’s famous Fort Garry Hotel on Friday night might have looked like just another business mixer or high school reunion: people chatting animatedly, fruit platters and chilled drinks. But this was no ordinary get-together. After all, […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd To build a winning team, you ultimately have to focus on the players you have, not the ones you don’t have. (Just ask Brent Sutter.) But it’s hard to forget about a certain teenage wunderkind who lit it up for Canada at the 2004 and 2005 […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd At first glance, it’s a bit of a shock to see big Jim Sandlak wearing a Team USA jacket at various 2006 World Junior venues. Okay, maybe this doesn’t rank up there with Bryan Trottier donning American colours at the 1984 Canada Cup or Brett Hull’s […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd Ten years before stars like Sidney Crosby, Dion Phaneuf, and Corey Perry made the 2005 version of Team Canada the strongest-ever World Junior entry, there was another gold medal-winning team that thrilled the host nation when the tournament was held in Red Deer, Alberta. Three members […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd While interest in the annual IIHF World Junior Championship is enormous in Canada, some hockey fans elsewhere in the world don’t get as pumped up about it. Their attitude is, “Hey, these are just kids.” But frankly, anyone who loves Olympic hockey should keep close tabs […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd When you survey hockey history, few players can rival Wayne Gretzky as the best of all time. But Bobby Orr is one of them, and while Gretzky has been preoccupied recently with coaching the Phoenix Coyotes and picking the Olympic team, as well as family matters, […]