Originally published in the 2001 NHL Playoff Program By Lucas Aykroyd Who will become the first European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy? Given the prevalence of Europeans in today’s NHL, it might come as a surprise to you that none of them has won playoff MVP honors yet. However, in the past, many […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Adrian Aucoin is well aware that money can’t buy happiness. The veteran defenseman signed a deal worth $16 million over four years with Chicago in August 2005. But the Blackhawks missed the playoffs in 2005-06, which they’ve done in seven out of the last eight […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Jonathan Cheechoo more than tripled his goal production from his rookie NHL season (9) to his sophomore year (28), but that didn’t make the San Jose Sharks winger a household name. Yet when Cheechoo racked up 56 goals to win the Rocket Richard Trophy as […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd Did Accept’s 1982 speed-metal anthem “Fast As A Shark” point to the future exploits of Christian Ehrhoff, who was born in that year? Probably not, but the fact remains that the third-year NHLer has gained respect with San Jose as one of the world’s fastest-skating […]

Originally published in the 2004 NHL Yearbook By Lucas Aykroyd In biology, it’s known as a symbiotic relationship. Two organisms feeding off each other for mutual benefit, like the bee and the flower. In today’s National Hockey League, the equivalent is a dynamic duo whose offensive production stings opponents but sweetens their team’s success. Look […]

Originally published in the NHL All-Star Game Program in 2004 By Lucas Aykroyd “Honk If You Love Goals And Assists.” Maybe that’s the bumper sticker they should put on the vehicle awarded annually to the NHL All-Star Game MVP. Out of the 28 occasions in NHL history when the MVP has scored new wheels, 23 […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Doug Weight made his NHL debut on April 13, 1991 with the New York Rangers, but it took until June 19, 2006 for him to quench his thirst for Stanley Cup champagne with the Carolina Hurricanes. Yet in the off-season, the 35-year-old playmaking center signed […]

Originally published in The Hockey News in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd With the NHL season likely consigned to oblivion, you may wonder if hockey has lost any glamour it enjoyed in the USA. Only 6 percent of Americans expressed a “great interest” in hockey in a recent Zogby International poll. So when I was invited […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Last season, Miikka Kiprusoff became the first Finnish goalie to win the Vezina Trophy, but he didn’t bother to attend the NHL Awards in Vancouver. This season, after getting off to a slow start with three wins in his first 11 starts, the 30-year-old Turku […]

Originally published in Full Tilt in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd The official motto of British Columbia is “Splendour Without Diminishment.” But even if you agree with former premier Bill Vander Zalm that life here in Lotusland is fantastic, there’s no denying the lows are just as much a part of our sporting tradition as the […]