Originally published in The Hockey News in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd I haven’t seen the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since 1999. I missed such dramatic events as Keith Primeau’s quintuple overtime winner over Pittsburgh in 2000 and Minnesota’s 2003 rally from a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate Vancouver. But that’s OK, because […]

Originally published in Rinkside in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Bullfighting, bolero, castles and cathedrals are not the only glories of Spain. This nation of 40 million citizens grabbed the sports world spotlight ten years ago when Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics. There, roller hockey featured as a demonstration sport, and Spain has competed successfully against […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd For the first time since Peter Forsberg in 1998, an Electronic Arts hockey simulation game features a European-born player on the cover. Granted, Owen Nolan of the San Jose Sharks doesn’t exactly rave about how being born in Belfast, Northern Ireland influenced his rugged approach toward […]

By Lucas Aykroyd Everyone’s got a little bit of a control freak in them. And when it comes to hockey success, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, Scotty Bowman and Wayne Gretzky always wanted to know what was happening on the ice at all times. For computer and console gaming buffs, the Electronic […]

  Originally published on IIHF.com in 2003 By Lucas Aykroyd It’s the afternoon of June 5, 2003. A heat wave grips Vancouver, Canada. This is a long way from the cold, crisp, intense atmosphere at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, where the USA achieved its 4-3 “Miracle on Ice” victory over the favored Soviet Union. […]

By Lucas Aykroyd When it comes to Vancouver’s burgeoning reputation as a venue for world-class events, “synergy” is more than a corporate buzzword or name for a high-tech hockey stick. Since being awarded the 2010 Winter Olympics, this scenic, multicultural city of 2 million has also earned the right to host the 2005 Grey Cup, […]

Originally published in The Torch in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd Anyone entering Bill Gaston’s office in the University of Victoria’s Fine Arts Building would need a novelist’s eye for detail to discern how much the man loves hockey. Granted, the 54-year-old Writing professor displays the hockey cards of two Junior A teammates with the 1970s […]

Originally published on GettingIt.com in 1999 By Lucas Aykroyd Penalty box mayhem is a hockey tradition. Hulking, sulking, testosterone-addled players with big sticks and sharp skates have never been easy to cage. Bad-boy antics have been known to escalate within the confines of that 5- by 14-foot prison, providing memorable moments when penalty box attendants […]

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd It’s fitting that Home Hardware has sponsored the CHL Top Prospects game since 2000. Hockey players need to be good with their hands, after all, whether they’re snipers, stay-at-home defensemen, quick-reacting goalies, or enforcers. Some CHLers, past and present, even show a talent for using […]

Originally published in Rinkside in 2005 By Lucas Aykroyd On a chilly winter night, there’s nothing like curling up by the fireside with a good book. So why not choose something about the world’s most exciting sport? Long gone are the days when hockey was stereotyped as the refuge of gap-toothed illiterates. Art Farrell, the […]