Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd If the doors of opportunity had ever opened, Jiri Bubla might have shone for Czechoslovakia in the NHL of the 1970’s as Borje Salming did for Sweden. Instead, the 5-11, 200-pound native of Usti nad Labern kept his talents on the other side of the Atlantic, […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd If Jaroslav Spacek can elevate his NHL game to the level he’s shown in international competition, the Chicago Blackhawks are in for a real treat this year. Spacek has won gold medals in IIHF tournaments three out of the last four years, and in 1997-98, he […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks must feel like they’re playing each other all the time this season. That’s close to the truth, considering they’d already met five times by early January. But that sort of thing doesn’t concern Jarome Iginla. The 29-year-old Calgary captain […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd Bobby Holik relishes the role of one-man wrecking crew. Of that there can be no doubt. The big center from Jihlava of the Czech Republic made a name for himself early in his career with the New Jersey Devils by leading the “Crash Line” with Randy […]

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 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 […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd It hurts to be dumped. But maybe if you’re being dumped by Philadelphia GM Bobby Clarke, it doesn’t feel so bad. At least if you ask Eric Lindros. Jan Hlavac, who was shipped to Philadelphia in the deal for the Big E last summer, is the […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd “Sensational,” “slick,” and “savvy” are terms often applied to the Sedin twins. However, in recent weeks, “struggling,” “slowing down,” and “searching for answers” have been bandied about. Fortunately, Vancouver’s heralded Swedish rookie duo hasn’t been expected to do all the scoring, as they might on an […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd When Milan Hejduk fired home two goals in the opening period of a 30 November clash with the Vancouver Canucks, it must have felt like he’d gotten the Rocky Mountains off his shoulders. The fourth-year Colorado Avalanche sniper had gone 15 games without scoring, a shocking […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 1999 By Lucas Aykroyd Who needs Joe Sakic? Well, actually, there would be plenty of takers around the National Hockey League if the Colorado Avalanche put their longtime captain on the market. But the point is, right winger Milan Hejduk is doing his best to make up for the scoring […]