Originally published in Rinkside in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd In the NHL’s Original Six era, guessing the nationalities of the players was easier than scoring into an empty net on a clear-cut breakaway. During the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s, all NHLers were Canadians, except for a handful of talented Americans like goalie Frank Brimsek and […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Once again, there’s a diminutive yet talented Norwegian forward with an unruly mop of blond hair making headlines in the NHL. But for a change, it isn’t Espen Knutsen. Knutsen retired due to injury after the 2004-05 season and is currently coaching Valerenga IF, his […]

Originally published in Rinkside in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd July 22, 2005 was a historic day for the future of international hockey. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and NHLPA was ratified then, and it included a clause stipulating that the League would make its players available to participate in both the 2006 […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd Few players on the Nashville Predators qualify as household names, and Karlis Skrastins isn’t one of them—yet. But since he scored his first NHL goal on 26 December against St. Louis, the 25-year-old Latvian defenseman has shown he’s ready to take a regular NHL shift. In […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000 By Lucas Aykroyd Imagine being 17 years old and playing your first two pro hockey games in a foreign country. Not only that, but you come out on the wrong end of 6-1 and 10-2 decisions. Ouch! Welcome to real life in Canadian women’s hockey, Julia Berg. Fortunately, this […]

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Jannik Hansen is one cool customer. Insert the Portland Winter Hawks rookie into the first-ever shootout in team history (November 8 versus Prince George), and he responds by scoring the winning goal. Inform him that pop singer Jessica Simpson (his dream date according to the […]

Originally published in Medhunters Magazine in 2003 By Lucas Aykroyd The average doctor might balk at a last minute summons to work the week before Christmas in Bled, Slovenia. But Dr. George Nagobads was glad to accept when the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) told him a medical supervisor was needed for the obscure Division […]

By Lucas Aykroyd As a hockey goaltender, Bernd Bruckler excels at one of the most difficult positions in all of sport. Yet the University of Wisconsin Badgers star grew up in a country where hockey is an afterthought. When you consider all the other obstacles he’s conquered to become a highly touted prospect of the […]

Originally written in 2001 By Lucas Aykroyd Despite its reputation as a great sporting country, Australia isn’t known for its hockey prowess. The Aussies regularly capture Olympic gold medals in swimming and equestrian events and dominate the international scene in rugby and cricket. To most Australians, the word “hockey” evokes images of a grass pitch […]