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 IIHF.com in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Women’s hockey is full of great personalities, many of whom aren’t afraid to speak their minds more candidly than their male counterparts. However, for the general public, it’s often tough to catch more than a glimpse of those personalities beyond the quadrennial Olympics and the semi-annual […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd In international men’s hockey, there’s an ongoing debate about where the balance of power lies between North America and Europe. But on the women’s side, there’s no question. The economic equivalent would be something like General Motors and Ford versus the Bicyclemaker’s Guild of San Marino. […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2006 By Lucas Aykroyd Feeling nostalgic about the 2002 Olympic hockey tournament? Visit the special exhibit on the second floor of the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center at the Utah Olympic Park, four miles north of Park City. This modern, 29,000-square-foot facility still feels brand new, almost as if the […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd The USA-Russia semi-final provided twenty of the greatest minutes in Olympic hockey history. The key to the amazing third period was the emotional high both teams maintained down to the final buzzer that confirmed the USA’s 3-2 victory and berth in the gold medal game against […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd When North American players take part in an IIHF-sanctioned tournament, the big rink is always a hot topic of discussion. Before the Final Round of the Olympic tournament kicked off Friday, members of the American and Canadian teams weighed in with their opinions. Team USA center […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Sean Burke, Tommy Salo and Mike Richter are great examples of goalies that have parlayed an Olympic experience into a successful NHL career. But not all are so fortunate. Some goalies are better suited for the concentrated brilliance that the Olympics require than for the long […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Everybody wants a piece of Canada at these Olympics. Or is it the other way around in the hockey tournament? It depends who you ask. According to Team Canada GM Wayne Gretzky, “the whole world” wants Canada to lose and the American media has been playing […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd In the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid, it was not hard to pick out two men on opposing benches, one there willingly, the other filled with frustration. The happy man was Team USA coach Herb Brooks, who saw his squad of college players defeat […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd In the National Hockey League, Brian Rolston of the Boston Bruins is generally viewed as a solid defensive forward with good wheels. But as a member of the American Olympic team in Salt Lake City, he may prove that he has more than just speed to […]