Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd “Ouch! Help! Stop! No!” From 1954 to 1991, those were probably the words you’d hear most frequently from Swedish players in games against the Soviet national team. At the World Championships, European Championships and Olympics, the Swedes won a paltry five out of 58 confrontations with […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd The IIHF World Championships sometimes provide a rude awakening for top Canadian NHL players who struggle to find their game against talented Europeans on the big ice surface. Then again, some Canadian NHLers look great in front of the European crowds, showcasing skills that they never […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Russian hockey fans have music in their hearts today as they await the result of tonight’s gold medal clash between their team and Slovakia. Here are five great Russian moments at the World Championships. 1: Let’s Get This Party Started Russia beats Canada 7-2 before a […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Everyone has a comfort zone. In Team Belarus’s case, this appears to involve playing hockey against other former Eastern Bloc countries. The Belorussians may have tumbled down to Division I of the World Championships, but they can still take a bite out of their neighbors. Just […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Before yesterday’s shocking result, Sweden losing to Belarus in Olympic hockey seemed about as likely as Greta Garbo posing for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or ABBA releasing a gangsta rap album. Belarus’s 4-3 upset in the quarter-finals will never be forgotten by Swedish hockey fans, […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd The crucial February 12 game between Germany and Latvia is being billed as a duel of goaltenders. Although Marc Seliger’s .966 save percentage and GAA of 1.00 are outstanding, the 27-year-old German goalie has a long way to go before he can compare his international hockey […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd Almost nobody knows the world of international hockey like Peter Stastny. And with a little luck, that knowledge could put medals around some necks at these Games. Today, the 45-year-old Bratislava native serves as the General Manager of Slovakia’s Olympic team, but he first made his […]

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002 By Lucas Aykroyd “Man can be defeated but not destroyed. Man can be destroyed but not defeated.” This was one of author Ernest Hemingway’s favorite sayings, and it would come as no surprise if Ryan Smyth of the Edmonton Oilers had it painted on his wall. The gritty left […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd The United States versus Finland can’t be classified as one of those natural geographical or historical international rivalries like USA-Canada or Finland-Sweden. At one time, both were ranked among the weakest of the former “Big Six” hockey nations, usually lagging behind the Soviet Union, Canada, Czechoslovakia, […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2007 By Lucas Aykroyd As much as I enjoy watching Evgeni Malkin team up with Sidney Crosby on the Pittsburgh Penguins power play, there’s a part of me that wishes Malkin had stayed in the Russian Superleague. Not under compulsion, not due to any contractual or political impasse. Frankly, the […]