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Posts Tagged Wayne Gretzky

NHL Photo of the Day

Feb 3

Posted by EB in NHL Photo of the Day | 2 Comments

Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images

Quite a night for the Edmonton Oilers as they win 8 – 4 over the Chicago Blackhawks. The team is still a bottom dweller in the Western Conference, sadly, but they can celebrate a little bit.

Center Sam Gagne had a hand in everything last night with 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points. The feat has not been done since 1989 by Mario Lemieux against the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs. Lemieux also had the last regular season 8 point night which was on December 31, 1988.

If you happen to think Lemiuex is a big name, Gagne now joins the ranks of Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Peter Statsny, Bryan Trottier and Rocket Richard in having scored 8 points in a night.

A little bit of luck, a lot of skill, and crazy stuff like this happens.

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Sutherland sports dress on Letterman

Jan 30

Posted by Chris in Media | No Comments

6a00d8341c630a53ef012876d33e19970cActor Kiefer Sutherland has done a lot in his storied Hollywood career, but wearing a dress on national television certainly seems like a first.

Sutherland, who currently stars as action hero Jack Bauer on the hit television series 24, came out for his appearance on the Late Show with david Letterman sporting a green dress that looked more like wallpaper than an item of clothing. The reason for his ensamble?

“I lost a bet,” Sutherland admitted to Letterman at the start of the interview, stating that he bet that New England would win their NFL playoff game. And who did Sutherland lose the bet to? None other than former NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup winner Dave Andreychuck.

Andreychuck played in the NHL for 26 seasons and amassed 640 goals and 698 assists during his career. He won the Stanley Cup as captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003-04 after playing in the NHL for 22 seasons without winning a Cup. Subsequently, that victory would be the only Stanley Cup victory of his career. Andreychuck holds the record for most career power play goals with 270 and sits at 5th on the all-time games played list with 1,639.

Sutherland has also starred in movies such as The Three Musketeers, A Time to Kill, L.A. Confidential, A Few Good Men and Phone Booth. He is known to be a big hockey fan and even plays hockey himself. On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon a few weeks back, Sutherland spoke about how he played in a charity hockey game on the outdoor rink built at Fenway Park for the Winter Classic. The event was organized by former NHL superstar Cam Neely and fellow actor Dennis Leary and raised over $500,000. Sutherland is also close friends with former NHL great Wayne Gretzky.

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Gretzky Steps Down

Sep 24

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Wayne Gretzky has parted ways with the Phoenix Coyotes, stepping down as head coach and director of hockey operations.

Wayne Gretzky has parted ways with the Phoenix Coyotes, stepping down as head coach and director of hockey operations.

With the continuing uncertainty of the Phoenix Coyote’s franchise in Arizona, head coach Wayne Gretzky has stepped down.

The decision was made by Gretzky himself, quoted as saying on his site Gretzky.com, “This was a difficult decision that I’ve thought long and hard about. We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected.”

Gretzky went into more detail on his decision to step down, “Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don’t fit into their future plans, I approached General Manger Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach. Don has worked hard and explored many options. I think he has made an excellent choice, and so now it’s time for me to step aside.”

Wayne Gretzky thanked the organization, stating he, “…often said it was the greatest honour and privilege I could imagine to be able to play in the National Hockey League.  I feel the same way about being an NHL coach.  I’ve loved the four years I spent coaching the Coyotes.  Not a day went by when I took it for granted, and I will miss the competition of the NHL dearly.  It was an honour to hold the position, and I will always consider myself especially fortunate to have had this opportunity.”

Perhaps though the most diplomatically, and potentially foreshadowing words he wrote were , “I want to thank every staff member of the Phoenix Coyotes, past and present.  It was a real pleasure to work with each and every one of you. I’ve always said that Phoenix is a great sports city and deserves nothing but the best.  I still believe that. As a young boy, I learned to play hockey in Southern Ontario, and I know what great fans they have there.  It’s my hope they too will have an NHL franchise in the not too distant future.”

Stepping down perhaps is the best thing for the organization, as criticism mounted about his excessive pay and lacking results. Gretzky, the “Great One” on skates, had a 143-161-24 record during his 4 years as head coach of the Coyotes, never once making the playoffs.

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Phoenix Coyotes

Sep 17

Posted by EB in Season Previews | 1 Comment

No greater is the need to have a winning season other than right now for the Phoenix Coyotes. With the future of the team in question, the team must go on and is doing so.

The team has made only few acquisitions to increase depth and talent. Starting with goalie, Jason Labarbera has signed with the team. Last year Labarbera split his time between two clubs, the L.A. Kings and the Vancouver Canucks. Combining his stats, he posted 8 wins, 10 losses and 6 overtime losses in 28 games with a .901 save percentage. His expectations should be no more than providing a solid back up position to starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

The Phoenix Coyote’s seem to be transitioning into a more puck moving club, as they have gotten rid of their enforcers. Last season Daniel Carcillo was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, as this season they have decided not to sign right wing Brian McGrattan to the Calgary Flames. The Flames have also picked up Nigel Dawes off of waivers from the Coyotes.

Perhaps the only two other players to make note of that will be joining the Coyote’s roster is that of defenseman Adrian Aucoin and the return of forward Radim Vrbata.

Aucoin holds an Olympic silver medal from 1994, played in the NHL All Star game in the 2003 – 2004 season and is a solid defenseman. The veteran defenseman will be able to provide wisdom and knowledge to the relatively young defense of the Coyote’s, as well as production on the power play.

Young forward Peter Mueller will be reunited with the return of winger Radim Vrbata.

Young forward Peter Mueller will be reunited with the return of winger Radim Vrbata.

The return of Radim Vrbata should ignite some offensive sparks with young forward Peter Mueller.  Vrbata winged a line of then rookie Peter Mueller. Together they were able to provide an offensive threat, combining for 49 goals, 61 assists totaling 110 points.

The Coyote’s have the talent to be a good hockey team. Captain and excellent two way player Shane Doan, up and coming Scottie Upshall, as well as veteran assistant captain Ed Jovanovski. The team was on pace to make the playoffs last season, only to fall hard and ending in 13th place. With the club’s future in question, even the question of Wayne Gretzky being head coach, the team could be an absolute wreck with the side distractions, or have an excellent season later to be made into a sports motivational movie.

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A New Meaning for the Word “Dangle”

Jul 21

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

qxi1255_licLike watching Sid the Kid dangle on your television screen during the NHL season? Well, evidently now you can watch him dangle inside your home, too. Except, in this case, he will be dangling from your Christmas tree.

Hallmark has released a Keepsake ornament in the likeness of number 87 himself, which can be had for a mere $16.50 at any Hallmark location or online. And if that isn’t enough, do a quick Google search for the opportunity to pair Sid on your tree with his mentor/landlord Mario Lemieux as well. The Lemieux Keepsake ornament was originally released in 1998.

Eric Lindros, Gordie Howe, and The Great One himself have also been encapsulated in ornament form in previous editions of the Hallmark Keepsake ornament.

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