Category: The Greatest
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Greatest hockey games at football venues
Thursday’s NFL regular-season opener reminds ardent puckheads of one thing, if nothing else. The 2018-19 season will feature two outdoor hockey games at a college football stadium, and one on an NFL gridiron. An Original Six matchup between Chicago and Boston will comprise the 2019 NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. After hosting that…
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NCAA women’s greatest post-Olympic seasons
For the first time in program history, Boston College women’s hockey welcomes back players brandishing Olympic gold medals. Cayla Barnes, Keli Flanagan and Megan Keller all had remaining NCAA eligibility while helping Team USA in Pyeongchang. Two other maroon-and-gold powerhouses are returning an international champion of their own for 2018-19. Forward Kelly Pannek will carry…
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10 greatest second seasons by expansion teams
The Vegas Golden Knights were the first NHL expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural year since 1967-68. But not since 1973-74 has a new franchise seen Stanley Cup action in Year 2. Yes, the Edmonton Oilers and Quebec Nordiques both made a playoff splash in their second NHL season. But those teams…
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10 greatest Slovak NHL players
Slovak hockey lost its transatlantic pioneer last week with the passing of Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita. Mikita’s story of coming to North America from the present-day Slovak Republic does not get the same historic recognition as that of the Stastny brothers. At the peak of the Cold War, the Stastnys made bigger waves by defecting…
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5 greatest pro/college coaches
In a bygone era, college hockey coaches were even more overlooked for professional jobs than their players. When NHL teams started taking chances on accomplished NCAA bench bosses, the initial results reinforced their misgivings. Look no further than Detroit’s “Darkness with Harkness.” One year after winning the 1970 national title, decorated Cornell coach Ned Harkness…
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10 greatest NHL players born in Edmonton
Jarome Iginla returned to Calgary this week to formalize his retirement from the NHL. Although his Flames tenure ended five years ago, this was where he peaked as a player. Iginla won all of his individual hardware in Alberta’s largest city. He was the team’s captain for a decade. He led all scorers in the…
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10 greatest NY State rivalry moments
New York hockey has more NCAA Division I men’s and women’s college teams than any other state. It has been that way for years. Since 1993, only California matches New York’s count of three NHL franchises. Until 2015, the Empire State had the most sizeable AHL membership. The Golden State tied it with five teams,…
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AHL’s greatest developments under Andrews
One quarter-century ago this month, the AHL began its most recent presidential transition. Dave Andrews was selected to succeed Jack Butterfield, and will now reach 25 years on the job in 2018-19. He has been at it for the equivalent of three two-term U.S. presidencies, four Senatorial terms or 12 Congressional terms. Take your pick…
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Greatest NHL signings that almost happened
In a rocking requiem for their home-state Hartford Whalers, The Zambonis lamented the moves of other NHL teams. Appropriately, one line mentions “Quebec’s Nordiques and the Golden Seals” in succession. Both of those bygone brands have a key common thread. They had a chance to sign a No. 1 overall draft pick, but let him…
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Greatest women’s players not yet in the HHOF
With Jayna Hefford bound for Toronto, women’s hockey players have finally achieved consecutive years of Hall-of-Fame enshrinment. The former Team Canada standout follows countrywoman Danielle Goyette, who was part of 2017’s class. Previously, women had only been in the player category for 2010, 2013 and 2015. But now the recognition rate is accelerating. The phenomenon…