Category: The Greatest
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10 greatest Olympic hockey shootouts of all time
You can thank (or blame) Olympic hockey shootouts for bringing one-on-one tiebreakers to the NHL. It is hard to imagine the procedure seriously crossing decision makers’ minds in the sport’s top circuit any other way. While many North American minor leagues used shootouts before 2005, international contests gave them a mainstream platform. And in the…
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Greatest championship moments in the Twin Cities
Having Super Bowl LII in the Twin Cities is merely an appetizer for the State of Hockey in 2018. The Women’s and Men’s Frozen Fours at Minneapolis’ Ridder Arena and St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center, respectively, shall follow. All three events must meet a lofty standard to jut out in the locality’s sports annals. The…
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Greatest New England-Philadelphia hockey connections
The New England-Philadelphia matchup in Super Bowl LII will settle at least one bid for bragging rights. But even with an objective upshot on the scoreboard, adamancy will find something to latch onto in this Northeastern feud. Look no further than the legacies of legends who graced both the New England and Philadelphia hockey scenes.…
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10 greatest team mascot names
The hockey team mascot is the pet of the ice house. Though not a requirement, it can bring enjoyable elements to the building. It is never the intended centerpiece, but no mascot owner should diminish its importance. And not unlike the four-legged companions of a private household, most mascots settle for, well, pet names. A…
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10 greatest NHL logo flops among existing franchises
Apparently, Mike Penner saw no real NHL logo while on an NHL game assignment Jan. 27, 1996. It was the day participating teams, including both Los Angeles-area franchises debuted their “third jerseys.” The Kings and Mighty Ducks, like many others, had an alternate emblem to go with their new color scheme. But Penner, a columnist…
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The greatest WJC moment for every country: Part II
Editor’s note: This the second installment of a two-part series in which the Pucks and Rec staff will select the best moment in World Junior Championship history for each existing program that has played in the 20-and-under tournament’s top division. Latvia: 2009 While the Latvians consistently qualify for the top tier of the WJC, they have…
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The greatest WJC moment for every country: Part I
Editor’s note: This the first installment of a two-part series in which the Pucks and Rec staff will select the best moment in World Junior Championship history for each existing program that has played in the 20-and-under tournament’s top division. Belarus: 2005 Belarus pulled off one of the most dramatic upsets in WJC history with…
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10 greatest Christmastime traditions in the hockey world
We can forgive hockey fans for their misgivings about sideshows at their games. Little or none of this sport’s exceptionally proud fan base is built on the equivalent of football halftime shows or minor-league baseball giveaways. But this is Christmastime. Surely we can reason with those who expect the rink to be a refuge from…
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Greatest defunct minor-league hockey brands
You know Slap Shot speaks a stranger-than-fiction truth when minor-league hockey teams win a title and vanish in one year. It really happens, and for an end-to-end range of reasons. As this site recently recalled, one defending IHL champion had its banner night usurped by a relocated NHL squad’s debut. Similarly, in 1970, an AHL franchise treated…
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Greatest post-service NHL careers of WWII vets
The United States entered World War II two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Canada had declared war on each Axis power as long as 27 months and as short as two days prior. In Boston, an assembly of citizens of both countries heard U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt’s Dec. 9, 1941 declaration. The…