A Brief History Of The Air Hockey Table

Air hockey is a recreational game that is played between two people. It is played on a smooth surfaced table with each player brandishing a special paddle. The goal of the game is to knock a small disc back and forth while attempting to whack it in to your opponent's goal. The first player to score a predetermined set of goals or the one with the highest score after a set amount of time is declared the winner. And, like most popular games of its time, the history of the air hockey table is a unique and interesting one.

Three employees of the Brunswick Billiards Corporation, a Chicago based manufacturer, began work on a project that would eventually become the air hockey table in late 1969. The men were interested in creating a game that was played atop a completely frictionless surface. Although quite a bit of work was put into it, their project was ultimately scrapped and abandoned for several years. Then, in 1972, a fellow employee named Bob Lemieux came along and revived it.

The activity is played upon a special mechanized table that creates a cushion of air. When turned on, this cushion allows the small plastic pucks to glide around the surface. Each table hockey player uses a plastic mallet to smack the puck back and forth the length of the table. To prevent smash fingers, most mallets are made with a small ridge around the handle.

The hockey table was an immediate and total financial success. By the 1970's, table hockey enthusiasts had even began forming local competitive chapters. The intense interest surrounding the activity eventually led to the formation of air hockey associations. The groups were committed to sanctioning and organizing competitive tournaments. They also ensure that the rules and standards of the game are upheld.

The very first air hockey tournament was orchestrated and hosted by the game's manufacturer, Brunswick. The company had become disenfranchised with the image of their game and wanted to market it as a more serious sport. Their event was held at a New York City Holiday Inn in 1974 and offered a five thousand dollar prize to the first place winner.

In the late eighties, when newer arcade games threatened to diminish their significance, US Billiards started a campaign to breath new life into air hockey. The company, who was the only manufacturer of the tables at the time, revamped Brunswick's original design and began producing tournament worthy tables.

As of now, only eight foot tables that have been manufactured by the Dynamo corporation have been approved for tournament play. The United State's air hockey association chose the tables because of their high quality and popular design.

The basic rules of the game were determined by the game's major American association. A coin toss determines who gets possession of the puck before game play and making contact with the puck with anything other than the mallet is strictly forbidden. Stopping the puck by placing the mallet on top of it is also frowned upon automatically awards control of the puck to your opponent.

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Highest Valued WHA Hockey Cards From The 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Set

The 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee hockey card series featured 52 cards from number 290 to 341 that were not NHL cards. The World Hockey Association was in it's first year of existence and with stars like Bobby Hull, Gerry Cheevers, Bernie Parent and Derek Sanderson taken from the NHL, it looked like the league might be around for awhile. Although the first WHA series that was completely separate from the NHL didn't come out until 1974-75, O-Pee-Chee added on these 50+ additional cards at the end of the 1972-73 series.

Other than checkist number 334B, there are only three cards from the WHA portion of the 1972-73 series that are rated by Beckett Hockey Monthly. However, common cards from card 290 and beyond are worth up th $8 each, $3 to $5.50 more than other commons in the series.

Of course, number 336 of Bobby Hull is the top card. Hull's 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee card is worth up to $60. The card shows him as a Winnipeg Jet but isn't the only Bobby Hull card in the set. Hull is also included as an All-Star playing for the Chicago Black Hawks on card number 228. That card is worth $30. Not quite the value of his 1958-59 Topps rookie card ($3000), the 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee card is the most valuable hockey card of Bobby Hull as a WHA player.

At half the value of the Bobby Hull card, number 340 with Gerry Cheevers of the Cleveland Crusaders on the front is the next most valuable of this group of cards. Cheevers was the top goalie in the WHA in that inaugural season and continued on with the Cleveland Crusaders until returning to the Boston Bruins part of the way through the 1975-76 season.

Gerry Pinder?!

The third and last rated card from the group belongs to none other than Gerry Pinder. The number 341 card of Pinder as a Cleveland Crusader is worth $20. The great Gerry Pinder played 223 regular season NHL games over three campaigns then followed that up with 353 in the WHA. Pinder began his NHL career with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1969-70. After two seasons in Chicago, he played one more in the NHL with the California Golden Seals before escaping to the WHA. After four seasons with the Crusaders, he played a half season with the San Diego Mariners then five games with the Edmonton Oilers in 1977-78 before hanging up the skates.

Pinder appeared in only five different sets of O-Pee-Chee hockey cards. Each of his hockey cards, including his 1970-71 rookie card is considered a common card, except for the 1972-73 card. We would have to assume that it's a case of scarcity. Gerry does appear in the 1973-74 Quaker Oats WHA set, as well.

Tom is the author of http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/ (OHL Alumni Central). OHL Alumni Central is a daily updated blog featuring graduates of the Ontario Hockey League and their careers in professional hockey after leaving the OHL.

The centrepiece of ohlalumnicentral.com is the OHL Alumni Big List. The Big List is an on-going database of the whereabouts of all the active OHL grads.

The real Hockey fans

Hockey-the biggest game

I became a fan of hockey in 1963. I watched my first game at a friend's House as a freshman in high school. He was a fan of the Chicago Black Hawks. I've always been a fan of baseball and football fan but hockey was different. It was like a tug of war. Sometimes, the momentum would shift from minute to minute. Other times a team you want to control others and dominate them for entire periods. The players had different combinations of talent and tenacity.

Like other sports, many players were on the same team throughout their career. Only the player's name and his image will come to mind in their team's uniform. This was the old six NHL teams. The Chicago black hawks, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. I became a fan in Toronto. The Maple Leafs were broadcasting center point for Hockey Night In Canada. All teams were proud and ancient traditions. Each had players scoring star, top goalkeepers, defenders and at least one enforcer.

My favorite player was Frank Mahovlich. I got a kick out of watching him skate just above the blue line, settling with a slap shot, and rocket the puck as it was fired from a gun past the goalkeeper. I thought wow so many players to go through all that dipsy doodle and here this guy just blasts what. The leaves have offered in a contract dispute with the big m and the Chicago Black Hawks leaves 1 million for Mahovlich. The leaves first accepted and then rejected. A year after the leaves have won their last Stanley Cup in 1967 they traded him to the Red Wings. That's why I think the leaves (which have not won a Bowl since) are under "the curse of Frank Mahovlich. Of course I became a fan of the Red Wings instantly and then in 1971, a fan of the Montreal Canadiens as the Big M was traded again. Mahovlich won six Stanley Cups. Bobby Hull of the Black Hawks was more like Mahovlich with slap shot and of course the Boom Boom Geoffrion Canadiens has perfected the slap shot and was the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season.

In 1968, the NHL added the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings and the Oakland seals. In 1970, dreams have come true here in Buffalo, NY as the Buffalo Sabres became members of the NHL. In 1974 the Philadelphia Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. The Montreal Canadiens and then wheeled off four Stanley Cups in a row just to prove who really was boss. The Canada Cup and the Olympics created some of the biggest games in history.

Hockey now has 30 teams. The lack of an important contract TV hold the sport back by gaining the popularity it deserves. Three teams are in California, two teams are in Florida and one in Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas and Arizona. The sport is starting to cross racial barriers and vast global popularity is booming. They have many great players and stars led by Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

They say that if sport was presented in its original form, it would blossom in America. Get rid of instigator penalty combat. Hockey's superstars were protected in the NHL old by one, two or three players in each team you want to beat your brain if you put a good blow, slash, spear, or punch one of the skaters the best teams. Added the drama of the game. Today, controls "legal" open ice are causing more trauma and career ending injuries than ever. If someone delivered one of these controls "legal" in the old NHL, they would pay dearly to get drilled on several occasions. Goalkeepers are allowed to skate and move all over the place. I say that if you step outside the crease with the puck, you're a fair game. I like the two-line pass rule.

Fugues are fun to watch. Get rid of that crazy shootout. Let them go 5 minutes with about 4 and then 3 4 Play on play 3. A draw after that wouldn't be a sin and should be allowed. I swear that the NHL's leadership is listening to soccer moms instead of hockey moms. Stop submitting the rink aimed at children. Your marketing people are ruining the game. The light shows are cool but the music is terrible. Organ music old make it compulsory. Let the fans started cheering. About them and not on prod with prerecorded junk. If your fan cannot generate its own team of cheers, then send them to a soccer match. Check out a saber-leaves, Oilers-flames or game Rangers-Islanders. Don't need all that fake stuff to generate enthusiasm.

One last note. If TV fans cannot see the puck is because they have no idea what's going on in the game. It's not the visibility of fast moving puck. Real hockey fans know where is the darn puck and usually where it's going next. We take the hammers and bang up the team bus. Let's get back the biggest game where it belongs-for real hockey fans.

Charles Priore

Chicago Black Hawks Trivia

The price to pay for the new team during the first great expansion of the 1926-27 NHL was very convenient for today's standards. Major Frederic McLaughlin led the NHL to Chicago with the price of $ 200,000. On the advice of the brothers Patrick, the Major bought the WHL Portland Rosebuds and were renamed "Black Hawks". The Hawks received their team name of the famous Black Hawk Army Regiment of the United States. Major McLaughlin commanded the Regiment during the first world war. November 17, 1926, the Black Hawks made their NHL debut. Game # 1 was played at the Coliseum in Chicago. 9,000 fans applauded the hawks to a 4-1 victory against the Toronto St. Pats. Chicago Stadium was built for $ 7 million. 16 December 1929 was the first home game. The Hawks defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1. Arthur Wirtz and James Norris bought Chicago Stadium in 1936. In the same year the partnership started la Revue Hollywood ice starring Sonja Henie. Seeking new ways to invest your $ $ $, formed the International Boxing Club in 1949. Going their separate ways, Wirtz bought controlling interest in Black Hawks in 1952.

Hawks-Foundation MAX BENTLEY and DOUG: Max Bentley and Doug were the first brother teammates to lead the NHL in scoring. Doug led the NHL with 73 points in 1942-43. NHL career by Max Bentley was interrupted by the second world war in 1943. He returned to lead the NHL in scoring for the 1945-46 season with 31 goals-assists 30-61 points. Max was the first Chicago Black Hawk to be awarded the Hart Trophy. Max Bentley and Doug played together on the famous "Pony line". Bill Mosienko was the third member. Assembled from Black Hawks in 1946-47, received the name "Pony", from their speed of course. All 3 are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Doug Bentley was the first player to score 200 career as a member of the Black Hawks. 23 February 1950-Doug scored in a lost cause as the Rangers won 7-3. In 1950, Doug was named the top player Hawks history ... beating brother Max, mush March and Dick Irvin.

BILL MOSIENKO: Bill Mosienko started his career NHL goal scoring with a flurry. February 9.1942-goal # 1 came against Rangers ' Jim Henry. "Wee Willie" scored the second goal of NHL 21 seconds later. 23 March 1952-an NHL scoring record was established. The Rangers were leading 6-2 in the third period. 21 seconds later, the Hawks had reduced the score to 6-5. Bill scored his hat-trick! Mosienko was the first Black Hawks player to score 250 career goals. 25 November 1954-"Wee Willy" scored as Chicago lost to Montreal 3-2.

FACT OR FICTION? Black Hawks hold the NHL record for consecutive years not finishing in first place during the regular season. As a team, "Original Six", the Hawks entered the NHL in 1926-27. In the 41st year of existence Chicago finally finished first in 1966-67. Superstition claimed that their first Hawks coach Pete Muldoon, cursed them to first place in failure "after the first firing of the year. Chicago holds the record for consecutive shutout games be 8 ... a NHL record that will probably never equalled. Chicago went through not only 8 matches without WINS, they failed to score a goal. John Ross Roach has completed the record as Rangers and Hawks battled to a 0-0 tie.

Twenty-five years of intense research has led to the development of 120 years-Tough terrific Hockey trivia, a trivial expose the world of hockey. Along the way, Tom helped (using a family name) to Total Hockey and appeared on the news program of CTV W5 in 1995. Tom's passion for hockey also includes a collection of over 58,000 birth records and various other hockey information. Thomas King published "120 years-Tough Hockey-appalling banality" in 2008. You can purchase the book of 273 pages containing 600 trivia question & answers ... easy to very difficult ... to http://www.authorhouse.com send your comments to trivia-hockey@hotmail.com.

Hockey Betting Lines

If you really want to earn money, there are many opportunities lying on the ground that you can just pick and own. This line of thinking is basically applicable to anyone who desires to earn money. There are many ways of making money, but if you want it fast the legal way, then one option that you can take is hockey betting.

It may sound absurd, but people nowadays earn money from their winnings from hockey betting. What makes it quite peculiar is not the betting but the idea that people bet on the sport hockey. Some people might even be surprised that hockey still exists. However, it still does, and it has drawn a lot of people to bet on it. It may not draw a huge audience or a big market of bettors the way basketball or football does, but it still makes a significant following.

There are several ways on how you can bet on hockey. You can choose one of the different hockey betting lines for you to be able to bet on a National Hockey League game.

The first of the betting lines is the money line. This is actually the most common and the most basic betting line that is ideal for those who haven't tried hockey betting. The rules here are simple. For an instance, the Atlanta Thrashers will have a game against Chicago Hawks. It happens that Atlanta is the more favorable team based on statistics, so it might register +150 on the board. On the other hand, Chicago might have -170. This means that if you want to place your bet on Atlanta, you have to pay $150 and you will earn $100 if the team wins. Otherwise, if you want to bet Chicago, you only need to pay $100, and if you're lucky that they win, you will earn $170.

The next type of line is the puck line. In this type of betting line, the goals made by each team at the end of the game will determine whether the bettor will win or not. The odds are always set to either +1.5 or -1.5, for there can never be a tied game in hockey. If you placed your bet on the team with +1.5, you will win your wager if the team wins or losses by a point. On the contrary, if you bet on the team with -1.5, then you can only win your wager if the team won with two points or more.

Aside from those, you can also try the totals betting line. In this kind of betting line, the bettor will only have to guess whether the total goals at the end of the game is greater than or less than the goal to be posted by sports book. Usually, the total goals posted by the sports book would be at least 5 and most 6.5. The other betting line similar to totals is called the grand salami. In this betting line, all the goals for the day's tournaments will be summed up, and what the bettors will do is to tell whether it is more than or less than.

If you want to improve your winnings on hockey betting lines, you should rely on a trusted and proven system that can help you win more.

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The soul of a sports fan in Chicago

Growing a Chicago sports fan is a humiliating dependence.

I've been hooked since the day my father took first in the family to a White Sox game at the old Comiskey Park, when my young sister, which was used to watch the games on a black-and-white TV with UHF reception snowy, pronounced, "look, the play of colours!" I am absolutely hooked since I saw my first game Blackhawks at the since demolished at the Chicago Stadium. In a previous article, I tried to describe the ephemeral power that music has on our soul-namely, the power to transform our emotional state and lead us to another place. For better or worse, sport has such a transformative capacity.

Growing up, my dad shared subscriptions for a year or two for games Chicago Blackhawks hockey. It was during this time that I was able to enjoy the true beauty of hockey (along with 20,000 raucous fans). The momentum of the game can change in an instant; a control drive or a defensive play often means more than a major offensive pass or shot. That is what I love about hockey. More than any other sport, is seemingly minor elements which impact so much the present moment and the end result. In addition, the old Chicago Stadium (even then it was old, having been built in 1929) literally shook with every great pass or the stellar defensive play. It certainly shook even more when the home side scored, helped by the pitch incessant baritone of 3,663 tube Barton organ that want to signal a goal. As a music club, Chicago stadium was a sensual Temple which resulted in the senses, addicted patrons and begged him to seek higher levels of pleasure.

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks couldn't win the Stanley Cup. Although they had terrible teams in my heyday of childhood of the late 60 's and early ' 70, with players like Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito and Pit Martin, have failed to win the Cup. The most memorable and poignant, lost at home game 7 the Montreal Canadiens in 1971 after being ahead 2-0 in a game in late in the second period. A fluke goal from the centerline by Jacques Lemaire zipped past or Tony, cut the cable with 1 goal and gave the Canadiens the momentum above that they desperately need. They finally beat the hawks 3-2 to win another Stanley Cup.

Listening to those games on radio as described by the wonderful work Play Lloyd Petit, was emotionally spent. It wasn't just a fan at that point, but a member of the team, my emotions rising and falling faster than Jacques Lemaire turned. I was only eleven years old, but often felt that my emotional commitment exceeded that of most of the players or management.

Unfortunately, once again, being a fan of Chicago sports will guide you in emotional depth. Not only is the failure of my infinity hockey team loved it, but a collective failure to "win" the majority of Chicago sports teams. Yes, it is true that the Chicago Bears, under the tutelage of Mike Ditka, broke the streak in the 1985-1986 season. But let us not forget that the bears have won at least two more Super Bowls in years 80. Thanks Charles Martin of Packers for body slamming Jim McMahon in 1986 and dashing all hopes of a victory of the Super Bowl. It is true that the Chicago Bulls won big in the 1990s under the expert guidance of Phil Jackson and the magic of Michael Jordan. However, let us not forget the 1975 Western Conference finals when the Bulls stole home court advantage, went up 3 games to 2, but lost the next two games against the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.

The Cubs deserve an entire chapter of their own, but let me mention just a couple of years and names: 1984, Leon Durham; 2003, Steve Bartman. Enough said.

As for my other favorite team-the White Sox-at least they took their long drought by winning the World Series in 2005, the first time since 1917. Still, the 1983 playoffs, with names such as Britt Burns, Tito Landrum and Jerry Dybzinski persecute forever long tenured Sox fans.

But, back to hockey. In 1991, my wife and I had just moved from Chicago to San Antonio. During the Blackhawks surprising playoff run during the 1991-1992 season shortened by the strike, which ends with a visit to the Stanley Cup finals, we look at all the playoff games the local sports bar. There was no other place to get the television feed. Has become our routine. Every other night the Hawks want to gamble, and want to meet at the bar after work, enjoy a cold drink in the fervent heat of southern Texas and scream and shout for a victory. For eleven straight playoff games, the Falcons did just that. Until they reached the final against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Twenty years removed from dashed dreams of 71, I sit in a sports bar in a foreign city, mentally taken back in those days much themselves. I have reverted to that child of eleven-year-old whose every breath, every emotional ebb and flow, revolves around the success of his hockey team.

Instead of names like Jacques Lemaire, Ken Dryden, Henri Richard and Yvan Cournoyer steal my dreams, names like Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr beset my reality. The good side, Belfour, Roenick and Chelios are replaced, Esposito, hull and Mikita. The different names, though, does not produce a different result. In game 1, the Husk Hawks leads 3-0 and 4-1. I implore Eddie Belfour to hang onto the puck, but to no avail. Out a rebound, Mr. Lemieux scored the game winning goal with 10 seconds left to rally the penguins to an incredible victory 5-4. Pittsburgh using this initial momentum 1 game to sweep the hawks 4 games to none to win the Stanley Cup (although the series was actually closer than the score would indicate).

Chicago loses again and I am devastated once again. Swear off my addiction. After all, how silly is it left the soul ride on the wings of a sports team? I remain faithful to my commitment and stay off this drug. Then spring training, or Mini-Camp or pre-season starts again and I fall off the wagon sport forever be haunted by a last-second score by the opposing team.

I am a sports fan in Chicago.

http://www.dailyharangue.com

Harangue Daily was started by a group of friends who had a lot to say, but just agreed. These candid discussions on topics ranging from politics to music, art, nature, life, love, and the human condition has always been a free flow of ideas that serve to strengthen, rather than destroy, the bands of our friendship.

Top Attendance Records in Hockey and Number of Registered Players

Migliaia di persone partecipare a una partita di hockey solitaria, ma ci sono due partite di hockey che sono le prime due per un gioco solitario. La prima partita è successo il 6 ottobre 2001 per un gioco normalmente riconosciuto agli appassionati della University of Michigan e Michigan State University come "guerra fredda". Questa apertura di stagione è accaduto allo stadio di Spartan all'aperto di Michigan State. L'Università ha speso $500.000 su una lastra di ghiaccio per la pista e la temperatura era di 30 gradi, e il gioco ha attirato un pubblico di 74.554 spettatori oltre 55.000 spettatori a partita di campionato tra Svezia e Russia quando il gioco è accaduto a Mosca, ma la data è sconosciuta.

La più grande folla singola a guardare un gioco NHL era durante il 23 novembre 2003 Heritage Classic è stato quando 57.163 spettatori hanno partecipato il match tra i canadesi di Montreal e Lubrificatori de Edmonton al Commonwealth stadium di Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Montreal sconfitto Edmonton 4-3. L'unica cosa che rende questo match si distingue è che era l'unico gioco di NHL giocato all'aperto dal piste indoor sono giocate tutte le partite NHL. Il gioco di megastar che viene chiamato match di old timer con ex giocatori di lubrificatori e l'unico gioco che Wayne Gretzky ha giocato dal suo ritiro da professionista di hockey su e insiste sul fatto che il gioco sarebbe stato suo ufficiale e l'ultimo.

Giochi di hockey locale tipicamente non tirare nella quantità di persone che possono attirare squadre di hockey su durante un gioco solitario. Ecco perché più persone sono inclini a voler presenziare occasioni professionali rispetto alla minor league o partita di college/università, dal momento che non c'è più di una più grande curiosità su sport professionistico che una squadra locale a meno che non stai tifo per la tua città natale, ma sulla scala realistica la maggioranza delle persone trovare il brivido e l'emozione più grande per quelli professionali occorrenze. I due paesi top con giocatori di hockey registrati sono Canada con 543.390 giocatori registrati in terra e negli Stati Uniti arriva secondo con 435.737 giocatori registrati.

Slovenia viene in ultimo con 980 giocatori registrati così che mostra chiaramente il Canada e gli Stati Uniti sono le zone più calde a giocare a hockey dal momento che hanno la maggior parte delle persone registrate in ciascun paese. Hockey è e sarà sempre lo sport più caldo in Canada e negli Stati Uniti poiché attira nella maggior parte delle folle come conseguenza gli unici giocatori ottenere da altri paesi poiché non è un buon numero di cittadini americani stanno giocando hockey su sono più probabili per giocare a baseball, basket e calcio di hockey su ghiaccio

Il solo motivo è che del hockey di ghiaccio in autunno un basket di tempo identici e calcio iniziano quindi c'è qualche concorso per la partecipazione del pubblico e la copertura televisiva, ma hockey ottiene la loro quota di fedeli spettatori e partecipanti del pubblico. L'unica squadra finora che sta avendo un momento difficile successo che un campionato Coppa Stanley è il nero di Chicago falchi poiché hanno non hanno vinto un campionato unico dal 1961 over 40 anni fa 35 anni così si potrebbe unire la truppa di altri Chicago pro squadre che ha vinto campionati negli ultimi. Articoli del passato descritto Chicago ha con il peggior record in giochi e presenza fino a quando la squadra è stata acquistata e il nuovo proprietario aveva apportato alcune modifiche nel corso del tempo che aveva girato l'affare di presenze intorno, ma ancora non si ferma il fatto che i falchi neri non hanno vinto un campionato dal 1961 e a malapena nemmeno fatto ai playoff al termine della stagione in quanto erano normalmente fuori al primo turno.

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Fantasy Hockey As March Begins

With the Olympics coming to an end, the NHL, and subsequently, fantasy hockey, gets back on its feet in March. We'll get you jumpstarted on fantasy hockey with the next installment of our 2-Week forecast.

Forward 1 (7 Games)

- Sidney Crosby, Marion Gaborik, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos

Even sports fans who aren't into hockey have likely at least heard of the name Alexander Ovechkin. With all due apologies to Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin is the popular choice as the best player in the world, and his numbers bear that out. He leads the NHL with 89 points and is tied with Crosby for the league lead in goals with 42 while also claiming the top spot in shots on goal. Stamkos and Gaborik aren't far behind in goals, with each putting 35 in net, while Malkin's 44 assists trail only Ovechkin in this group, and are the eighth-most in hockey.

Forward 2 (6 Games)

- Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla, Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrick Marleau, Zach Parise

Marleau leads this group, and is third in the NHL, with 38 goals, while Heatley and Kovalchuk also each have more than 30 tallies. Heatley's 34 assists lead this bevy of players, followed closely by Parise, though Parise shoots the puck like an alcoholic shoots whiskey, and holds a rather lengthy lead in putting the puck on net. No player in this particular collection of fantasy hockey stalwarts has fewer than 27 goals, and only Marleau has less than 30 helpers.

Forward 3 (7 Games)

- Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Henrik Zetterberg

Zetterberg's injury earlier in the season means his overall point total isn't quite at the level of the others in this group, but he makes up for that by leading in shots on goal. St. Louis is sixth in the NHL in points, due in no small part to the fact that his 49 assists are tied for fourth in all of hockey. Coincidentally, the person he is tied with is also among this assortment of skaters, with that person being Dallas center Richards. Kane and Kopitar don't have the assist totals of those two, but they do have the most goals in the group, with 25 and 28, respectively.

Forward 4 (6 Games)

- Shane Doan, Jamie Langenbrunner, Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan

Nash and Ryan lead this group, and are tied for ninth in hockey, with their 28 goals. Nash got to that mark with four goals in four consecutive contests before the Olympic break. However, neither of them can claim the assist totals of the other three players, each of whom has over 30, led by Langenbrunner and Perry's 37.

Forward 5 (7 Games)

- Mike Cammalleri, Loui Eriksson, Mikko Koivu, Patrick Sharp, Eric Staal

Cammalleri's 26 goals are tops among this aggregation, though Eriksson and Stall each have at least 20. Koivu has the fewest goals among the fantasy hockey options in this group with just 16, and he went into the break with a nine-game goalless streak; still, he's the only player here with 40 assists.

Defenseman 1 (7 Games)

- Zdeno Chara, Niklas Lidstrom, Joni Pitkanen, Mark Streit, Shea Weber

This cluster of defenseman doesn't have point totals that will blow anybody away - in fact they all have between 31 and 35 points - but their shot totals may, as only Pitkanen isn't among the top-10 defenseman in hockey in shots on goal. Weber leads the group with 11 goals, while Pitkanen is first in assists with 31.

Defenseman 2 (6 Games)

- Jay Bouwmeester, Eric Johnson, Filip Kuba, Bryan McCabe, Ryan Whitney

Kuba leads this company of blue-liners with 25 assists, and only McCabe has fewer than 20 helpers, but he has 19. McCabe does lead the group with seven tallies, followed by former No. 1 overall pick Johnson, who has six. Johnson, who has been playing the best hockey of his career lately, leads this posse in shots and is 15th among all defenseman with over 130.

Defenseman 3 (7 Games)

- Brian Campbell, Drew Doughty, Sergei Gonchar, Stephane Robidas, Marek Zidlicky

The third group is where the points are in this particular fantasy hockey contest, as each player here is in the top-16 among defenseman in points. Doughty, Gonchar and Zidlicky are in the top-10 with 45, 37 and 36 points, respectively. Doughty's 11 goals leads this cluster of high-scoring defensemen, and are tied for second in hockey among all d-men, with Robidas right behind him with 10 tallies. That's fitting, because Robidas leads the group in shots, though Gonchar is third despite having played 15 fewer games.

Goalie 1 (6 Games)

- Martin Brodeur, Ilya Bryzgalov, Miikka Kiprusoff, Evgeni Nabokov, Tomas Vokoun

Brodeur leads the NHL in shutouts, but hasn't been his typical self of late. That was true even before he got pulled after allowing several soft goals to Team USA in Canada's loss during the Olympics.. Before the break, Brodeur had won just two of his last seven games, and had allowed at least three goals in seven of his last eight contests, with a save percentage below.900 in six of them. For the season, he's ninth in hockey in GAA, and 15th in save percentage. He's been a fantasy hockey giant in net throughout his career, but that just hasn't been the case lately. Meanwhile, Kiprusoff is second in the league in GAA among goalies who have played at least 30 games, while Vokoun and Nabokov are in the top-three in save percentage. Vokoun has the most overall saves in hockey with nearly 1,600.

Goalie 2 (7 Games)

- Craig Anderson, Marc-Andre Fleury, Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick

Miller may be hockey's breakout star for the Olympics, as his performance against Canada fit perfectly with the hockey cliché of a goalie "standing on his head." He's No. 1 in the NHL in GAA among goalies who have played at least 30 contests, and No. 2 in save percentage. However, Quick leads all NHL goalies in wins, and Anderson is tied for third with six shutouts, and has the second-most overall saves in the league.

Goalie 3 (7 Games)

- Niklas Backstrom, Jimmy Howard, Cristobal Huet, Chris Mason, Marty Turco

Howard's 2.28 GAA is the leading mark in this group, but Huet is just a fraction behind him at 2.29. Huet also is the co-leader here in shutouts with four, a mark that Turco can also lay claim to. Howard, Turco, Mason and Backstrom are Nos. 13-16, respectively, in overall saves, with Huet well behind at 29th in the league.

Team Wins 1 (6 Games)

- Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks

San Jose is second in the entire NHL with 89 points, though New Jersey and Ottawa have point totals that are nothing to scoff at, with 77 and 76, respectively. However, they've gone different directions of late, with the Devils sporting a 3-5-2 record over their last 10 games while the Senators have been blistering hot with an 8-2-0 record over their last 10.

Team Wins 2 (7 Games)

- Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins

Chicago's 87 points are the most in this group, and the third-highest mark in the league. The other four teams in this group are clumped together with between 75 and 78 points. The Kings were the hottest among teams here before the Olympic break, with an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games, while the Sabres struggled to a 3-5-2 record in their last 10.

Team Wins 3 (7 Games)

- Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning

Dallas and Detroit each have 68 points, Boston has 65, Montreal has 64 and Tampa has 63, though they all have one thing in common in that they are each are fighting for a playoff spot in their respective conferences. None of these teams were terribly hot or equally as tepid before the break, with each winning between three and six games over their last 10.

Sports Tourism in Chicago

Sports is very much a part of many people's lives and if you're looking for a sports destination in America, Chicago is certifiably one of the best. In fact, locals of this city have such a rich sporting culture as shown by their apparent love for sports. In fact, as the largest city in the world, it is quite famous for excelling in many sports events. It actually has teams for four major league American sports events including football, baseball, basketball and hockey.

While it's natural for people to be inclined to enjoy sports, Chicago folks actually have a great love for it that they have made a name for themselves as the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, the Chicago White Sox and Clubs of Major League Baseball, the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball League and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. Certainly, with these four teams under its fold, Chicago is on the map of the most sports-loving people not only in America but also in the world.

Naturally, the city also has huge and world-class sports centers which are home to its athletes. With the opportunity that people are able to use when exploring and honing their sports abilities, many great sportsmen have come from this city, including no less than Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. The major sports centers in Chicago include the U.S. Cellular Field of the Chicago White Sox, Wrigley Field of the Chicago Clubs Baseball team and the United Center of the Chicago Bulls. Aside from that, the city has also hosted the Pan American Games in 1959 and has been given the bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

The city government is also actively involved in the further development of sports among its residents. All cities have their own home stadiums that the locals can use. Because of this privilege, the city has teams for almost all professional sports. These teams have also been doing very well and are continuing to excel even while gaining more and more league titles. Each year, the city hosts a marathon event which is one of the major sports events in the world today.

If you're a lover of sports, you will definitely have an extraordinary experience visiting the Windy City. There are many hotels in Chicago where you can stay. If you have a tight budget, there are very affordable places that offer nice accommodations.

However, if you want to experience the luxury of downtown Chicago hotels, there are many that you could choose from. When you're comfortable with your accommodations, you can truly enjoy the city's best and those Chicago luxury hotels are a great place to begin.

NHL Hockey Playoffs - In Full Swing

The NHL playoffs are here, and already one series is decided. The Philadelphia Flyers needed the very last regular season game to clinch the final playoff berth as a number 7 seed. They had to defeat a New York Rangers team who was hanging on by a thread down the stretch, and stayed alive until the very last game. But the Flyers did something most people out side of Philly thought impossible.

Not only did they defeat the New Jersey Devils, they did so in just 5 games. Another early exit for the Devils. Is it Martin Brodeur's fault? It may seem easy to put the blame on him. But he lost the first game 2-1, and the last game 3-0. It wouldn't have mattered if the Flyers scored 3 goals, 10 goals, or just 1 goal, the Devils weren't going to win that game without putting the puck in the net. A 2.24 GAA, in the playoffs, isn't that bad. He led the team to a first place division finish, and a second place conference finish. I don't think he is washed up, just yet.

The Olympic games were another story. The Us clearly beat Canada the first time around because Marty played poorly, and clearly lost the gold medal game because Luongo played stellar. Marty may not be Canada's best goalie anymore, but I think he is still the best fit for New Jersey for another two to three years, they just need to start scoring in the playoffs.

EA Sports played out the playoffs, and they had the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup. Chicago looked like the best team for most of the year. The last time they won a division it wasn't the Central, but the Norris. They beat the Devils and Sharks handedly, but started to skid just before the end of the season, and then picked it up the final couple weeks of the season. If they win their last game versus Detroit, they would have had the number one seed in the West. Now they are struggling with Nashville, and don't look quite like the playoff team last year who got through Calgary and Vancouver. I still think they have a very good chance at winning the Cup, but they cannot afford to get in these long series this early on.

Washington picked things up during the middle of the season with a 13 game winning streak. It was at that time that they pulled away from all the other teams in the league. They played the Blackhawks on a Sunday afternoon, and came back from three goals down to beat them, and that was the game that really set them apart from everyone else. I still don't think they have enough playoff experience to win the Cup this year. Russia lost huge to Canada in the Olympics, and I think Washington will come up short in the playoffs partly because of Ovechkin. He certainly is finding the net, but I am still not convinced of his leadership skills; with his cheap hits and wild celebrations.

It is great to see all these new young stars taking over. Though there are still some old veteran lingering around in the playoffs, like Rob Blake, Nick Lidstrom, Brodeur, and mark Recchi, guys like Crosby, Malkin, Brown, Toews, Kane and Ovechkin are definitely taking over. Last year, Crosby was the youngest captain to win a cup, and there are captains this year younger than him who could win one.

It took a triple overtime game for Ottawa to beat Pittsburgh, which is leading to some discussion about a 4-4 playoff overtime, or possibly even a playoff shootout. I don't think the hockey enthusiasts will like that much. I, for one, am not a fan. I think it works well in the regular season. And it is too bad that some games go long, and then the teams are tired in the next series, or the series after that. But part of the long overtimes are due to the great goaltending we have been seeing this year so far.

Whoever wins the Stanley Cup this year will of course will be well deserving. I think the Conn Smythe winner will be a goalie, especially as we move into the second, third and final rounds.

Budd Foxx brings a unique style to sports writing. Although very opinionated and it's true he likes to add his own twist (some call it spin) to his articles, he is always well informed on his topic. Next time you are in a conversation about sports, be sure to quote him from one of his articles, you'll definitely be adding to that discussion.

Bud Foxx played sports all through high school and college. In High school he was captain of his cross country and track team, played varsity baseball and hockey. In college he again played varsity hockey for 1 year, varsity baseball for 4 years and ran cross-country and track for 4 years, 2 of which he was captain.

Foxx's articles appear in http://www.eazybetz.com and http://www.eazyonlinepoker.com where he is a staff writer.

The Games of Hockey

It's important to note when discussing hockey trivia that hockey is actually the name for a whole group of sports. The game that most of us think of is properly called ice hockey, and is played on skates on ice, with five men to a side with a goalie. However, there are other versions of the game which sometimes appear on an obscure hockey quiz out of the other forms, field hockey has probably gained the most recognition as a professional sport in its own right.

Although indoor arenas are common now, for many years the most common place to see people playing hockey was outside on a skating rink made in the winter time. That is probably why hockey is most popular in countries where it is particularly cold. For example, game is extremely popular in Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic. It is also very popular in the Northern parts of the US that get more severe winters. The professional level of the sport has caught on in many southern states now, but at the amateur level it has not gained the importance of a sport like football. In Canada, on the other hand, most minor athletics programs put a much higher emphasis on hockey than on football.

The professional hockey league in North America is revealed by a hockey quiz to be known as the NHL, or the National Hockey League. The league often refers to the six teams which were the primary teams for the first several decades of the league, although only two were around in the first year of league play. The "original six" as they are often referred to, are all still active teams in the NHL. Those teams were the Boston Bruins, the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadians.

Hockey has also been an Olympic sport since 1920, although it was interestingly enough first played at the summer Olympics rather than the winter. Hockey is often one of the flagship tournaments now played at the Olympic level, although its popularity in a given year often depends on the country it is being played in. Due to its being played in Canada this year, there has been a very high level of anticipation for the upcoming Olympic Hockey tournament in 2010 in Vancouver. Since 1998, NHL players have been allowed to play as members of their home country's Olympic teams.

Masters of Trivia is a website dedicated to trivia games and quizzes that cover several different areas of interest. The various trivia questions available on the site can be easily accessed and played by going to http://www.mastersoftrivia.com.

College Hockey

Hockey is a sport in which two teams trying to maneuver a hard round disc called a puck into rival's net, using a hockey stick. This sport is also played at college-level, and each college or institution may have its own hockey team. Intra-collegiate or inter-collegiate hockey tournaments may be held all year round. Many colleges provide necessary infrastructure, guidance, finance, and support for development of hockey. Colleges may have different teams and clubs. A single college may have more than one hockey team, and support groups. Hockey at college level may include field hockey, ice hockey, roller hockey, and its various forms such as Air hockey, Ball hockey, Bandy, Broomball, Bubble hockey, Floorball, and Foot hockey.

Air hockey is played indoors by using a puck on a special table known as Air Hockey Table. Ball hockey is somewhat analogous to ice hockey, but instead of a puck, a ball is used. Bandy is a form of hockey played with a ball on a football-sized ice ground, usually in the open. Bubble hockey is played on a table sealed with plastic. Floorball, or Floor hockey, is a type of hockey played in a gym using a plastic stick, and hollow ball. Furthermore, Foot hockey is played with a hairless tennis ball, and using only feet. Ringette is an ice hockey variation, designed for female players. It uses a straight stick, and a rubber ring. Skater hockey is a kind of inline hockey, played with a ball. Table hockey is an indoor game played usually on a flat surface like a tabletop. Underwater hockey is played on the floor of a swimming pool.

The National Hockey League (NHL) displays names of hockey teams on its website. Some of the names are New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Atlanta Thrashers, and Carolina Hurricanes. Other examples include Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and St. Louis Blues.

Hockey provides detailed information on Hockey, Hockey Jerseys, Hockey Tickets, Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey is affiliated with Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment.

The Three Most Valuable Hockey Cards of the Post-War Era

What is considered the post-war era in hockey card collecting began with the 1951-52 Parkhurst series. With that set, yearly production of hockey cards has gone unbroken to this day. Before that series was produced, hockey cards were produced on an irregular basis and the last major set came out over a decade before.

Despite the attention given to the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee rookie card of Wayne Gretzky, there are three cards that have been produced in the post-war era that are fundamentally more valuable. The trifecta of hockey cards consists of the rookie cards of three of the greatest hockey players in National Hockey League History. All three cards are valued by Beckett Hockey Monthly at up to $3000.

1951-52 Parkhurst #66, the Gordie Howe rookie card. Howe's first hockey card came five years after his NHL career began. Gordie first played for the Detroit Red Wings in 1946-47 and continued with the team until the end of the 1970-71 season. He returned to professional hockey in 1973-74 with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. Gordie played in the WHA for the duration of its existence, finishing with the New England Whalers. He returned to the NHL for one last season in 1979-80 with the Hartford Whalers.

Over his lengthy pro hockey career, Gordie Howe won six Hart Memorial Trophies as NHL MVP and six Art Ross Trophies as the league's leading scorer. He won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and two Avco Cups in the WHA with the Houston Aeros. He remains the only player to play an NHL game while in his 50's and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.

1958-59 Topps #66, the Bobby Hull rookie card. Hull began his NHL career with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1957-58 and continued with the club until the end of the 1971-72 season. In that time, Bobby won the Art Ross Trophy three times, the Hart Trophy twice and won one Stanley Cup with the Black Hawks in 1960-61. For two years, he owned the NHL record for most goals in a single season with 58 in 1968-69.

In 1972-73, Bobby Hull became the face of the World Hockey Association when he was signed by the Winnipeg Jets for $1 million. In the WHA, Bobby was MVP twice and was part of three Avco Cup winning teams in Winnipeg. When the WHA merged with the NHL for the 1979-80 season, Hull played one more NHL season split between the Jets and the Hartford Whalers. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

1966-67 Topps #35, the Bobby Orr rookie card. Orr began his NHL career in 1966-67, therefore the stats on the back of his rookie card were blank. He played with the Boston Bruins until the end of the 1975-76 season then finished off his NHL career with the Chicago Black Hawks, playing just 26 games over three seasons.

Despite his career ending prematurely due to devastating knee injuries, Orr's list of accomplishments is long. He still owns NHL record for most assists in a season by a defenseman (102), most points in a season by a defenseman (139) and the highest +/- of any NHL player in a single season (+124). All three records were set during the 1970-71 season. Bobby is the only defenseman to ever win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point getter, doing it twice (1969-70 and 1974-75). He has won more Norris Trophies than any other NHL player (8) along with Hart Trophies and two Conn Smythe Trophies.

Tom is the author of http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com (Vintage Hockey Cards Report). Vintage Hockey Cards Report provides information on a wide range of vintage hockey cards and the players that appear on them. One focus is to provide a real eBay pricing guide based on the winning bids of vintage hockey cards on eBay auctions.

Vancouver Stays Alive by Playing a Great Game in Chicago

In one of the more exciting games of the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks flattened the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.

This game had everything. Disciplined play, one team clearly having fun on the ice, fast skating, solid checking, and incredible goaltending, and, unfortunately, a wicked-bad injury to Canucks defensive star Sami Salo.

Injuries are a part of any professional sport, and in hockey they can be particularly bad. Among other things in play are sharp skates, a frozen surface, fiberglass sticks, and a puck that frequently exceeds 100 miles per hour off a solid slap shot. It's the last item that has Sami Salo down, and probably out, for at least the remainder of this series.

Salo caught a Duncan Keith slap shot right in the groin, which felled him instantly. He remained on the ice for several minutes before being carted off on a stretcher. He was taken to a local Chicago-area hospital where he was kept overnight.

Salo's injury happened in the 1st period in which the Canucks scored two goals. They rallied around the injury and dumped in two more, including an empty netter at 19:15 of the 3rd period. The win keeps the Canucks alive but down three games to two, but Game 6 will be back in Vancouver where they could conceivably send the series to a Game 7 on Tuesday night. Catch the game on Versus in select satellite TV packages at 9:30pm Eastern.

I'll catch up on Salo's injury on Wednesday, and recap this series at the same time. Get well, Sami Salo, your team needs you, and so do all of us puck fans!

Watch all the upcoming NHL games with select DIRECTV packages and read up about them on my hockey blog.

The early history of Chicago Blackhawks!

The Chicago Blackhawks were founded in 1926 with six other American teams. The Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings were the first six American hockey teams, and later would have been known as the original six. In 1926 by Frederic McLaughlin branch of team and became the first owner of the Blackhawks. Prior to owning the hockey team McLaughlin was a commander of the 86th Infantry Division World War 1.

The Blackhawks where the first American Hockey team to get there complete starting lineup all burn in America. There first year of NHL Hockey (1926) the Chicago Blackhawks would finish the season with a record of 19-22-3, which placed them in the middle of the standings. In 1927 the Blackhawks playoff I would go there for a long time before, but then finish lousing to the Boston Bruins in the first round.

From 1927 to 1930 the Blakchawks of Chicago had the NHL's worst team and finished in last place. Finally, in 1931, the Chicago Blackhawks for the Stanley Cup finals for the first time, but would lose to the Montreal Canadians. In 1938 the Blackhawks just made the playoffs with a loss of 14-25 season but some how turned around in the game off and then won the Stanly Cup Championship. The Chicago Blackhawks would be the first NHL team to win the Stanly Cup, despite having the worst record in the regular season.

The Chicago Blackhawks have won the Stanly Cup Championship four times, including last season 2008/2009. The Chicago Blackhawks NHL team of 1926 were part of the string before the American NHL teams. The Blackhawks have been know to be a rude a hard grind out kind of hockey team and will be one of the most popular NHL teams.

Check out the Blackhawks! And to learn more about your favorite NHL team.

Getting geared Up for another exciting Hockey season tickets for Chicago Blackhawks

While it may be summer outside, for a true fan of Blackhawk's always hockey season. While many sports fans followed baseball and the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks fan has their priorities focused on their beloved winter sports. For hockey fans, the summer months are all preparing for another run at the Stanley Cup. For the people of the Windy City, Chicago Blackhawks hockey tickets are invaluable.

Chicago Blackhawks are one of the original six teams of the NHL and was established in September 1926.
After leading the NHL in presence and setting a franchise record to receive more than 1 million fans this past season, the current waiting list for the sale of tickets for Chicago Blackhawks over 4,000 fans. Chicago Blackhawks season ticket waiting list grew over 600 fans in less than a month.

It's time for Chicago to win the Stanley Cup? Blackhawks fans will tell you it is. When the Blackhawks take another at the Stanley Cup championship this season, get your tickets for Chicago Blackhawks? Is better because now we can say that we can now say goodbye to all those years of bad and look forward a schedule of Chicago Blackhawks with nothing but win it. Great thanks young superstars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the future looks bright for our team.

Recently, the Blackhawks made life a little more interesting for other teams around the League have signed star forward Marian Hossa away from the Detroit Red Wings with a contract for 12-years $62,80 million. By acquiring Hossa, the Blackhawks collected not just four-time all-star, also stole a marker-40 away from their most hated rivals, the Detroit Red Wings. If you can't beat 'em, steal from 'em. You could bet teams will be not be eager to appear on Chicago Blackhawks calendar anytime soon.

While Chicago had only ten players with any postseason experience before the start of the playoffs last year, showed that they were good enough to reach the final four. Wait till the next season now that this group of young stars and that playoff experience under their belts. With Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews a year older, Chicago figures just to keep getting better. Now, with the signing of Hossa, you have an immediate injection of fuel into the score and in the sale of tickets hockey Chicago Blackhawks. Think of the excitement with all those markers slicing through the ice.

This experience and the signing of veteran leadership can only lead to good things. You better get your Chicago Blackhawks Tickets now before it's too late.

Wayne Hemrick writes about the chicago blackhawks ticket sales and how to find the right deal on chicago Blackhawks hockey tickets.

Top 10 events that shaped 2010 Fantasy Hockey

It's not right to end the year without a pointless top 10 list. And since fantasy hockey is what we do here, here is my contribution, as I present the events that had the biggest impact on fantasy hockey in the year 2010:

10. Stempniak to Phoenix

A deal that largely went unnoticed at the time quickly became the most significant fantasy trade of the season. On March 3rd, Lee Stempniak was dealt from Toronto to Phoenix for Matt Jones and a couple picks. At the time, Stempniak was barely cracking the 3rd line in Toronto and was a non-factor in the fantasy world. From there out, he was a point-a-game player and almost a goal-a-game player for a stretch in Phoenix. His hot streak ended with the conclusion of last season, and he may never see that kind of production again.

9. Byfuglien Moved to Defense

Isn't Jeremy Roenick a genius? After Atlanta coach Craig Ramsey announced at the start of the season that newly acquired Dustin Byfuglien would be moved to defense, many in the hockey world openly ridiculed his decision (Roenick being the dumbest). Turns out the former Selke winner knew what he was doing after all, as Byfulglien has been an absolute beast on defense for Atlanta and fantasy owners. The move came right around fantasy draft time, so owners who heard (and believed) the news made out like bandits by drafting him in the middle rounds.

8. Island Injury Bug

The Islanders weren't expected to win many games, but there was hope at the start of the 2010-11 season that several of their players would be decent fantasy options. Many of the young guns were clearly on the rise at the end of last season, prompting hope for the new one. That all ended early on, when the injury news started to strike. First Streit was gone for most of the season, then Okposo separated his shoulder. Other injuries crept in to the point where no player on the Islanders roster has much value. Even John Tavares is going to have to wait for some help before he can be considered a solid fantasy option at this point.

7. Gonchar to Ottawa

For the past decade, Sergei Gonchar has been among the top 5 best fantasy options on defense (when healthy). On July 1st, he was the first big name to show up on the free agent departures, heading north from Pittsburgh to Ottawa. Many expected his prolific production to go with him, and for that to spark some of the Ottawa forwards on to more points, particularly on the power play. The move has been a complete bust. At least in Ottawa that is. While Gonchar is on pace to be a -43 for the season and the Senators remain one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, the move did open the door for a new superstar to emerge in Pittsburgh: Kris Letang. Letang was apparently held back by Gonchar's presence in the past. Now that he has the role of chief puck-mover on the power play, Letang has emerged as a Norris Trophy candidate, and a genuine fantasy stud on defense.

6. Dismantling of Chicago

It was inevitable, and the Hawks tried to downplay the impact, but it cannot be denied that the aftermath of the Cap crunch on the Cup winning Chicago roster has had an impact on fantasy lineups. In Chicago, the most noticeable change is in Norris winner Duncan Keith's numbers. It's impossible to know how much he misses those players and who he misses the most, but something has been off with Keith this season, and that's a good place to lay the blame. Also, fantasy owners are still perplexed as to which goalie to claim in Chicago. Since Chicago had to part with Niemi, there's been an ongoing back and forth with Turco and Crawford. Perhaps we'll even see Huet back before the end of the year? In Atlanta, the Thrashers (and their fantasy owners) have benefitted greatly, particular with Byfuglien (see above) and Andrew Ladd. Ladd never had the opportunity that he now has in Atlanta, and he's producing with a career year in his new setting.

5. Nabokov to (and from?) the KHL

Since the lockout, it seems like the leading candidates for the Vezina Trophy change dramatically from season to season. Each year there are two or three new names that pop up and then fade away. Over that time, only Nabokov has remained relatively consistent, though he was never truly rewarded for it. Fantasy owners could draft him with confidence that he would provide very good to great fantasy production each season. When he bolted for the KHL in the off-season, he left a void on draft lists everywhere. After just two months away from the NHL, Nabokov recently cut ties with his team, leading to speculation that he may return to the NHL at some point his year. Stay tuned, as we could see him on the list for 2011 if he lands with a contender in January.

4. Penguin Hot Streak

After a horrible losing spell around Halloween, the Pens (and their fantasy owners) were scrambling for options. Marc-Andre Fleury was showing up on waiver wires, while Malkin and Crosby were sliding down depth charts. That all changed when the Penguins started to rattle off win after win in November and into December. Suddenly, Fleury is once again a top-end starter option and Crosby is the undisputed #1 fantasy player, in the midst of an incredible scoring streak that just keeps going. Many other depth players on the Penguin lineup have likewise seen their fantasy value increase with the streak. It's amazing what a couple weeks of winning can do.

3. Halak Olympic/Playoff Glory

Heading into the Olympic break, the Canadiens were struggling and they weren't finding the answers they needed in the crease. Price was train wreck and Halak was decent, but hadn't yet emerged. His Olympic performance opened the eyes of the hockey world as he single-handedly led team Slovakia to the bronze-medal game, and in the process, earned him the #1 job (and a ticket out of Montreal). His subsequent run in the playoffs made him a top 5 goalie pick for many fantasy owners this fall. With Halak being moved to St. Louis, the pressure was on Price to shine or leave town. Remarkably, he has more than risen to the occasion. It has been a wild ride for both goaltenders in 2010, but ultimately, Price and Halak have both come out as solid fantasy options heading into 2011.

2. Kovalchuk Saga

On February 4th, the New Jersey Devils shocked the hockey world by diving into the Kovalchuk sweeps and claiming the "prize" a few weeks before the deadline. The summer saga was well documented and has had an obvious impact on the Devils misfortune this season (and likely for many to come), but what about the fantasy impact? Well, for starters, a guy who was a regular top 10 fantasy forward for the past decade has collapsed to the point where he's not worth starting in any format. And while he (and his contract) can't be blamed for the complete lack of production by other Devil players this season, his contract will surely prohibit the team from bolstering the lineup with complementary talent in the years to come. Ultimately, this deal was and will continue to be a disaster for the Devils and their fantasy owners.

1. The Boston Goaltender See-Saw

Also known as "The Rise (and fall) of Tuukka Rask", or perhaps "The fall (and rise) of Tim Thomas". No matter how you want to headline it, the story has been big in the fantasy world. After a subpar end to 2009, Thomas lost his job to the up and coming rookie Rask, who finished the season strong enough to merit Vezina consideration. Many fantasy owners ranked him among the best going into this years draft, and were ultimately disappointed when the tide turned back to Thomas very early on. Thomas put last season behind him completely and is the current favorite to see his name etched again on the Vezina. Owners who were quick to pick him up in the first week of the season have come away with the grand prize.

There were many other events that shaped the world of fantasy hockey in 2010. Chime in and share which ones you think should have placed among the top 10.

Visit us at http://www.landsharkhockey.com for free fantasy hockey tips, tools, and strategies.

Fantasy Hockey - Sharing the Crease

Drafting goalies is a risky proposition. More than any position, this choice can make or break the fate of your fantasy hockey team. One of the biggest factors you need to consider is how often a goalie is going to play. Some netminders can be counted on to get 70+ starts a season, while others will sharing the net with another man. In short, you want to avoid the split crease scenario. As Philly and others demonstrated last season, NHL teams are more likely than ever to go with a goalie system, rather than depending on one star goalie to carry the load. While that may play well in the NHL, it's a nightmare for fantasy hockey managers. So as you finalize your cheat sheets, consider how secure each goalie's starting job will be throughout the season, and make sure you select at least one workhorse for your roster.

Solid Starters

Roughly half the teams in the NHL have an undisputed #1 goalie. Barring injury or complete collapse, these guys should start 60+ games this season, so no need to be concerned here:

Buffalo- Miller
Montreal- Price
New Jersey- Brodeur
Pittsburgh- Fleury
NY Rangers- Lundqvist
Carolina- Ward
Florida- Vokoun
Detroit- Howard
Nashville- Rinne
Vancouver- Luongo
Colorado- Andersson
Calgary- Kiprusoff
Phoenix- Bryzgalov
Anaheim- Hiller
Dallas- Lehtonen

Almost There

There are a handful of goalies that are almost guaranteed starters, but haven't quite locked up the job 100%.

Boston- Rask/Thomas

Rask is a sexy-bold pick for your starting goalie this fall, but don't get overconfident here. Thomas didn't exactly lose his job, as much as Rask earned it. Things could easily go the other way this time around. Thomas is making too much cash to sit idle all season long, and his no-trade says he'll be a Bruin for awhile.

Chicago- Turco / Crawford / Huet?

All signs point to a successful bounce back season for Turco as he assumes the #1 spot for the Cup champs. However, Crawford will push hard for starts, and the Huet situation hasn't technically been resolved yet. I can't see any goalie getting more than 50 games in Chicago this season.

St. Louis- Halak / Conklin

Halak should have the edge as the go-to guy in St. Louis, but the Blues have said there's no clear starter. Conklin has had a very solid career and is capable of being a #1, though he's never earned the role. Like Chicago, 50 games may be the ceiling for either guy, so grab a cowbell and simmer down on that Halak-fever.

Split Creases

Roughly one third of the teams in the league enter the season without a clear-cut number 1 goalie. There are some darn good goalies in this group, so don't write them off entirely. Just be aware that questions remain, and you should consider drafting both options as a safety net.

Ottawa- Elliot / Leclaire

Leclaire was brought in to be the #1 guy, but injuries opened the door for Elliot. Both are capable options, and both will see some net. Safer bet is Elliot, but don't forget they went back to Leclaire in the playoffs. And then there's that "other Brodeur" guy who may make a guest appearance again.

Toronto- Giguere / Gustavsson

Giguere is obviously Burke's favorite, but he's the GM, not the coach. Both men are highly skilled and injury prone. Toronto's defense is stellar and should allow both to put up solid stats, but there's just no way of getting past the playing time questions here.

Washington- Varlamov / Neuvirth

Bottom line is that I just don't see Varlamov as a long-term solution in Washington. Neuvirth will be given the chance to win the job, but don't be surprised if McPhee swings a deal for an outsider at some point this season, if neither of these men seem sufficient to bring the Cup to D.C.

Atlanta- Mason / Pavelec

Pavelec was in a great spot following the Lehtonen trade last season. He's back to singing for his supper, as the Thrashers brought in a capable starter in Chris Mason. I see this one playing out right down the middle, 50/50. And since most of those starts will be losses either way, neither goalie should crack your top 20.

Tampa Bay- Ellis / Smith

(See Atlanta)

Columbus- Mason / Garon

You've got to believe that last season was a fluke for Mason, and that he'll be back on top in 2010 (particularly if you're from Ohio). There's no long-term future in Garon. Mason will be motivated as he plays for his first big pay day. However, until he earns it back, we'll stick Mason in the split-crease heap with the rest.

Minnesota- Backstrom / Harding

The Wild have been grooming Harding for a few years now, and Backstrom's health is always a concern. Backstrom's $6m price tag suggests he'll be favored, but then again, Harding has the UFA carrot dangling out there if he can perform. Should be an interesting battle in the State of Hockey.

San Jose- Niemi / Niittymaki / Greiss?

For years now, the San Jose net was a place of comfort for fantasy owners. Draft Nabokov and have no worries. Now, what to do? 3 adequate goalies on a team that will pile up the wins, regardless of who they dress in net. This is the definition of risk-reward when it comes to goalies. As tempting at each may be, my advice is avoid the heartburn.

Los Angeles- Quick / Bernier / Ersberg?

Sure, Quick piled up 39 wins in72 games last season, so why isn't he in Category 1 you ask? Well, I get the impression he was just keeping the crease warm for Bernier. Don't forget, Quick went a couple months last winter when he couldn't buy a win. It's a good problem to have for Kings fans, but an awful dilemma for us fantasy nuts.

Anybody's Guess

Finally, there are three teams that merit their own special category, as we have no idea how the goaltending will play out over the course of this season. Best advice is to just completely ignore these options at your draft.

Philadelphia- Leighton / Boucher /???

Fantasy football offers the cop-out "Team Defense" category. Teams like the Flyers make you want to push for such an option in our game. If the last 10 years gave us anything to go on, Philly will enter the playoffs with Jose Theodore, Vesa Toskala, or Dominic Hasek as their starting man.

NY Islanders- DiPietro / Roloson

You have a young guy with an old-man's medical chart and an old guy with the stamina of a college student. Anybody's guess how this will play out. Best to steer clear.

Edmonton- Khabibulin / Gerber / Drouin-Deslaurier / Dubnyk / Ranford??? / Fuhr???

No threat of the Jennings trophy making an appearance in Oil country next spring, thanks to this goalie carousel. Just stay away.

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The Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks made their debut at the Chicago Coliseum, before 9,000 cheering fans. It was the year 1926 and the Blackhawks beat the Toronto St. Patricks 4-1. Many decades later, the Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups and have become an institution in Chicago. The Blackhawks have always had many great players who created unforgettable moments in history.

The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in Chicago, Illinois and are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (Nhl). Together with the three Stanley Cups, the Blackhawks have won fourteen division titles. The Blackhawks are part of the original six NHL teams. Other teams include the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers.

Expanded in the United States in 1926 and the Blackhawks NHL joined them as part of the first wave. Detroit Cougars (now the Detroit Red Wings) and New York Rangers were the other two teams that were in that year. Most players Blackhawks came from the Portland Rosebuds of the WHL.

Frederic McLaughlin, the coffee magnate, was the first owner of the Blackhawks. He was a commander during the first world war. His Division was renamed the Division of Blackhawk and McLaughlin named its hockey team in honor of the military unit. The previous version of the name has been spelled as two separate words, Black Hawks. In the summer of 1986, the club officially decided to opt for a version of a word Blackhawks.

McLaughlin did not know much about hockey, but he played a very active role in the management of the team. He served as General Manager for the team and showed a great interest in promoting American hockey players. It was rare at the time. Under the leadership of McLaughlin, the Blackhawks became the first NHL team with a lineup of all American.

The Blackhawks played their first game against the Toronto St. Patricks. They won the game and finished the season in third place. They lost their 1927 first-round playoff series to the Boston Bruins. McLaughlin fired head coach Pete Muldoon following this. McLaughlin and Muldoon had a disagreement about whether the Blackhawks were pretty good. McLaughlin felt that his team was good enough to finish first and the coach disagreed.

Frederic McLaughlin died in 1944. His estate then sold the Blackhawks to a syndicate led by Bill Tobin. Tobin was only a puppet for Red Wings owner James Norris. Norris was the host Blackhawks since it bought Chicago Stadium in 1936.

The Blackhawks were constantly out of the playoffs since 2001 until the 2008-09 season. During most of the years they finished well out of contention.

The team has captured the hearts of American hockey fans making strong comebacks after temporary setbacks.

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Terms and Concepts in Hockey

There are a lot of important concepts and terms in hockey that one must know to understand this game to the fullest. This article is mainly for Blackhawks fans that do not know that much about hokey and the terms some people may use to describe what is going on. Hopefully after this article people will understand these terms better while watching the games on television or just talking to others. The definitions used in this article are the definitions I would use while explaining these terms to other people.

Power Play

A power play is when your team has either a man advantage or a two man advantage. The way your team gets a power play is by the other team getting called for a penalty. This is when a lot of team take advantage of the other team and score most of their goals because your team has an extra guy on the ice.

Penalty Kill

A penalty kill is when a player on your team gets called for a penalty and has to serve 2-5 minutes in the penalty box. When your team gets a penalty this is the time when your team may give up most of their goals throughout the season.

Icing

Icing is a called made by the referee making the clock stop. This happens when an opposing player shoots the puck from the other side of the red line (mid ice) and no one from your team touches it until it crosses the goal line. When this happens the whistle is blown and the puck is brought all the way down to the other end of the ice for a faceoff. If another player on the opposite team touches the puck before someone on your team does the icing is waved off.

Offside

Offside is another call made by the referee making the clock stop. This is when your team is skating towards the opponents net and one of your teammates skates over the offensive blue line before the puck carrier does. There is another term called delayed offside that is important to the game of hockey. This is when your team shoots the puck in the offensive zone (other team's zone) while one of your teammates is already in the offensive zone. The player on your team that is already in the zone has to come back to the blue line and tag up. After he does this your team is allowed to go back into the offensive zone.

Delay of Game

Delay of Game is penalty called by the referee for all different kinds of reasons. If someone gets called for this they have to go sit in the penalty box for 2 minutes. The first way you can get a delay of game penalty is by shooting the puck over the glass in the defensive zone only. If your team is in the offensive zone and shoots the puck over the glass that person is not penalized. Another way a player can get a delay of game penalty is by holding the puck on the ice with their hand. If any player on the ice covers the puck with their hand they are going to be sent to the penalty box. These are the most common ways a player is called for a delay of game penalty.

Dangler

A dangler is a slang term for a player that has a lot of stick handling skill and is able to stick handle right around other players. Examples of three great danglers in the NHL are Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks. Danglers are a great weapon to have on a team because these people are usually the ones that get most of the team's assists.

Sniper

A sniper is another slang term for a player that is very good at aiming their shoot and can pick corners like none other. An example of a sniper on the Chicago Blackhawks is the very talented Patrick Sharpe. A sniper is another great person to have on your team because these are the players that score most of the goals. The dangler uses his stick handling skill to make room on the ice, and then passes it to the sniper, and they will most likely put the puck in the net.

Goon

A goon is a very important player to have on your team because they are usually the strongest players out on the ice. If a team is looking for a boost of momentum the coach will tell his goon to go on the ice and get into a fight. This is very common in the NHL because it is an easy way to give momentum to the team as a whole. An example of a goon is the Chicago Blackhawks very own John Scott. He has been in a lot of fights this season and has never lost one yet.

Five Hole

Five hole is a spot player's aim when they are trying to score a goal on the goalie. The five hole is located between the goalie's legs where he puts his sick on the ice. This is called the five hole because the four corners are the first four and the fifth one is a hole between the goalie's legs. A lot of players like to shoot the puck five hole because it makes the shoot look more fancy.

Picking up the Trash

This is a slang term that a lot of people use to explain clearing the puck from the front of the net or scoring off of a rebound. They call it this because the puck is just lying in front of the net and like when there is garbage lying around you must do something with it. The player will either keep shooting on net or will clear the puck away from the net.

Top Cheese

A lot of players like this slang term because it has a really funny name. But this term means when a player is shooting the puck for the top left or top right corners of the net. This is another place players like to shoot the puck because if they score it makes the goal look really cool.

Leadership Lessons From The Chicago Blackhawks

There has been much written about the turnaround of the Chicago National Hockey League franchise - from being almost last in attendance to winning the Stanley Cup in June of 2010. In 2004, ESPN had named the Blackhawks the worst franchise in sports. Most recently, Forbes highlighted the team's success and called it the greatest turnaround ever in sport's history.

A great deal can be learned about leadership from the recent history of the Blackhawks and their drive to become the best team in professional hockey. For those who follow the team closely, you probably know that they have recently traded and released a number of players who made key contributions to the championship season. Despite these trades, the leadership lessons still hold true.

The team's turning point has been linked to the ascent of Rocky Wirtz to the chairman's role. But it actually began with the drafting of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane by Dale Tallon, the former general manager, prior to Rocky Wirtz's taking over the team. These two players make up the core nucleus on which the team has been built.

Rocky Wirtz succeeded his father, William (Bill) Wirtz, who ran the team for 41 years. Bill was a very astute businessman but had been stuck in a 1990's strategy of pay-per-view television and keeping player salaries under tight control. The financial situation was desperate at the time of Bill Wirtz's death in September of 2007. Rocky Wirtz was in the unenviable position of having to quickly reverse almost every one of his father's major decisions.

One of his first decisions was moving into his grandfather's old office. Arthur Wirtz had been a major contributor to the growth of the original NHL. His office was left virtually untouched since his 1983 death. Bill Wirtz had refused to allow the office to be occupied by anyone else for almost 25 years. This move symbolized the forward movement of the team and emphasized the goal of returning the team to prominence.

Forbes magazine reported that under Bill Wirtz, the fans and other key stakeholders had grown estranged from the team. The Blackhawks had alienated its players, fans and key stakeholders. Think of the parallels to disengaged employees, unhappy customers and frustrated stakeholders.

Over the years, various disagreements had created a riff between management and its former Hall of Fame Players. This included famous names such as Bobby Hall, Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito. In fact, Bill Wirtz was blamed for allowing Bobby Hull to leave the team and join the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972.

These former star players were welcomed back by the new Blackhawks. Each was given their own recognition day and each became an important link to the past glory of the team. More importantly, they helped reinforced the winning culture that the new management had embraced.

The team also reached out to the fan base in other ways. By switching the radio broadcasts to mega-station WGN and broadcasting all home games on free television, they actually were able to increase attendance at the United Center. This was in direct conflict with Bill Wirtz's philosophy that broadcasting home games was a disservice to season ticket holders.

Management also changed their philosophy toward the players. Like a typical sports team, they needed to spend more money to sign quality players. But they also focused on building esprit de corps (a sense of loyalty and belonging) amongst the players. By building strong relationships between management, players, player's families and fans, they created a powerful force that enabled players to fully commit to the team and fans to embrace them.

In his book "Good to Great", Jim Collins talks about "getting the right people on the bus". I think this correctly describes the Blackhawk's personnel moves. It initially started at the management level. Rocky Wirtz hired John McDonough as president very early in his tenure. McDonough, the Chicago Cub's former president, was only hired when Wirtz was convinced that he had the fortitude to make equally tough decisions.

The team added former coaches Joel Quenneville and Scotty Bowman as senior advisors. Joel Quenneville was soon elevated to head coach. Stan Bowman, who is the son of Scotty Bowman eventually, took over the general manager position. These moves put experienced leaders and coaches in place that had previous experience in winning a Stanley Cup.

This thinking also applied to the players. They had the raw talent in Kane & Toews, but they lacked experience. They brought in veteran players like Cristobal Huet at goal & Brian Campbell at defense. But even after winning the Western Conference semi-finals in 2009, they continued to add talent like Marian Hossa, John Madden and Tomas Kopecky.

Let's correlate this to teambuilding. Each team members was chosen for their ability to contribute to the team's goals. The team included acquired veterans, players who moved up through the minor league, recent draftees and former Stanley Cup winners. There was one common denominator and that was the team's goal to win the Stanley Cup. Katzenbach and Smith cited in their book "The Wisdom of Teams" that "a common, meaningful purpose sets the tone and aspiration" for team success.

When an organization gets focused on its strategic goals, great things can happen. There were good decisions made by the team's chairman, president, general manager and head coach. The team played exceptionally well with everyone contributing to the playoff victories. Jonathan Toews won the most valuable player award. There was outstanding goal tending, great defense and timely offensive scoring. The Blackhawks successfully demonstrated how to build a team and teamwork itself.

But would we be writing this article if they had not won the championship? Typically, no one sings the praises of the general who lost the war or the coach who lost the big game. No one usually remembers the team that came in second.

There is no questioning the results. Attendance has grown from 522,000 (second lowest in the NHL) to almost one million (highest in the NHL). Season ticket holders have grown from a low of 3,400 to over 14,000. There are also more than 4,000 on the waiting list. The franchise has achieved financial success after almost not being able to make the payroll in late 2007. And most importantly, they have achieved the ultimate reward - the 2010 Championship of the NHL.

Now the question is "Can they repeat in 2011?"

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20 Top NHL Hockey Players in the 2009-2010 Season

The 2009-2010 season NHL hockey game draws to an end in the celebration of the Chicago Blackhawks hard work to finally gain the 2010 Stanley Cup. What's more that remains on your mind? Who are the 20 Top NHL players in the last season?

1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

He's maintained an average of 1.58 per game in the last season, and led Canada to win in the 2010 Winter Olympic game.

2. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington

An exceptional talent, a born scorer, a player who brings intensity to every game.

3. Jonathan Toews, Chicago

This hard-hitting player leaded the Blackhawks won the 2010 STANLEY CUP.

4.Henrik Sedin,Vancover

Sedin has exceeded all expectations and is second among Fantasy forwards in standard scoring leagues behind just Alex Ovechkin.

5. Patrick Kane,Blackhawks

He assisted the Blackhawks to win finally.

6. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh

A year ago, people were admitting he had some talent. Now it's confirmed.

7. Marian Hossa, Blackhawks

He proved his worth with Blackhawks team/group and made his dream to come true.

8. Nicklas Backstorm, Capital

You can never get tired of this outstanding play maker's determination and leadership.

9. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver

To stay on top, he'll have to be the goaltender he was two years ago.

10. Mike Richards,Flyer

Richards finished with a career-high 31 goals in 2009-10.

11. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta

A crazy amount of talent, but has a difficult nature and plays on a mediocre team.

12. Marian Gaborik, Minnesota

The fastest skater in the league. He'll have to show some leadership. His potential is out of this world.

13. Andrei Markov, Montreal

We discovered and started to appreciate him last season. Best player on his team.

14 Joe Thornton, San Jose

Choked during the playoffs. Once again, couldn't get the job done.

15. Jaroslav Halak, Montreal

Jaroslav's play in this year's regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs was remarkable

16. Chris Pronger, Anaheim

Even while losing speed he's still feared by his opponents.

17. Evgeny Nabokov,San Jose

No goaltender has matched this Russian's performance.

18. Dion Phaneuf, Calgary

The prototype of the defenceman in the 2000s. Powerful, intimidating, determined.

19. Eric Staal, Carolina

Just finished an ordinary season with an ordinary team. He'll have to show leadership.

20. Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim

He doesn't dominate like he used to, but he's still just as reliable.

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Disciplined Savagery On Ice, In The Name Of The Nation - NHL Hockey

History has sufficient evidence of good evolving out of evil. In more moderate terms, great things are achieved out of strife and struggle. The resultant is usually way beyond expectations. NHL or the National Hockey League is one such example. It is defined as a sports organization made up of professional ice hockey teams in North America.

With roots in the strife that enveloped NHA or the Canadian National Hockey Association and the other team owners, the National Hockey League was born in 1917. The founding teams were the Wanderers, Senators, Canadians, and the Toronto Arenas, now known as the Maple Leafs. In spite of the struggle that the league faced in the first decade of its existence to stay in business, the teams ripped apart other teams on the ice, mercilessly. Only once in 1925, another league got the chance to win the Stanley Cup. At other times, it was the NHL all the way.

Due to its Canadian origin, Canadians have historically formed the majority of players in the NHL. However, with the steady expansion of the NHL hockey games, the number of American and other European players in the NHL has steadily risen. This led to the improvement in quality of the NHL Hockey League.

Today, with expertise from America, Canada and Europe, the NHL is the world's premier ice hockey league in the professional arena. It has also been recognized as one of the major professional sports leagues in North America. When NHL began, it had only five teams. With time, NHL witnessed expansions, fall-outs and relocations and is finally composed of 30 teams, 24 of them are American and 6 Canadian. Nevertheless, many of the league's players on the 2005-06 rosters are Canada born.

The Depression in the 1930's and the World War II saw a drastic fall in the number of teams in the NHL league. By 1942, the number of teams reduced to six. They were - Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers. These teams are still referred to as the Original Six. For the next 25 years, these were the only teams in the NHL.

The National Hockey League is divided into two distinct seasons. The Regular season begins on the first Wednesday of October and continues through the beginning of April. The Playoffs season begins from April and continues till June. The latter is an elimination tournament where two teams pour heat on ice to win the best-of-seven series. The final team becomes the owner of the Stanley Cup.

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Olympic Hockey - What's It All About?

The name hockey comes from the French word hocquet which means stick. It's not clear how the game got started but the story goes that British soldiers stationed in Nova Scotia, Canada were playing hockey games of one sort or another. No doubt it was earlier than that when kids played on open ponds with sticks and some form of puck.

Olympic hockey has come a long way since it was included in the Antwerp games back in 1920.

In 1879 rules were set down for an organized game at McGill University in Montreal. It began to spread around the area and by the 1890s it had been picked up by the US interests. The first known organized hockey game took place between Johns Hopkins and Yale Universities in the winter of 1895.

The first winter Olympic hockey games took place in the 1924 games in Chamonix, France. The first women's games were held in Nagano, Japan in 1998. Women compete in an eight team tournament whereas the men compete in a twelve team series.

The rules are quite simple for the game. A team may not have more than six players on the ice at any one time, but can have less while players are in the penalty box. The on ice team consists of a goalie, two defenders, two wingmen and one centre. The goalie may be replaced by a skater during a delayed penalty (when the referee or linesman sights an infraction he raises his arm to indicate a penalty is coming. As soon as the offending team touch the puck the whistle is blown and the penalty is called) for the offending team will not be allowed to score during the delay.

A regular Olympic hockey game consists of three 20 minute periods with a 15 minute rest in between. In case of a tie at the end of the third period, a five minute intermission will take place and then a sudden death period of overtime is played. If the game is still tied after that period, a shoot out takes place to determine a winner. The shootout will feature the best 3 out of 5 shots to go in the net.

Skates

The players must wear solidly built ice skates. The boots are made of many layers of material with padding in just the right places. They must cushion the foot but not allow it to move inside. Ankle support is extremely important as the players who may over 200 pounds must change direction instantly by throwing their weight into the turns causing tremendous stress on the skates and ankles.

The blades must be kept very sharp for good control. Certainly before every game and sometimes within the game itself, if a player is not happy with their performance.

Sticks

Up until recently the Olympic hockey sticks were made by combining a blade of wood into a wooden handle by gluing the joints together. The player wrapped the blade with tape to hold it solid and to assist in shooting the puck. This was the way most sticks were made for many years. The blade had a slight bevel on one side or the other for players to shoot high or left handed.

In the 1960s Bobby hull of the Chicago Black Hawks was one of the first to put a curve in the blade of the stick that not only caused the puck to go faster but it also created a wobble in the flight of the puck. The National Hockey League found it necessary to regulate the arc of the curve to standardize it.

In the 1990s composite sticks began to appear. They are made of different man made materials such as Kevlar, plastics and fiberglass. The stick shown here has holes in the handle to gain even more speed to the shot.

The puck is made of solid rubber. Before the game begins the pucks are frozen so that they will be more crisp when being shot from the sticks.

The players both professional and Olympic hockey, are very well padded. The helmets are made of hard plastics. They have face screens or shields. Under those colorful sweaters the player has shoulder protection for the upper body. Elbow pads. Hockey gloves with plenty of padding. Their hockey pants are all padded and knee pads cover the section from above the knee to the skates.

When the puck is shot by a player the speed may reach over 100 miles per hour and so all that padding is required. Even still, injuries will occur.

The goalie must be heavily padded but must have great flexibility. In this photo you can see the wide pads he wears as well as the huge catching glove.

The Olympic hockey goalie wears a special protective face mask. Very colorful. This protects the goalie from getting hit not only from the puck but from sticks and skates which can inflict heavy damage during scrambles around the net.

The great Hall of Fame star, Johnny Bower, was a great goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing fearlessly without a mask until the ripe old age of 46.

Jacque Plant of the Montreal Canadians was the first goalie to wear a mask in the National Hockey League.

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