News Roundup 3/21/24
We’re back, everyone! It’s Thursday, and here is your latest news from hockey, both in North America and Europe. We’re continuing to experiment with article formats as this is a newer series. So, be sure to let me know if you like how the news is presented in today’s article. Anyway, on with the news:
European Playoffs Continue
Playoffs continue over in Europe, and we’ll start with the Alps Hockey League as their semifinal matchups have been set. Rittner Buam SkyAlps, the regular season champions, will be taking on Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan. In the other matchup, it will be Red Bull Hockey Juniors taking on S.G. Cortina. Moving on to Liiga, the first round is over (which is essentially two play-in matches), and the two teams moving on to the quarterfinals are KalPa and TPS. KalPa will be facing Ilves and TPS will be taking on Tappara. Over in Metal Ligaen, the semifinals have been set as well. They will begin on Tuesday, and we’ll be seeing Herning Blue Fox taking on SønderjyskE and Aalborg Pirates-Odense facing off against Esbjerg. Finally, we’ll take a look at the SHL playoffs, where Rögle won their play-in series against Timrå, sweeping the best of three series.
Ovechkin and Matthews Marching Towards History
The greatest active goalscorers, including the soon-to-be greatest goalscorer of all time, faced off against each other last night (as of publishing). Auston Matthews and Alexander Ovechkin. Fans were hoping for a show from both and got just that. Matthews scored twice and Ovechkin also scored two goals. Currently, Matthews leads the league in goals with 57, which is just thirteen away from 70 goals with only 14 games to go. Honestly, it feels achievable. No player has scored 70 goals in a season since both Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny did it in the 1992-93 season (both scored 76). For Ovechkin, his two goals got him closer to the all-time goal record set by Wayne Gretzky. He is now 49 goals away from Gretzky’s record. Gretzky has 894, and Ovechkin now has 845.
Chris Simon Dies, CTE Blamed
Unfortunately, some sad news broke yesterday (as of publishing), as former NHL forward, Chris Simon, committed suicide at age 52. The family released a statement that said: "The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death." Unfortunately, this is not too surprising as it’s common for athletes to struggle with CTE after their careers. But, also, unfortunately, sports leagues, including the NHL, refuse to accept that repeated hits to the head are linked to CTE, as then they would be forced to change how the game is played. It’s easier for them to stick their head in the sand and allow more player's lives to be ruined than do something to help prevent players from dying early or committing suicide, due to CTE. Plus, if they admitted that it was true, it would open them up to lawsuits for having knowingly covered up the knowledge and neglecting to protect players. Yesterday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, when asked about CTE and if it’s linked to repeated blows to the head: “No, I think the science is still lacking.” Dear reader: the science is not lacking. Even the NFL admits the science is not lacking, and outside soccer, they’re the sport that has the most to gain from denying the science. NIH, the U.S. Military, Harvard, and the CDC, all notably, have done studies that have shown definitive links between hits to the head and CTE. The only people who do not consider there to be links between the two are sports leagues.
Quick Bites
This is an interesting one. Somehow, an entire shipment of Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads was stolen. They were in California, en route to Pittsburgh. Not sure what someone wants with thousands of Jagr bobbleheads, especially since selling them would make it easy for the thief to be found, but, it’s an interesting one.
One of the greatest American-born hockey players of all time, and Dallas Stars legend, Mike Modano, now has a statue of himself. Yep. There is now a Mike Modano statue outside American Airlines Arena, and it was unveiled last Saturday.
Lucas Raymond is good at hockey. The young Detroit Red Wings forward already took a step this season in production and since Dylan Larkin got injured, has found another level. There have been times in the last few games where he has looked like a superstar, and that’s not an exaggeration. He has eight points in the last five games (all without Larkin), seven of them being goals. He has been straight-up dominant and easily the Red Wings best player as of late.
In the final bit of NHL news, the Nashville Predators are on a tear, a historic streak. They have now tied the franchise point streak record at 15. That’s right. Fifteen straight games with points. This team is not getting enough attention for what they’re doing. A few weeks ago they were sitting outside the playoffs and I don’t think anyone was expecting them to make it in, to now looking like a lock for the playoffs.
The PWHL trade deadline was Monday, and we saw two trades happen. In one trade, Ottawa acquired forward Tereza Vanišová from Montreal, while Montreal received defender Amanda Boulier. The other trade also involved Ottawa, who received forward Shiann Darkangelo, while Boston acquired forwards Lexie Adzija and the rights to Caitrin Lonergan.
It was a quiet week in the SHL outside playoffs, but one deal was made. Goaltender Marcus Högberg signed an extension with Linköping through 2028. The previous contract ran through 2025 and had an out clause to have him go to Switzerland. The out clause has been removed.
Finally, we end with news from the EIHL, as the Cardiff Devils prevented the Sheffield Steelers from winning the regular season title. The Devils won 4-0, which was the first time the Steelers have been shut out all season. Now, the earliest the Steelers can win the regular season title is Sunday, when they face the Guildford Flames.
Articles to Read
Blue Jackets' Top Prospect Suspended Five Games for Off-Ice Incident | Ben Stelter Foundation announces new cancer treatment center in Edmonton | Oilers' Zach Hyman Nears Elite Goal-Scoring Club Three Years Since Leaving Toronto | Canadiens coach St. Louis to be away from team indefinitely due to family reasons | Unused Canadiens tickets unique keepsakes from 1974 St. Patrick's Day blizzard | GMs vote for coach's challenge to include delay of game, high-sticking calls | Bowness away from Jets after medical procedure | WHL Players Could Achieve Feat Not Seen This Century | Grand Rapids Griffins Coach Dan Watson Hits Milestone in Game Against Iowa Wild | Wisconsin-River Falls completes perfect 31-0-0 season, downs Elmira on home ice for 2024 women’s D-III national championship | "FLASH" ends his career: Farewell to a small, big player in the Metal League
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