Hockey Night in Canada: 2014 Final Montage

As we put the wraps on the 2014 NHL season, we say goodbye to Hockey Night in Canada as we know it. Rogers takes over the reigns of Hockey Night in Canada next season.

Rory Boylen, The Hockey News -- The closing montage of the 2014 season was especially emotional because it was the last CBC produced Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. The show will continue on the CBC for at least the next four years, but will be controlled by Rogers, the new national NHL right’s holders. And you get the feeling HNIC will never be exactly the same again.

HNIC has marked the passage of time for the past six decades of NHL history. It’s been a healthy slice of Canadian culture, nurturing an inspiration for the game. It’s been a religion for anyone who dedicated their Saturday nights to the broadcast and vividly remember even the most random playoff moments from two decades ago. All those Stanley Cups being handed out and passed down, broadcast into our imagination by HNIC.

NCAA Hockey: Penalize the players who Embellish?

#1957662 / gettyimages.com

I am a subscriber to XM Radio, and I listen to the Hockey Night In Canada Radio a couple of times a week. Today, Hockey Night in Canada Radio had an awesome segment on officiating during the 3:00 p.m. hour.

Former NHL Official and current ECAC head of officials Paul Stewart was on with the HNIC co-hosts (Rob Pizzo and Elliotte Friedman), and he had some interesting things to say. One thing that caught my attention was his proposal that he made to the NCAA about punishing players that embellish. There's more coming on that this week.

Some of his proposal was to give players who embellish a five-minute misconduct penalty. After three five-minute misconducts, that player would sit for a game. After four five-minute misconducts, that player would sit for two games. Also, the linesmen and refs could make the call. I think it's a great idea.

Related articles

• (Video) Fraser: Making the call (again) on embellishment
• IIHF Hockey: Proposed Rule Changes

Tale of two Clarke Saunders

Coming to Saturday’s game, Clarke Saunders has been rock solid in net, posting a 2-1-0 record, with a 2.03 goals against average and a 933 save percentage. In Friday night’s game against Nebraska-Omaha, Saunders was very good, stopping 31-of-33 shots in route to a 4-2 victory.

What a difference a night makes.

In Saturday’s game against the Mavericks, Saunders gave up six goals on 35 shots (.829). On Saturday nights, Saunders is 0-2-0 with a 4.81 goals against average and a .849 save percentage. That being said, you can’t fault the goalie alone. Defensemen were flat footed and caught out of position all night long.  The power-play was a major factor in Saturday’s poor play.

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Clarke Saunders Holds Off Mavericks (thehockeywriters.com)
• North Dakota Coughs up Two-Goal Lead against UNO (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: Clarkes Saunders Fills in for the Injured Zane Gothberg (thehockeywriters.com)

Don Cherry insults USA, eludes to them not having class

First off, I going to admit that I like Don Cherry, but these comments are a head-scratcher, to me. Here's the comments in question. They can be heard at the 4:00 Minute mark of the video in question:

Don Cherry on the Coach’s Corner said these lovely comments about the WJHC team. “I have always said that class always wins, class will always sell. First, watch team Canada (walking in)…class. I love it. Beautiful! Here's the Americans (walking in). What can I tell you boys. You have class, and then you have that walking in...”

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• What's going to happen to Don Cherry? (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
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Time to nix the bench cellys

Don Cherry talks about this in this past week's Coach's Corner. Don Cherry said, "Act like you scored before." There's not reason to fly by the benches and high-five. ... Teams like the Wild and the Blues are starting to discontinue the practice and I think it's a good idea.

Dan O'Neill, Post Dispatch --- Perhaps you noticed during the last two games, wins over Nashville and Winnipeg. When the line of David Backes, Alexander Steen and T.J Oshie have been on the ice for Blues’ goals — and that has been the case on six occasions — there has been no skate to the bench for a Conga line of high-fives.

There has been the traditional raised arms, the traditional hugs and smiles among those involved. And there has been a return to positions for the drop of the puck. In short, the Blues act like they’ve been there before, and aspire to be there again.

“That came from a few gentlemen who used to play here,” Backes said. “They felt like the going through the line thing was a high school, college type of play.

HNIC - Coach's Corner - Nov 30th 2013

There's some good issues on last week’s HNIC Coach's Corner that are worth listening to.  Personally, I think that the lawsuits with the concussions in some cases are a money grab.  When you play a professional sport, you assume the liability and you know the risks associated with the sport you participate in. No one held a gun to their heads and made them play professional sports. It's the same if you drove a race car or were a boxer. 

NHL Hockey: League clarifies illegal check to head rule

Original NHL logo, used until 2005. A version of the logo features it in the shape of a hockey puck. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to the Elliotte Friedman of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, the NHL has changed their wording of Rule 48. It's nice to see the rule get clarified and cleaned up a bit.

Now Rule 48.1 declares an illegal check to the head as "a hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable."

You're going to ask the obvious follow-up. How do you determine if the hit is avoidable? There are three circumstances to be considered:

First, whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponent's body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward.

Second, whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable.

Third, whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact.

Obviously, we need game action to see how this change affects things. But in theory, it makes a lot of sense. By eliminating "targeted" and adding "avoidable," it puts added onus on the hitter to avoid recklessness. Ultimately, that's what you want.

Related articles

• Report: NHL to reword head-shot rule (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Sidney Crosby Thinks Zdeno Chara's Punch 'Crossed the Line,' Saw It as Attempt to Shut Him Down (nesn.com)

Don Cherry's suit

Don Cherry could also double as a piece of your grandparents' hard candy - twitpic.com/cvwc2v”
— Sean Leahy (@Sean_Leahy) June 8, 2013

Wow! What a colorful suit worn by Don Cherry on the Coach's Corner.

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• Don Cherry talks about Josh Harding on HNIC Coach's Corner (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Don Cherry talks about Josh Harding on HNIC Coach's Corner

On tonight's Coach's Corner, Don Cherry mentioned Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding. I thought it was a nice touch by Don Cherry. I was talking to someone the other day, and it would make a nice story if the Minnesota Wild were able to make it out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Obviously, it's a tall order, especially against the Presidents Trophy winning Blackhawks and with a goalie that hasn't played very much the last few years. No matter what happens to the Wild going forward, I think that Josh Harding has played pretty well.

Don Cherry and Coach's Corner

Tonight, Don Cherry from the Coach's Corner blew up the twitter world, when he discussed the subject of female reporters being in the dressing room. Personally, I don't have a problem with female reporters being in the dressing room after NHL hockey games, they have been there for a long time, already. I don't see what the problem is, nor should there be a problem, since the players are already dressed when they meet with the media after the game.

C.C. and UND game highlights.

This would be the hometown news for Colorado Springs. It's nice to see a few highlights from Saturday's game. This is a shame, there is no reason that the high profile college hockey games can't be on television. A B2 broadcast is not acceptable.

Monday morning links



Fox Sport photo

 According to Todd D. Milewski of USCHO, there “could” be two NCAA championship games at the Frozen Four starting in 2014 if the NCAA committees signs off on the proposal.

This would mean that the men’s Division I and Division III “could” take place on the same weekend at the same arena. Let me just say – I am not a fan of this idea at all.

WCHA co-columnist for U.S. College Hockey Brian Halverson has resigned from USCHO and is going to be part of a new hockey web page known as Minnesota Hockey Magazine that is set to kick off this October. You can see their new Facebook page by [clicking on this link].

Here is an interesting article from the Toronto Sun, Unlike in 2004, there is no real threat that hockey is going away. Prepare to be bored. [Click to view]

From CBC Hockey Night in Canada, it seem that lockouts in the NHL have become a fact of life. [CBC.CA]

According to Sportnet.CA, Dynamo Moscow doesn't want Alex Ovechkin to play for them if there is an NHL lockout.

I know that this is a little old, but you've got to love J.R. for his brashness, Roenick says owners' proposal was 'bullying'.. [SportsNet.CA]

Ryan Durling of Stanley Cup of Chowder has given Tim Thomas a C+ grade for last season’s play. Just for the record, Tim Thomas played in 59 games recorded a GAA of 2.36 and a record of 35-19-1-5 and Save % of. 920 and in my opinion that is hardly worthy of a C+ ranking.

There had been a rumor in the media that Evander Kane has asked for a trade – Kane says that rumor is not true. [Click to view]

Apparently Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth caused a stir when he said that team captain Alex Ovechkin “isn’t what he used to be.” Michal Neuvirth has since tried to walk those comments back.

Paisley Hockey has his Monday Links and weekend links up on his blog

Tom Stivali from in Lou We Trust, profiles David Clarkson's 30 Goals during the 2011-12 season.

Classic Don Cherry

Some good stuff here, by Don Cherry in the Coach's Corner.  I think he is right, it's the reporters and the pundits that are on the clean up the game of hockey band wagon, I like the playoffs this season, they have been very exciting and filled with drama. We have fans complaining about legal hits and begging suspensions and penalties when one isn't appropriate.

"You read in the papers about the reporters, that the things are going wrong in the National Hockey League, how bad they are," Don Cherry Said.

"Well first off all, the fans love it, go ahead and show it, the fans love it who pay the money. Now watch the crowd in the back ground, these guys pay the money. The players don't seem to mind it, the coaches don't seem to mind it, the players like it.

So who is that doesn't the fights and the banging around? It's the reporters that get in free and if they are going to start listening to these people they are nuts."

"This stuff has been going on in the playoffs for a long time," Cherry added. "I know a lot of you people don't realize it..."

"Quite whining that this stuff hasn't been going on and it's not hockey, it's hockey the way it's played and if you don't like it take up tennis, Cherry added. I can see these guys playing tennis these reporters, that's sweet love in their little white shorts."

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• Don Cherry blasts Leafs general manager Brian Burke on Coach's Corner (thehockeynews.com)
• Don Cherry offers Sidney Crosby advice (cbc.ca)

Don Cherry gives Sidney Crosby some free advice

The conversation in question starts at about 4:27 of the video. No one questions that Sidney Crosby is an awesome hockey player, but John Tortorella is right, Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are two of the biggest whiners in the NHL. There is more than enough evidence to prove that point.

Ok! Granted, it's no mystery that Torts was upset with Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik for his dirty, bush-league knee on knee hit on Rangers forward Derek Stephan, last Thursday night. I think Tortorella is right, can you imagine if that hit had been put on Malkin or Crosby, there would be a lot of complaining and whining coming out of the Penguins locker room and you would expect a maximum fine and or suspension handed out by the NHL.

Frankly, I would like to see Don Cherry give the Sedin twins in Vancouver the same lectures as well as these two super stars spend a lot of time diving, flailing and flopping around on the ice a throwing their heads back whenever they're hit.

ProSportsDaily Staff ---- Don Cherry joined a growing number of hockey personalities who are publicly taking issue with Sidney Crosby.

After New York Rangers coach John Tortorella labeled Crosby a whiner, Cherry spoke out against the Pittsburgh Penguins captain during his weekly "Coach's Corner" segment on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.

"A long time ago when Crosby was coming out, I tried to warn him (to) 'quit diving, quit whining.' (Then) I was the worst guy in the world ... and all I was trying to do was help him," Cherry said.

"All I said was stop whining, stop diving and snapping the head back."

Related articles

• Don Cherry tells superstar Sidney Crosby to 'stop whining' (thestar.com)
• Don Cherry offers Sidney Crosby advice (cbc.ca)
• Don Cherry criticizes Crosby's hockey playing style (ctv.ca)
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Don Cherry apologizes to tough guys on CBC

Last Saturday night during the Coaches Corner, on Hockey Night in Canada Don Cherry apologized for his comments where he berated Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson the week before.

CBC.CA --- Cherry called Grimson, Nilan and Thomson "turncoats" and "hypocrites," accusing them of not wanting players to make the same living they did.

He also accused those who want to end violence in the sport of taking advantage of the three deaths to make points on fighting.

Don Cherry might get sued by former tough guys.

I do not receive my cable from Midcontinent anymore because I recently switched to Direct Television, the first thing that I discovered is that there is no CBC on Direct TV, something that I didn't consider when I switched to satellite television. That means I can no longer get the coaches corner, while I had read about this story on the various hockey blogs, this was the first time that I had seen this video.

I think that Don Cherry will probably have to apologize for his controversial comments he made at the 5:40 mark of this video. Love him or hate Don Cherry does make some valid point but I believe that he might have crossed the line this time by calling former tough guys Chris Nilan, Jim Thomson and Stu Grimson "pukes," "hypocrites" and "turncoats."

Montreal Gazette ---- Accusing hockey's best-known commentator of "a complete lack of decency," three former NHL enforcers have raised the spectre of legal action against Don Cherry for controversial comments he made last week.

On Tuesday morning, the Nashville-based law firm Kay, Griffin, Enkema & Colbert released a statement saying former NHL players Chris Nilan, Jim Thomson and Stu Grimson are "considering further recourse" with regard to a rant Cherry made on Hockey Night in canada, calling these players "pukes," "hypocrites" and "turncoats."

It was because, according to Cherry, these players have recently said fighting should taken out of hockey.

While Thomson has made public statements saying clearly that fighting should be banned from the game, Grimson and Nilan have not.

Related articles

• Trio called pukes, seek 'further recourse' from Don Cherry (thestar.com)
• Don Cherry comments draw legal threat from NHL trio (cbc.ca)
• Former NHLers suggest they may sue Don Cherry (calgaryherald.com)
• Ex-NHL tough guys say they may sue Don Cherry (windsorstar.com)