http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=304463
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=354203
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=452634
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=465057
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=476804
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=481439
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=491263
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=497289
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=500812
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=516093 (old draft preview pics)
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=521282 (old future watch pics)
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=529700
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=576684
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=577394
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It's back for yet another installment
This time, we take a look at the February 23rd, 2001 issue of The Hockey News.
- This issue was the 2001 NHL Goalie Special. On the cover is San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov. "Who is this masked man? It's time you met Evgeni Nabokov!"
- Vancouver goaltender Bob Essensa on difficult times in Detroit.."When I was in the Scotty Bowman burial program it was a test. Fortunately for me, I was able to battle through that one."
- At the recent all-star skills competition, Colorado defenseman Ray Bourque wins the accuracy shooting event for the 8th time. He nailed four targets on six shots.
- Russian center Sergei Fedorov shakes his head in wonder at the upcoming 2002 olympic games. "Other teams are preparing themselves; we don't even know who will be running our federation." He then continued.."Not that i'm saying i'll be picked for the team, but it would be nice to know who's going."....."They don't even bother sending anyone to North America to see who's playing well. They look at the newspapers and pick their team."
- Edmonton's Janne Niinimaa, who's a big fan of thrash metal, was asked if he ever puts his type of music on in the dressing room.."I put it on once. About 10 seconds later the cd went flying past my head. The same thing happened in Philadelphia."
- Boston's Bill Guerin surprises many by winning the fastest skater competition during all-star weekend. Guerin beat out the likes of Sergei Samsonov and Sergei Fedorov. The next day, he won the player of the game award after scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in a 14-12 win over the "world" squad. The line of Guerin-Weight-Amonte combined for 6 goals and 13 points.
- Flyers tough guy Kent Manderville snaps a 122 game goalless drought with a shorthanded goal vs Pittsburgh.
- Maple Leafs forward Gary Roberts reaches the 20 goal plateau for the 10th time in his career.
- Midget call-up Cam Ward records a shutout in his first WHL game as Red Deer defeats Saskatoon 3-0.
- THN gives Pavel Bure a minus for leaving the all-star game in the third period to catch a flight home.
- Also a minus to goaltender Roman Cechmanek for "foolishly" taking out Paul Kariya with a dangerous slide.
- THN artist "Elston" who is known for drawing humerous cartoon pictures, does it again this week. Pictured is Sharks forward Owen Nolan standing infront of a table at a disciplinary hearing with Colin Campbell. Mr. Campbell says "Sorry Owen, it's just that when I discovered I had a disciplinary hearing with the San Jose Sharks I just naturally assumed..." Pictured beside Nolan is an empty chair with the word "Marchment" written on the back.
- Fifth year NHL'er Fredrik Modin of the Lightning is having a career season with 24 goals already. He has a chance at 40. Modin also won the hardest shot competition with a blast of 102.1 MPH. Two year prior to this one, he had a blast of 104.7 MPH at the Maple Leafs team skills comp.
- Rangers Theo Fleury appears to be back on track to joining the NHL's elite. "It's very satisfying to be back here, to again be considered one of the elite players of the game. There's talk about a spot on the 2002 Canadian olympic team again and that's exciting." Fleury appeared in his 7th all-star game.
- Prince Albert forward Greg Watson raises his draft stock with a good showing at the CHL "top prospect" game. He entered the game as the 14th ranked NA player.
- Also in the top prospects game, number 2 NA ranked Stephen Weiss out-performed number 1 ranked Jason Spezza. Spezza's coach Don Cherry, promised fans the young superstar would dazzle them, but they were disappointed with his mediocre effort.
- The hockey world is turned upside down as former NHL superstar Andre "red light" Racicot announces his return to pro hockey after signing a deal with West Coast League team Bakersfield Condors. The 31 year old gained the catchy nickname for his rare ability to let in EXTREMELY soft goals while playing in 68 games with the Habs through 5 seasons.
- The San Jose Sharks are looking into the possibility of appealing the lengthy suspension to forward Owen Nolan. Nolan was suspended 11 games for his 'attack" on Dallas winger Grant Marshall.
- Pictured on the cover of the special goalie section insert is Chicago goaltender Jocelyn Thibault.
- THN ranks the top 15 goaltenders. Keep in mind that they did this every week on THN.com and this is based on recent performance..
1.Patrick Roy...2.Ron Tugnett...3.Martin Brodeur...4.Mike Dunhum...5.Sean Burke...6.Evgeni Nabokov...7.Roman Cechmanek...8.Curtis Joseph...9.Manny Fernandez...10.Dominik Hasek...11.Brent Johnson...12.Byron Dafoe...13.Patrick Lalime...14.Olaf Kolzig...15.Roberto Luongo.
- Atlanta coach Curt Fraser appears to have lost confidence in goaltender Damian Rhodes after he went 1-7-3 in a stretch of 13 games. Fraser opted to play Milan Hnilicka in a game at Toronto to open the second portion of the season.
- Boston's Joe Thornton is suspended (2 games) for the 2nd time this season after cross checking Montreal's Johan Whitehall in the head.
- Chicago's Tony Amonte, the NHL's reigning ironman, plays in his 300th consecutive game.
- Stars Mike Modano moves to within 5 of Neal Broten's franchise record of 867 points.
- Ex NHL sniper Robert Reichel is interested in joining the Montreal Canadiens next season. GM Andre Savard on the situation.."Reichel is a player we might be interested in, but it would depend on how much money he wants and what we would have to do to get his rights."
- THN looks at how Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher went from playoff star last year to backup this year.
- Gary Bettman asks the Pitsburgh Penguins to soon build a new arena.
- After growing impatient with goaltender Felix Potvin, the Canucks acquire Dan Cloutier to turn things around.
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Hope you enjoy!
