6
Tuesday, October 5,1993
Pucks Drop Tonight
Hockey season starts today. Or, perhaps more aptly, what’s called hockey that really
resembles the NBA on ice.
After 77 years, the National Hockey League will begin anew, user-friendly era. And,
much like the NBA did in the 1980s, the NHL will try to broaden its fan base. The league
changed its division names to resemble the NBA, and realigned.lt changed its playoff
system to resemble the NBA—the best eight teams from each conference advance to the
postseason. It even added a few more teams in basketball cities. California has three
hockey teams. Florida has two. Canada, the birthplace of hockey, has eight.
Sabres WiD Shock the Eastern Conference
BY JUSTIN SCHEEF
STAFF WRITER
After a disappointing 1992-93 campaign,
the Buffalo Sabres are primed to make a
run at the first-ever Eastern Conference
title. And boy, do they have the firepower
to do it.
Take center Pat LaFontaine and pair
him with Alexander “the Great” Mogilny,
who is recovering from a broken leg. Then
add Craig Simpson, acquired from the
Oilers, and Buffalo has the top offense in
the league.
Can Super Mario stay healthy? That’s
the question that the Pittsburgh Penguins
seem to ask every year. Two years ago it
was the back. AndlastyearitwasHodgkin's
Disease and his back.
If Mario Lemieux can overcome both
this season, the Penguins could capture
their third title in four years this year in
the Atlantic Division. To assure that no
body messes with its prized possession,
Pittsburgh has added defenseman Marty
McSorley.
The QuebecNordiques improved vastly
last year by the mega-deal that sent Eric “I
Hate Quebec” Lindros to Philadelphia.
But the Nordiques are taking a risk this
season by throwing goalie Stephane Fiset
The Official Hockey Glossary for the Southern Fan
When I was nine, my brother and I
would play our own version of
hockey during the intermissions of
New York Rangers’ games.
He’d push the coffee table from the
living room into the dining room. Then
he'd take every pillow in the house and
build a hockey rink on Mom’s oriental rug.
For hockey sticks, my brother used the
skills he acquired in junior high school
shopclasstonaila couple ofpiecesof scrap
wood together. The finished sticks, which
were no bigger than pencils, were sanded
down and painted. His stick was red and
mine was blue, which, by no mere coinci
dence, happened to be the colors of our
toothbrushes, .q
We’d use a marble as a puck and play
for hours. He’d always win, of course. At
15, his motor skills were just a tad more
developed than mine. The game usually
ended for injury reasons: Rug bum took its
toll during the season, and a high shot
could literally take your eye out.
We were raised hockey fans. My brother
now works in New York City and occa
sionally makes it over to Madison Square
Garden for a game. On the other hand, I
decided to move to North Carolina, where
Bottles and house drinks SI.OO
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into the fray to replace Ron Hextall.
The Nordiques’ talented front line is led
by Joe Sakic and Mats Sun'din. When
Swede Peter Fomsberg returns from the
Olympics, the Nordiques will have an of
fense to be reckoned with.
The New York Islanders stunned the
world last season by defeating the invin
cible Penguins in the second round of the
playoffs and will try to follow up, but this
time with anew face in front of the nets.
The Islanders chances at making a run
for their first cup since 1983 hinge on
Hextall’s play.
The Stanley Cup champions in fifth?
Why not put die Montreal Canadiens in
the fifth playoff spot, when they took a
third-place divisional title and rode
goal tender Patrick Roy to a league title this
spring. This team goes as far as Roy does.
Meanwhile, the chant goes on. “1940!
1940! 1940!” After winning their division
in 1992, the New York Rangers sunk like
a hockey puck through ice in 1993.
But the Rangers are better than a last
place team. Players like Mark Messier,
Tony Amonte, Mike Gartner and Mike
Richter won’t be found on a basement
team. The loss of goalie John
Vanbiesbrouck should not hurt the Rang
ers much, as they picked up Glenn Healy.
£
FLAGRANT FOUL
the only sport
lower than
hockey on the
appeal totem
pole is lawn
bowling.
But this sea
son the NHL is
making an ef
fort to get new
fans. Maybe
it’s because
more people
watched Arena
Football on ESPN last year than most
hockey games.
But whatever the reason, the NHL is
reaching outto you,hockey haters, and the
least you can do is be prepared. So here’s a
glossary of terms the new hockey fan will
need:
Blue line—A thick blue line that crosses
the ice in two places.
Boarding The catch word used by
referees for intentionally trying to wound
your opponent by slamming him into the
plexiglass walls that outline the rink.
Canucks A derogatory word for
French Canadians. Vancouver’s hockey
EM33MIIE3
Atlantic Division Northeast Division
1. y-New York Islanders 1. z-Buffalo Sabres G ■ A * J
2. x-New York Rangers 2. x-Pittsburgh Penguins IfSiJJHi 1
3. x-Washington Capitals 3. x-Quebec Nordiques
4. Philadelphia Flyers 4. x-Montreal Canadiens I Sip,
5. New Jersey Devils 5. x-Boston Bruins
6. Tampa Bay Lightning 6. Hartford Whalers
7. Florida Panthers 7. Ottawa Senators
The Boston Bruins somehow finished
first in the Addams last year, but came out
flat in the playoffs. Adam Oates and Joe
Juneau are one of the top scoring tandems
in the league, and if Cam Neely returns, the
Bruins will be keeping those nice Boston
fans real happy.
The Washington Capitals slip into the
final playoff spot. The defense is one of the
Caps’ strongerpoints,ledbyAHafrate,the
motorbiker with a slap shot.
The rest of the conference will be pretty
simple to decipher. Although the New
Jersey Devils or Philadelphia Flyers may
sneak in ahead of the Bruins, the remain
ing teams are almost assured of finishing
out of playoff contention.
The Hartford Whalers are rebuilding,
for it seems now, their past 12 years. They
must be on that 20-year plan, or so.
Believe it or not, the NHL has twice as
many Florida teams as Major League Base
ball. And who said hockey is a Northern
sport?TheTampaßay Lightning, the door
mat of the Adams division last year, will be
co-doormats with the expansion Florida
Panthers in the Atlantic.
And the poor Ottawa Senators. They
barely won 10 games last year and then
faced allegations that they tanked games to
get a better draft pick. Pick them last again.
franchise affectionately uses the name as
its nickname.
Cross Checking The catch words
used by referees for intentionally trying to
wound your opponent by taking your stick
with both hands and using it like a
quarterstaff on your opponent’s back.
Draws a two-minute penalty inside the
arena, a two-year prison term outside of it.
Icing An effective way players can
stop play so announcers can breathe.
Goon A player who is paid thou
sands of dollars to board, cross check,
rough, slash, maim, lacerate, torment and
torture the other team’s best player.
Wayne Gretzky —Hockey’sbestplayer
ever, now plagued by back injuries. See
“Goon” entry.
Hooking The catch word used by
referees for intentionally trying to wound
your opponent by taking your stick and
putting it between the blades of your
opponent’s skates, whereby pulling his feet
from into the air and causing him to crash
head first into the ice.
Islanders —Team from New York that
plays on Long Island, which is correctly
pronounced “Lahwn Guyland.”
Les Habitants —Another name for the
International Careers
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SPORTS
Maple Leafs Headed for Stanley Cup Finals
BY STEVE POLITI
SPORTS EDITOR
The Toronto Maple Leafs came aw
fully close to winning the Stanley Cup last
season.
And they’ll come closer this year.
The Maple Leafs battled the Los Ange
les Kings to seven games in the then-
Wales Conference finals before losing in
overtime. The Toronto defense, led by the
patient strategy of head coach Pat Bums,
can control the pace of the game. And
Center Doug Gilmour (who scored a club
record 127 points last season) could pro
vide the scoring punch.
While the Leafs will claim the Western
Conference’s Central Division, the Kings
should win the Pacific —ifW ayne Gretzky
can stay healthy. Los Angeles has an ex
plosive team with three lines of proven
goal scorers. If goalie Kelly Hrudey stays
in postseason form, they’ll give the Leafs a
run.
If St. Louis Blues goalie Curtis Joseph
stays in postseason form, the Blues may
not lose a game. Joseph was unbeatable in
the playoffs, keeping St. Louis in each
game all by himself. Brett Hull had an off
year last season just 101 points —but
Craig Janney picked up the slack and led
Montreal Canadiens, hockey’s winningest
team. All that’s right with the NHL.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim All
that’s wrong with the NHL.
1980 The “Miracle on Ice.” The
United States defeats the Soviet Union and
wins the gold medal in the Olympics.
1940 The last time the Rangers won
the Stanley Cup. Don’t rub it in, OK?
“Oh, Canada!” The Canadian Na
tional Anthem. The song, according to
most American fans, goes something like
this: “Oh, Canada! Blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah! Something something some
thing! Blah blah blah blah blah blah!!”
Luc Robitaille —A winger for the Los
Angeles Kings. No special significance
here, just a really cool name.
Slashing The catch word used by
referees for, well, you get the picture.
Teal —The colorofthe San Jose Sharks.
Blood shows up surprisingly well on teal.
Toronto Maple Leafs —Yes, they spell
it wrong. We don’t know why.
Winnipeg A city in Manitoba,
Canada. Or the object of the game
tiddlywinks. Or the team everybody for
gets about when making a list of hockey
teams.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
t Central Division
1. z-Toronto Maple Leafs
2. x-St. Louis Blues
P. x-Detroit Red Wings
4. x-Winnipeg Jets
5. x-Chicago Black Hawks
6. Dallas Stars
x- playoff berth; y- division title; z- conference title
the team in scoring. The Blues will take the
third playoff spot.
Behind Pavel Bure’s hard shot and Kirk
McLean’s sharp goaltending, the
Vancouver Canucks should challenge the
Kings for Pacific Division Crown. But de
spite good talent, the Canucks haven’t ad
vanced to the Stanley Cup finals since
1982.
Speaking of talent and not advancing to
the Stanley Cup finals, the Detroit Red
Wings are always getting picked by some
one to win the whole thing. They haven’t
advanced to the finals since 1966.
New head coach Scotty Bowman, a six
time Stanley Cup winner, will by to change
that. Bowman will give center Steve
Yzerman the ice time he needs to lead the
league in scoring.
The Calgary Flames took second to
Vancouver in the Smythe, er, Pacific Divi
sion last season. They’ve got the talent to
take a low playoff spot, but not much
more. The Flames most notable off-season
acquisition was Center Kelly Kisio, who’s
getting up in years.
Is there a better name in hockey than
Teemu Selanne? The Winnipeg Jets’ star,
who scored 76 goals last season, is one of
the game’s up-and-coming stars. The Jets
can score, but they lack speed defensively.
McEnroe Won’t Captain
U.S. in Davis Cup Tourney
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INGLEWOOD, Calif. John
McEnroe withdrew as a candidate forU.S.
Davis Cup team captain Monday, saying
“personal considerations” prevented him
from pursuing a job he coveted only weeks
ago.
The four-time U.S. Open champion did
not elaborate. He announced the move in
a two-paragraph statement released by a
longtime associate, Mike Altieri, director
of public relations of Forum Sports.
The statement said McEnroe has “left
open the option” of playing again in the
Davis Cup and has “not ruled out the
possibility” of becoming team captain in
the future.
McEnroe separated from his wife, ac
tressTatumO’Neal, almost ayear ago, but
it was not known if that figured in the
Davis Cup announcement.
A representative for McEnroe in New
York said neither he nor his father and
adviser, John McEnroe Sr., was immedi
ately available for comment.
Tom Gorman resigned as captain Sept.
9. On the same day, McEnroe said on the
USA Network:
“I think I’ve made it clear that I would
like to be Davis Cup captain ... I don’t
think there’s a U.S. player that doesn’t
want to be captain of the Davis Cup team.
I think it’s a great honor.”
McEnroe, 34, is the winningest player
in U.S. Davis Cup history.
He led the United States to titles in
1978, ’79, ’Bl and’B2.
J. Howard “Bumpy” Frazer, president
of the U.S. Tennis Association, called
McEnroe the “greatest contributorto Davis
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Pacific Division
1. y-Los Angeles Kings
2. x-Vancouver Canucks
3. x-Calgary Flames
4. Edmonton Oilers
5. San Jose Sharks
6. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Put them seventh in the playoffs.
The Chicago Blackhawks have the of
fensive potency of an expansion team. The
Blackhawks need a bigger performance
from big names Chris Chelios and Steve
Larmer. But they’re too good not to make
the playoffs.
That leaves the once great Edmonton
Oilers out of the playoffs again. If the
Oilers don’t actively pursue talent instead
of giving it away, they could get caught by
the expansion teams within a few years.
The latest key depature? Left wing Craig
Simpson, who is now playing for the Sa
bres.
MovingfromMinnesotatoTexas hasn’t
increased popularity for the Dallas Stars.
The move hasn’t increased their talent,
either.
The San Jose Sharks went all out to
increase their abysmal 24-point season last
year. A solid defense should allow a better
year, though not a good year. And Andy
Moog (37-14-3 with Boston last season)
will help the cause in goal.
And finally, deep in the cellar quack the
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Ducks
lack any sort of an offensive threat. Be
sides, the Gods of hockey will no doubt
punish the team’s owners for their gro
tesque name.
Cup in modem times.” He said he was
“verysuiprised”tohearofMcEnroe’swith
drawal. •
“We will, of course, respect his decision
and will continue with the selection pro
cess,” he said.
Frazer saidlastmonththeUSTA wanted
to name its new captain in October. Pair
ings for the world group will be announced
Oct. 19 in London.
Besides McEnroe, a number of other
tennis personalities, including Stan Smith
and Brad Gilbert, have been mentioned for
the post.
McEnroe has clashed with the USTA
hierarchy for years.
Although his criticism did not win him
friends among the leadership and his on
court outbursts did not win him points for
tennis diplomacy, he remained a favorite
among piayers.
McEnroe is semi-retired and is no longer
playing in the ATP Grand Slam tourna
ments.
AproblemforU.S. Davis Cup teamsfor
many years has been getting the sport’s top
players to leave lucrative tennis tourna
ments and exhibitions to devote weeks to
Davis Cup workouts and matches.
Gorman, 47, captain since 1986, leftthe
team after the United States defeated the
Bahamas in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 24-26.
The 5-0 victory sent the U.S. team to the
world group in 1994 and dropped the Ba
hamas to zone play.
Gorman, who played on the 1972 cham
pionship team and captained two U.S.
teams to Davis Cup titles, said he now
wants to work toward developing new play
ers.