2013 AHL All-Star rosters revealed; Gustafsson lone Phantom

By Bob H
Posted on 01/17/2013 at 5:40 pm

The American Hockey League released the Eastern and Western Conference rosters for its mid-season celebration on Thursday evening. Quite predictably, the Adirondack Phantoms were not prominently featured, save for defenseman Erik Gustafsson. The 24-year-old Swede has totaled three goals and 14 points in 24 games, but has been hampered by an ankle injury suffered while blocking a shot roughly one week before Christmas. If he plays, he’ll join Michael Leighton, 2012 (Atlantic City, NJ); Jon Matsumoto, 2010 (Portland, ME) and Danny Syvret, 2009 (Worcester, MA) as members of the Glens Falls AHL club to make an All-Star appearance. Gustafsson was …

Pair of Royals selected to start ECHL All-Star Game

By Bob H
Posted on 01/02/2013 at 3:45 pm

Two members of a local minor-league hockey club have been selected to start in their league’s All-Star Game. They’re not Trenton Titans, but Reading Royals. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Denny Urban got the nod on Wednesday to take the ice first in the league’s mid-point competition for bragging rights on January 23 at Loveland, Colorado. Since being sent down from Hershey of the American Hockey League in late October, Grubauer has ignited his club’s rise to the top of the league standings by going 18-4-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average, .912 save percentage in 24 appearances. The 21-year-old native …

All-Star Game latest casualty as NHL cancels more games

By Bob H
Posted on 11/23/2012 at 2:07 pm

The National Hockey League officially announced the cancellation of the 2012-13 regular-season schedule through December 14 on Saturday afternoon. As expected, the NHL also cancelled the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend scheduled for January 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. The cancellations are necessary due to the absence of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL. A total of 422 regular-season games — 34.3 percent of the season — were scheduled for Oct. 11 through Dec. 14. “The reality of losing more regular-season games as well as the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend in Columbus is extremely disappointing,” …

Behind the Crest: Claude and Isabelle Giroux

By Kim Pollock
Posted on 05/03/2012 at 12:00 pm

Claude Giroux is a bona fide NHL superstar. Those previously unaware of his skills are not so anymore, not after an incredible regular season where he scored 93 points. He’s this season’s Flyers MVP by far, and is most likely next in line to become team captain. But behind the slick moves, the nice suits, and the superstar swag lies a kid of just 24 who is a brother first and a star second to big sister Isabelle. Isabelle, who gained some notoriety of her own when her boyfriend Eric proposed to her on the ice at Citizens Bank Park …

Poll: What was your favorite part of the All-Star weekend?

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 02/09/2012 at 9:00 am

It has been over a week since the 2012 NHL All-Star festivities wrapped up in Ottawa. What did you like the most about it?

Inside Providence: 2013 AHL All-Star Game slotted for Rhode Island

By Bob H
Posted on 02/08/2012 at 6:30 pm

Surely putting out the call to “Dunph,” “Drugs,” “Mousey,” Bunny Cote and other hockey-crazed New Englanders of all ages, the American Hockey League selected Providence, Rhode Island, as the host for the 2013 All-Star Classic on Wednesday. “The American Hockey League is excited to be returning to one of its founding cities for the 2013 All-Star Classic,” said AHL president and CEO David Andrews. “Providence has been part of the fabric of our league since our first season in 1936, and the Providence Bruins organization has been a cornerstone for the last two decades. We’re looking forward to showcasing our …

Pair of Flyers make presence known in Ottawa

By Bob H
Posted on 01/29/2012 at 10:00 pm

Despite coming out on the losing end of a 12-9 victory by Team Chara, Team Alfredsson teammates and Flyers linemates Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux made their mark on the 59th NHL All-Star Game on Sunday in Ottawa. Both videos courtesy of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. First, witness Hartnell’s slick passing prowess, setting up fellow Ginger Henrik Sedin in the first period: And there was also a goal from one of the NHL’s co-leaders in overall points: Hartnell, a last-minute injury replacement, introduced himself to North America with typical humility and humor. “It was really awesome. It was …

Remembering the last Philly All-Star Game

By Bob H
Posted on 01/28/2012 at 3:00 pm

The National Hockey League selected Philadelphia to host the All-Star Game in 1976 and 1992. In the first year, the club was in the throes of its glory, on the way to a third straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance and fresh off the vanquishing of the hated Soviets. It also didn’t hurt that it was the American Bicentennial, and as such, Major League Baseball selected Philly for its Mid-Summer Classic and the NCAA chose the Quaker City to host the Final Four. But by the latter, the Flyers were a shadow of their former selves, in the midst of a …

Point/Counterpoint: Does the NHL do enough (or too much) to bring in new fans?

By ecnewman
Posted on 01/24/2012 at 2:00 pm

The NHL does enough to bring in new fans…by Eden N. In the NHL marketing world, there is, well, what looks like, not much. I mean, how many of us fans are constantly having to explain why we love hockey? No one has to explain their love of football in this country. So, is the NHL doing enough to pull in new fans? There is more hockey on television today than ever before. I don’t really have to look up a statistic for that because, hello Versus and Center Ice and playoffs on network channels. HBO’s 24/7 has done extremely …

Hartnell is an All-Star, y’all

By Marcello De Feo
Posted on 01/24/2012 at 12:43 pm

Per Bob McKenzie: Per Scott Hartnell:

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