Tag Archives: hockey

Head Shots Knocking the Fun Out of the Game

Leave a reply

By Jason Menard

It’s getting harder and harder to be a fan of the NHL these days. And with the league’s commissioner adding similar hubris to his Napoleonic resemblance, it’s hard to see how the league is going to change for the better of its own volition before it’s compelled to by sending one of its players to the morgue.

I never thought I’d be cheering an airline, but I have to applaud Air Canada for its stand against the league’s continuing to turn if not a blind eye, certainly an exceptionally myopic on, on the issue of head injuries. Following the league’s inaction in the aftermath of the ax Pacioretty hit, Air Canada’s director of marketing/communication Denis Vandal, sent a letter to the league demanding immediate and serious actions on this issue. Continue reading →

Winnipeg Coaches Put Sportsmanship on Ice

Leave a reply

By Jason Menard

A group of Manitoban hockey coaches have been put on ice following a display of exceedingly poor sportsmanship. But while the issue has heated up discussion on fair play in sport, unfortunately it’s the kids who are getting frozen out.

Last week the coaches of Westwood Collegiate, participants in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League, pulled their goalie during a game against College Jeanne Sauve. Normally, this is a sound strategy and has been part of the game forever. Normally, however, your team’s not ahead by a goal when your netminder heads to the bench. Continue reading →

Quebec’s Field of Dreams a Potential Nightmare

1 Reply

By Jason Menard

If you build it, they will come.

No, it’s not the premise of a hokey, corn-fed baseball film. It’s the divining principle behind various levels of government willing to bet big on a prospect that is only guaranteed of doing one thing – taxing an already taxed province. Continue reading →

NHL’s Brightest Lights Won’t Shine without Essential Fuel – Intensity

3 Replies

By Jason Menard

The NHL went deep into its bag of tricks this weekend trying to drum up interest in the annual all-star game. And while some of the ideas worked, overall maybe it’s time for this star to go nova.

I tried. I tried to translate the excitement and hype generated by the changes to the all-star format into actual interest in the game. I bought into the pond-hockey hype, but like many ideas, what worked conceptually failed miserably in the execution. Continue reading →

NHL Must Smarten Up on Hits to Head

Leave a reply

By Jason Menard

If losing the league’s top player for an extended period of time due to a couple of hits to the head knocking him loopy won’t change the game, will anything knock some sense into the powers that be?

The coolest NHL all-star game in years is fast approaching. We’ve all heard about (and discussed) the intriguing twist of players picking their own sides for this overblown game of shinny. Unfortunately, the league’s top player – and likely one of the team captains – Sidney Crosby probably won’t be on hand to be the centrepiece of this showcase event. Continue reading →