Ice Hockey Thread

Sharky Pete

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Pro ice hockey coming to Australia

Glenn Cullen

09:42 AEST Fri Apr 5 2013

We've won NBA championship rings, battled it out in baseball's major leagues and even taken a punt in the NFL - but in 96 years of the NHL there's been no Australians to speak of.

With representatives from countries as far flung as Lebanon, Indonesia and Tanzania, North America's premier ice hockey league remains an obvious hole on the Australian pro sports resume.

A series of exhibition matches in Melbourne and Sydney featuring a combination of NHL pros and lower league players may not result in a sudden influx of Antipodeans playing the fast-paced sport but organiser Kerry Goulet hopes it will serve as a tipping point.

"We hope this tour will give the sport that extra bit of spark," said Goulet, a Canadian-raised player who spent most of his professional career in the German leagues.

"You've had hockey for well over 100 years, you've had a tremendous influx of Canadians ... you have a heritage of the game - but you don't have enough rinks to excel at the game.

"Ice hockey rinks are specialised - they are costly to build and to operate.

"But I'd like to think a series like this will give it the extra kick."

The series, to be held in June, will feature composite teams from the US and Canada.

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Kyle Quincey will captain the Canadian side while Minnesota Wild centre Zenon Konopka leads the American contingent.

Throwing a spanner in the works of ensuring some of the better players get to Australia has been the NHL's strike.

With a late season start and reduced schedule, the finals series (Stanley Cup) will be played well into June.

"It has been a little bit trying for us," Goulet said.

"But we will be bringing NHL players. Right now we have rosters of 15 players per team. We have four NHL players on each team planned and three are committed."

Australian-raised Nathan Walker remains this country's best chance of getting a local into the NHL in the short-term, the Sydneysider missing out on the draft last season but the US Hockey League player is expected to put his hand up again in June.

"He looks like he has a lot of potential to play in the NHL but if not the lower leagues," Goulet said.

"I think once you get one or two players up at that level you'll see more and more wanting to participate."

Canada v USA international ice hockey June 14 & 15 Hisense Arena, Melbourne; June 22 Allphones Arena, Sydney.
Click to expand...

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8637488
 
SF

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San Jose Sharks bowed out of the playoffs again. 2-1 in Game 7.

Which Sharks team will win the title first?..........

Back to the topic. Ice hockey is a tough sell to watch unless you have great seats.
 
jeebazz

jeebazz

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BRUINS SWEEP THE PENGUINS AND MAKE IT INTO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else here a Bruins fan?
 
DeathMoth

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This thread doesn't get much love!

NHL started this week (and on time!). Leafs already up two games.

Who's everyone support?? If anyone is into it i seriously recommend the NHL gamecenter live subscription. $100 (or 5x$20) a year, every game and playoffs, live or on demand plus the gamecenter app on xbox is rad...full HD.


Also I'm starting to play ice hockey. I had my first scrim just late tonight. I totally sucked, it's ****ing hard work!
 
dylan the villian

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DeathMoth said:
This thread doesn't get much love!

NHL started this week (and on time!). Leafs already up two games.

Who's everyone support?? If anyone is into it i seriously recommend the NHL gamecenter live subscription. $100 (or 5x$20) a year, every game and playoffs, live or on demand plus the gamecenter app on xbox is rad...full HD.


Also I'm starting to play ice hockey. I had my first scrim just late tonight. I totally sucked, it's ****ing hard work!
Click to expand...

my ex was canadian and got me into it, she was a canucks fan, and i followed the oilers, just to **** her really but kept following them, have a soft spot for san jose as well :)
 
DeathMoth

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yeah yeah i go the Sharkies in the Western conference...Maple Leafs in the East and they're my number one. They're rolling 3 from 3 at the moment.
 
dylan the villian

dylan the villian

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i didnt pay attention last season due to the lock out, that really pissed me off, but when i get home next week ill try and get back into it...
 
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