Gregg Drinnan over at Taking Note has done an excellent job in compiling brief histories of all the Memorial Cups going back many decades. I have lost track of where I left off linking the stories during my absence, so I encourage everyone to take a look when you have time. The pieces include some fascinating tidbits about Major Junior's premier event.
1. Sudbury wins the Canadian Midget AAA title.
2. Guy Carbonneau defends Tom Kostopoulous' punching of Kimmo Timonen. Says he "deserved it".
3. Does the NHL need a better puck?
4. Memorial Cup History for 1933, 1934 and 1935.
5. A couple of interesting stories in Taking Note. First, a Bruins fan was arrested for peeing off the upper deck into the crowd below. Second, the SAHA will use two referee's and one linesman for games next season.
6. The Vladimir Konstantinov trial begins today in Michigan.
7. The National Post interviews Adam Foote.
8. Chuck Gormley writes about Jim Dowd's superstitions.
9. Jammy and Sid: Not BFF's.
10. Anyone wondering how the Belfast Giants did this year?
11. Shane Doan will wear the C for Canada again this year.
12. Ryan Dixon looks at the little moves that are paying big dividends this playoff season.
13. Mike Brophy comments on the Modano-Ribeiro show in Dallas.
14. Scott Burnside wonders if diving is becoming an issue?
15. Terry Jones touts Steve Yzerman for the Team Canada job in 2010.
16. Alex Ovechkin is on the Russian roster for the Worlds, but is nowhere to be seen. More on this situation here.
17. In related news, Rick Nash has joined Team Canada.
18. The Senators are expected to ask for permission to speak to Bob Hartley.
19. James Duthie asks us to give referees a break.
20. Al Strachan looks at crease crashing and interference.
21. Everything you ever wanted to know about hockey hair.
22. Ken Campbell with a list of things that make his crabby. PS, get off his lawn.
23. A look at Manitoba Moose forward Michael Grabner.
24. Dr. Larry Lauer explains the best psychological approach to a Game 7.
25. More Stanley Cup history from Greatest Hockey Legends.
1. Wicked Wrister does a great service to hockey by naming the 5 Hottest Girls in College Hockey. As a challenge to our Canadian readers, perhaps someone can compile the 5 Best in in the CIS and have a NCAA-CIS wank-a-thon. We can have the esteemed Ezzy be the final judge since I married and don't look at chicks anymore.
2. Wayne Gretzky was the favorite in a TSN poll on who to light the Olympic Torch in Vancouver.
3. The NHL will have its day before Congress on February 27th.
4. Peter Forsberg's pony died.
5. Jim Kelley of Sportsnet says that GM's are still learning on how to deal with potential UFA's.
6. Want some more trade deadline talk? Here you go. I think Elvis may have been on to something when he sang, "A little less conversation, a little more action...".
7. In case you missed it, Alan Ryder had an interesting piece (thats what she said) on the history of the NHL.
8. A look at Frank and Tom Serratore, the coaches of Air Force and Bemidji State.
9. Shawn Roarke profiles 20 NHL players that got to the big league the hard way.
10. Mike Smith of the Dallas Stars likes to rock out in his spare time.
11. The AHL update from NHL.com.
12. Taking Note gives us the story of Theoren Fleury, who tried to stir the pot a little in a Pats-Warriors alumni game.
13. A tongue in cheek blog post about the most minor hockey injuries.
14. Fanhouse calls out the NY Times for biased reporting on the NHL's southern franchises.
15. David Amber with his list of 10 Guys he would build a franchise around.
16. Damien Cox tells the next GM of the Maple Leafs what he can expect from the job.
17. Jim Kelley discusses the Zednik incident and the effect of the Lighting sale.
18. Fan Nation says that the Minnesota Wild is on the Peter Forsberg's short list.
19. Chris Chelios wants to play in 2010 Olympics. I don't blame him, Vancouver has great senior's discounts.
20. NHL enforcers say its tough to find a fight these days. They should come to my house and leave a cupboard door open and then insult Hilary Clinton. My wife would gladly oblige them.
21. Interesting story about Jean Beliveau and his wife, who taught the Canadiens star how to drive.
22. The Roseau Rams prevailed in their outdoor game last week, a game in which the temp dropped to -42 degrees.
23. Jeff Marek gives a glowing of review of Hockey Day in Canada, hosted this year by Winkler, MB. Note the story at the bottom about the Swedish goaltender.
24. Adam Proteau writes an interesting piece about the death of the "second contract" in the NHL.
25. Puck That Hit gives us a rumour from Columbus saying GM Scott Howson is willing to blow up the team to alter its identity.
1. Hejduk, Hasek and Kopitar are the NHL's three stars for the week.
2. The Flyers have traded AHL defenseman Jussi Timonen to the Dallas Stars.
3. Ken Holland gets a promotion in Detroit.
4. Who's hot and cold in the CHL.
5. Two more USHL'ers are headed to the World Juniors.
6. Pierre Lebrun makes the case that Lecavalier is the best player in the NHL.
7. The Maple Leafs have waived Bates Battaglia.
8. Ethan Moreau has his cast removed and may return to the lineup soon.
9. The undrafted Jerome Samson is turning heads in Albany.
10. Jonathan Toews was recently named an Alternate Captain in Chicago.
11. Ryan Miller and Adam Hall will both be playing their 2nd outdoor game this January.
12. A look at the 2007 draft picks, some of whom are already playing in the NHL.
13. The Michigan Wolverines are the new #1 team in the country.
14. Ted Nolan is enjoying his time back in the NHL, and is making a difference.
15. The Boston Globe notes that the Bruins may be looking to make a deal.
16. The QMJHL is filling the hockey void in Atlantic Canada.
17. Taking Note chronicles the weekend action in the WHL.
18. Andy Murray has righted the ship in St. Louis.
19. One of the coaches involved in the 8 year olds brawl receives a 3 year suspension.
20. Al Strachan doesn't think Scott Niedermayer's return will be 100% rosy.
21. Torres and Stoll will return to the Oilers lineup tonight.
22. The Senators are relaxing after breaking out of their funk.
23. Steven Stamkos blogs about preparing for the World Juniors.
24. Spector rounds up all the Western Conference rumours.
25. Mike Brophy writes that the Devils are coming around.
For Illegal Curve, I'm Kyle Kosior
