Al Snow & Ice
(from NHLPA.com) A note to NHLPA members Darren McCarty, Mathieu Dandenault and Ray Bourque. You are in possession of something that WWF superstar Al Snow covets just as much as a win at WrestleMania (April 2nd, at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim). Snow has recently developed a hobby of sorts that keeps him very busy when he’s touring with the WWF. In every city he visits, be it Raleigh or Miami, Snow makes sure he purchases a hockey sweater to add to his impressive collection - one that currently stands at 136. There are a few more jerseys Snow would like to put on a hanger, including that of Red Wings’ star Darren McCarty. “I met Darren and Mathieu Dandenault in December of 1998,” said Snow, who had spoken with the players after a WWF-sponsored event in Detroit. “I got to go down to the locker room and talk to the guys. It was great. I wouldn’t mind adding their game-worn jerseys to my collection.” When nhlpa.com contacted McCarty about Snow’s wish list, the Red Wings forward was thrilled to hear the WWF superstar had mentioned his name. It should come as no great surprise. McCarty is bona fide WWF fan. “I love wrestling,” said McCarty. “I can’t believe Al would want my jersey. He’s a really good guy.” It’s not difficult to see why Snow and McCarty would have a kinship. Both can easily relate to the other’s profession.
“There is obviously the physical aspect that is prevalent in both professions,” said Snow, a big fan of the Red Wings. “But I think we are similar in that both of us have to be an independent player who works well within the team atmosphere. You take charge when the situation calls.”

New Lightning Light The Lamps!
The Beverly Adult Roller Hockey Lightning are making the best of a bad situation. The Lightning lost a potential scoring threat when Dan Leveillee injured his wrist. Since then, the Lightning have acquired Dave Barclay. Dave has helped the team by scoring 3 goals in two games. The 'Ning are also being helped by league new comer, Steve Sheridan, who has scored two of his own. The new blood of the Blue squad have combined for 38 % of the team's goals.

This week's hockeyNEWS is here!
Here are some news from the hockey world this week. The Beverly Roller Hockey Adult League started the year 2000 with a bang as the Stars stormed into action with a 16-7 defeat of the Devils. Bill St. Pierre, Daryl McEachen, and Derek Jones led the team in scoring for the game. Also, sportsWIRE is very saddend to hear of the passing of former Beverly High School Hockey coach George A. Kinnaly. The remainder of our headlines are from various sources and read as follows.
UNH Legend Charlie Holt Passes Away At Age 77
DURHAM, N.H. -- Charles E. Holt, an 18-year head coach of the University of New Hampshire men’s ice hockey program, died early Friday morning in his Durham home at the age of 77 following a long bout with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. A full story can be seen at www.unhwildcats.com.
Lindros Sidelined
Philadelphia Flyers star Eric Lindros will be sidelined for four to six weeks with his fourth concussion in two years, the team said Wednesday.
Good News for Neilson
Flyers coach Roger Neilson, who underwent cancer treatment March 10, could be released from the hospital as early as Thursday night.
Thornton Suspended
Dallas C Scott Thornton has been suspended three games for striking the Sharks' Marco Sturm.
Tkachuk Returns
Phoenix LW Keith Tkachuk returned to the lineup after missing 16 games with an ankle injury.
Detroit's Pat Verbeek scored his 500th goal Wednesday night.
Check out that history-making tally and a couple of other clutch goals right here.
Watch Now!

Playoffs are a-comin
sportsWIRE is offering some links to pages that have the standigs for the Big Four Pro Hockey leagues to keep you informed on current positions as the pro hockey season nears and end!

NHL Standings
AHL Standings
IHL Standings
ECHL Standings

Neidermayer to miss 10 games due to misconduct.
from nhl.com : NEW YORK (March 21, 2000) - New Jersey defenseman Scott Niedermayer has been suspended 10 games, the remainder of the regular season plus the Devils’ first Stanley Cup Playoff game, for using his stick to strike Florida Panthers forward Peter Worrell on the helmet during Game #1005 at Continental Airlines Arena March 19, the National Hockey League announced today. nder the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average annual salary, Niedermayer forfeits $152,343.74. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. “Mr. Niedermayer is a first-time offender, a factor which was considered – as were all the elements of the incident,” said Colin Campbell, NHL Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations. “That consideration does not change the essential point here: A player has to be held accountable for striking an opponent on the head with his stick. We are determined to eliminate the irresponsible use of the stick from our game.” At 18:15 of the third period, Niedermayer was assessed a Match Penalty under Rule 43(a), Attempt to Injure, for his action.

B's gain a W at hands of Peguins

sportsWIRE associate, Jon Glidden, was on hand at the FleetCenter for the Bruins matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, March 18, 2000. Here's the bostonbruins.com game review. BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Bruins are trying to push their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. Cameron Mann, Eric Nickulas and Kyle McLaren, who have a combined 14 goals this season, all scored and John Grahame made 23 saves to lead the Bruins to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, another team in the thick of the playoff battle. The Penguins, who got goals from grinders Tyler Wright and Matthew Barnaby, started the day in seventh place in the conference with a one-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens. By the end of the night, they had been passed by Montreal, which has 73 points, and tied by the New York Rangers. The Buffalo Sabres are a point behind and the Carolina Hurricanes are two back. The injury-riddled Bruins appeared to have given up hope on the season March 6, when they traded defenseman Ray Bourque to Colorado. But Boston suddenly finds itself with 67 points, just five behind the Penguins and Rangers with 11 games to play. Boston has won three of its last four games, taking seven points from those contests, and broke a five-game home losing streak. The Bruins are 3-11-5 in their last 19 games at the FleetCenter. "Nine wins at home this season is totally unacceptable," McLaren said. "With or without Ray, we have got to win at home to make a run at the playoffs. I feel totally confident we can do that." The Bruins have survived the trade of Bourque, the turmoil of the Marty McSorley incident and season-ending injuries to potent centers Anson Carter and Jason Allison. Goaltender Byron Dafoe also is out with a knee injury, but the Bruins did not need him with the way Grahame played. He saved his best for last, sliding across to deny Martin Straka's one-timer from close range with 52 seconds left and gloving Janne Laukkanen's slapper from the slot with 15 seconds remaining. "I just try to take away as much of the net as I could, and when I saw the puck on Straka's stick, I just shifted over and reacted," Grahame said. "That's all you can do." Pittsburgh has lost four straight in Boston and could not make goaltender Ron Tugnutt's debut successful. Tugnutt, acquired Tuesday from Ottawa, made 28 saves. His mask still bears the Senators' logo. "I would have liked to have played a little better today in my debut, but overall, I think they just came out real strong," said Tugnutt, who on Tuesday will celebrate the ninth anniversary of his 70-save game in Boston Garden. "It's been nine years. That's a long time. There's a lot of history, but I don't know how much of it is really relevant." Tugnutt's play was endorsed by Penguins coach Herb Brooks. "I thought Ron played pretty well in his first game with us," Brooks said. "I don't think he really had any bad goals tonight. Maybe he would like to have that second goal back, but that still was a good goal on a good shot." Mann started the scoring with 8:42 left in the first period when he beat Tugnutt to the glove side with a wrist shot from the slot and completed a 4-on-1 rush. Nickulas beat Tugnutt with a slapper from the right wing less than five minutes later to double the lead. "We were all on that same page there for the first two periods," said Bruins left wing Brian Rolston, who was acquired in the Bourque deal. "We tapered off a little in that third period and they got back into it. But the important thing is we got great goaltending when we needed it in that last minute, and we held on." McLaren, a new father this week, set up both goals and cashed in himself to make it 3-1 with just over two seconds left in the second period with a slapper from the right point that found its way through a screen. "The intensity from the beginning tonight is what we need," McLaren said. "This is what we've been lacking all season in the opening period." Wright scored midway through the second period with a slap shot from the right side after a headman pass from Straka and Barnaby tallied at 3:48 of the third when he redirected Michal Rozsival's pass behind Grahame. It was the 10th goal for each.
For the game's box score, click on this text!

Stars Honored by Clinton at White House while Bruins ponder new GM

President Bill Clinton gets up close and personal with the Stanley Cup during the same week that the Bruins comtemplate a new General Manager.  Bruins president and general manager Harry Sinden has hinted that it might be time to retire. And if the 1999-2000 season is his last, could Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello succeed him in Boston? WASHINGTON (March 17, 2000) — Comparing hockey to politics, President Clinton honored the Stanley Cup-winning Dallas Stars at the White House on Thursday. "The Dallas Stars changed the perception of hockey," the president said at a ceremony in the East Room where he praised the first Sunbelt team to win the Cup in the trophy's 107-year history. "Hockey is a lot like politics," he said. "It's a tough game." The Stars also were feted on Capitol Hill, where they faced eager congressional aides wielding cameras and clamoring for autographs. The players said they were honored by their invitation to Washington, which had been planned for October but was postponed by changes in the president's schedule. "It's kind of nice to have (the celebration) spread out," said offensive leader Mike Modano, noting the "whirlwind kind of year" the team has had. Said center Joe Nieuwendyk: "This is special this time of year because we're a few weeks away from the playoffs." The players, who have come back from a series of injuries to climb to first place in the Pacific Division, wanted a return invitation to the White House. "I hope so," said right wing Brett Hull. "That's our goal anyway." "It's a great honor for us to be here," goalie Ed Belfour said. The hockey celebration brought together two Texas congressmen who are usually at odds with each other — House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Democratic Caucus Chairman Martin Frost. "The Stars have proven once and for all that Dallas is the real Titletown, USA," Frost said, the gleaming Stanley Cup and Armey at his side. Despite the bipartisan glow, Frost did joke that he'd be happy to trade Armey, an ardent hockey fan who played the game as a youth in Cando, N.D., to the Stars. To play "without a helmet," Armey shot back. Armey, one of Clinton's most vocal critics, even attended the White House ceremony and recalled his own days as a player. "I played defense," the staunchly conservative lawmaker recalled. "They tried me out at left wing, but I kept drifting to the right." Associated Press

sportsWIRE's Mock Minor League Playoff Scenario
sportsWIRE has compiled a 1999-2000 Minor League Playoff Scenario complete with playoff trees. These results are ficticious and do not reflect the predictions of sportsWIRE's staff members. The brackets below show a possible outcome for the 1999-2000 AHL, IHL, and ECHL Playoffs. This possbile outcome was based on stats, standings, records, and game outcomes as of 3/16/00.

Barrasso, Mogilny Find New Homes At Deadline

The NHL's 1999-2000 seasonal trading deadline passed on March 14. On that day, goalie Tom Barrasso and forward Alexander Mogilny were involved in trades. The Devils acquired Alexander Mogilny from Vancouver for Brendan Morrison and Denis Pederson, while Ottawa received goaltender Tom Barrasso from the Penguins for goaltender Ron Tugnutt and defenseman Janne Laukkanen. NHL.com has the lowdown on all of Tuesday's deals. To check out the NHL.com Trade Monitor, click on this text or on the title bar above

Beverly Adult Roller Hockey League Mock Season
sportsWIRE has compiled a Spring 2000 Beverly Roller Hockey Adult League Final Standings Scenario.These results are ficticious and do not reflect the predictions of sportsWIRE's staff members. The brackets below show a possible outcome for the Spring 2000 Beverly Roller Hockey Adult League Final Standings. This possbile outcome was based on stats from  last year's seasons.

Weekend Notes
Eddie Belfour will return to the Dallas Stars this Tuesday and head back to the crease this Wednesday. Also, Rob DiMaio was involved in a trade for Mark Knuble of the New York Rangers. Our final weekend note will lead up to the Beverly Roller Hockey Jamboree.

Trading Deadline Rumors
(by Mike Gastonguay; sportsWIRE head staff member)   D-Day is March 14. That's the deadline for all 1999-2000 NHL trades. With the deadline coming soon, the rumor mill has been working overtime. The lead name in the mill is Mark Messier. Messier could be headed to the Devils according to ESPN. However, I would not rule out Anaheim and Long Island as possible future homes for Mess. Both teams are in dire need f vetran leadership and both teams could make it worth Vancouver's while. if Messier does not stay in Vancouver, he might best be suited towards Devil country. The Islanders could use some new talent and if and when they trade don't be surprised to see a boy named Krog on the move. Jason Krog could be headed to Boston. Krog is currently playing for the Providence Bruins on loan from the Islanders and the Lowell, Massachusetts AHL affiliates. If the B's like him, they could give him a home in Beantown. Boston might not act upon this until after the regular season because of the recent Bourque trade. With the Ducks drowning in Anaheim, ESPN also thinks that Teemu Selanne could be on the move. if Ducks' GM, Pierre Gauthier decides to, he could trade Selanne at the drop of a hat and send him to his third team in his seven year NHL carrer. Before I close, I'd like to say that the Ottawa Senators should unload Alexi yashin before the deadline. Yashin will not be a Senator soon and any extra players can help benefit the Ottawans.
To check out the NHL.com Trade Monitor, click on this text or on the title bar above

Ice Hockey Players in Hot Water
This past week, both Marty McSorley and Ed Belfour found themselves dealing with legal matters. The following stories come to you courtesy of the GO Network.– Marty McSorley of the Boston Bruins will be charged with assault for his stick attack last month on Donald Brashear of the Vancouver Canucks, authorities said. McSorley will face one count of assault with a weapon, Geoff Gaul, a spokesman for the British Columbia criminal justice branch, said today. He said the decision was made after a prosecutor's review and a police investigation. McSorley was suspended by the NHL for the rest of the season. He must meet with commissioner Gary Bettman before the league will consider letting him play next season. Bill Daly, NHL Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, issued the following statement in response to the charge. "As we stated at the time the suspension was imposed, we believe the League dealt with the matter quickly, decisively and appropriately -- and did not feel that any further action was either warranted or necessary. We, therefore, would have preferred that the Crown not take this action. Having said that, the Vancouver authorities have made their decision and we remain committed to offering our full cooperation in any way we can." Dallas Stars goaltender Ed Belfour will meet with counselors before the team decides whether it will suspend him for a scuffle early Wednesday with a hotel security guard. "I'm sorry about the incident and regret any embarrassment to my family, the Dallas Stars organization, my teammates, friends and fans," Belfour said in a written statement.
The two-time Vezina Trophy winner will not return to the team until after a report from mental and substance abuse counselors provided by the NHL and National Hockey League Player's Association, Stars general manager Bob Gainey said at a news conference. The Stars recalled Marty Turco from Michigan of the International Hockey League to serve as a backup to Manny Fernandez, who took over Belfour's starting duties Wednesday. "Once we have the results from the meeting, then we'll take it from there and see when he's capable mentally, physically to come back in and fill his slots as a player on our roster," Gainey said. Belfour, 34, was not at the news conference and was to meet with the counselors Wednesday night. He already was scheduled to have the night off as the Stars played Vancouver at home. Belfour was charged with assault and resisting arrest after the scuffle at an upscale hotel shortly after 1 a.m. He was released after posting $500 bond, said Ed Spencer, a spokesman for the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. olice said Belfour, a hero of the Stars' Stanley Cup championship last season, arrived at the hotel shortly after midnight. Witnesses said he appeared intoxicated, and hotel security personnel escorted him to his room. A short time later, a woman accompanying Belfour told hotel security she was afraid of him and wanted to leave, police said. Security personnel accompanied her downstairs and she left in a cab. Shortly after the woman left, Belfour also tried to leave his hotel room. When a guard tried to subdue him, Belfour grabbed the man by the lapels and slammed him against a wall, police said. Belfour had the guard in a headlock when officers arrived and released him only after he was sprayed with Mace, police said. Known as "Eddie the Eagle," Belfour has averaged 2.08 goals-allowed per game in 53 games. He got his 300th career victory last month as Dallas defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1. "We are concerned for Eddie and for everyone involved," said Stars owner Tom Hicks. "I know our team leadership will make the correct judgments about any consequences which may be necessary to impose on our player."

Say it aint so, Ray

21 year NHL vetran Raymond Bourque was traded to the Colorado Avelanche on Monday, March 6, 2000. sportsWIRE has prepared a compilation of stories pertaining to Bourque and this blockbuster trade. You can see it by clicking here or the picture above.

Beverly Adult Roller Hockey League Drafts
Here are the draft picks for the spring season made known to sportsWIRE.

sportsWIRE's Mock Playoff Scenario
sportsWIRE has compiled a 1999-2000 Stanley Cup Playoff Scenario complete with playoff tree. These results are ficticious and do not reflect the predictions of sportsWIRE's staff members. The brackets below show a possible outcome for the 1999-2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This possbile outcome was based on stats, standings, records, and game outcomes as of 2/24/00.

McSorley Suspended!
Boston Bruin enforcer, Marty McSorley was suspended for the remainder of the 1999-2000 NHL hockey season for an illegal use of stick in which he intentionally hit Donald Brashear in the head during the Bruins battle with Vancouver on Monday, February 21. The following article was posted on the following Wednesday. (From ESPN.com & NHL.com Links Do Not Work) Marty McSorley is waiting to find out how long he will be banished for his brutal stick attack of Donald Brashear. After that, he might have to answer to Vancouver police. The Boston enforcer was suspended indefinitely Tuesday, one day after McSorley swung his stick with both hands against the side of Brashear's head in the Bruins' 5-2 defeat to the Canucks. Brashear was knocked out and bloodied. A meeting of the parties began Wednesday at NHL headquarters prior to the formal disciplinary hearing. The hearing will determine the length of the suspension and what further action, if any, will be taken against McSorley. "I apologize to Donald Brashear and all the fans who had to watch that," McSorley said Monday, before heading to New York for the hearing. "I embarrassed my hockey team. ... I got way too carried away. It was a real dumb play. "I'm still in shock at what I did. I have to come to terms with what I did. There's no excuse. It was so stupid, I can't believe I did it." Brashear, who serves a similar role as McSorley for the Canucks, was diagnosed with a concussion after he fell backward, striking his head against the ice as his helmet came off. His body twitched and blood came from his nose. The forward, released Tuesday from a Vancouver hospital, came to GM Place to meet with team trainers. He later told the Vancouver Province he didn't remember the hit, but has seen replays. "I saw it after," Brashear said of the hit. "It looked worse than it was. It looked like I was dying. I wasn't dying, but it's a concussion. "There are no bones broken. That was the main concern. Still, I have bad headaches and my face is swollen." The Canucks said Brashear will be out of action at least two to three weeks. With only 2.7 seconds remaining Monday night, and the Canucks ahead 5-2, McSorley skated up -- out of Brashear's view -- and connected against Brashear's right temple. "It's disgusting, terrible, absolutely disgusting," Vancouver right wing Todd Bertuzzi said. "That does not need to be in the game of hockey. I've never seen anything like that in my life." Police, who fielded numerous phone calls from upset fans, are investigating and said they will consult with the NHL. Constable Anne Drennan, a Vancouver police spokeswoman, said Brashear and McSorley have not been interviewed yet, and they don't know how long any investigation will take. The findings will be sent to a prosecutor, who will decide on charges. Canucks general manager Brian Burke, once the NHL's chief disciplinarian, said the police should stay out. "Leave this stuff on the ice; leave it to the National Hockey League," Burke told Vancouver radio station CKNW. "We don't need the Vancouver police department or the RCMP involved in this." Referee Brad Watson restored order after the hit sparked a melee, and declared the game over with time still on the clock. "We couldn't believe what we saw and didn't know what to do," Canucks left wing Brad May said. "It was crazy out there. I have no respect for that guy ever again. Anybody who has ever had respect for him should lose it." McSorley, who received a match penalty for attempt to injure, has lasted 17 years in the league because of his ability to fight and protect his more skilled teammates. He has had six previous suspensions in his career. "It's a shocker," Boston captain Ray Bourque said. "I've never been a part of anything like that or witnessed anything like that. There is no way to justify it." The longest suspension the NHL imposed for an on-ice hit was a 21-game banishment given to Washington's Dale Hunter for a blindside check of the New York Islanders' Pierre Turgeon after a goal in a 1993 playoff game. McSorley is best known for serving as Wayne Gretzky's protector with the Edmonton Oilers and then with Los Angeles as the two were traded together in one of hockey's biggest deals. "Marty has always been an honest player," said Vancouver captain Mark Messier, a teammate of McSorley's on the Oilers' Stanley Cup teams. "He has always been a tough player and he's always played the game hard and played the game tough." Brashear, 28, fought with McSorley just two minutes into Monday's game and clearly got the best of his 36-year-old opponent. He landed several hard lefts before dragging McSorley down to the ice. McSorley challenged Brashear again in the first period, but Brashear skated away, leaving McSorley with a double-minor for cross-checking and roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. Brashear also was involved in a goal-mouth tangle that caused a knee injury to Bruins goalie Byron Dafoe. As on-ice policemen, Brashear and McSorley are natural rivals by job description. "Brash fought him one time and beat him and beat him bad like he always does against him," Vancouver's Markus Naslund said. "I don't know if he was so embarrassed and gutless that that is the way he's got to take it out." McSorley, who has only two goals and three assists, said he was trying to goad Brashear as the game was ending. In only 27 games this season, McSorley is second on the Bruins with 62 penalty minutes. With 3,381 career minutes, McSorley trails only Dave "Tiger" Williams and Hunter on the NHL list. Police have gotten involved in several previous on-ice conflicts in the NHL. In 1970, Wayne Maki of the St. Louis Blues and Ted Green of Boston were the first NHL players taken to court after a stick-swinging duel at a September 1969 preseason game. Green, who fractured his skull, and Maki, who was not injured, were acquitted of assault charges. In the most recent, Minnesota's Dino Ciccarelli was sentenced to one day in jail and fined $1,000 in 1988 for striking Luke Richardson several times in the head with his stick.* Boston Bruins defenseman Marty McSorley has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing, the National Hockey League announced Tuesday. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in New York. McSorley was assessed a match penalty under Rule 52 (Deliberate Injury of Opponent) at 19:57 of the third period for striking Vancouver Canucks Donald Brashear in the head with his stick in NHL Game #835, Feb. 21. *

NHLPA.com Games

sportsWIRE has found and linked to the NHLPA's game site and you can play a goaltending by clicking on the moving goalie above!!

2000 NHL All-Star Coverage

We have it all! From the opening faceoff of the Heroes game to the MVP Trophy Ceremony! Check it out on our NHL All-Star Game 2000 page by clicking the logo above!

NHL on ABC Schedule :

ABC Sports, continuing its tradition of excellence, will begin televising its NHL schedule with the 2000 All-star game. The teams will be announced Saturday, January 8, 2000 on ABC.

ABC Sports will be the home of the 50th NHL All-Star Game on SUNDAY, FEB. 6, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The network will also present regional coverage of the last four weekends of the regular season, beginning SATURDAY, MARCH 18, and running through SUNDAY, APRIL 9. During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ABC Sports will provide weekend coverage in the first three rounds and up to five Stanley Cup Finals games in primetime.

All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

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