Blue And White Beat: NHL in Sochi, women’s hockey viability, dominate discussions at World Hockey Summit.

NHL in Sochi, women’s hockey viability, dominate discussions at World Hockey Summit.

For four days, many of the most important names in hockey descended upon Toronto to engage in open discussion on various facets of the sport, from transfer agreements, to youth player safety, to international junior development.

With NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and IIHF President Rene Fasel among the attendees of the World Hockey Summit, the most spirited dialogue was reserved for a pair of hot-button topics: NHL participation at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and the long-term future of women’s hockey.

Bettman frequently referred to the NHL’s participation on the world’s biggest stage as a “mixed bag”, acknowledging the benefits of the success of the Vancouver Games, while also citing broadcast scheduling from Sochi – eight hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone – as an obstacle.

“We simply haven’t made a decision yet,” said Bettman, “and I don’t think the fact that we haven’t made a decision yet is that big a deal. We are not under any time pressure to make a decision.”

Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who was an overtime goal away from managing Team USA to Olympic gold in 2010, was quite vocal in refusing to allow the proceedings to turn into a sentimental post-Olympic love-fest without paying attention to the issues at hand.

“I get paid to think about the problems,” shouted Burke. “It’s not that simple to get everyone on a goddamn plane and go over and play the games. I want to go. And I think we should go. But for people to say, ‘It’s priceless, we’ve got to go’ – it’s not that simple. We have teams that are losing $30-million a year.”

A small portion of the post-Vancouver evaluation was dedicated to a relatively minor yet awkward issue that Fasel vowed to resolve, namely proper access for high ranking executives. Last February, Detroit owner Mike Illitch, whose Red Wings roster had nine players participating at the 2010 games, was left to stand among ticketholders instead of being afforded the VIP accessibility to which he was more than entitled.

“It’s a communication problem, and we’re going to improve that,” said Fasel.

Both Bettman and Team Canada Associate Director Ken Holland entertained the possibility of flying NHL players back to North America from Sochi after their teams are eliminated from Olympic play; four teams after the quarterfinals on Wednesday and two teams after the semifinals on the Friday before the gold medal game two days later.

“If it takes 18 hours to get back from Russia, and then expect these guys to put on their uniforms and play games on Tuesday, and run the risk of injury, it’s tough,” said Holland, the Red Wings general manager.

“I’d love to go to the Olympics. But I work for Mr. and Mrs. Illitch and we sign players to long-term contracts that aren’t fully insured. From a business side, there are issues. You have to sit down and figure out solutions that make everybody happy.” Holland said.

Despite all the challenges, the prevailing sense among the attendees – measured by a nearly unanimous show of hands among the myriad of delegates – is that hockey fans won’t be denied the chance of seeing players like Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin win an Olympic gold medal on home soil, just like their predecessors such as Jonathan Toews, and of course, Sidney Crosby.

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On the women’s side, Team Canada captain Hayley Wickenheiser delivered an impassioned keynote address outlining the discrepancies between North America and the rest of the world.

One alarming note pointed to a $0 development budget allocated for Russia for women’s hockey, in addition of the availability of just six rinks for females to play, in the nation that will host the next Winter Olympics.

“The most glaring thing is how good hockey countries like Russia, Germany, Switzerland, have relatively little or no investment in their women’s national teams,” said Wickenheiser, a three-time gold medalist and six-time World Championship winner.

In her eloquent presentation aimed at bridging the chasm between the top two teams – Canada and the U.S.A. – and their opponents, Wickenheiser proposed a process by which European players are brought into North America to hone their skills. “We invest in them, we help them learn what it’s like to play at the most elite level, and they take that experience back to their own countries.” The Team Canada veteran also provided insight into a meeting that was held with NHL representatives to discuss the framework for an NHL-assisted women’s league. “They won’t jump into anything that is not a viable business opportunity, but I said look at it more from the sponsorship and investment view for the first few years.”

American defenceman Angela Ruggiero stressed the need for women to have an available outlet for females to continually play, such as the Western Women’s Hockey League which houses her club team in Minnesota. “You need have the right pieces in place where you can continue to train, and you’re in the gym all the time. In order to be a good hockey player you have to play hockey. If we don’t have those opportunities, I don’t think that the game can continue to grow.”

The leaders of the women’s game have used Jacques Rogge’s proclamation that women’s hockey ‘cannot continue without improvement’ as a catalyst for their cause.

“Despite what Rogge says, I think women’s hockey is here to stay,” said Wickenheiser.

“But we need to take action now.”

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Rob Del Mundo is the author of Blue And White Beat, and is a regular columnist at TMLfans.ca

Follow TMLfans.ca on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tmlfansrob

Blue And White Beat: Burke speaks at World Hockey Summit

Maple Leafs president and GM Brian Burke was one of many guest panelists speaking on the opening day of the World Hockey Summit in Toronto on Monday evening.

The four-day event is dedicated to discussing some of the sport’s biggest issues in an open forum.

Burke was involved in a ‘hot stove’ session regarding player agents, on a panel that included two of the biggest names in the business, Don Meehan and Pat Brisson. While lauding agents as ‘people with brains and consciences and accountability’, Burke also chided hockey parents for being the ‘worst evaluators of talent’, in reference to the tendency of moms and dads to overrate their children’s NHL playing potential.

When asked for his opinion on the lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia, Burke shrugged, “As a GM we’d like to have a situation where all countries have a transfer agreement with us. We haven’t been able to accomplish that with the KHL or with the Russians. But I’m not jumping off a bridge on the way home if we don’t have one. ”

Burke took some time to discuss the Leafs, fending off critics who grumble about Toronto’s crowded blueline, which currently has eight members. “Everyone says we have too many defencemen. But I guarantee you, if you trade a defenceman, in 72 hours a defenceman will get hurt and you’ll be down to six.”

As for comments made earlier in the week by Tomas Kaberle’s father Frantisek, Burke avoided the tug-of-war.

“We’re not pouring any gasoline on that fire. (Frantisek) Kaberle is entitled to his view. I talked to Rick Curran (Kaberle’s agent) today and there’s no issue as far as Tomas is concerned,” Burke said.

When pressed on whether head coach Ron WIlson has a problem with the veteran defenceman, Burke simply replied ‘no’.

Inside the CWHL: Inaugural draft makes women’s hockey history

Inaugural draft makes women’s hockey history

It was fitting that the first ever Canadian Women’s Hockey League draft was held in a venue next to a replica of the Montreal Canadiens dressing room.

Forty-seven years after the Habs made Garry Monahan the top pick at the first-ever NHL Entry Draft, the world’s elite women’s hockey players gathered at the Molson Theatre of the Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday as three club teams – Toronto, Mississauga, and Burlington – decided their playing futures.

The honour of becoming the first ever CWHL draftee went to Sudbury native Tessa Bonhomme, six months removed from winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. “I’m really excited and very honoured to have been chosen first overall,” said the 25-year-old offensive defenceman who joins a Toronto team that includes her Olympic teammate Jennifer Botterill (forward) and 2002 gold medal winner Sami Jo Small (goalie).

Botterill and Small were on Toronto’s protected list that was established prior to the start of the draft. All three GTA teams were allowed to protect a maximum of five players, however Toronto elected to exercise the option for three women only – Martine Garland from Switzerland being the other member. As a result the club was awarded the first draft pick, which it used to select Bonhomme.

Now entering its fourth season after rising from the ashes of the defunct National Women’s Hockey League, the CWHL has embarked on its next step to becoming a full-fledged professional league. The often-painstaking process under which the league has continued to evolve has been largely under the direction of Small, the Vice Chairperson and Player Director of the CWHL. The Stanford graduate who served in the backup role to Canada’s gold medal-winning effort in Salt Lake City eight years ago was greeted with a standing ovation when she received her ceremonial Toronto club sweater as one of the team’s protected players.

“I wasn’t expecting (the applause). To get that kind of support from my peers is absolutely incredible,” said a humble Small. “But, it really wasn’t just me that started this league. There were so many people that lent a hand, and so many players that faced all the challenges with me. It’s been a long road, but it’s so great that so many people appreciate what we’ve done behind the scenes.”

With five member clubs, the league has one fewer team than last year. Both Ottawa and Vaughan folded shop, while an expansion team was added in Boston.

Brampton, Burlington, Montreal and Toronto (nee Mississauga) remain as holdovers.

Neither Boston nor Montreal participated in the draft, as the league felt that the timing wasn’t right to uproot players from their current hometowns to potentially play in those cities. Instead, both those clubs held open tryouts. Montreal will have the benefit of Olympic heroes Caroline Ouellette and Kim St. Pierre on their roster, while Boston’s club boasts no fewer than six players from the United States national team that captured the silver medal in Vancouver.

“I went to school in Boston for four years, and it’s a great hockey city. There are a lot of great talented players that play in the U.S.,” said Botterill, a Harvard alumnus. “In terms of exposure of the game, it just adds a new element to the league, and the exposure of women’s hockey.”

Without a television contract for broadcasting regular season league games, and with sparse attendance at the rinks, the CWHL still faces many challenges, particularly in the prevailing attitude of indifference to the women’s game outside of the Olympics.

But players like Botterill remain undeterred.

“It’s about making the game the best calibre that we possibly can, so that when people come to watch, they respect that and want to see more names.”

For the CWHL’s protect players list, click here.

For a complete CWHL draft listing, click here.

Video: Tessa Bonhomme is thrilled to be the CWHL’s first ever draftee.

Video: Ashley Riggs was selected second overall, and will play for Burlington.

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Rob Del Mundo is the author of Inside the CWHL, and is a regular columnist at TMLfans.ca.

Follow TMLfans.ca on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tmlfansrob

Royals Review: Leafs renew ECHL affiliation with Reading

Leafs renew ECHL affiliation with Reading

On July 28, the Maple Leafs announced the hockey club has renewed their agreement with the Reading Royals to serve as the ECHL affiliate for the Leafs and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for the 2010-11 season. The Royals are also the ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins.

“We are excited to once again have the Reading Royals as our affiliate in the ECHL,” said Dave Poulin, Leafs’ vice president of hockey operations in a statement.

Guest columnist Barry Schickling provides a review of the team’s season last year.

Most recent class shows considerable improvement

Reading report card for 2009-10

READING, Pa. – The second season for the Reading Royals as ECHL depository for developing Maple Leafs and Marlies players was a significant improvement over the first. In Year One – 2008-09 – Reading didn’t qualify for the playoffs and only one player who saw significant time for the Royals (James Reimer) was retained by Toronto this past year. Reimer had an above-average season for the Marlies in 2009-10 and established himself as a legitimate goaltending prospect.

Here’s a look at all of the players under NHL or AHL contract to Toronto at the end of the year, a brief look at their most-recent season and their possible futures with the organization.

ALEX BERRY

2009-10 stats: 5 regular season games with Royals – 0 goals, 5 assists, +2, 2 penalty minutes; 16 playoff games with Royals – 2 goals, 4 assists, +3, 4 penalty minutes; 4 assignments by Tor./7 points in 55 games with Marlies.

The good: After seeing plenty of action with the Marlies, he played an important role in Reading during the playoffs – he appeared in every post-season game. For a big guy (6-3, 220), he moves very well and has above average puck-handling skills.

The bad: When you have his size, you’ve got to use it. It’s an area where he’ll have to improve. Although he doesn’t shy away from contact, he’s not exactly a blood-and-guts type guy either. In short, the physical aspect of his game needs to improve if has major-league aspirations.

The future: His first full pro season went fairly well. He’ll need to continue the improvement process in 2010-11. He’s under contract for the upcoming season and how he fares (likely with the Marlies) will determine his future in Toronto.

ANDREW ENGELAGE

2009-10 stats: 11 regular season games with Royals – 7 wins, 3 losses, 1 shootout loss, 0 shutouts, 3.89 goals against average, .887 save percentage; 1 playoff game with Royals – no record, 3.00 goals against average, .857 goals against average; 4 assignments by Tor./2-6-0 with Marlies.

The good: He didn’t play many games with Reading this year, but when he did, the team won. He has good size but because of injuries to himself and other Toronto goaltenders this past season, he spent lots of time either on the injured list or the Marlies’ bench and didn’t get much quality playing time.

The bad: When he did play, Engelage was in over his head at the AHL level. He needed lots of playing time in the ECHL and didn’t get it. A solid workload for an entire season at the ECHL level (like Boston prospect Matt Dalton had with Reading this season) would go far toward helping his development and proving he’s a legitimate prospect.

The future: Toronto holds a contract option for 2010-11 and it’s hard to imagine it will be exercised. With Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Jonas Gustavsson, Reimer, Jussi Rynnas, Ben Scrivens and Grant Rollheiser all on the depth chart, it’s unlikely Engelage will return.

STEFANO GILIATI

2009-10 stats: 46 regular season games with Royals – 23 goals (tied for third on team), 39 assists, +9 (third on team), 76 penalty minutes; 13 playoff games with Royals – 4 goals, 4 assists, -1, 18 penalty minutes; 3 assignments by Tor./9 points in 25 games with Marlies.

The good: Giliati had a streaky season. The good streaks were impressive. In fact, he was the first Royal to be selected ECHL Player of the Week twice in one season – the first week of the season and the first week in March. Any time you average more than a point a game, you’re doing something right. He was at his most effective when playing with a bee in his bonnet.

The bad: His feisty nature was not always evident. Those slow streaks occurred when he wasn’t getting involved in the play. He was among the more talented offensive players with the Royals this year. But some nights, you couldn’t tell it.

The future: After spending much of ‘09-10 in Reading, 2010-11 is a crucial year for Giliati. It’s the last year of his contract with Toronto and he’ll be expected to make serious offencive noise with the Marlies this season.
If he doesn’t it’ll be his last year with the club.

TODD PERRY

2009-10 stats: 5 regular season games with Royals – 0 goals, 1 assist, -3, 0 penalty minutes; 16 playoff games with Royals – 0 goals, 1 assist, -1, 6 penalty minutes; 2 assignments by Tor./3 points in 27 games with Marlies.

The good: He played in all of Reading’s playoff games and took the part of the stay-at-home defenceman. He wasn’t exactly a hammer but he did bring enough of a physical presence to generally keep his crease clear of opponents.

The bad: He will never be an offensive threat. He’s also not the fastest skater. But neither of those areas are part of his game. He was injured during much of his stay with the Marlies this year.

The future: A minor-league free agent, he’d seem to be on the fence as far as Toronto is concerned Depending on the roster body count, he didn’t do anything that would preclude his return to the Marlies this season. Just don’t expect him to be the first player signed. At 23, he’s still got a bit of time on his side.

JOEY RYAN

2009-10 stats: 32 regular season games with Royals – 3 goals, 6 assists, -1, 43 penalty minutes; 2 playoff games with Royals – 0 goals, 0 assists, -1, 12 penalty minutes; 5 assignments by Tor./0 points in 7 games with Marlies.

The good: He scored one of the biggest goals of the season for Reading. His marker four minutes into the second-last game of the regular season started a three-goal comeback which helped the Royals earn a point in the standings and avoid a final-game showdown for the last playoff spot. Like many other players at this level, some nights he’s really good …

The bad: … But some nights he’s not. He didn’t make nearly as much progress during the course of the season as some of his teammates. He spent lots of time with the Marlies but didn’t play much. Down the stretch and in the playoffs, he saw very little ice time. See above for note about consistency.

The future: He started the season as one of the stalwarts on the Royals’ blue line. But as the season progressed, although he got lots of calls to report to the Marlies, he didn’t see much playing time. For the ECHL playoff run back in Reading, he wasn’t one of the team’s top six defencemen. Expect to see him somewhere else, splitting time between the AHL and ECHL in 2010-11.

GREG SCOTT

2009-10 stats: 5 regular season games with Royals – 1 goal, 1 assist, -4, 2 penalty minutes; 13 playoff games with Royals – 1 goal, 9 assists, +1, 0 penalty minutes; 4 assignments by Tor./32 points in 71 games with Marlies.

The good: When he finally got some serious ice time with Reading after spending the bulk of the season with the Marlies, he showed that he’s a serious prospect. He was among the ECHL rookie leaders in assists during the playoffs. He has vision, decent skating ability, and understands the game.

The bad: He knows what to do – he just has to get better at doing it. He also still must show development in the physical side of his game.

The future: With a year left on his entry-level deal, Scott needs to move to the front of the class with the Marlies this season. He didn’t spend lots of time in Reading, but was assigned during the playoffs to get some valuable post-season experience. He did (tied for third on the team in assists).

ROBERT SLANEY

2009-10 stats: 22 regular season games with Royals – 1 goal, 10 assists, -10, 22 penalty minutes; no playoff games; 2 assignments by Tor./6 points in 34 games with Marlies.

The good: He has talent and decent vision on the ice. He also handles the puck well and doesn’t shy away from physical confrontations. The tools, including size (he was 6-2, 203 at the start of last season) are there.

The bad: He made lots of rookie mistakes – especially when tackling defensive responsibilities. A minus-10 in 22 games won’t win any awards. He had a real tough time with Reading around the net and scored just once.

The future: Now this he’s got the first year of his entry-level contract under his belt, Slaney has a much better idea of what to expect in the pro game. A late-season injury didn’t help and he missed a chance to help the Royals on their playoff run. The expectation is likely that he’ll be a solid second- or third-line winger with the Marlies this season. However, he’ll have to show even more grit, be a better finisher in the vicinity of the goal and improve his defensive game.

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Barry Schickling can be contacted at Barry.DoubleSMedia@rocketmail.com