It’s not surprising that the plot of the classic hockey movie “Slapshot” (yes, it does actually have a plot, not just Paul Newman one-liners and the Hanson brothers) concerns the future and viability of a minor-league team. Those of us who follow minor-league hockey are well aware that this is a recurring theme.

Even one of the original American Hockey League franchises – Springfield, Massachusetts – was and is not immune to the spectre of losing its team. In fact, it’s already happened relatively recently, when the Springfield Indians were sold and moved to Worcester in the fall of 1994, only three years after winning their last Calder Cup.

Fortunately for Springfield, General Manager Bruce Landon was able to secure a new AHL franchise, and with help from a group of local investors, ice the Springfield Falcons that fall.

Unfortunately, instability at the NHL level with the Falcons’ parent franchises has filtered down to the AHL level for more than a decade. Originally a farm club of the neighboring Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets (an odd situation, caused by their being one more NHL team than possible AHL affiliates), the Falcons lost the Whalers when they moved to North Carolina and became the Hurricanes. The Jets carried on their affiliation through their move to Phoenix, but then the Falcons moved on to connections with Tampa Bay for two years, and then Edmonton until this year. None of them were particularly happy marriages, mostly because struggling NHL franchises don’t usually sustain successful AHL franchises. And the bottom line, of course, is always winning.

Accustomed to a successful hockey franchise (the Indians won back-to-back AHL championships in
’91 and ’92), soured by bad and way too distant relationships with their parent franchises, and put off by horrible teams, fans lost interest and attendance dwindled. The worsening economy of recent years didn’t help either, nor did a perception of downtown Springfield as an unsafe place.

Constant appeals for season-ticket purchases accompanied by dire warnings that Springfield could lose its hockey franchises appeared in the local news every summer and fall in recent years, but many hockey fans shrugged them aside until last month, when news broke suddenly that the franchise had indeed been sold.

However, the purchaser — Charles Pompea (“Who?” everyone said) a retired steel executive who lives in Florida – announced immediately that he purchased the team with the express purpose of keeping it in Springfield. Turns out he’s originally from Connecticut, and plans to be in Springfield this weekend to see his team in person for the first time.

After the announced sale, news came out that the team had been closer to disaster than anyone had imagined. Landon reportedly spoke to more than two dozen other possible ownership groups, and all but two (and those two were not serious candidates) would have moved the franchise away from Springfield.

On the heels of the announced sale, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Falcons’ latest parent team, announced that they will pick up their option for next year and remain in Springfield for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately the Blue Jackets are struggling, and those struggles have had ramifications for the Falcons in the form of call-ups and a shorthanded team. Springfield has a very good chance of missing the playoffs, which are the lifeblood of a minor-league franchise.

However, they’re giving a good effort every night, fans seem interested, and Pompea has said he wants his team to be involved in the community. The marriage is back on solid ground, which is great news for one of the storied franchises of the AHL, and for minor-league hockey.

Zach Hamill dons an "A" this year.

There’s something of a given when you grow up a hockey fan in New England — you’re going to be a Boston Bruins fan. The Bruins are not just Boston’s team, or Massachusetts’ team. They belong to the entire six-state region — from the northern reaches of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, west to the New York border, south to the outskirts of The Big Apple. And even beyond, into the Canadian Maritimes (I was pleasantly reminded of the Bruins’ Canadian fan base during a visit to Nova Scotia not long ago)

There are also several American Hockey League teams in New England, which leaves the dyed-in-the-wool Bruins fan with an interesting dilemma: Who do you root for when the Providence (R.I.) Bruins play against your team?

For the record, New England-based AHL teams include the Portland Pirates (Sabres) in Maine, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) and Hartford Wolf Pack (Rangers) in Connecticut, the Manchester Monarchs (Kings) in New Hampshire, and the Worcester Sharks (Sharks) and Springfield Falcons (Blue Jackets) in Massachusetts.

So, do you root for the parent Bruins and hate on the Baby B’s? (As I saw one Worcester Sharks fan post on a Bruins forum?) Do you follow the Baby B’s, going to see them when they play your “hometown” team, and root for (or ignore) the local AHL squad at other times? Or do you believe, in the words of a man sitting behind me at a recent Springfield-Providence game, that when your hometown team plays the affliliate of your NHL team, it’s a “win-win” situation?

I have to admit I’m torn.

I actually used to be a fan of my hometown team, the Springfield Falcons, way back in the days when they were the Indians and fighting for (and winning) the Calder Cup. But that was when I was working days, had friends who were fellow fans, and could manage to make a lot of their games.

Now I work nights and weekends (and AHL teams play most of their games on weekends), and I won’t deny the fact that the recent years’ revolving door of parent clubs for Springfield (Tampa, Edmonton, now Columbus) has made for a less than enticing on-ice product. Also, for a variety of reasons (mostly job-releated), since the lockout I’ve been able to focus more attention on Boston and can now actually afford to attend a few games every season. Consequently, I’ve concentrated more on my Bruins fandom and let my Indians/Falcons interest fall by the wayside.

So last week, the Providence Bruins were in town for the Falcons’ home opener, and I requested the night off so I could go see my guys (the Baby Bruins, of course).

I had requested seats behind the visitors’ bench, but the ticket-seller got confused, I think, because I ended up behind the Springfield bench. Prime seats to witness the frustration as the Bruins leaped out to a 4-1 first-period lead, and there was plenty of door-slamming and glass-punching going on in front of me. And I actually started feeling a little sorry for the poor guys. (C’mon, number 21 — whatever your name is, hang in there… HEY, Max Sauve just scored again WOOOO!)

So it was funny. I’ve been watching the Baby Bruins, attending development camps, going to a rookie game this fall, checking their progress on line, but I could not stop myself from wanting the Falcons to do well. (For the record, Providence won 6-5. It was a very exciting game.)

I guess it all comes down to the fact that it’s hockey. And though I’m a passionate Bruins fan, I love hockey. The MassMutual Center was almost full, the place was rollicking, and people were excited. It was FUN. The Baby Blue Jackets made it fun. And I found myself wishing I didn’t work nights so I could go see them as much as possible. And maybe expand my fandom?

I think so. There’s always room in your heart for more love, right?

Photo: From providencebruins.com

I’m doing all right/getting good grades,
The future’s so bright/I gotta wear shades.

More than 25,000 people attended two Bruins/Islanders rookie games this week at TD Garden in Boston. On Wednesday night, I was one of them. Some impressions from a seat five rows behind the Bruins bench:

I’ve been missing hockey, but it hit home with even more force when I saw the first kid wearing the Spoked-B jersey pop onto the ice for pre-game warmups to the appropriate tune of U2′s “Vertigo.” Why does that sight, after so many years, both up and down, still bring a lump to my throat? I don’t know, but from the looks on the kids’ faces (most trying to appear businesslike, but many unable to keep from shooting wide-eyed peeks at the crowd filling the lower bowl of seats), a lot of them shared that feeling.

Tyler Seguin elicited a significant number of screams from teen-age girls. I’m sure his teammates let him hear about it.*

* Actual converstion overheard in bathroom post-game, between apparently clueless teen-age girl, and teen-age girl wearing Lucic T-shirt with “19″ inscribed on both cheeks:

“Who’s 19?”

In disbelieving voice: “Tyler Seguin?”

“Oh, is he cute?”

“Um… yeah.”

“Where’s he from?”

Appalled silence.

The game itself was what you’d expect from a couple of rookie squads — exciting plays, busted plays, end-to-end action, missed shots, awkwardness, brilliance, and, as the game went on, increased belligerence, including several fights, assorted scrums and a large amount of yapping.

All three of the Bruins’ latest first-round picks played well — Seguin (’10), Jordan Caron (’09) and Joe Colborne (’08) — but it was Caron who stole the show by completing a hat trick with 37 seconds left to secure a 5-2 win. (His first goal came off a lovely redirect in front of the net, the second on a Savard-like feed from Seguin on a PP). Hats flew, a perfect capper (haha!) to the night.

The lone sour note came about halfway through the third period when Colborne took a stick in the mouth from teammate Lane MacDermid, who lost control of it when he was elbowed by New York’s Justin Dibenedetto. Bleeding and staggering, Colborne was helped from the ice, but thankfully was fine the next day, albeit with more than 25 stitches in his upper lip. He reportedly wanted to play in the rematch Thursday night but sat out as a precaution.

I didn’t attend the second game but caught some glimpses of the live stream at the Bruins’ web site. Boston won again, 2-1, on two goals by Ryan Spooner (second round, ’10 draft), the last on a breakaway with 30 seconds left in overtime. Cue an even wilder celebration.

Yeah, it’s just a couple of rookie games. Yeah, that’s the closest to the NHL a majority of these kids will ever get. But as a Bruins fan (and as a hockey fan), I couldn’t help but get excited. Because a lot of these kids are the real deal, to say the least.

Russian defenseman Yury Alexandrov was solid, with good positioning and obvious stick skills. Wings Max Sauve and Jamie Arniel displayed amazing wheels. Goalies Adam Courchaine (first game) and Michael Hutchinson (second game) are going to make decisions about their landing spots this fall difficult.

And bottom line, after watching this game, I believe one of the Bruins’ most pressing (yet often overlooked) needs has been addressed: Depth.

Last year, with members of the big club dropping like flies, right through the playoffs, the lack of suitable replacements hobbled the Bruins. Of course, it’s a rare team that has such depth in its system — most can’t afford to stash studs in the minors. But this year, it appears the Bruins just might have the perfect storm of good young players in the AHL, just a one-hour drive south of Boston. Caron, Colborne, Sauve, MacDermid, Alexandrov, Steve Kampfer, Matt Bartkowski, are just a few of the players who’ll be eligible  for the American Hockey League.

The future not only looks amazingly bright, it’ll be here faster than a lot of people think.

Jose Theodore will take his good looks and flowing mane elsewhere this season.

Hi everyone, hope your summer has been good! Mine’s been eventful to say the least. It’s been pretty quiet on the Caps corner of the hockey world this summer. Then again, perhaps not.

The Caps have signed DJ King and Danny Sabourin, re-signed Ovechkin’s English tutor in Brian Willsie, watched Joe Corvo and Shoane Morrisonn sign elsewhere, and have said Au Revoir to Jose Theodore in these dog days in the lives of us hockey fans.  All of our signings are expected to be on the Hershey roster come opening night for the regular NHL season. This is somewhat to the disgruntlement of that hockey fan who loves a good free agent splash or blockbuster trade in the off-season. Or perhaps that fan who wishes the GM would have addressed some glaring issues on the roster (as last year’s roster clearly didn’t get it done) by now.

*Cough*Defense*Cough*

With the departure of Jose Theodore and the signing of Sabourin, this solidifies the rumor the Capitals are planning on having the net minded by their two young goalies for the 2010-2011 season. Russian Semyon Varlamov and the Czech Michal Neuvirth can rest easy now… or should they?

Has Semyon Varlamov's time come?

Most Caps fans would be lying if they said they were totally comfortable with this idea. Placing the fate of the team in an unproven goalie and a another unproven goalie doesn’t sit well with fans of any team. Is it a bit harsh to call Varlamov an unproven goalie? Perhaps, but I’m going on the whole fact that in two consecutive play-off runs Varlamov has been booted from being the starting goalie by that same goalie we just let walk. One doesn’t exactly want to start planning the parade route with that in mind. Is Varlamov only coming off his first full season as an NHL goalie? Yes, and one must remember that, but two play-off runs have not treated Varlamov kindly. Then again the team in front of him didn’t show up to help some nights, so more leniency must be given with that also in mind.

I also hate to stamp Neuvirth with that same stigma as an unproven goalie with his impressive resumé in the AHL and excellent play in net for the Capitals as a call-up. But truth be told, we’ve not seen what he looks like long-term as an NHL goalie, and until we do, the jury will remain silent. All arrows point to a winner in Neuvirth and for that most fans are excited to see how he will shape up with the responsibility and duty of being our back-up. For all intents and purposes the kid has earned his shot in Washington, and we hope it turns out to win us a Cup before the apocalypse occurs.

Is it Neuvirth time?

This also begs the conversation of which of our two young talents will turn out to be the better goalie? Personally I’ve come to the conclusion that the Czech will beat out the Russian by the time they both hang up the skates (put down the glove?). While I think Varlamov possess the more raw talent of the two, his sometimes jittery play and scrambling in the net will ultimately be his personal evil. He can either dazzle you with the athletic highlight reel save, or make you cringe in horror and disbelief he let in such a soft goal (again) even a person who has never put on skates could have stopped. In some ways I feel his play-off benchings are a warning sign to us all not to pin our hopes and dreams on the young Russian.  While I don’t think he will be a bust by any means, I don’t think we should butter our bread just yet with him.

Neuvirth might not possess that same raw talent, but being so technically sound and such a calming presence in net will make him the better of the two if Varlamov does not learn to settle down in games.  The team feeds off that calmness and plays better, which in turn makes us fans breathe a little sigh of relief (and lets us actually sit and enjoy the games once in a while). His two consecutive AHL Calder Cup winning seasons in Hershey — while also snagging the play-off MVP trophy in 2009 I might add, Chris Bourque grabbed that honor this past season — certainly makes one pay attention. In short: Neuvirth is the more complete player of the two.

Don’t get me wrong, both goalies are going to be highly successful in their NHL careers. As a Caps fan who has been through the Jagr Debacle and ensuing team firesale,  you tend to brace for the worst. However, this is one argument or problem I’d take any day of the week: two young promising young goalies fighting for command of the #1 spot?

Priceless.

Just as they always say, hockey is 20% physical and 80% mental and this is one of those cases where that cliché applies perfectly. So who will win this battle of will?

Photos:  Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov by Annalisk19 at Flickr.com.  Copyright 2010.  All Rights Reserved.  Jose Theodore by Reuters.

Russian Alexander Ovechkin is one of the NHL

While perusing the web yesterday I came across an article at Bleacher Report by a “Featured Columnist” that I just couldn’t ignore.  The claim was that Russia is no longer producing quality hockey players.  The author’s proof?  There are very few Russians and even fewer Russian superstars in the National Hockey League.    He supports this claim with a superficial glance at recent NHL draft history, and the fact that Russians aren’t being highly drafted, if at all.

And I thought only First Nations hockey players were victims of such bigoted and irresponsible “journalism.”  Pretty shallow reporting from someone who has written for NHL.com and other big online sites.

Anyone who follows the NHL, the draft and developing talent is well aware of the shift in the paradigm in international talent.  The talent in Russia is obviously still there.  Newer players such as Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Semin are clear examples of the type of talent the Motherland is still producing.

So why are there fewer Russians in the NHL? The answer is simple:  The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).  Unfortunately, the author tries to deflect any attention from the KHL by saying that he doesn’t want to hear that there is talent in the KHL, because it’s not the NHL, the best league in the world.  This superficial claim insults the intelligence of knowledgeable hockey devotees and only serves to feed the xenophobia of lay hockey fans — something that does not behoove a sport that is trying to grow its popularity in the United States.

Russian-born Dmitry Kulikov, a first round pick of the Florida Panthers, plays in the NHL.

To refute these claims, one doesn’t have to look too far into the dynamics between the KHL and NHL.  The KHL may not be quite NHL caliber (as I discussed last month in another HockeyGoddess.com exclusive) but the money is, and that has kept many a Russian NHL prospect at home.  Why leave the comfortable confines of your homeland, where your dollar goes further, you don’t have to worry about learning a language you have zero knowledge of and your chances of getting hurt are a fraction of what they would be in North America?

Similarly, if you are an NHL general manager drafting talented hockey players why take a chance on a guy who might look at his options: To scratch and claw in the AHL for a couple and make a whole lot less money, or to stay home and have a higher salary?  Why squander a high-round pick on a player who may never come play in North America? (Ever hear of Ilya Nikulin, a highly touted defensive prospect who was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers?  Didn’t think so.) Even some of the young kids who have come and played Junior hockey in North America, claiming the NHL is their end goal, have bolted back to the KHL after being sent down to the minors.  And really, I can’t completely fault them for that decision.

Remember, Russia is no longer the Soviet Union.  Top talent doesn’t have to defect to America to make their millions — they can do it at home.  While the standard of living in most of Russia is still well behind North America, it’s a familiar and stable culture.  Why not stay there?

Of course, we have seen some financial difficulty in recent times in Russia, with teams folding or merging under the stress of the international economic crisis.  We’ve heard rumors of some teams unable to pay their players.  This all may contribute to an increase in Russian talent in the NHL.  And while I wish the best for the Russians, I secretly hope to see more of them here in North America.  We have large Russian-speaking communities, a great standard of living, health care that far exceeds the level in the former Soviet states and a fair system to live under.  So you may not be a big fish in a little pond, but you’ll have a chance to prove you’re one of the best hockey players in the world.

Photos: Alexander Ovechkin and Dmitry Kulikov by Goddess Sasha. Copyright 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

Hello all! I was going to use my first post as a Hockey Goddess to introduce myself, but I have more important hockey-related things to discuss as of now!

Nicklas Backstrom (Annalisk19@flickr.com)

The big news in the World of the Washington Capitals is the press conference to be held at Kettler Capitals Iceplex later today (5/17/2010) at 10:30 A.M., to make “an important announcement.” Well, the rumor is, of course, that it will be the glorious announcement of the long-anticipated contract extension for the Caps’ elite first-line center, Nicklas Backstrom.  Any and all hockey fans should know this is a critical signing that is practically the key to the Capitals’ success. Caps fans — myself obviously included — have been biting our nails all season long watching the young Swedish Center put up career numbers.

Nicklas Backstrom (Annalisk19@flickr.com)

It was almost bittersweet for me, knowing with every point he put on the board this past season, it seemed like the cost of his contract would go up simultaneously a few more dollars. I began to wonder if we were going to be able to pay Backstrom what he deserves after taking a quick look at Washington’s salary cap…. $30+ million potentially wrapped up in four players alone, with Varlamov and Neuvirth coming up for contract extensions as well next season? Ai yai yai…. but I’m not going to fret over such things any longer.  As a fan, such matters are out of my hands. I believe Backstrom will stay and take a discount, but the waiting is always murder on one’s mental stability.

I do believe this means Alexander Semin will be out the door by the trade deadline of 2011, or perhaps after the 2010-2011 season has come to a close and he officially becomes a UFA. This alone will free up the $6.5 million he’s slated to make this upcoming season until summer 2011 when his contract expires. However, that doesn’t really help the fact that whatever Backstrom’s contract extension will be (because we all know he can’t leave or Caps fans might burn Capitol Hill and McPhee’s house) will take effect this coming season though… nauseated yet? My bets are he goes to the Rangers, or a West Coast Canadian team. If not, he will skip home to the KHL. Mark my words. But back to the potential excitement tomorrow may bring….

Marcus Johansson, Draft Day 2009 (Getty Images)

Spoke with Anders Backstrom, Nicklas’ father, on Saturday along with Caps prospect and fellow Swede, Marcus Johansson. Mr. Backstrom was very pleased to tell me the Capitals would be signing him to a standard three-year entry-level contract this highly anticipated Monday morning with a blushing Johansson off to the side.  As a shameless supporter of all Swedish Caps, I was beyond happy to have him officially within the grasp of the Caps.

Besides being a Swede, Johansson possesses very good hands, speed, and vision on the ice much like Nicklas Backstrom.  The young center played with both the 2009 and 2010 Swedish National Teams in the World Junior Championships. The Swedes won silver in 2009 and in 2010, with Johansson as Team Captain, took home bronze. Marcus has all the talent to have a bright future in the NHL, and I’m hoping it will be in a Capitals uniform as our second line center. I must add he was much shorter in person than I thought he would be. Go figure. Oh, but you didn’t hear from me we are signing him before it is supposed to be officially announced…

Perhaps another young Swedish prospect of the Caps most have forgotten about is the son of legendary Capitals player (and current Team Sweden Head Coach) Bengt Gustafsson,  Anton Gustafsson. Taken by the Caps in the first round of the 2008 draft  at 21st overall, Anton was hoped to be a mirror of his father where hockey smarts and talent are concerned. Unfortunately, the 20 year old has not shown much of this in his short career thanks to being plagued with numerous injuries (including a concussion sustained during the Capitals’ Rookie Camp in July of 2009 – courtesy of the crossbar).

Anton and Bengt Gustafsson (AP)

Anton or “AnGus”, was signed to an entry level contract in May 2009, and played for Borås HC of the Swedish Second Tier League, HockeyAllsvenskan. He was assigned to the Capitals’ AHL affiliate Hershey Bears for the entirety of the 2009-2010 pre-season. However, it was quickly decided Gustafsson wouldn’t receive ample ice time playing for the Bears, and was loaned out in October 2009 to his current team, Borås HC. He played 34 games and netted 6 goals for 18 points for the 2009-10 season. Hopefully he can overcome injuries and expectations to become an NHL player like his father, but only time will tell.

In the meantime, let us all pray that by the time 10:30 A.M. comes and goes today, the Caps will be (re)signing not one, but two Swedes.

Let it be so George McPhee, let it be so.

- Goddess Annika

Photos: Nicklas Backstrom by Goddess Annika. Anton and Bengt Gustafsson from The Associated Press. Marcus Johansson from Getty Images.

The Thrashers signed a guy I think Goddess Sasha will approve of: Peter Mannino of her alma mater, DU. Yay!

Peter Mannino in his DU days.

He’s Baaack!

Jason Krog skates for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
The Thrash also picked up Jason Krog, he of the wild mane. He was with the Thrashers’ organization for a while and kicked butt for the Chicago Wolves. Of course, he’s been with many NHL organizations for a little while. He has so much potential — come on Krog, you can do it!

Photos: Mannino by Goddess Sasha; Krog by Goddess Kaat. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.