NHL
National Hockey League
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Steroids and the NHL
Former NHLer Dave Morissette penned a book with Mathias Brunet, titled Mémoires d’un Dur à Cuire (Memories of an Enforcer), which was released Monday (not available on amazon.com yet).
While Major League Baseball is currently having it’s issues with steroids, something Morissette admits to using, he points out that the National Hockey League has a problem with stimulants, like Sudafed and Ripped Fuel, something that’s been well-known for quite some time.
Morrissette also suggests steroids are common in hockey, even though he claims never to have seen the muscle-building drugs used by his teammates.
“You don’t do anything in the locker room,” he told CBC Newsworld. “It’s taboo.”
But Morrissette does admit he used steroids to bolster his chances of earning a spot in the NHL.
“I saw some of my future rivals – such as John Kordic – training in the gym. I was going to have to be as large as him.”
At the time, Morrissette believed the drugs would make him a better player. Now he believes steroids robbed him of his career.
“[Steroids] didn’t help me. They didn’t make me a better hockey player.”
Morrissette says his body couldn’t support all the extra muscle he gained through steroid use.
“I had injuries ... all kinds of surgeries,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had [all the injuries] without steroids.”
(The CBC story spells Morissette’s name correctly in the first few paragraphs of their story, but then they add an extra “r” in there and keep it throughout the rest)
Due to MLB hearings and increased scrutiny the NHL will most likely have to deal with both steroids and stimulants.
Stephane Quintal is all for that:
Defenceman Stephane Quintal of the Los Angeles Kings said at the book launch he’d like to see a tough testing program. He spent the season in Italy, where a doping offence carries a two-year suspension.
“There’s no first offence or second offence, you’re gone,” said Quintal. “The NHL should come out with something like that - like the Olympics.”
When asked if doping was common in the NHL, Quintal said: “Sudafed is something a lot of guys use but steroids, I’ve seen it a couple of times but on tough guys, but not on skill guys.”
Not so, according to one former NHLer TIB spoke to, along with a couple of other hockey media insiders. One trophy winner from last season is supposedly a well-known doper, and used as an example of a skill guy taking steroids, and they pointed out that the average tough guy treats his body better than most. Exceptions? You bet, but their words were clear: this is not an isolated issue in the NHL and not confined to one type of player.
This anonymous player went on to question whether it should even be defined as a problem. He said “obviously steroid abuse is bad”, but went on to say “why are they going to stop what people want to see?” and suggested that fans want to see large, gladiator-like players, almost super-human.
Florida Panthers defenseman Eric Cairns, who’s currently playing with the London Racers, recently spoke to TIB about the NHL possibly having a problem with players abusing steroids. Cairns said steroids aren’t a big issue in the NHL and that he doesn’t know many who have done them.
“You just can’t be bulky and be a hockey player,” said Cairns. “I think they’ll put something about testing into the new [CBA] when they get that done.”
Hopefully something the league and PA can easily come to an agreement about.
Addition: Tough guy Dennis Bonvie says he’s fought enforcers on steroids, which is basically a few comments from Bonvie along with Morissette and Quintal comments. When I spoke with Bonvie a couple of years ago I asked him about steroids and if he thinks there’s a steroids problem. His response:
“No, I don’t think there’s a steroids problem. If there is, I don’t know about it. It’s not my business. I’m sure there’s the odd guy that is, as every sport has. I definitely don’t think there’s a problem though. Should they check for it? Sure, but it’s not my decision. I don’t think guys should do that to themselves, but that’s just my opinion. I see how come guys could have a lot of heart, but not be strong enough and think that’s how they could make it. I go out and battle for what I can get, and I know I’m not going to use them.”
Update: Georges Laraque chimes in and urges steroid testing.
Update 2: Kelly Chase is on 640 Toronto with Jeff Marek and Rick Vaive saying that Morissette’s just looking for attention and that the NHL doesn’t have a problem. Chase said training regiments are much better now than they’ve ever been and he doesn’t know of anyone who’s taken steroids, including Tony Twist, who’s always had people questioning him regarding steroid use. Best line from the segment in regards to Chase’s physique: Chase saying that Al MacInnis told him he’s never looked over at him in the shower and said “I’ve got to have that.”
Monday, March 21, 2005
Multiple NHL Team Message Boards Hacked
A hacker group has been targeting NHL team website message forums today.
Seven have been confirmed to have been hit:
Calgary Flames
Carolina Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche
Montreal Canadiens
Phoenix Coyotes
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
All seven are running phpBB.
From the looks of the postings made by the hackers, it’s not hacks made out of lockout-related angst.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Meeting a Quickie
The NHL and NHLPA met today and the NHL made two proposals to the union. The Bob Goodenow’s response:
“Last week, Gary asked me how to resume discussions for a new CBA. I told Gary to bring forward any proposal that he believed would be of interest to the players. Today, Gary gave us two salary cap proposals. Both proposals were very similar to ones that we previously rejected several times. We will be determining our next steps and responding at the appropriate time.”
Supposedly the two sides were only face to face for 30 minutes today.
Jason Allison Talking With the Leafs
Just because there’s a lockout going on doesn’t mean we have to drop the player movement rumors completely, does it?
Jason Allison is an unrestricted free agent and is looking to possibly join the Toronto Maple Leafs whenever the NHL starts playing again (with it’s NHLPA members). Bill Watters on Leafs Lunch on 640 Toronto is reporting there have even been talks between the Leafs and Allison recently.
Allison, who grew up in the Toronto area, hasn’t played since 2002-03 when he had 22 points in 26 games for the Los Angeles Kings. His best season was with the Boston Bruins in 2000-01 when he finished 4th in scoring with 95 points. It was also the last time he’s played a full season.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Recchi Not Committed to WHA Yet
Mark Recchi confirmed he spoke to Jeremy Roenick about the WHA tourney that is scheduled to be held in May, but he wasn’t sure how his name got on the list of players according the Post-Gazette (via Jamie Fitzpatrick).
At the time of this posting Recchi’s name is not on the player list.
The WHA declined to comment.
From the PG story:
Recchi said that if he declines to participate, “they won’t have a hard time replacing me,” and expressed misgivings about money that will go to the players. The WHA Web site said there will be “$2 million in prize money” and each participant reportedly will receive $20,000, but Recchi said he feels this should not be a for-profit venture for his colleagues.
“I’m not too keen on part about getting paid,” he said. “I’d rather it all go to charity. I want to do it for the right reasons. I don’t want to do it for money.”
From Jamie:
Assuming the tournament goes ahead, the big question isn’t who will play. It’s, how will they play? There’s $2 million in prize money at stake, small change by NHL standards. If you’re a pro hockey player, are you ready to go through walls to win a short, meaningless, one-off tournament?
It’s good to know Recchi doesn’t think the tourney will have a hard time finding players, but both articles hint that money won’t be a factor in play. If that’s the case, then the tournament could be doomed for entertainment failure. The last thing anyone wants to do is watch the OSHL again. I think a possible extra 100k per player (estimated from the $2 million prize) will indeed be enough to motivate some. Quite a few players here in NA and Europe are playing with passion simply because they’re being paid and that it means something to at least part of the roster, and the desire to win can certainly rub off. While a few on the list make some nice cash in the NHL, quite a few don’t and I have little doubt this money is all the incentive needed to make them play hard - and that could be enough to have the snowballing “I don’t want to be shown up” effect and give us some emotionally-charged hockey.
Canucks Latest Team With Layoffs
The Vancouver Canucks are the latest team to let go of employees, laying off nine.
The Canucks didn’t give specifics on who had been let go except to say the employees were from a number of different areas within the company.
The Canucks finished last season with 123 full-time employees. That number has now been reduced to 82 due to the layoffs, a voluntary severance in July and attrition.
I suppose I’ll repeat what many of us in the blogosphere, and even traditional media, are saying: these are the people who have been affected the most by the lockout.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Rudy Poeschek Jailed
Rudy Poeschek is the latest hockey player in some legal trouble. Poeschek, who last played for the IHL’s Houston Aeros in 2000-01, was jailed as a habitual traffic offender after allegedly crashing into trees and mailboxes with his five-year-old daughter in his car.
Poeschek, 38, a mortgage broker, was charged with being a habitual traffic offender, driving on a suspended license, resisting arrest without violence, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and driving with a child not wearing a seat belt, sheriff’s officials said.
He has been arrested eight times since a failed comeback attempt with the Lightning in 2002. He is on probation after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining a prescription. His licence was revoked for five years last April.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Jeff O’Neill Arrested
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff O’Neill was arrested last night on drunk driving charges.
Along with one count of driving while impaired, O’Neill, 29, has been charged with one count each of disorderly conduct, failing to stop for a stop sign and transporting spiritous liquor without a seal, court records show.
The arresting deputy saw O’Neill urinate in a parking lot of a shopping center, according to court papers.
The vehicle O’Neill was traveling in failed to stop at a stop sign, according to arrest warrants. During the ensuing traffic stop, the officer detected a “strong odor of alcohol.” O’Neill also had a “poor field sobriety performance,” according to a court affidavit.
O’Neill’s North Carolina driver’s license was also revoked for 30 days after he refused a chemical analysis test, according to an affidavit filed with arrest warrants.
The News & Observer spelt O’Neill’s name right throughout the article, but left off an “l” in the title.
Due to the lockout teams have no connection with their players and the Hurricanes and the league will most likely not be able to take disciplinary action against O’Neill.
Update: O’Neill charged with DWI
Friday, March 11, 2005
NHL and NHLPA to Meet Again Next Week
The statement from the NHLPA:
TORONTO (March 11, 2005): Representatives of the NHLPA and NHL met for approximately 1½ hours today in Toronto. The NHLPA was represented by Bob Goodenow, Executive Director, Ted Saskin, Senior Director, Ian Pulver, Associate Counsel and outside Counsel John McCambridge. The League was represented by Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, David Zimmerman and Bob Batterman.
At the conclusion of today’s meeting, NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow released the following statement:
“Gary and I engaged in general discussions today and we plan to meet again next week for further dialogue. There were no proposals exchanged today.”
Thursday, March 10, 2005
HSBC Arena Tests Blue Ice
Click to see the Sabres’ full diagram
The Sabres announced they have made their ice light blue for when HSBC Arena hosts two Rochester Americans games.
“We are very excited to experiment with a light blue ice surface,” said Buffalo Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn. “The National Hockey League first introduced the idea of using different types of ice colors and we asked their permission to experiment with the blue ice concept during our two upcoming AHL games. We think the action on the ice will show up better on television with a blue surface and will be easier to see the flow of the puck.”
This experiment, approved by the National Hockey League and the AHL, will also see the traditional blue lines replaced by orange lines and the red center ice line will be dark blue. The face off circles will be orange while the end lines and crease lines will stay red.
This is a big change for hardcore fans, but just a subtle change to the casual observer (not the line colors, but the ice surface itself). Some have suggested that the blue ice can make it much easier for people to not only follow the game on tv, but watch an entire game. The bright white ice surface can tire eyes out and the light blue can allow for many to watch a complete game with less strain on the eyes.
I’ll wait to see a game on tv with the different ice surface before making any assumptions, but I am glad that things like this are at least being tested.