The Subbans Break the Lockout Gloom

The lockout is goomy enough without the late fall weather turning every afternoon into a gray march into darkness.

Breaking the gloom are the folks at "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight," the nightly talk show on the CBC that is far more informative and worth your time than any Letterman/Leno production.

P.K. Subban, locked out of his job as a defenseman with the Montreal Canadiens, appears to have found some work at a Boston Pizza franchise in Canada.

(Note that my youngest daughter has to laugh every time she hears a mention of Boston Pizza. She went to college in Boston and always came back to New York on break complaining about the Boston weather, the Boston T system and the horrible Boston pizza. So to her, hearing a franchise promote what she considers the worst possible pairing -- Boston and pizza -- is a joke that keeps on giving. To be fair, I have eaten at the U.S. version of the chain, Boston's in Allentown, Pa., and I had no complaints about the restaurant.)

The Strombo people posted the Subban video above, perhaps as a way to help bring the NHL and the NHLPA closer together.

Here is an interview from the Strombo show, where we get to hear from P.K. Subban and his brothers.

Meaningful Hockey Lifts All Spirits

A week goes by, and then another.

Disgust over the lockout leads to waiting out Hurricane Sandy and then cleaning up all the broken tree limbs and knocking on wood that we fared as well as we did in the storm, hoping that we do as well this Wednesday when a Nor'easter rolls through town again.

After, or before, all that, spirits in the Lounge were lifted by the opening game of the super series challenge between a team of Russian junior selects and teams of selects from the QMJHL, OHL and WHL. The six-game series features the Russian squad play two each against each league.

On Monday night, in Blainville-Boisbriand, Que., the QMJHL was up first and was the first go experience the speed and showmanship of the Russian squad.

It may be of small consolation, but the main offensive stars of the Russian squad were players who have been or are being trained in the Canadian junior leagues.

Nail Yakupov, formerly of the OHL's Sarnia Sting, is on the squad as is Alexander Khokhlachev, formerly of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, and Mikhail Grigorenko, currently of the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts.

The offensive show was too much for the QMJHL squad, which did not bring a great deal of physical play to the contest. Late in the game, when a typical junior blowout leads to even more typical late hits and dangerous checks along the board, the QMJHL team seemed up to the task of defending itself and initiating challenges as well.

Still, day late and a dollar short. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Val-d'Or. The game will be televised at 7 pm Eastern on the NHL Network

A Holiday From the Ice

Maybe it was the endless Tweeting by the player agent Allan Walsh that led me to believe it was time to take leave from any lockout talk.

In short, it is great to know that when Mr. Walsh is your agent, he will spare no finger to support your cause and raise his middle one to the NHL owners, Gary Bettman and anyone who does not agree with him.

And if you missed his Tweets the first time around, rest assured that he will repeat them again in a few hours.

Mix those in with the endless Tweets by writers accounting for the number of games being canceled and you get the picture. The room is stuffy; time for some fresh air.

So I will be opening up the windows in the Lounge. I'll watch the NHL Network tonight at 7 Eastern -- Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters will visit the Kitchener Rangers in an Ontario Hockey League game being televised tonight -- and then I will listen to a lot of music and sample whatever I have chilling in the fridge.

But after the Otters-Rangers game, I'll let the NHL owners, players, players union, beat writers and Mr. Walsh stew in their own juices for a week. They can Tweet all they want.

You won't hear a peep from me.

See you next week.

Thursday in the KHL

Just one game this afternoon, and it is in St. Petersburg.

At SKA 2, Sibir 0
Summary is here.
Standings are here.

The Wednesday Night Rewind

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Chicago 2, Peoria 1 OT
Summary is here.
Standings are here.

EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Trenton 3, Reading 1
Idaho 7, at Colorado 6 SO
At Ontario 5, San Francisco 4 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Sherbrooke 6, at Cape Breton 5 OT
At Moncton 4, Acadie-Bathurst 3 OT
Halifax 7, at Prince Edward Island 5
At Quebec 5, Saint John 2
Blainville-Boisbriand 3, at Rimouski 1
Chicoutimi 5, at Baie-Comeau 4 SO
At Gatineau 5, Shawinigan 3
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Sault Ste. Marie 3, Sudbury 1
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Kamloops 5, at Edmonton 4 SO
At Lethbridge 6, Brandon 1
Everett 3, at Swift Current 1
At Saskatoon 3, Tri-City 2 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Indiana 5, at Green Bay 3
Summary is here.
Standings are here.

NCAA DIVISION I
No games scheduled.

Wednesday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Avangard 5, Spartak 3
At Barys 6, Donbass 1
At Yugra 4, Dinamo Riga 3 (video below)
Lokomotiv 4, at Avtomobilist 3 OT (video above)
At Traktor 6, Torpedo 3
At Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3, Atlant 1
At Salavat Yulaev 4, Lev 2
At Ak Bars 5, CSKA 2
At Severstal 6, Slovan 0
At Dinamo Minsk 3, Vityaz 1
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

The Tuesday Rewind

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Binghamton 3, at Rochester 1
Summary is here.
Standings are here.

EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Brandon 7, at Medicine Hat 6
At Moose Jaw 5, Everett 2
Tri-City 2, at Prince Albert 1 SO
Kamloops 4, at Red Deer 0
Calgary 5, at Prince George 0
At Seattle 6, Spokane 4
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Muskegon 4, at USNDP 2
Summary is here.
Standings are here.

NCAA DIVISION I
Atlantic Hockey
Holy Cross 6, at American International 2
At Bentley 7, Sacred Heart 1
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.

Whalers Inspired Mayhem

Just heard this touted on RadioBDC and had to get this on the blog. Nothing says the spirit of hockey, and the joy of a Hartford Whalers goal, like mosh-pit mayhem set to "Brass Bonanza," the theme song of the Hartford Whalers.

You've got to love it.

No Sleep in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Saturday
At Avangard 4, Dinamo Riga 2
At Barys 5, Spartak 1
SKA 6, at Avtomobilist 5
At Traktor 4, Atlant 2
Lokomitiv 3, at Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2 SO
At Salavat Yulaev 3, Slovan 2 SO
CSKA 5, at Neftekhimik 4 OT
At Ak Bars 4, Lev 2
Donbass 1, at Vityaz 0
At Dynamo Moscow 3, Metallurg Novokuznetsk 2
Sunday
At Dynamo Moscow 4, Amur 1
Monday
At Avangard 2, Donbass 1
At Barys 5, Dinamo Riga 0
At Yugra 6, Spartak 3
At Avtomobilist 1, Atlant 0
Lokomotiv 3, at Traktor 2 SO
At Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3, Torpedo 2
CSKA 4, at Salavat Yulaev 1
At Neftekhimik 3, Lev 2 SO
Slovan 3, at Ak Bars 2 SO
Vityaz 3, at Severstal 1
At SKA 4, Metallurg Novokuznetsk 2
Tuesday
At SKA 7, Amur 3 (video above)
Sibir 3, Dynamo Moscow 2 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.

Minor Leagues Rush In

Yes, I was trying to listen in on a few of these games, too. In all, I heard a lot of hockey. And I am recovering from it now. But it is good to have the AHL and the ECHL back in play.

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
Milwaukee 3, at Grand Rapids 2
Manchester 3, at Providence 1
At Rochester 6, Syracuse 5 SO
Bridgeport 6, at Connecticut 4
At Lake Erie 2, Oklahoma City 1
At Norfolk 4, Worcester 2
At Abbotsford 4, Peoria 1
Saturday
Oklahoma City 3, at Lake Erie 2
At Toronto 3, Rochester 1
Manchester 2, at Albany 1
At Adirondack 6, Portland 3
At Bridgeport 4, Providence 2
Hamilton 4, at Grand Rapids 3 SO
At Springfield 4, St. John's 2
At Binghamton 2, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1
At Norfolk 4, Worcester 3 SO
At Syracuse 4, Hershey 3
At Chicago 1, Rockford 0 SO
Texas 2, at San Antonio 1
Charlotte 3, at Houston 1
At Abbotsford 6, Peoria 2
Sunday
St. John's 3, at Connecticut 2
At Springfield 4, Adirondack 0
Lake Erie 4, at Toronto 0
At Chicago 5, Rockford 3
At San Antonio 3, Houston 2
At Texas 4, Charlotte 3 SO
Monday
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
At Elmira 3, Reading 2
At Trenton 3, Greenville 1
At Florida 5, Orlando 4 OT
Kalamazoo 4, at Fort Wayne 1
Alaska 6, at Colorado 3
Utah 5, at Idaho 3
Bakersfield 4, at San Francisco 3
Ontario 2, at Stockton 1
Saturday
At Florida 4, Orlando 2
At Elmira 7, Greenville 1
Trenton 6, at Reading 2
At South Carolina 4, Gwinnett 3
At Toledo 4, Kalamazoo 1
At Cincinnati 3, Wheeling 2 SO
Fort Wayne 6, at Evansville 2
Stockton 4, at Ontario 0
At Colorado 3, Alaska 1
At Utah 2, Idaho 1
At San Francisco 6, Bakersfield 5
Sunday
Las Vegas 3, at Bakersfield 2
Monday
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

Junior Mania Produces Headache

Sometimes I try to do too much. Watch a game while listening to another. And when you try to watch two games while listening to two more games, well, the brain finally decides enough is enough.

Which is a safe way to explain how migraine headaches make a visit to the Lounge from time to time. I had two laptops, an iPad and the HD monitor working the games this weekend. With ear pieces to each laptop, I had two feeds of junior games while I was trying to watch two college games.

Just for fun, I threw in a few AHL games during a lull, just to fill my night. But that led to a headache that left me enjoying the darkness of a dead Monday in hockey across North America.

But while I was among the living during the weekend, I managed to listen to several of these games. It was time well spent, uhm, for the most part.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
At Moncton 4, Val-d'Or 3
At Prince Edward Island 4, Acadie-Bathurst 3 OT
At Saint John 6, Rouyn-Noranda 5 SO
Blainville-Boisbriand 7, at Sherbrooke 0
Halifax 5, at Drummondville 2
Quebec 4, at Gatineau 1
At Rimouski 4, Baie-Comeau 2
Chicoutimi 6, Shawinigan 1
Saturday
Baie-Comeau 2, at Rimouski 0
Halifax 4, at Shawinigan 1
Drummondville 5, at Victoriaville 4
Rouyn-Noranda 6, at Prince Edward Island 3
Val-d'Or 7, at Saint John 1
Sunday
Acadie-Bathurst 5, at Cape Breton 2
Rouyn-Noranda 3, at Moncton 2
Victoriaville 5, at Blainville-Boisbriand 3
Chicoutimi 7, at Gatineau 3
Monday
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
At Kingston 3, Kitchener 2
Belleville 2, at Brampton 0
At Guelph 6, Erie 3
At London 4, Plymouth 1
At Mississauga 3, Ottawa 2
Barrie 4, at Oshawa 3 SO
Saginaw 6, at Sudbury 1
Saturday
Mississauga 4, at Erie 3
At Belleville 4, Oshawa 1
Sault Ste. Marie 3, at Plymouth 2 OT
At Sarnia 4, Niagara 3 OT
At Barrie 2, Sudbury 1
At Owen Sound 5, Peterborough 4 SO
Sunday
At Brampton 5, Saginaw 3
At Guelph 7, Peterborough 6 OT
At Ottawa 6, Kitchener 2
At Sarnia 3, Sault Ste. Marie 1
Niagara 4, at Windsor 3 SO
At Oshawa 5, London 3
Monday
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
Everett 3, at Brandon 2 OT
At Kootenay 4, Saskatoon 3
At Lethbridge 3, Prince George 2
Portland 5, at Prince Albert 2
Swift Current 3, at Regina 2 OT
Calgary 5, at Edmonton 4 SO
At Red Deer 2, Medicine Hat 1
At Kamloops 5, Spokane 1
Kelowna 4, at Victoria 1
Seattle 6, at Vancouver 4
Saturday
Tri-City 4, at Brandon 3
At Calgary 4, Red Deer 2
Saskatoon 5, at Lethbridge 2
At Moose Jaw 9, Prince Albert 0
At Regina 4, Everett 3
Portland 6, at Swift Current 3
At Medicine Hat 7, Prince George 2
At Spokane 5, Vancouver 2
At Victoria 3, Kelowna 2
Sunday
Kamloops 5, at Calgary 2
At Kootenay 1, Edmonton 0
Saskatoon 6, at Medicine Hat 3
Tri-City 5, at Moose Jaw 0
Monday
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
Chicago 4, at USNDP 3 OT
Dubuque 4, at Youngstown 1
Muskegon 3, at Cedar Rapids 2 OT
At Des Moines 6, Omaha 2
At Lincoln 3, Tri-City 2 SO
At Waterloo 4, Green Bay 1
At Sioux Falls 4, Indiana 2
At Fargo 6, Sioux City 3
Saturday
Chicago 9, at USNDP 5
Dubuque 4, at Youngstown 1
At Sioux City 3, Indiana 2 OT
Lincoln 4, at Tri-City 1
At Des Moines 3, Muskegon 2 SO
Green Bay 8, at Cedar Rapids 7 SO (video above)
At Waterloo 2, Omaha 0
At Sioux Falls 6, Fargo 5 OT
Sunday
No games scheduled
Monday
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

Pass/Fail Weekend of College Hockey

If you needed another example of why you cannot manufacture the atmosphere of college hockey in new buildings far away from campuses that have the college game, I give you last weekend's IceBreaker Classic at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Plenty of good seats available to watch the tournament featuring Nebraska-Omaha, Maine, Notre Dame and Army.

Now I know that when I was in school, UNO was not known for having a great number of football fans travel for road games (Northern Colorado was a member of the great Division II North Central Conference back then), so I was not surprised to see a vast number of empty seats that could have been filled by those Nebraskans and Iowans who might take in a Mavericks game at home.

And those fans are familiar with traveling to Kansas City to see the Royals or the Chiefs play. Hmm, maybe that whole Royals experience has killed the urge to make the drive down. But there still is barbecue there... and now I am on another tangent.

The hockey was fine, but it had a house league feel, and that was not the best atmosphere to drop these four teams into.

I used to attend the early season tournament that was held first at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and then at the Pond in Anaheim.

The last tournament I attended had Miami University playing a Michigan State team that had Anson Carter and Jason Muzatti. The hockey was fine, but the place was deathly quiet.

In short, maybe the teams got something out of the visit, but I doubt it was worth the time away from campus, where maybe some students might have dropped in for a game or two.

But that's me. I was never a big fan of the NHL's neutral-site league games back in the early 1990s. I say keep them on campus as much as possible. Or find a small building where a cozy group of fans can actually keep each other warm (passing a flask, perhaps?) while watching the college game.

Time to put the soapbox away. Here are the weekend scores.

FRIDAY
Hockey East
Vermont 1, at Massachusetts-Lowell 1 OT
Nonconference
Union 5, at Bowling Green 3
At Colorado College 5, Clarkson 4
At Miami 3, Colgate 0
At Providence 8, Sacred Heart 2
American International 3, at Penn State 2 OT
At RPI 3, Ferris State 1
Minnesota State 4, at Alabama-Huntsville 1
At Minnesota-Duluth 6, Ohio State 2
At Minnesota 5, Michigan State 1
At New Hampshire 5, St. Cloud State 3
At Massachusetts 4, Connecticut 1
At Michigan 7, RIT 2
Northern Michigan 2, Wisconsin 1 at Green Bay
St. Lawrence 4, at Western Michigan 3 OT
Nebraska-Omama 5, Army 1 at Kansas City, Mo.
Notre Dame 1, Maine 0 at Kansas City, Mo.
Air Force 3, Alaska 3 OT at Anchorage
Alaska-Anchorage 2, Canisius 0 at Anchorage

SATURDAY
Atlantic Hockey
At Niagara 2, Mercyhurst 1
Hockey East
At Boston University 4, Providence 2
At Northeastern 3, Boston College 1
Nonconference
Union 4, at Bowling Green 1
At Colorado College 5, Clarkson 4
At Michigan Tech 8, Lake Superior 4
At Miami 5, Colgate 1
At Penn State 4, American International 3 OT
At Quinnipiac 4, Robert Morris 0
Ferris State 2, at RPI 2 OT
Minnesota State 2, at Alabama-Huntsville 2 OT
Ohio State 3, at Minnesota-Duluth 2
At Minnesota 7, Michigan State 1
At New Hampshire 4, St. Cloud State 2
Northern Michigan 4, Wisconsin 2 at Green Bay
At Western Michigan 3, St. Lawrence 2
Air Force 3, Alaska-Anchorage 3 OT at Anchorage
Canisius 3, Alaska 1 at Anchorage
Maine 4, Army 3 at Kansas City, Mo.
Notre Dame 3, Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Kansas City, Mo.

SUNDAY
Nonconference
Robert Morris 4, at Quinnipiac 0
Summaries and recaps for the entire weekend are here.

School Is Back in Session

The NHL lockout is old news. The new word is that Friday night is college hockey night once again in this great land. And there are several games on TV tonight, should the Minnesota rouser not get you in the mood to plant an elbow in someone's ribs. (I am fired up and I LOATHE the Gophers. That goes for you Wisconsin Badgers, C.C. Tigers (haha, you're boring and you're weak, C.C.), U.M.D. Bulldogs and the North Dakota Formerly Fighting Sioux, too.)

On the NBC Sports Channel starting at 7 Eastern, Maine and Notre Dame play the opening game of the IceBreaker Tournament, which is being played at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Once that game is over, NBCSN will stay with the tournament and broadcast the Nebraska-Omaha vs. Army game.

Fox College Sports has two regular-season games that you should be checking into if you get this package of channels on your cable system or satellite provider.

At 7 Eastern, Michigan State plays Minnesota on the big ice in Minneapolis. This game will be on Fox College Sports Central, nationally. I assume Fox Sports Detroit and Fox Sports North will be the regional carriers.

At 7:30 Eastern, Fox College Sports Pacific will show St. Cloud State (advance video on link to 4:02 mark) at New Hampshire.

I don't have to tell you how my early hockey years were influenced by college hockey and the mighty Denver University Pioneers. But hearing the bands and the students take me back to my parent's basement, a bologna sandwich, a big bag of potato chips, a cold soda and a black-and-white TV showing the Pioneers ruling the WCHA in the late 1960s.

I could yell or cheer as loud as I wanted. I could body check a chair or I could stickhandle around the second-hand couch. No problem. My parents knew I was safe at home with hockey.

You can say that again tonight. Drop the puck.

Friday in the KHL

It would be strange to lead with a video roundup, in English, of Thursday's games, so you will have to wait until I am done listing the full slate of Friday's games in the league.

Here you go.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Torpedo 6, Yugra 2
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

Thursday in the Juniors/NCAA

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Ottawa 4, at Niagara 3
Kingston 4, at Peterborough 3 OT
At Windsor 7, Sault Ste. Marie 4
At Barrie 8, Saginaw 5
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Fargo 6, Indiana 5
Summary and recap are here.
Standings are here.

NCAA DIVISION I
Nonconference
At Lake Superior 4, Michigan Tech 2
RIT 5, at Michigan 4 OT
Summaries and recaps are here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
The league was dark Thursday.
Standings are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
The league was dark Thursday.
Standings are here.

Thursday in the KHL

Despite the best efforts of ESPN2, the comedy cable channel, to drop the KHL game to the level of say any of their idiocracy programming, the league is drawing a growing level of interest in North America.The KHL is the best league in the world while the NHL chooses to launder suits and turn itself into a long-running show on the Employer-V-Labor channel.

To address this growing audience, the KHL is putting out a daily report in English that can be found on its website. After today's scores, you can find the English update for the Oct. 10 games in the KHL.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Metallurg Novokuznetsk 5, at Sibir 3 (video above)
At Neftekhimik 5, Slovan 4 SO
Dinamo Minsk 5, at Donbass 4
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Wednesday in the Juniors/NCAA

A highlight clip for Nathan MacKinnon of the Halfiax Mooseheads and a memorable first, also from the QMJHL, where the Sherbrooke Phoenix win their first game. As an expansion franchise, the Phoenix were a long way from matching the dubious achievements of the Plattsburgh Pioneers, who dropped the class before finishing their freshman season in the QMJHL.

John Torchetti, who has been an assistant or interim coach in the NHL, was on that sad franchise, which the QMJHL, its unofficial historian (use a browser with a transaltor) and a sincere but overtrusting scribe would like us all to forget about.

The league can vacate all the results of games they want. The games were played and I am certain that whoever paid to watch games involving the Pioneers did not get a refund. When the league vacates the revenue from these games, then I might rethink the Pioneers' role in QMJHL history.

Until then, I say to the QMJHL regarding the Pioneers, je me souviens.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Val-d'Or 7, at Cape Breton 2
At Halifax 5, Moncton 1
At Prince Edward Island 4, Saint John 0
Rouyn-Norands 5, at Acadie-Bathurst 4
At Sherbrooke 6, Drummondville 2
Baie-Comeau 4, at Victoriaville 3
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.
The CHL's weekly ranking is here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Owen Sound 4, Plymouth 2
At Belleville 2, Brampton 1 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Prince George 5, at Kootenay 4
Edmonton 4, at Medicine Hat 2
Portland 4, at Saskatoon 0
At Kamloops 5, Victoria 2
Spokane 6, at Kelowna 4
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
The league was dark last night.
Standings are here.

NCAA DIVISION I
Hockey East
At Northeastern 4, Merrimack 2
Summary is here.
Recap is here.

Wednesday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Amur 5, Avtomobilist 1 (video above)
Ak Bars 3, at Salavat Yulaev 2 SO (video below)
At Torpedo 5, Barys 4
Yugra 3, at Lokomotiv 2
Avangard 4, at Atlant 3 OT
Vityaz 3, at Spartak 2 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Tuesday in the Juniors/NCAA

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Rimouski 5, at Chicoutimi 2
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Peterborough 3, Niagara 1
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Prince Albert 4, at Lethbridge 1
At Regina 3, Portland 2 OT
Red Deer 3, at Swift Current 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
No games scheduled
Standings are here.

NCAA DIVISION I
Nonconference
At Colgate 10, Niagara 2
Summary is here.

Tuesday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Donbass 4, Severstal 1 (video above)
At Dinamo Riga 2, Dinamo Minsk 1 OT (video below)
Dynamo Moscow 1, at Lev 0 (video at bottom)
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.



And here is Puck Daddy's breakdown of the KHL broadcast today on ESPN2, which you can catch again when it is rebroadcast this evening.

Did we not expect Barry Melrose to be at his playing weight when it came to this broadcast? Yes we did. And when it comes to the bigger picture, did we expect ESPN, the Duce, the cube or whatever they call the outlet that will carry the rest of the KHL games they have planned, to present the game with some insight? You know, do some homework?

Nope. Not on this one. Just plenty of comedy, which means this broadcast should fit in nicely with all the screaming newspaper hacks and radio shills they have filling up the daytime slots on ESPN and family.

And in This Corner, the Toughest League Around

Yes, one league no one appears to be jumping to just yet during the NHL lockout is the LNAH, or the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey.

During the last lockout, several NHLers punched the clock, and more than a few opponents, in the LNAH while waiting in vain for the 2004-05 regular season in the NHL to get underway.

Also in the league, you can usually find some former NHL prospect goaltenders who are from Quebec.

But whether the league has cleaned up its image a bit or a lot, you can still count on the rough stuff to get the crowd going in Quebec and in a pocket of southeastern Ontario.

The lineup of teams this season is as follows:

Trois-Rivières Caron et Guay
Saguenay Marquis
Cornwall RiverKings
Sorel-Tracy HC Carvena
Thetford Mines Isothermic
Rivière-du-Loup 3L
St-Georges de Beauce CoolFM

The season began late last week. Time to keep your head up.

Monday in the Juniors

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Mississauga 4, at Brampton 3 OT
At Oshawa 4, Belleville 3 OT
Sarnia 3, at Windsor 2 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League and United States Hockey League were dark last night.

Monday in the KHL

We're just a day away from hearing Barry Melrose attempt to announce more than a few names of Russian origin.

If you get ESPN3, you will get this game via a streaming cast. If you get ESPN2, the Lev-Dynamo Moscow game can be seen Tuesday at 1 Eastern/10 Pacific.

The game, live from Prague, will have a few familiar names. Remember, the game is played on the big sheet (200 by 100), so adjust your thinking as far as hits along the halfboards, as they are way out there. If you are on the halfboards, you are not likely to be in the play.

OK. I've given you fair warning about your TV viewing habits tomorrow. Now, on with the day in the KHL.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3, at Amur 0
Avtomobilist 3, at Metallurg Novokuznetsk 2 SO
At Sibir 2, Traktor 1
At Torpedo 7, Avangard 3
At Lokomotiv 4, Barys 2
At Atlant 4, Yugra 2
SKA 4, at CSKA 2 (video above)
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

The Wait Grows Lonely

I gathered with the usual set of rogues for our annual hockey round table. The setting was Shorty's on Ninth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the part of Manhattan you hope you never have to spend too much time in unless you are pounding alcohol.

But once you have reached altitude, count yourself among the feeling no pain crowd that calls this block, between 42nd and 41st Street, home.

The round table covered a number of topics -- how to reduce the boring shot blocking that sucked the life out of the Rangers-Capitals playoff series, how to get both sides back to the bargaining table in the NHL lockout, how to reduce the overall amount of time it takes to play a game and how to pay for all this food and beer.

The next morning, the hangover came. Not from beer, but from the realization that there would be no NHL hockey coming in the next week. The group had talked a good game, but there was nothing from the NHL coming down the pipe.

And that left me wondering why there are not more players walking outside arenas, saying in effect to "let us in." Perhaps they could organize some street hockey games with children to allow the NHLPA members to get their word out.

Hand out free NHLPA practice jerseys, T-shirts and caps to get those who follow the game to develop an emotional investment in the cause of the players.

But there is very little of that. The league and the players have a large gap between them, and the gap they have maintained between themselves and the fans is even larger.

The KHL, the minors, the juniors and the colleges will help with the visuals of hockey: I get to see a game and I feel somewhat better.

But they remain, for those of a certain age, a case of blank-label generic beer. The buzz is there, but it isn't quite as satisfying. I spent too much time in college trying to guess just which brewery made this no-label beer. My thoughts only grew more murky as the night wore on and the cans in the case dwindled to single digits.

The round table hangover led to weekend blackout. I hit empty, about as empty as Seattle's Smith Tower, which Benjamin Gibbard was singing about at the start of this post. I feel bad about the blackout, but who can blame me. I should be looking forward to the Kings-Rangers game on Thursday. Instead, I am looking forward to the college games on Friday.

Should be fun, but they are not the same. OK, got that out of my system. And now, here is my lost weekend of hockey.

NCAA DIVISION I MEN
Nonconference
Friday
No games
Saturday
Quinnipiac 2, at Maine 1
Bowling Green 2, at Niagara 2 OT
Merrimack 4, at Union 1
Sunday
No games

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
At Indiana 3, USNDP 2
Youngstown 9, at Waterloo 6
Dubuque 3, at Green Bay 2 SO
At Lincoln 5, Des Moines 2
At Sioux Falls 5, Omaha 3
At Cedar Rapids 5, Fargo 2
At Tri-City 4, Sioux City 3
Muskegon 3, at Chicago 1
Saturday
At Muskegon 4, Indiana 1
At Chicago 4, Green Bay 3 OT
Omaha 3, at Sioux City 2 SO
Youngstown 5, at Cedar Rapids 1
Sioux Falls 2, at Des Moines 1
At Dubuque 2, Fargo 0
Sunday
No games
Standings are here

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
Halifax 4, at Saint John 3
At Quebec 4, Victoriaville 3 OT
At Baie-Comeau 5, Acadie-Bathurst 2
At Blainville-Boisbriand 6, Prince Edward Island 2
At Chicoutimi 1, Moncton 0
Shawinigan 4, at Drummondville 3
At Gatineau 7, Sherbrooke 4
Cape Breton 4, at Rouyn-Noranda 3
Saturday
Moncton 7, at Baie-Comeau 4
Acadie-Bathurst 2, at Chicoutimi 1
Prince Edward Island 6, at Shawinigan 1
At Halifax 11, Saint John 2
At Drummondville 2, Victoriaville 1 OT
At Gatineau 2, Blainville-Boisbriand 1
At Quebec 7, Rimouski 2
Cape Breton 5, at Val-d'Or 3
Sunday
At Blainville-Boisbriand 4, Quebec 2
Rimouski 2, at Shawinigan 1
Prince Edward Island 5, at Sherbrooke 4 SO
At Val-d'Or 7, Cape Breton 3
Standings are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
At Erie 5, Brampton 1
Owen Sound 4, at Sarnia 3
At Sault Ste. Marie 4, Kitchener 2
Niagara 4, at Sarnia 0
At Guelph 5, Plymouth 4
At London 8, Windsor 2
Barrie 4, at Mississauga 3 SO
At Oshawa 6, Kingston 4
Saturday
London 4, at Erie 3 SO
Sudbury 3, at Kingston 2
At Belleville 5, Ottawa 3
At Plymouth 6, Niagara 3
Sarnia 6, at Sault Ste. Marie 3
At Saginaw 2, Kitchener 1 SO
At Barrie 4, Peterborough 3
At Owen Sound 4, Guelph 3 SO
Sunday
Sudbury 6, at Ottawa 4
Standings are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Friday
Portland 2, at Brandon 1
Prince Albert 5, at Calgary 4 SO
At Regina 3, Red Deer 2
Swift Current 10, at Saskatoon 1
At Kamloops 7, Seattle 2
At Prince George 6, Kelowna 3
At Spokane 5, Victoria 3
At Tri-City 4, Lethbridge 1
At Vancouver 6, Medicine Hat 1
Saturday
At Brandon 2, Red Deer 1
At Edmonton 4, Saskatoon 1
At Moose Jaw 4, Portland 2
At Swift Current 2, Regina 1
At Kamloops 4, Medicine Hat 1
Kelowna 7, at Prince George 5
At Seattle 5, Everett 2
At Spokane 4, Lethbridge 2
Victoria 4, at Tri-City 3 SO
Sunday
At Calgary 6, Edmonton 5 OT
Victoria 2, at Vancouver 1
Prince Albert 5, at Kootenay 3
Red Deer 4, at Moose Jaw 3 SO
Tri-City 5, at Everett 3
Standings are here.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Saturday
At Amur 2, Traktor 1
At Metallurg Novokuznetsk 4, Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1
At Sibir 3, Avtomobilist 2
Avangard 5, at Lokomotiv 2
Barys 3, at Atlant 1
SKA 4, at Lev 3
Sunday
Salavat Yulaev 4, at Ak Bars 3 SO
At Spartak 4, Dinamo Minsk 1
Vityaz 2, at Donbass 1
Severstal 1 at Dinamo Riga 0
Dynamo Moscow 3, at Slovan 2
Standings are here.

Friday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Salavat Yulaev 5, Neftekhimik 2 (video above)
At Spartak 3, Severstal 2 OT
At Dinamo Riga 2, Vityaz 1 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Thursday in the Juniors

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Rimouski 5, Victoriaville 2
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Brampton 4, Kingston 1
At Niagara 3, Mississauga 2
Sudbury 4, at Peterborough 1
Guelph 5, at Windsor 0
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Prince Albert 4, at Edmonton 1
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars of the night are here.

The United States Hockey League was dark on Thursday.

Quick Hits on a Slow Day

The National Hockey League has canceled the first two weeks of the regular season, which pretty much was assumed a few weeks ago.

Here's the reaction from Donald Fehr of the NHLPA:

“The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners. If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue. A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions. Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner."

And we sometimes try to be fair, so here is a statement from Bill Daily of the NHL:

"We were extremely disappointed to have to make today’s announcementThe game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to forge an agreement that is fair to the players, fair to the teams and good for our fans. This is not about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ a negotiation. This is about finding a solution that preserves the long-term health and stability of the League and the game. We are committed to getting this done.”

The NCAA Division I regular season begins Saturday with a few games. Some are playing exhibition games against Canadian colleges and universities. Either way, more games are a good thing.

Craig Custance of ESPN.com has selected 10 American players as top prospects for the 2013 NHL Draft.

They are:

1. Seth Jones -- D -- Portland Winterhawks -- WHL
2. J.T. Compher -- F -- US Development Program -- USHL
3. Adam Erne -- F -- Quebec Remparts -- QMJHL
4. Ian McCoshen -- D -- Waterloo Black Hawks -- USHL
5. Steven Santini -- D -- US Development Program -- USHL
6. Michael Downing -- D -- Dubuque Fighting Saints -- USHL
7. Ryan Hartman -- F -- Plymouth Whalers -- OHL
8. Hudson Fasching -- F -- US Development Program -- USHL
9. Justin Bailey -- F -- Kitchener Rangers -- OHL
10. Ryan Fitzgerald -- F -- Valley Junior Warriors -- EJHL

And the final note concerns the NHL's 2013 Guide and Record Book, which was made available to the media in a PDF. The cover has the Kings surrounding the Stanley Cup. I wonder if this book will ever be opened. I have the 2005 Guide with the champion Tampa Bay Lightning on the cover. It's sitting on my shelf, still in the original shrink wrap.

We shall see. But, just for fun, notice whom you do not see anywhere in this picture? The owner, because he doesn't play the game.

Thursday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Traktor 6, at Metallurg Novokuznetsk 0 (video here)
Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2, at Sibir 1 (video here)
CSKA 2, at Spartak 1 OT (video here)
Torpedo 3, at Dinamo Minsk 0 (video here)
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

The video at top has the saves of the week. The one below has the goals of the week.

Wednesday in the Juniors

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Blainville-Boisbriand 2, Drummondville 1
At Rouyn-Noranda 5, Cape Breton 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Sault Ste. Marie 6, Saginaw 5
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Regina 4, Moose Jaw 1
Red Deer 5, at Saskatoon 3 (video above)
Tri-City 2 at Everett 0
At Kelowna 7, Vancouver 0
At Victoria 4, Medicine Hat 3 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars are here.

The United States Hockey League was dark on Wednesday.

Wednesday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Yugra 6, Amur 4 (video below)
Slovan 1, at Avtomobilist 0
Neftekhimik 3, at SKA 2 SO (video above)
At Dynamo Moscow 2, Ak Bars 0
At Donbass 4, Dinamo Riga 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Tuesday in the Juniors

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Halifax 6, Acadie-Bathurst 2
At Shawinigan 5, Val-d'Or 1
At Victoriaville 5, Sherbrooke 1
Quebec 2, at Chicoutimi 1
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Prince Albert 5, Red Deer 4 SO
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Recap is here.

The Ontario Hockey League and the United States Hockey League were dark on Tuesday.

In Case You Forgot

OK, so maybe the image is a little too shadowy for your taste, but that may be appropriate considering the NHL is in meltdown mode.

This is the Stanley Cup with the names of the 2012 champion Los Angeles Kings engraved on it.

This is the best look for now. Wonder when the team will get one last lap around the ice with it before the defense of the Cup begins.

Tuesday in the KHL

The first words of the day came to me via my phone, telling me that ESPN was picking up the rights to broadcast the Kontinental Hockey League in the United States, with broadcast being a rather broad word to describe the placement of KHL games on ESPN3, the streaming or, for those of you who choose to use the now archaic term, online service.

The service is tough to get for many fans, which puts a smile on my face in the way ESPN tries to tell everyone they are picking up hockey when in fact they are giving it the same back of the hand they always have.

Any thoughts of this being a big extended middle finger by ESPN to the NHL for wisely leaving the pay-me-no-mind list of worldwide leader of college football, college basketball and NFL gab shows needs to think again.

If ESPN were truly interested in giving the big bird to the NHL, the worldwide leader would put the KHL games on the original channel, live during the day and then again at night during the NFL gabfests and NBA shillfest.

But no. ESPN is keeping it as a streaming option. For those of you who thought OLN/Versus/NBC Sports Network is a tough truffle to snuffle up, ESPN 3 (via WatchESPN) will only make you long for a better internet connection, a better TV or a better provider.

Still, it is hockey and if you can get it and have time off during the days, this will help you pass time during the NHL lockout. Thanks for throwing us a crumb, ESPN.

And now, for the day's KHL action.



KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Severstal 4, Atlant 0 (video top)
At Vityaz 4, Torpedo 2 (video above)
Lokomotiv 2, at Dinamo Minsk 1 (video below)
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Monday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Avangard 2, Sibir 1 OT
At Barys 3, Amur 1
At Yugra 4, Metallurg Novokuznetsk 3
Lev 5, at Avtomobilist 3
At Traktor 3, Slovan 1
CSKA 2, at Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1 SO (video above)
At SKA 5, Ak Bars 2
At Dynamo Moscow 5, Neftekhimik 1
Salavat Yulaev 3, at Dinamo Riga 2 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Sunday in the Juniors

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Prince Edward Island 6, Gatineau 2
At Acadie-Bathurst 5, Rimouski 4 SO
Saint John 5, at Moncton 1
At Quebec 4, Val-d'Or 2
Baie-Comeau 4, at Chicoutimi 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Kingston 5, Niagara 4
Guelph 4, at London 1
At Windsor 5, Sudbury 2
At Oshawa 7, Brampton 4
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Kamloops 3, at Victoria 0
At Vancouver 3, Spokane 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars are here.

The United States Hockey League was dark on Sunday. All four junior leagues are dark on Monday, with the QMJHL and WHL returning to action on Tuesday. The OHL resumes play on Wednesday. The USHL will be back on the ice on Friday.

Sunday in the KHL

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Severstal 4, Torpedo 2 (video above)
Lokomotiv 2, at Vityaz 0
Spartak 1 at Donbass 0 SO
At Dynamo Moscow 3, Atlant 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Saturday in the Juniors

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Victoriaville 7, Baie-Comeau 3
At Halifax 3, Cape Breton 2 SO
At Saint John 3, Gatineau 1
Quebec 5, at Sherbrooke 0
Rouyn-Noranda 5, at Blainville-Boisbriand 4 SO
At Drummondville 4, Val-d'Or 3
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Ottawa 8, Erie 1
Oshawa 5, at Belleville 2
At Plymouth 6, Sudbury 2
Sault Ste. Marie 3, at Saginaw 2 OT
At Barrie 4, Mississauga 1
Sarnia 2, at Owen Sound 1
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Red Deer 3, at Calgary 2 OT
Lethbridge 4, at Kootenay 2
At Moose Jaw 6, Brandon 1
Saskatoon 2, at Swift Current 1 OT
At Medicine Hat 5, Regina 1
Kelowna 4, at Portland 3
Seattle 2, at Prince George 1 OT
At Spokane 5, Tri-City 3
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Indiana 2, Omaha 0
At Youngstown 4, Des Moines 3 OT
At Muskegon 6, Team USA 3
At Chicago 4, Tri-City 2
Cedar Rapids 4, at Green Bay 1
At Waterloo 8, Sioux Falls 4
Summaries are here.
Recaps are here.

Saturday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Avangard 4, Amur 1
Metallurg Novokuznetsk 5, at Barys 1
Sibir 3, at Yugra 2 SO
CSKA 3, at Avtomobilist 0
At Traktor 5, Lev 2 (video above)
At Metallurg Magnitogorsk 3, Slovan 2
At Dynamo Moscow 4, Salavat Yulaev 3 SO
Summaries are here.
Recaps are here.
Standings are here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Baie-Comeau at Victoriaville
Cape Breton at Halifax
Gatineau at Saint John
Quebec at Sherbrooke
Rouyn-Noranda at Blainville-Boisbriand
Val-d'Or at Drummondville

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Erie at Ottawa
Oshawa at Belleville
Sudbury at Plymouth
Sault Ste. Marie at Saginaw
Mississauga at Barrie
Sarnia at Owen Sound

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Red Deer at Calgary
Lethbridge at Kootenay
Brandon at Moose Jaw
Saskatoon at Swift Current
Regina at Medicine Hat
Kelowna at Portland
Seattle at Prince George
Tri-City at Spokane

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Omaha at Indiana
Des Moines at Youngstown
Team USA at Muskegon
Tri-City at Chicago
Cedar Rapids at Green Bay
Sioux Falls at Waterloo

Friday's Leftovers

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Gatineau 4, at Halifax 1
At Moncton 7, Cape Breton 4
Prince Edward Island 4, at Acadie-Bathurst 2
At Victoriaville 4, Shawinigan 0
At Blainville-Boisbriand 6, Sherbrooke 0
Rouyn-Noranda 4, at Drummondville 2
At Rimouski 2, Chicoutimi 1 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Kingston 6, Erie 5 OT
Sault Ste. Marie 4, at Sarnia 3
At Brampton 1, Belleville 0
Owen Sound 3, at Guelph 2
Kitchener 2, at London 1
At Mississauga 3, Windsor 2 SO
Niagara 4, at Ottawa 2
At Oshawa 5, Peterborough 1
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calgary 4, at Edmonton 1
At Kootenay 4, Regina 1
At Prince Albert 5, Moose Jaw 2
Brandon 5, at Swift Current 4 SO
Medicine Hat 5, at Red Deer 4
At Portland 1, Kelowna 0
At Prince George 4, Seattle 3
At Victoria 4, Kamloops 3 SO
Everett 5, at Vancouver 3
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.
Buzzing the Net's three-stars for the night are here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Team USA 6, Des Moines 1
At Youngstown 5, Omaha 3
Waterloo 2, at Green Bay 1
At Lincoln 2, Sioux Falls 1
At Chicago 3, Indiana 2
At Dubuque 4, Tri-City 1
At Fargo 3, Sioux City 2 OT
Summaries are here.
Recaps are here.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Lokomotiv 1, at Severstal 0
Atlant 5, at Vityaz 4 SO
At Dinamo Riga 5, Spartak 4
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Recaps are here.

Friday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Lokomotiv 1, at Severstal 0 (video above)
Atlant 5, at Vityaz 4 SO
At Dinamo Riga 5, Spartak 4
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Gatineau at Halifax
Cape Breton at Moncton
Prince Edward Island at Acadie-Bathurst
Shawinigan at Victoriaville
Sherbrooke at Blainville-Boisbriand
Rouyn-Noranda at Drummondville
Chicoutimi at Rimouski

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Erie at Kingston
Sault Ste. Marie at Sarnia
Belleville at Brampton
Owen Sound at Guelph
Kitchener at London
Windsor at Mississauga
Niagara at Ottawa
Peterborough at Oshawa

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calgary at Edmonton
Regina at Kootenay
Moose Jaw at Prince Albert
Brandon at Swift Current
Medicine Hat at Red Deer
Kelowna at Portland
Seattle at Prince George
Kamloops at Victoria
Everett at Vancouver

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Des Moines at Team USA
Omaha at Youngstown
Waterloo at Green Bay
Sioux Falls at Lincoln
Indiana at Chicago
Tri-City at Dubuque
Sioux City at Fargo

Thursday's Leftovers

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Erie 5, at Peterborough 1
At Windsor 4, Kitchener 2
At Saginaw 5, Sudbury 0
At Barrie 4, Owen Sound 3 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Tri-City 3, Everett 1
Summary is here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars for Thursday are here.

The QMJHL was dark Thursday.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Avangard 3, Metallurg Novokuznetsk 2 OT
At Barys 2, Sibir 1
At Traktor 4, CSKA 3 (video below)
At Metallurg Magnitogorsk 6, Lev 1 (video above)
Donbass 4, at Torpedo 3 SO
At SKA 7, Salavat Yulaev 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

The XYZ's of Watching College Hockey

I saw this list posted yesterday by Steve LePore on SBNation and I had to pat myself on the back.

There is a boatload of college hockey on TV this season, but only if you have the right cable channels piped into your home.

And rest assured, the Lounge has them all. (But you knew that, didn't you.)

Fox College Sports Channels (3): check.
NBC Sports Network: check.
CBS Sports Network: check.
Big Ten Network: check.
ESPNU: check.

And should either MSG or MSG Plus show ECAC games this season, I have those, too. And if one of those regional games be replayed on the NHL Network, the Lounge will have them as well.

So, either you find your way into the Lounge, or you had better start dialing some numbers to get the full metal jacket of hockey, NCAA style, this season. It's time to see which team will match the excitement of Union College's efforts last season.

Here is LePore's list of national games (All times Eastern) for U.S. college hockey:

Oct. 12
7 pm Notre Dame vs. Maine/Army vs. Nebraska-Omaha (NBCSN)

Oct. 13
7:30 pm Ice Breaker Tournament Championship (NBCSN)

Nov. 9
7:30 pm Boston University vs. Merrimack (FCS)

Nov. 15
7:30 pm Notre Dame vs. Michigan (CBSSN)

Nov. 16
7:30 pm Harvard vs. Cornell (NBCSN)

Nov. 17
9 pm Wisconsin vs. Minnesota (BTN)

Nov. 23
7:30 pm Colgate vs. Merrimack (FCS)

Nov. 30
7:30 p.m. Boston College vs. Boston University (NBCSN)
8 p.m. Vermont vs. Maine (CBSSN)
10 p.m. Wisconsin vs. Denver (NBCSN)

Dec. 1
7:30 p.m. Boston University vs. Boston College (NBCSN)

Dec. 7
7:30 pm Michigan State vs. Notre Dame (NBCSN)
7:30 p.m. Harvard vs. Merrimack (FCS)

Dec. 8
8 pm Maine vs. Boston University (NBCSN)

Dec. 14
7:30 p.m. Western Michigan vs. Michigan (NBCSN)

Jan. 4
7:30 p.m. Colorado College vs. Nebraska-Omaha (NBCSN)
7:30 p.m. Robert Morris vs. Army (CBSSN)

Jan. 5
7:30 pm Merrimack vs. Vermont (CBSSN)

Jan. 11
7:30 pm Union vs. Princeton (NBCSN)
9 pm Alaska-Anchorage vs. Minnesota (BTN)
10 pm Nebraska-Omaha vs. Denver (NBCSN)

Jan. 12
6 pm Army vs. Air Force (CBSSN)

Jan. 18
7:30 pm Harvard vs. Yale (NBCSN)

Jan. 19
7 pm Alaska-Anchorage vs. Notre Dame (CBSSN)

Jan. 25
7:30 pm Yale vs. Cornell (NBCSN)
7:30 pm Ferris State v. Notre Dame (CBSSN)
8 pm Minnesota State vs. Minnesota (BTN)

Feb. 1
7:30 pm Dartmouth vs. Union (NBCSN)

Feb. 8
7:30 pm North Dakota vs. Nebraska-Omaha (NBCSN)
7:30 pm Michigan vs. Notre Dame (CBSSN)

Feb. 10
4 pm Providence vs. New Hampshire (CBSSN)

Feb. 15
7:30 pm Boston University vs. Maine (NBCSN)
7:30 pm Notre Dame vs. Miami (CBSSN)

Feb. 17
4:30 pm Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (at Soldier Field) (BTN)

Feb. 22
7:30 pm Yale vs. Quinnipiac (NBCSN)
7:30 pm Notre Dame vs. Western Michigan (CBSSN)
10 pm North Dakota vs. Denver (NBCSN)

Feb. 23
4 pm New Hampshire vs. Vermont (CBSSN)
8 pm Minnesota-Duluth vs. Minnesota (BTN)

Feb. 24
4 pm Boston College vs. Merrimack (CBSSN)

March 1
7:30 pm Wisconsin vs. Nebraska-Omaha (NBCSN)
7:30 pm Ferris State vs. Michigan (CBSSN)
8 pm Denver vs. Minnesota (BTN)

March 3
4 pm Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Merrimack (CBSSN)

March 8
7:30 pm Maine vs. New Hampshire (NBCSN)
7:30 pm Boston University vs. Northeastern (CBSSN)
7:30 pm Massachusetts vs. Merrimack (FCS)

March 15
7 pm Hockey East quarterfinal (NBCSN)

March 22
4 and 7 pm Hockey East semifinals (NBCSN)

March 23
7 pm Hockey East final (NBCSN)

March 24
9 pm NCAA tournament selection show (ESPNU)

The CHL Power Poll: Week 2

The Canadian Hockey League, which comprises the QMJHL, OHL and WHL, ranks the top teams each week, causing equal parts elation and frustration that evaporates once the regular season is over and the league playoffs lead our way to the Memorial Cup tournament.

But it is fun to watch the teams move up and down the dial throughout the fall, winter and into the early spring.

Here are the CHL rankings for the week:

1. Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
3. London Knights (OHL)
4. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
5. Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
6. Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
7. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
8. Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
9. Belleville Bulls (OHL)
10. Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Honorable mention: Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL), Oshawa Generals (OHL), Saskatoon Blades (WHL).

Thursday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Avangard 3, Metallurg Novokuznetsk 2 OT
At Barys 2, Sibir 1
At Traktor 4, CSKA 3 (video below)
At Metallurg Magnitogorsk 6, Lev 1 (video above)
Donbass 4, at Torpedo 3 SO
At SKA 7, Salavat Yulaev 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.



ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Erie at Peterborough
Kitchener at Windsor
Sudbury at Saginaw
Owen Sound at Barrie

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Everett at Tri-City

The QMJHL is dark today.

Wednesday's Leftovers

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Saint John 4, Moncton 2
At Acadie-Bathurst 4, Cape Breton 1
Rouyn-Noranda 9, at Sherbrooke 2
At Chicoutimi 4, Victoriaville 3
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Brandon 9, Saskatoon 6
Edmonton 3, at Lethbridge 0
Regina 4, at Swift Current 3 OT
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars are here.

The Ontario Hockey League was dark Wednesday.

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Dinamo Minsk 3, at Amur 2
At Neftekhimik 4, Avtomobilist 2
Dynamo Moscow 3, at Ak Bars 2 SO
At Slovan 4, Yugra 3 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.

Preview This

Normally I would be about halfway through reading the second round of NHL team previews, mostly online, as we approached the start of the new season. The NHL lockout has pretty much dried that flow of information, and has kept all but the Hockey News Yearbook from reaching the newsstands.

But just try to find the the Hockey News pool forecaster magazine on a newsstand in Manhattan. I'm 0 for 37 in that regard.

To fill the void, previews of leagues in Europe and the junior leagues here in North America are coming in. Hockey's Future has posted its preview of the KHL.

These previews tend to focus on those players who may eventually make it to the NHL. Something to keep in mind as we move deeper into the lockout.

An Update: Any preview of the KHL with Nail Yakupov playing for Neftekhimik is not taking into account the IIHF's action of denying Yakupov a transfer card, which makes Yakupov, Edmonton's top pick in June, ineligible for KHL play.

If he wants to play, he can return to the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League, which Hockey Canada appears to prefer, according to the Buzzing the Net blog. Or Yakupov can wait for this IIHF ruling to be debated further.

Wednesday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Dinamo Minsk 3, at Amur 2 (video above)
At Neftekhimik 4, Avtomobilist 2
Dynamo Moscow 3, at Ak Bars 2 SO (video below)
At Slovan 4, Yugra 3 SO
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.



QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Moncton at Saint John
Cape Breton at Acadie-Bathurst
Rouyn-Noranda at Sherbrooke
Victoriaville at Chicoutimi

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Saskatoon at Brandon
Edmonton at Lethbridge
Regina at Swift Current

The Ontario Hockey League is dark on Wednesday.

Tuesday's Leftovers

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Torpedo 3, Dinamo Riga 2 (video above)
At Lokomotiv 2, Donbass 1
Atlant 5, at Spartak 2 (Nikolai Zherdev video below)
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.



The QMJHL, OHL and WHL were dark Tuesday.

Tuesday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Torpedo 3, Dinamo Riga 2 (video above)
At Lokomotiv 2, Donbass 1
Atlant 5, at Spartak 2 (Nikolai Zherdev video below)
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here.



The QMJHL, OHL and WHL are dark today.

Here are the QMJHL players of the week, and here is the OHL player of the week. And here is the WHL player of the week.

For those of you who would like to know more about just whom you are reading about this season, here is a preview of the QMJHL by Hockey's Future. That site's preview of the WHL's Eastern Conference is here.

The Lounge will pass on more junior and European previews as they come in. Speaking of Europe, here are previews of the Czech Extraliga and Finland's SM-liiga, all by Hockey's Future.

Seattle, the Oilers and Monday's Leftovers

It was looking like a quiet day in the Lounge yesterday, what with no junior games on the schedule and the KHL action pretty much done by 2 pm Eastern.

But then, wouldn't you know it, here comes an owner who makes an implied threat of moving an NHL team to the United States from, wait for it, Canada.

Yes, Seattle is the bargaining chip, however much of a ruse it might be in this story, as Daryl Katz contemplates the best way to take public money from the city of Edmonton so that his Oilers, a private company, can have a new place to play hockey.

The best part of this silly game of dare, with the phony prospect of this team becoming the Seattle Snake Oilers, is that this move takes the beautiful world that some fans in Canada see regarding the NHL -- and the teams they believe deserve a spot in, say, Quebec City, Hamilton, suburban Toronto, etc., rather than in the United States -- and it shakes the whole thing like a snow globe.

Now, Mr. Katz, one of their own, not some smarmy American, is threatening to take his team south of the border. OK, not so much a threat, but the message is clear. Anyway, take a look at some of the comments at the bottom of TSN's post on the situation.

As you can see, this story was a punch right between the eyes. Public money as corporate welfare and the illusion of created jobs and revenue, meaning more low-paying seasonal jobs and the construction of a building that will most certainly be described as outdated before the next decade begins.

Then comes the remodel, the renegotiation and the reneging on the lease because, guess what, the amount of public funding is not enough to make the owner happy. But look at all the legal fees and construction overrun or late fees generated.

Beautiful story really. And who still thinks the owners have the fans' best interests at heart?

And now, time to put the soapbox away. On with the leftovers.



KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Amur 3, Vityaz 2
At Metallurg Nizhnekamsk 5, Dinamo Minsk 4
At Sibir 3, Severstal 0
Traktor 4, at Salavat Yulaev 1 (video above)
Metallurg Magnitogorsk 7, at Neftekhimik 2
At Ak Bars 6, Avtomobilist 1
At CSKA 1, Avangard 0
At Slovan 4, Barys 2
At Lev 4, Yugra 0
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.

The QMJHL, OHL and WHL were dark.

The View From the Stands

I really wish more players -- make that any players -- would take up a picket sign and walk around Ed Snider's playpen in Philadelphia or Jeremy Jacobs' vault in Boston and basically state: "We are ready to work."

Instead, some players are heading to Europe. Those that are not are no where to be seen. Sure the optics of rich men picketing against rich men may seem bad, but you have to let people see your face to know who is doing battle.

Getting out into the public would be the best thing for NHLPA members, because Ed Snider and the 29 other owners are not going to walk around in their cities pressing the flesh.

At least, I don't think the owners would hit the sidewalks to talk to their customers. I know my vote doesn't count in this fight, but I do pay to watch NHL-caliber players play hockey.

You could not pay me to watch Ed Snider or Jeremy Jacobs play hockey. Ever.

Monday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Amur 3, Vityaz 2
At Metallurg Nizhnekamsk 5, Dinamo Minsk 4
At Sibir 3, Severstal 0
Traktor 4, at Salavat Yulaev 1 (video above)
Metallurg Magnitogorsk 7, at Neftekhimik 2
At Ak Bars 6, Avtomobilist 1
At CSKA 1, Avangard 0
At Slovan 4, Barys 2
At Lev 4, Yugra 0
Summaries are here.

The QMJHL, OHL and WHL are dark.

Sunday's Leftovers

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Torpedo 3, Spartak 0
At Lokomotiv 2, Dinamo Riga 1 SO
Donbass 3, at Atlant 2
SKA 3, at Dynamo Moscow 1
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.
Standings are here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Halifax 8, at Prince Edward Island 1
Moncton 5, at Cape Breton 4 SO
At Quebec 5, Baie-Comeau 0
Drummondville 2, at Sherbrooke 1
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.
Standings are here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
London 8, at Guelph 2
At Mississauga 3, Barrie 2
Kitchener 3, at Sarnia 2 SO
At Sudbury 4, Brampton 1
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.
Standings are here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Edmonton 6, Red Deer 2
Prince George 7, at Everett 6 SO
Portland 4, at Tri-City 2
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.
Standings are here.
The Buzzing the Net blog's three stars are here.

Sunday on Tap

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Torpedo 3, Spartak 0
At Lokomotiv 2, Dinamo Riga 1 SO
Donbass 3, at Atlant 2
SKA 3, at Dynamo Moscow 1
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.
Standings are here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Halifax at Prince Edward Island
Moncton at Cape Breton
Baie-Comeau at Quebec
Drummondville at Sherbrooke

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
London at Guelph
Barrie at Mississauga
Kitchener at Sarnia
Brampton at Sudbury

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Red Deer at Edmonton
Prince George at Everett
Portland at Tri-City

Saturday's Leftovers

KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Severstal 3, at Amur 1
Vityaz 3, at Metallurg Nizhnekamsk 0
At Sibir 2, Dinamo Minsk 1
At Salavat Yulav 2, Avtomobilist 1
Traktor 3, at Neftekhimik 1
At Ak Bars 2, Metallurg Magnitogorsk 1 SO
At CSKA 4, Yugra 2
At Slovan 4, Avangard 2
At Barys 4, Lev 2
Summaries are here.
Standings are here.
Roundup is here

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Chicoutimi 6, Gatineau 0
Rimouski 4, at Shawinigan 3 SO
At Rouyn-Noranda 2, Victoriaville 1
Blainville-Boisbriand 3, at Val-d'Or 2
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Belleville 3, at Plymouth 2 SO
Windsor 3, at Sault Ste. Marie 2
Peterborough 4, at Ottawa 3
At Owen Sound 5, Saginaw 2
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Calgary 5, Kootenay 1
Brandon 7, at Regina 4
At Swift Current 7, Moose Jaw 1
Prince Albert 5, at Saskatoon 2
At Medicine Hat 5, Lethbridge 1
Prince George 6, Everett 0
Kamloops 3, at Kelowna 2
Portland 6, at Seattle 2
Spokane 5, at Tri-City 2
At Vancouver 3, Victoria 2
Summaries are here.
Roundup is here.
Buzzing the Net's three stars for the night in the QMJHL/OHL/WHL are here.