Tag Archives: hockey

The Legacy of “The Great One”

Leave a reply

By Alexis Shuttleworth

Alexis Shuttleworth is a freshman Sport Management major. Her main interests are in College and Professional Football, Hockey, and Motorsports.

January 1, 2025

What does it take to be called “The Great One”? For Wayne Gretzky, it meant not only shattering records but also transforming hockey and leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports. Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian-born hockey player who is widely considered the greatest player in the history of the sport. Many even argue that he is one of the best athletes of all time. With such fame and popularity, he has impacted others, including fellow players, teams, coaches, aspiring hockey players, and the sport as a whole. Gretzky’s remarkable achievements on the ice, his impact on the NHL’s growth, and his role as a positive role model for athletes have solidified his status as one of the most influential figures in sports history.

What makes a person influential? What defines a pop icon? There isn’t a straightforward answer to these questions; it often depends on individual interpretation. I want to break it down into five different categories: 1. star power and/or talent, 2. personality, 3. the ability to break social norms and 4. showmanship, and 5. the impact an individual leaves behind. Although Wayne Gretzky is neither a pop star nor an award-winning actor, I believe he embodies all the qualities necessary to be considered a pop icon. Not only is he a pop icon, but he is also someone that people look up to which I believe is the most important aspect of being a famous sports player and is the proper way to use your fame. As Gretzky himself explains, “behind every big play, there’s another guy who grew up dreaming of making that play. He’s got a story, and he was inspired by someone else’s story” (Gretzky & McClellan Day, 2016, p. ix). The beauty of being a popular icon in sports is inspiring the ones after them to be just as great, or even greater.

Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26th, 1961, In Brantford Ontario, Canada. His deep love for hockey sprouted from his father Walter Gretzky who is often referred to as “Canada’s Hockey Dad”. Walter had even built a skating rink in the family backyard and named it “Wally’s Coliseum”. This is the place where Wayne would spend countless hours perfecting his craft. It was known at a young age Wayne would be something great. As Felix writes on International Hockey Net, “by the age of 5, Wayne was already demonstrating remarkable prowess on the ice, skating circles around older kids and displaying uncanny ability to handle the puck with finesse” (para. 4). Felix writes that in the early years what set Wayne apart from the rest was not just his skill but his dedication to the game. This is something that would follow him into his later years of life as well.

After many years of hard work, Gretzky started his career in junior hockey, and this is when it became clear that he would be something great. “In the world of junior hockey, Wayne Gretzky’s star shone brightly. He first gained widespread attention while playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). It was during this time that he amassed a staggering 70 goals and 112 assists in a single season” (Felix, 2016, para. 10). This is when heads began to turn and many eyes in the NHL were watching. At the age of 17, he finally made his NHL debut with the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association (WHA) after NHL scouts could no longer ignore his excellence. However, his true career in the NHL wouldn’t begin until he was 20 years old, and he started playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

Before exploring Wayne Gretzky’s career and how he became a popular household name, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to him achieving greatness in this sport. To grasp how an average kid from Brantford, Canada, transformed into a well-known figure celebrated for his remarkable accomplishments and dedication to hockey, we must first examine his upbringing. The young Gretzky had an icon whom he always admired – i.e., Gordie Howe, and he is not shy to make it known that Howe was the reason he started his career in hockey. Even the iconic number he wore, 99 (The only number retired across the NHL) (Jackson, 2000), is due to Howe. “It’s special not because I wore it. It’s special because someone who came before me wore the number 9. All I wanted to be when I was growing up was Gordie Howe.” (Gretzky & McClellan, 2016, p. xiv). Gretzky transformed from being a 6-year-old boy learning the sport of hockey from his dad, inspired by a dream of becoming like the great Gordie Howe, to ultimately being recognized as the greatest player ever to step onto the ice. Having role models in life is one of the most important aspects of sports and is how many of the “Greats,” as we know them, are as good as they are.

Wayne Gretzky stands out among the hockey legends primarily because of the remarkable records he set in the NHL and his dominance. “He is simply, ‘The Great One,’ a player of unsurpassed skills who dominated hockey as no other single player has ever dominated a team sport” (Hickok, 1995, p. 305). Even 25 years after his retirement in 1999, he still holds most of these records. During his career, Gretzky set a total of 61 records, and as of today, he retains 57 of them (Jackson, 2000). Instead of listing all the records, which could possibly exceed my page limit, I will highlight some key records that truly illustrate Gretzky’s dominance as a player.

In the regular NHL season, players earn points by scoring goals or providing assists to other players’ goals. Gretzky still holds the record for the most points scored in a single season. Incredibly, he also ranks 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th places for this record, meaning he has beaten his own record a total of ten times. Also, there is a 54-point difference between Gretzky, in first place, and Mario Lemieux, who is in 11th place. There have also been three players in NHL history to have 100+ assists in a single season: Mario Lemieux (1 time), Bobby Orr (1 time), and Wayne Gretzky who did it in 11 consecutive seasons. This demonstrates just how exceptional Wayne Gretzky truly was during his time on the ice. There are many different aspects that contribute to being an influential figure, especially in the field of sports, and excelling in sports is just one of those aspects.

An often-overlooked factor in the realm of sports pop icons is their personality outside of their fame. While impressive statistics in the league are important, they lose significance if an athlete is perceived in a negative light off the field. Such individuals may be labeled as “privileged” or “changed by fame.” This perception can influence how younger audiences look up to these athletes. For instance, parents may be reluctant for their children to look up to someone like Deshaun Watson, despite his football prowess, due to his negative actions and off-field image.

In contrast, Wayne Gretzky exemplifies admirable behavior both on and off the ice. He is widely regarded as one of the kindest and humblest athletes in history. To prepare for this essay, I read his autobiography, 99 Stories of The Game (Gretzky & McClellan Day, 2016), which provided deeper insights into his thoughts and mindset after retirement. Interestingly, I found that the book focused more on his teammates and coaches than on Gretzky’s own NHL career, highlighting the type of person he is. He believes that the stories generated throughout a player’s journey are what truly define them and shape the NHL, rather than statistics or wins and losses. As Gretzky states, “The fact is greatness is not captured in statistics. It’s captured in stories” (Gretzky & McClellan Day, 2016, p. xi). He further explains, “Without these stories, I would not have been the player I was, and the NHL wouldn’t be the league it is today” (Gretzky & McClellan Day, 2016, p. xiv). This perspective is essential for a true sports icon.

In the book Outtakes: Dan Patrick, American sportscaster and radio personality Dan Patrick interviews Gretzky. He shares that Gretzky expressed a desire not to be number one on the SportsCentury list, saying he simply didn’t want the pressure and attention. Instead, Gretzky preferred to be ranked second, fourth, or ninth. He said he would be fine with being recognized as the second-best athlete of the century or being in the top five or ten. He was comfortable knowing his place was near the top but didn’t want to occupy the top spot. It is hard to argue with that sentiment (Patrick & Sampras, 2000). Few athletes share such a perspective, as, for many, being number one is the goal. For Gretzky, however, the priority was to play the game he loved and inspire others to do the same.

Wayne Gretzky exemplifies what it means to be a popular icon, due to his ability to break social norms in hockey and embrace showmanship during his playing career. To achieve true popularity, one must endure and stand out. If you are an average hockey player stuck on the fourth line with a few points, your name is unlikely to be remembered. In contrast, Gretzky possessed exceptional talent and skill that will be talked about for generations to come.

Interestingly enough, Gretzky was never technically drafted into the NHL because of the NHL-WHA merger in 1979. This circumstance made a need for him to make a name for himself from the start. His first taste of the NHL was at age 17, when “Wayne Gretzky made his NHL debut with the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association (WHA), a rival league to the NHL. However, it was his subsequent move to the Edmonton Oilers, then an NHL team, that would mark the beginning of an era (Felix, 2023, para. 13). This small taste of the pro league before being thrown onto the NHL permanently may have been crucial for his stardom in the future.

During his rookie year, Gretzky made an impressive entry into the league, scoring 51 goals and providing 86 assists (“Wayne Gretzky,” 2024). Without this standout performance, he likely would have gone unnoticed, just another player in the 107 years of NHL history. Establishing visibility early in your career is crucial for becoming a pop icon in the future.

The final and, in my opinion, most crucial aspect of being a beloved public figure is the impact you leave behind. Many pop icons that come to mind are still being discussed today because of the influence they had on their communities. For instance, Elvis Presley has been gone for 47 years, yet he is still regularly mentioned with great admiration and continues to be a household name. Why is that? It’s because of the significant impact he has had on the music scene. He is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll.” The influence individuals have on their communities is what keeps their legacies alive for many years to come.

Wayne Gretzky exemplifies greatness in numerous ways, especially through his impressive records and statistics. Although he last played in the NHL in 1999, he still holds an astounding 57 records. It’s likely that many of these records will remain unbroken for years to come, and some may continue long after he has passed away. Gretzky’s name will persist in record books and graphics for many years, ensuring that his legacy will be prominent in the NHL for generations.

Another reason Wayne Gretzky has had a significant impact on the hockey world is his ongoing support even after retiring. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, “Following his retirement, Gretzky became a minority owner and alternate governor for the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. He later became the team’s head coach in August 2005 and signed a lucrative five-year contract extension in May 2006. In his four seasons with the club, he coached the team to a record of 143 wins, 161 losses, and 24 overtime losses” (“Wayne Gretzky,” 2025, para. 14). Even after his playing career, Gretzky continued to be an influence in the NHL, and by coaching others, he continued his dream of impacting players in the sport.

Not only did he have an impact on the hockey world he also had an impact globally and he illuminated Canada’s identity crisis at one point. For example, Steve Jackson (2000) reflected “upon the 1988 crisis of Canadian identity by tracing the discourses that linked the fate of one sports star, Wayne Gretzky, to the fate of the nation within the context of an impending threat of ‘“’Americanization’” (p. 166). When Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers in Canada to the Los Angeles Kings in America it was articulated as a crisis in Canadian identity. Many believed this would ruin the star’s fame and that he would no longer be considered a “Canadian Star.” This did not happen, however. It proves though how much of a popular figure Wayne Gretzky was at the time to cause this much discourse between countries.

One final reason, among many, that Wayne Gretzky impacted the sport of hockey is through his influence on how the game is played and his ability to inspire a new generation of hockey players. It is well-known that many athletes admired Wayne Gretzky while growing up. He transformed the public’s perception of the sport and motivated numerous players currently in the NHL to pursue their dreams.

The International Hockey Net explains this quite well: “Wayne Gretzky’s journey to the NHL wasn’t just a path to professional success; it was a transformative force in the world of hockey. He changed the way the game was played, emphasizing finesse, creativity, and teamwork over brute force. Gretzky’s impact was not limited to the ice; it extended to inspiring generations of young players who aspired to follow in his footsteps” (para. 15). His influence continues to reach across generations, and I believe it will never stop. People will always look up to “The Great One,” and I believe that is what makes him a pop icon.

While many may have differing opinions on what defines a popular icon and who deserves that title, I will always view Wayne Gretzky as the perfect figure who embodies the essence of hockey. He exemplifies this through his remarkable dominance on the ice, his incredible personality, the transformative changes he brought to sport, and, most importantly, the lasting impact he has made. Gretzky is the reason for my passion for hockey, and I know that many others share this same feeling as well. His legacy will continue to thrive as long the sport of hockey is played, and this is what makes him a pop icon.

References

Felix. (2023, September 26). “The Great One: Unraveling the legend of Wayne Gretzky.” International Hockey Net. https://internationalhockey.net/the-great-one-unraveling-the-legend-of-wayne-gretzky/#:~:text=Wayne%20Gretzky%E2%80%99s%20journey%20to%20the%20NHL%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20just,emphasizing%20finesse%2C%20creativity%2C%20and%20teamwork%20over%20brute%20force.

Gretzky, W. & McClellan Day, K. (2016). 99: Stories of the Game. New York, NY: Penguin.

Hickok, R. (1995). A Who’s Who of Sports Champions. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Jackson, S.J. (2000). Gretzky nation: Canada, crisis, and Americanization. In D.L. Andrews, & S.J. Jackson (Eds.). Sport Stars: The cultural politics of sporting celebrity (pp. 164-186). New York, NY: Routledge.

Patrick, D, & Sampras, P. (2000). Outtakes: Dan Patrick. New York, NY: ESPN Books.

Wayne Gretzky. (2024). Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wayne-gretzky

NHL Prospect Update: Ontario Hockey League

2 Replies

By Elise Williams

Elise Williams is a sophomore Sport Management major from Dublin, Ohio. She loves anything hockey and is incredibly passionate about the Canadian Hockey League. In her free time, she can be found curled up with a good book, asleep, or eating shredded cheese right out of the bag.

October 23rd, 2024

It’s been a few months since the 2024 NHL Entry Draft took place in The Sphere. An interesting experience for all. And since many NHL rosters are filling with rarely heard names for the beginning of the season, I figured now would be the best time to give a prospect update. More specifically, with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) guys, and how they have developed since their draft years.

Denver Barkey celebrating after a goal.

Denver Barkey (#95 in 2023, Philadelphia Flyers)

During his time with the Knights in London, Barkey has shown incredible tenacity and growth. Throughout his tenure, he has continued to provide scoring for the entire Knights roster and while not necessarily putting up superstar, godly numbers, his scoring is consistent and increasing. He signed with the Flyers back in March of 2024, a three-year deal that begins in the 2024-25 season. Flyers fans can expect him to be a great 3rd or 4th line guy, as his size is generally not ideal (5’8). However, Barkey continues to put in the work to become a top line player for both the Knights and the Flyers. Recently, he attended Flyers NHL camp with Knights teammate Oliver Bonk, but Barkey didn’t skate, as he is recovering from illness. Also, if any of you happen to care, I’ve talked to him a bit, and he is a really nice guy. He signed a drawing I gave him two years ago, and we occasionally talk through Instagram DMs.

Hunter Brzustewicz circling around the net. 

Hunter Brzustewicz (#75 in 2023, Vancouver Canucks/Calgary Flames)

Hunter Brzustewicz (pronounced, broo-STEV-itch, crazy I know), not to be confused with younger brother Henry Brzustewicz, is a new acquisition for the Calgary Flames. Hunter was involved in the Elias Lindholm trade with Andrei Kuzmenko and a few first-rounders. As an offensive defenseman, Brzustewicz‘s speed and skill are two massive factors in his play. He signed with the Flames back in mid-March, securing his spot within the Flames’ system. Brzustewicz, being US-born, went through the AAA system in Michigan. His point totals from 2023-24 were insane (especially for a defenseman), putting up a total of 92 points in 67 games. Currently, he is playing with the Calgary Wranglers, and within two games has put up an assist. Still, Flames fans can look forward to having a skilled defenseman in the near future in Brzustewicz (which is really hard to spell 7 times).

Easton Cowan suiting up for the Knights. 

Easton Cowan (#28 in 2023, Toronto Maple Leafs)

“Cowboy”, as many call him, is the future of the Leafs organization. Going later in the first round after being projected late fourth round, his come-up is well-documented by many different sources. Throughout his tenure with the Knights, Cowan has put up great numbers, tallying 96 points in just 54 games last year. In the playoffs, he put up 34 points in 18 games. These numbers got him signed with the Leafs as well, a 3-year deal that ends in 2026-27. Leafs’ fans can expect a sharp-shooting winger with great speed to join their lineup within the next year or so. Even though many are still skeptical about Cowan jumping so high in the draft, Brad Treliving (generally) does know what he’s doing when it comes to prospects. There are plenty of other great prospects coming through the Leafs farm system that will be touched on in the WHL portion of the NHL prospect update.

Dom DiVincentiis preparing to stop a puck.

Dom DiVincentiis (#207 in 2022, Winnipeg Jets)

As the only goaltender on this list, DiVincentiis stands out. He also stands out on the stat sheet, putting a save percentage of .919 in 48 games. That is almost unheard of in junior leagues. On top of that, he was the OHL ‘Goaltender of the Year’ in 2022-23. His skills made the Jets decision to draft him all the more worth it. Generally speaking, goalies never crack NHL rosters right out of junior hockey. It’s very rare to see an 18 or 19-year-old goalie in the National league because of the development and skill it takes to perfect being a goalie. You don’t just come out of Junior with the skills to stop a puck flying at you at 120 mph. So, giving a goaltender the time to adjust to the elite skill and speed of the National league, most hang out in the ECHL (which no longer stands for anything), or the American Hockey League (AHL). So Jets fans can expect DiVincentiis in the next 5 or so years, just so he can develop into the best goaltender he can be.

Sam Dickinson warming up for the London Knights.

Sam Dickinson (#11 in 2024, San Jose Sharks)

Full of personality and skill, Dickinson has a long NHL career ahead of him. He joined the Knights early in his career, a clear sign that he was the real deal. A genuine two-way defenseman, Dickinson has amazing puck control and hockey IQ, knowing what plays will create the best opportunity for a goal. His skills got him on the OHL First All-Rookie team in the 2022-23 season. On top of that, he was on Team Canada for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (which is like the hockey Olympics for under 18’s, in which 8 nations face off). His point production is increasing exponentially as well, putting up 70 points in 68 games as a defenseman (2023-24), as opposed to his 23 points in 62 games (2022-23). Sharks fans have plenty to look forward to in Dickinson, and can expect him as soon as the 2025-26 NHL season. He signed with the Sharks in July of 2024, so maybe that will expedite the process of him going to The Show.

Dalibor Dvorsky waiting to make a play for the Sudbury Wolves.

Dalibor Dvorsky (#10 in 2023, St. Louis Blues)

Coming to the OHL from the Swiss league Hockey Allsvenskan, Dvorsky brought his intense gameplay with him. His speed combined with his skill made him an amazing prospect for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. His puck-handling, passing, and offensive read are all lethal for the opposing team. He played for Team Slovakia at the World Juniors (the big hockey tournament around Christmas, where 8 nations face off with players under 20. This tournament is more popular than Hlinka Gretzky because the players promise to be in the NHL sooner – that is my guess), as well as Hlinka Gretzky, notching 13 points in 7 games in the younger tournament, and 3 points in 5 games at the World Juniors. Still, his intense game and ability to make difficult passes got him drafted by the St. Louis Blues. He signed with them in July of 2023, and many had mixed feelings. Those feelings should subside though, as Dvorsky is barreling through the AHL system in hopes of cracking an NHL roster either this year or the next.

Jett Luchanko turning to make a play at Flyers Development Camp.

Jett Luchanko (#13 in 2024, Philadelphia Flyers)

Luchanko (which, c’mon, what a name) shot up the NHL Draft rankings before the draft actually started. His work ethic is a massive part of that. Not only does he want to learn, but he also wants to be competitive. While his shot may not be the best on the team, his puck control and ability to make passes is on another level (Similar to Dvorsky above). He puts in the work to constantly be better than the competition, and feels the need to prove to many why the Flyers selected him. He flew under the radar at first, but his performance at the NHL Combine showed his strength to many that may have doubted him. His point totals throughout the years have steadily increased, starting at 14 points in 46 games, then shooting up to 74 points in 68 games. He signed with the Flyers in July of 2024, and began training to be an all-star. The amazing skills he has and the others he continues to polish will be an amazing asset for the Flyers in the near future.

Zayne Parekh looks towards fans in Saginaw.

Zayne Parekh (#9 in 2024, Calgary Flames)

Starting his junior career earlier than others, Parekh hadn’t always been on everyone’s radar. Whispers of his name had only just started at the beginning of his draft year, and then his talent exploded. His ability to make plays quickly and with such a strong hockey IQ was what drew in plenty of NHL teams. Winning the 2024 Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit only further drew in talent-hungry teams. Parekh was a massive asset to Saginaw during the entire tournament (I would know, I was there). His point totals weren’t astronomical, but that’s common for defensemen. At the Memorial Cup, he scored 5 points in 5 games, but anyone could notice his presence on the ice. In the regular season of his draft year, he scored an insane 96 points in 66 games. He signed with the Flames barely a week after the draft, and has been training to crack an NHL roster ever since. The Flames can expect a playmaking defenseman with great skating ability within a few years, possibly even sooner.

Beckett Sennecke with his current team, the Oshawa Generals.

Beckett Sennecke (#3 in 2024, Anaheim Ducks)

Going semi-viral for his dazed reaction to being drafted third overall, Sennecke has the skills to back up his draft spot. While he may not be putting up monstrous points like the other guys on this list, he still is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. The skills Sennecke brings to the Generals forward core are incredible. His puck handling, size, and skating led him to be a high draft pick. While many saw the pick as a throwaway (especially since it was a top 3 pick), others saw it as high-risk high-reward. If developed well within the Ducks’ system, Sennecke has the potential to be a first line winger for the Ducks, alongside an amazing prospect pool for Anaheim (truly one of the best prospect pools I’ve ever seen). Like many of the other guys on this list, Sennecke signed with the Ducks right out of the draft. Ducks fans (if there are any out there) can expect a highly-skilled winger with great size to add to the arsenal of incredible talent in the coming years.

Florian Xhekaj suiting up for the Brantford Bulldogs.

Florian Xhekaj (#101 in 2023, Montreal Canadians)

Florian Xhekaj (pronounced JACK-eye, I think? I’ve heard 12 different ways to say it, but this one is most agreed on), takes after his brother, Arber. That being said, the penalty minutes are high with these two brothers. Opting to protect his teammates rather than put up impressive numbers, Xhekaj isn’t always at the top of the score sheet. In the 2023-24 season, Xhekaj put up 25 points in 68 games, and had 18 penalty minutes (which makes me wonder how the OHL calculates penalty minutes, since I can count on my fingers and toes the number of fights Xhekaj got into, and I would still need more fingers). Still, sometimes a team needs a good enforcer. His aggression on the ice is what got him recognized by the Canadians, but also because his brother also plays in Montreal. The Canadians can expect a Bash-Bro’s type deal once Florian develops through the Canadiens farm system.

The NHL has such a bright future. Plenty of incredible prospects are making their way through the farm systems. As the NHL becomes more and more talented, it becomes more entertaining to watch. There is still plenty of talent left to be drafted as well, which is even better for the NHL as a whole. In conclusion, watch junior leagues. They’re the future of hockey.

“No Wusses Play Hockey”

Leave a reply

By Ellen Chlumecky

April 6, 2015

Football, rugby, lacrosse, wrestling, boxing, field hockey, and of course hockey are all very rough, high contact sports. There is always debate on what the roughest sport is and most importantly what sport has the toughest athletes. I’m sure there’s cases for all the above but most recently hockey has proven it’s worthiness for the toughest sport overall. This recent prestigious honor is due to Drew Miller of the Detroit Red Wings.

Drew Miller is the most recent example of the toughness that is demonstrated daily by hockey players. This incident was so fatal that Miller and his teammates feared he’d lose his right eye. On Tuesday, March 31st, the Red Wings played against Ottawa. Miller was standing behind Mark Stone and took a skate to the face, because Miller wears a visor it cut up the majority of his face pretty bad. Miller needed 50 to 60 stitches to close up the gash on his face. While Miller initially thought that he had lost his eye, the doctors cleared him and mentioned that his vision is fine. Miller wanted to go back in for the third period against the Senators but the doctors and his wife advised against the decision because of the fear of ripping the stitches.

Miller is now sporting a deep scar from his right eyebrow across his cheekbone. The whole cut was very deep especially in the cheek area. The eye itself is fine. Doctors have enforced him to wear a protective cage for a while, but he is convinced that he can still perform his duties on the ice.

If that wasn’t enough, Drew Miller suited up to play for the Red Wings in Thursday’s 3-2 loss to Boston at Joe Louis Arena. The day he decided to suit up for the game was only just two days after a skate to his face. While this may seem absurd to most, it would be more painful for most hockey players not to play than to sit out with an injury. That’s how badly they want to play and help their teammates.

Hockey players push the boundaries beyond belief. Their passion to their craft is unmatched by any other sport. While I’m sure other athletes have shown just as much dedication, there is a unique aspect to hockey players’ dedication. Coach of the Red Wings, Mike Babcock, called the incident the definition of team building. While fellow teammate of Miller, Brendan Smith, stated, “I’m not sure how to say this, but no wusses play. It’s a tough sport and I think that’s why it’s ingrained at a young age. If you don’t want to play a tough game, you go play tennis or golf.”

Go back

Your message has been sent

 

Mumps Affecting Not Only the NHL

By Savannah Malnar

Flu outbreaks aren’t uncommon around this time of the year in professional sports leagues. What is uncommon is the appearance of the mumps in the NHL. Professional athletes are forced to spend an excessive amount of time together in close contact, between sharing rooms on road trips and water bottles in the locker rooms. So when a contagious illness hits one player, it’s likely to spread throughout the team. The interesting aspect about these illnesses is that in the NHL they can spread pretty easily to other teams as well, with all the hard hits and the fighting bringing rival players into physical contact.

The outbreak of the disease started in Anaheim with the defensemen Francois Beauchemin and Clayton Stoner, along with star forward Corey Perry. Other teams that have since reported cases include the Minnesota Wild, the New York Rangers, the New Jersey Devils, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The NHL is doing everything in its power to bring awareness to the disease and ensure that the players have access to booster shots or the initial mumps immunization if they did not receive it as a child.

The media’s primary concern right now seems to be the quality of the game with a disease like this going around. What will the Penguins do without Sidney Crosby while he recovers? Did the Ducks lose games they could have won if Perry wasn’t ill?

One ESPN article brought attention to a less talked about side of the epidemic; the American Hockey League. The AHL is a development league for the NHL, and players move up and down between the leagues on daily basis. Two players and one head coach in the AHL have come down with this sickness. The total amount of hockey players affected is up to 18.

Dr. Gregory Poland, the director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group, believes that this outbreak is not actually all that uncommon. “To be very frank with you, if 13 students at a junior college in rural Arizona had mumps, you and I wouldn’t be talking. It gets hyped because it’s in (professional athletes),” Poland said. Poland also stressed making sure all players receive the immunization they need; from there it’s just a waiting game. There are no cures or antibiotics available for the disease, so hockey players will just have to do what they do best: tough it out.

Go back

Your message has been sent

More Than A Game

Leave a reply

By Kia Tyus

In many sports, the sole purpose is to win by all means necessary. Many athletes have gained a terrible reputation of being very conceded with others and have the mind-set that they are better.

In a sport like hockey, which I consider one of the most physically demanding sports, players are constantly getting slammed into the wall, taunting one another, and receiving multiple penalties throughout the game.

With many student athletes there seems to be a constant struggle to abide by disciplinary rules off the field. Well the media seems to portray this that way.

Greg Wyshynski wrote an emotional article about how Keving Shier, a freshman hockey player at Union College, helped save Timothy Neild.

Usually, when people see others having car trouble on the road, you rarely have people stop to see if it is okay. This isn’t just people being road but some people are in rushes and simply don’t think twice about a broken down car. Now if most people were to see a burning car on the side of the road, they would probably call the police and stay as far away from the car as possible; to refrain themselves from injury.

Well, Shier and his father were driving to Union College for a recruiting visit and noticed a burning car. Instead of panicking and calling the cops and waiting, they alertly went over to the car to see if anybody was in there. Shier and his father ended up pulling Neild out of the car. Shier stated, “We thought he was dead”. Because of this act of kindness, Shier and his father ended up saving Neild’s life.

It turns out that Neild is in fact a Captain in the armed forces. To pay his respect, Neild presented Shier the Medal of Valor one of the top medal to receive at the Union vs Princeton game. And in return, the Union team autographed a signed jersey for Neild and his family.

The way Wyshynski wrote this article allowed people to see that many college athletes both future and present have great hearts and do a lot of wonderful things off the courts that just never get said in the media because the media focuses more on negativity.

The editor edited this story in a way that allowed readers to connect and read about how the incident impacted everyone involved.

Go back

Your message has been sent

College Hockey: Skating in the Right Direction

Leave a reply

By Ellen Chlumecky

Hockey has never been the most important or popular sport in the United States. While all leagues of hockey have their large fan bases, but the NHL, college hockey, high school hockey, and youth leagues are still barely making the top of the list for most popular sport in the United States.

While hockey is still barely at the top of the list, they have been making head way in the past couple years. As I previously stated in an earlier article, the 2014 NHL season has started to make a huge splash in different media outlets other than just the NHL Network. While ESPN still rarely shows hockey video clips, NBC Sports Network has been devoted to showing hockey games even more than any other network in the United States.

The most recent addition to the NBC Sports Network family is NCAA college hockey. Last year, NBCSN only showed the NCAA Frozen Four, which is the championship, and a few games here and there. While very important to all college hockey programs to make this huge step, the championships are only just one important part of the season. Which is why it is such a big deal that NBCSN is now showing college hockey regularly now. While so far they have only shown Boston College and Notre Dame, two of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I, but for them to regularly start showing college hockey games is something that was unimaginable a couple of years ago. A couple of years ago, the only way you could go see some college hockey games was to attend the game in person or if you lived locally you might be able to catch the game on a local sports television show. For the college hockey programs across the United States this is a huge step especially when college football and basketball tend to take a lead when it comes to ESPN and other larger sports networks.

I am not saying that the NBCSN has perfected the spread of college hockey yet. NBC Sports Network has still yet to add a college hockey tab to their website. While they do still have college hockey clips to watch on their website, they are far from making it a big deal. The college hockey season is only about ten games in so I believe that NBCSN can blow college hockey up and make hockey a true contender in that list and a game that people are excited to watch.

Go back

Your message has been sent

 

Trouble On Tinder

Leave a reply

By Kate Roth

In the past few years social media has emerged as one of the top go to methods for retrieving any sort of news around the world, including sports. No matter what sport you are interested in, there is always something happening on social media to keep you updated with your favorite teams and players. Often fans can even stay connected with the players by following their personal social media sites.

This has proven to be both good and bad for athletes. Yes it is great for them to be able to share some their personal life with their fans, but social media can also lead to negative situations for athletes all too often.

Twitter and Facebook seem to be the normal sites that we find athletes getting themselves in trouble with by their comments, but now even the popular social media dating app, Tinder is causing some trouble for two young athletes.

Greg Betzold and Jake Marchment two young players both only 19 years old playing in the Ontario Hockey League, part of the junior Canadian Hockey League, have found themselves suspended for 15 games after sending abusive comments to women through the social media site.

The two players who originally though the conversations they were having would stay private, quickly saw them go public all over the news after the women took screen shots of their conversations and posted them online for all to see.

Once the OHL was informed of these incidents they acted quickly and informed the players, teams and press that even though these were private actions in the two players lives it was still unacceptable behavior and they would have to serve a 15-game suspension as consequence.

Betzold and Marchment took their own private Twitter accounts to apologize for their actions. Both stated that they wanted to make clear that they thought these were private conversations, but none the less it was childish and unacceptable behavior.

With the amount of off-field drama that college, semi-professional and professional sports have had this year, it is clear to see why the OHL acted so quickly.  Not only did the league serve up a pretty heavy suspension for first time offenders, they also made sure to alert the media of the issue right away and assure them that the situation was being handled by the league.

The OHL is a league designed to develop young players as they prepare to enter into the NHL. By acting quickly on this situation and making an example out of these two players, the OHL is showing that they care about their players and are there to help develop them not only as players, but also as young men.

Hopefully other athletes, especially young ones, can learn from the mistakes made by these two players and all other players who have found themselves in some trouble through their actions on social media. While it can be a great way to stay connected to the fans, the athletes need to know their limits and realize that nothing they post on any of these sites is private.

Go back

Your message has been sent

Back in Full Swing: Start of the 2014 NHL Season

1 Reply

By Ellen Chlumecky

The 2014 NHL Season kicked off this Wednesday with a substantial amount of media attention from a multitude of different media outlets. While the NHL is not the number one popular sport currently in the United States, NHL teams’ public relation and marketing teams have been doing an exceptional job at getting the attention on the NHL.

Hockey is not covered much as sports such as football and basketball, however hockey is still proclaimed one of the four major sports in both North America and the United States. However, NBC Sports Network has world class coverage which includes weeknight games all week and the rivalry night during the week. NBCSN is also starting to show some college hockey games in addition to the NHL games.

In addition to local radio stations and TV stations in each of the respective teams’ areas, the NHL franchise has taken to Twitter to promote the 2014 season. All of the individual NHL teams have also taken to Twitter to promote their games and the start of the season. The NHL also decided to create a Snapchat to promote their stories and game times. They also post daily to their Instagram account, which had a countdown of the amount of days until the season started. The NHL franchise is trying to hit every corner of the media to broadcast the start of the season and to get more and more people to watch. The NHL wants all types of fans and are trying to expand their media horizons even more than ever.

While the NHL is being supported by NBCSN and other major media outlets, one of the biggest sports media outlets that tends to ignore the NHL is ESPN. While NBCSN own all national coverage rights to show NHL games, it shouldn’t stop ESPN from broadcasting stories or highlights of certain games. The reason why ESPN is not a huge supporter of the NHL is unknown, but despite this setback, the NHL seems to be doing fine without their support. It is set to be a great season for the NHL with plenty of fresh faces and a multitude of teams ready to battle for their chance to hoist the Stanley Cup. The NHL franchises should be commended on their hard work with the marketing, promotions and advertising they have been doing to promote the league further. Here’s to another great NHL season!

 

Hockey: The Neglect Continues for the NHL

Leave a reply

By Nicholas Muhl

I was born December 29th, 1992. That year the Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup behind NHL Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux. Growing up as a young kid in the 90’s, I was raised to love the National Hockey League. To this day I can remember collecting NHL hockey cards as a kid, and knowing many of the players that played for each team.

I grew up watching the toughness of defensemen Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils. I saw both goaltenders Patrick Roy and Martin Brouder battle for who was the best in the NHL. Both are now probably two of the best hockey players to ever play. And I saw the Dallas Star’s Brett Hull score the infamous “No Goal” in triple overtime to defeat the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup.

In the 90’s and early 2000’s, the NHL was in it’s prime. The NHL is much different a decade later. It’s experienced two lockouts since 2004 under commissioner Gary Bettman. Events like Todd Bertuzzi’s blind side sucker punch on Steve Moore in 2004, and Patrice Bergeron’s Grade III concussion in 2007 have called into question the brutality of the sport.

Rightfully so, for a time period, the NHL was it’s own worst enemy and received little to no media coverage because of it. There was a point where many NHL games were being shown on little known media networks like OLN. Gone were the big time games on ABC, NBC, ESPN and other major networks.

However, the NHL is building back to what it once was. Superstars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have generated national attention to the NHL and have become household names, even for the non-hockey fan. The 2014 Stanley Cup final between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers was the second most watched Stanley Cup final since 2006.

Now, days before the 2014 NHL season is set to begin, where is the media coverage of the NHL? After such a highly watched Stanley Cup, why do I find myself, an avid fan of the NHL, barely feeling like the season is set to begin at all? Nightly SportsCenter episodes are spent discussing players like Johnny Manziel and LeBron James. Headlines are all about the major sports like football and basketball.

While the NHL still has a long way to go before it can be once again included with the major leagues of the NFL, NBA and MLB, it is now on the right path. However, the NHL will never make a comeback until major networks like ESPN begin giving the NHL the coverage it deserves. It’s frustrating as a fan, because these major networks make it harder to be a fan of a sport so many love.

Go back

Your message has been sent

Two Sports, Two Wins, One Covered

By Ellen Chlumecky

The Bowling Green State University Falcons had an exciting Homecoming weekend with not only one, but two huge wins. The BGSU Football team won 36-35 while the BGSU Hockey team won 7-2. Both teams played exceptionally well through rocky starts and pushed through with a victory. However, the difference between the two is that football was aired by the media, but hockey was not.

The Bowling Green Football game was broadcasted on ESPN 3, and a myriad of the local TV stations such as ABC 13 in Toledo and local Bowling Green news channel. The Bowling Green hockey game was only broadcasted by the local Bowling Green news channel. Both were available on different local radio stations. One can listen to the football games on Eagle 99, WONW, WLQR, The Word 1220, K94, the Fox and the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization which is available on 88.1 WBGU FM and WFAL Falcon Radio, while the hockey team is only broadcasted on 88.1 WBGU FM and WFAL Falcon Radio.

The football game and the hockey game were also written about in several different local newspapers like the Toledo Blade and the Sentinel Tribune. However, the Toledo Blade wrote four different stories about the football game in comparison to the one story about the hockey game. While the Sentinel Tribune had equal stories for each game, the top story for their sports page was from the Bowling Green football game.

The football team has a new head coach, solid and dedicated players, and a mass amount of opportunities ahead of them. The hockey team is planning on having an excellent season this year with ten new freshmen players, powerhouse forwards, and new captains in leadership roles. Unfortunately, they have really been shown no recognition for their dedication thus far. While both the football and hockey teams practice immensely hard for wins, their recognition by the media has not been equal. They are both excellent teams, so why aren’t they being shown the same amount of recognition?

Hockey has been pushed to the side in the sports media world for an exceedingly long time. With more and more top notch hockey players entering the college hockey ranks, there should be more attention placed on these hard working athletes. The Bowling Green football and hockey teams both work day in and day out to win and be the best in their respective conferences. Football players should not receive all the media recognition especially when they’re not the only ones succeeding. Bowling Green State University has so much to be proud of with so many winning sports teams and should spread the word out about all of them, not just a select few.

Go back

Your message has been sent