Sergei Zubov: I still play for Russian fans

Sergey Zubov

A famous hockey player Sergei Fedorov: Runs along with a twenty-year old

Sergey Fedorov

Viktor Kozlov: “Do not be offended if you will drive past the Olympic Games”

Viktor Kozlov: “It’s great to play with Radulov and Fedorov”

Viktor Kozlov

Jiri Hudler: I never regret when I left “Detroit” for the sake of “Dinamo”.

Jiri Hudler

Alexei Yashin: I like it here

Alexei Yashin

]]> http://hockeyblogspot.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/nhl-legends-playing-at-home/feed/ 0 hockeyblogspot Sergey Zubov Sergey Fedorov Viktor Kozlov Jiri Hudler Alexei Yashin http://hockeyblogspot.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/sergey-fedorov-fight-in-khl/ http://hockeyblogspot.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/sergey-fedorov-fight-in-khl/#comments Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:08:38 +0000 hockeyblogspot http://hockeyblogspot.com/?p=279 ]]> As you probably know, Sergey Fedorov (Red Wings, Ducks, Blue Jackets, Capitals) is currently playing in KHL for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Here is an interesting fight when he stood up for his younger brother, Fedor Fedorov.

I also suggest you to watch this short video titled “Hot Ice” on some plays in KHL.

Of course KHL games are not broadcasted in US, but let me tell you, fighting is a regular event in KHL.

Alexei Kovalev and Nikolai Khabibulin are not on this roster, nor Sergei Zubov and forwards Nikita Filatov, Nikolai Zherdev, Alexei Yashin and Maxim Shusinsky, although any of these or other players can be added between now and February 15th, when the final rosters must be submitted.

I will be rooting for Belarus and Russia, and beleive only team Canada and team Sweden are the real threats for a heavy offensive Russian team.

Michael Farber in the last issue of Sport Illustrated has an article All-Decade Team: NHL.

Sidney Crosby, Martin Brodeur lead NHL All-Decade team – 2000s: The Decade in Sports – SI.com.

I would like to hear your opinion on making his choices. Some of the players that I would definitely include in the All-Decade Team are:

And so far the SI poll Do you agree with NHL.com’s selections for its All-Decade roster? is split in the middle.

I know linesmen’s and referees could miss an action, but that’s not an excuse to have such a thing.

Fans enjoying a game, some paid a lot for a ticket to come to arena and most importantly a punishment for a bad play went unnoticed or a call has been made for a good hit or great defensive play!

I do believe that we should introduce play reviews, which in fact could reduce amount of dirty hits and plays, dives and so on. I’ve asked several hockey players from junior, AA and NHL league about this and they all had different views and opinions on the subject.

What do you think and feel about play reviews in ice hockey? Will this change the game, if it is, how?

I left Minsk, Belarus in 1994 to come to USA. I’m still watching Olympic Games, but on the big screen TV and rooting for Belarus, Russia and USA. Funny, right? The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are not far away and I’m very excited. My 7^th year old daughter, Gabriela, will be rooting for USA.

2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia more than 4 years away and a lot could happen until then, but the thought of some athletes from NHL not being representing their countries in 2014 Olympic Games make me think on the NHL’s agenda and what could be the outcome for players and their countries?

To my knowledge and best educated guess, in every sport, every player ultimate goal and dream is to represent his/her country in Olympic Games.

I don’t know if there are any clauses in the existing contracts that players have where it specified about this kind of restriction. If it is, then players were aware of that. If not, then they should be allowed to represent their countries and I will be rooting for them, watching on the 46” HD TV.

In that qualifying game Russia lost to Slovenia and will not be part of 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Professional players didn’t act as professionals to my opinion and it looks like there wasn’t a curfew in that team.

Do you think every team has to have a curfew? If you know about the curfew in the team you’re fan of or just following, or if you are a player, what curfew do you have in your team?

What I found strange was that one hockey rink was right across the street from the hotel I stayed at, but that rink was only for hockey practices and I could only watch young kids playing Bandy (field hockey on skates). Hmmm, interesting game.

Bandy

Then I came to know that we also have Bandy Association in USA.

I’m a very big fan of Henrik Lundqvist of the NY Rangers, so I really wanted to find his Swedish hockey jersey or any jersey that he was wearing at the time he was playing in his home country, but I couldn’t find one in Stockholm. Well, I was proud to wear his NY Rangers jersey while in Stockholm.

Stockholm, Sweden

If anyone know sites and places where hockey apparel can be obtained in your home country,  please share it here.

Vadim.

Under IIHF rules, each team may carry a maximum of 20 players and two goaltenders on their roster. NHL rules restrict the total number of players per game to 18 (traditionally twelve forwards and six defensemen) plus two goaltenders.

The purpose of the game is to score the puck in the opponent’s goal net, positioned at the opposite side of the rink. The puck, which is a rubber disk –  is 1 inch thick and 3 inches in diameter, made of vulcanized rubber and weight 5 1/2 to 6 ounces.

Size of the hockey rink (NHL) is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide surrounded by a wooden wall not less than 40 inches and not more than 48 inches above level of ice. Size of the goal is 6 feet wide by 4 feet height. The corners shall be rounded in the arc of a circle with a radius of 28’ feet.

The players allowed controlling the puck using a long stick with a blade that is commonly curved at one end.

Length if the stick allowed by NHL, is not more than 60 inches from the heel to the end of shaft, nor more than 12 1/2 inches from heel to end of blade. Blade should not be more than 3 inches in width but not less than 2 inches—except goal keeper’s stick, which shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches in width except at the heel, where it must not exceed 4 1/2 inches, nor shall the goalkeeper’s stick exceed 15 1/2 inches from the heel to the end of the blade.

Players can also redirect the puck with any part of their bodies with subject to certain restrictions by the leagues. In addition to that, players may not hold the puck in their hand and are prohibited from using their hands to pass the puck to their teammates, with exception of when they’re in the defensive zone.

Players are also prohibited from kicking the puck into the opponent’s goal, unless goal review or referees on the ice can determine that kicking was unintentional. Players may not intentionally bat the puck into the net with their hands.

Unlike in rugby, hockey is an “offside” game, meaning that forward passes are allowed. Before the 1930s hockey was an onside game, meaning that only backward passes were allowed.  Those rules favored individual stick-handling as a key means of driving the puck forwards. With introduction of offside rules, the forward pass transformed hockey into a truly team sport.

The team on the ice is divided into 1 goaltender, 3 forwards and 2 defensemen.  Other players are on the bench, including one backup goaltender.

The forward positions are: 1 center and 2 wingers – right and left. Forwards may switch positions according to coach preferences, if a player can play that specific position.

The 2 defensemen’s are usually stay together as a pair, generally divided between left and right. Players put on the left and right positions due to their ability to play and in which they can carry their stick, with specific curve.

When an entire unit is changing – it is called a “line change”. Coach can alternate defensive pairings with forwards, either on the penalty kill (“shorthanded”) or “power play”. Substitution of players is permitted at any time during a game, with exception of when team is “iced the puck”.

“Shorthanded” – describes when a team has fewer players on the ice surface than the opposition, because of penalties incurred.

“Power Play” – this occurs when a team has the advantage of more players on the ice, than the opposition, as a result of penalties being assessed. During this timed advantage, the full-strength team will attempt to control the puck in the opposition’s zone in order to create goal-scoring opportunities. A power play ends when the penalty expires or the penalized team allows a goal.

“Face off” – used to start or restart play. The referee is dropping the puck between two opposing players, who will both try to gain possession of the puck.

Two players “face” each other and an official drops the puck to the ice, where the two players attempt to take control of the puck. Faceoff circles markings on the ice indicate the locations for the “faceoff” and guide the positioning of players.

Substitutions are permitted at any time during the course of the game, although during a stoppage of play the home team is permitted the final change. When players are substituted during play, it is called changing on the fly. A new NHL rule added in the 2005-2006 season prevents a team from changing their line after they ice the puck.

The boards surrounding the ice help keep the puck in play and they can also be used as tools to play the puck. Players are permitted to “body check” opponents into the boards as a means of stopping progress.

“Checking” – is any one of a number of defensive techniques in which a player uses their body or stick. It is usually not a penalty; however it can be penalized when performed recklessly.

There are various types of checking:

“Body checking” – using the body to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice. It is often referred to as simply checking or hitting and is only permitted on an opponent with possession of the puck. In women’s hockey, any body checking is a penalty, and is also usually not allowed in amateur leagues and leagues with young children.

“Hip checking” – to use your hip to knock an opposing player from their stride. If a player hits other player below the knee, it’s considered an infraction in the National Hockey League, and called “clipping“.

“Shoulder-checking” – the most common type of body-check, in which a player puts his shoulder into his opponent to muscle the opponent out of position. The elbow must be tucked in, or the player risks taking a penalty for elbowing.

“Poke checking“ – using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.

“Sweep checking” – using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from opponents or deter them from passing.

“Stick checking“ – using the stick to interfere with an opponent’s stick.

“Forechecking” – checking in the offensive zone, with the intention of gaining control of the puck and setting up a scoring opportunity.

“Backchecking” – rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team’s attack.

“Cross-checking” – the act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands and with arms extended. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severity of the infraction.

“Lift checking” – a player lifts or knocks an opponent’s stick upwards with his/her stick followed immediately by an attempt to steal the puck. This may also be used by a defenseman to keep an opposing player from deflecting shots when both players are positioned in front of the net.

“Press checking” – a type of stick check used to stop or control the movement of an opponent’s stick by placing stick pressure over top of the opponent’s stick.

The referees, linesmen and the outsides of the goal are “in play” and do not cause a stoppage of the game when the puck or players are influenced (by either bouncing or colliding) into them. Play can be stopped if the goal net is knocked out of position. Play often proceeds for minutes without interruption. When play is stopped, it is restarted with a faceoff.

There are three important rules of play in ice hockey that limit the movement of the puck: “offside”,” icing” and the “puck going out of play”.

“Puck out of play” is when puck goes past the perimeter of the ice rink (onto the protective netting above the glass, onto the player benches or over the “glass”) and a stoppage of play is called by the officials using whistles. It also does not matter if the puck comes back onto to the ice surface from those areas as the puck is considered dead once it leaves the perimeter of the rink.

“Icing” or “Icing the puck” – occurs when a player shoots the puck from his own half of the ice into the opposing end zone and it is then touched by a defending player other than the goaltender. Once the defending player touches the puck, play is halted and a face off occurs in the half of the ice from which the puck was shot.

Each team has one Capitan and one or two Alternate Capitan’s. Alternate Capitan is identified by the letter A on their sweater. Each team needs up to two alternate captains who will take over the captain’s responsibilities if he/she is off the ice.

On each scored goal, 2 Assist are given to the players who participated in helping scoring that goal.

Assist Credit given to a player/s after passing the puck to the scorer of the goal. A maximum of two assists can be awarded per goal.

Here is a complete Official NHL Rulebook for 2009-10 season.