Hockey questions answered

[lmanchur.]

I'm going to try something new with the SC boards, but done before with the Sports Central web site... last year, SC had a feature titled "Ask the Expert" on their web site that allowed visitors submit questions to a football expert, who would answer their questions on anything about football... some may have asked rules of the game that confused them, while others, like myself, asked the expert how he thought my favorite team would do in the upcoming season (and, I will add, he was actually dead on the money with how he said the Bills would do and what would happen with Doug Flutie!).

Now, I am asking all the visitors to the hockey forum of these boards to submit questions about the sport of hockey.

Remember, no question is too stupid or silly, but if you would feel more comfortable e-mailing me your question, then do so. I can be reached at leemanchur@sports-central.org.

If I get enough responses, I will include my answers to these questions in a full-length SC article later this month. However, if I do not get enough responses to put together a full article, I will respond to each of your questions individually via e-mail.

example questions (ask these ones, if you like!)
Who created the Stanley Cup and when?
Who do you think had a bigger impact on the game: Wayne Gretzky or Bobby Orr?
What is an "offside"?
Do you think the New Jersey Devils will repeat as champions in 2001?

[Edited by SC-Lee on 01-04-2001 at 05:06 PM]

[Boomer]

How do you think super Mario is gonna do and what do you think of the Pens chances this year

[iFroggy]

Wait Lee, what are you talking about? I'm the resident Hockey Expert! Wayne Gretsky is still playing, right? :D

[lmanchur.]

he he, iFroggy... I hope u made those 2 mistakes ON PURPOSE... "Gretsky" is "Gretzky" and you know the other one :)

...okay now seriously, hockey is the newest sport in a lot of American regions, and there are very few questions (1 so far?)!??... come one peoples!

[Marc]

How can hockey continue to expand and develop without over-creating too many lowly expansion teams?

[Wedge231]

Do you think the Rangers have a playoff shot? Individually they have a lot of good players but they just can't seem to win too often.

[lmanchur.]

You guys are asking some pretty tough questions!... keep them coming, though!! Already, however, I probably have enough to write a full article, but I can always use more!

In addition to the three posted here, I received one via e-mail from "anonymous": What do you think of Evgeni Nabokov's surprise performance this season, and do the Sharks have what it takes to go all the way?

[iFroggy]

I was just joking Lee. :)

[Boomer]

Bet that you didn't know you spelt The Great One's (Yes I can't spell it either) name wrong though

[ppsprotec]

Just posted a new thread with an interesting question.Guess I should have read this one first.Anyway from a 30 year ice hockey player I`m sure you will get plenty of good questions for your article.Great idea.PPS.

(Note: To help you out, I pasted your question from the accidental thread you started, here. "Harold Druken (a Newfoundlander) recently scored a hat trick. Is he the first Newfoundlander to score a hat trick in the NHL? Harold is with Vancouver.")

[Edited by M. James on 01-05-2001 at 01:10 PM]

[Rick Dogg]

Dont freak out because he speled Gretzky's name wrong. Remember Perdu or Perde or whatever else you said. Here is a question for you... Why do you think the NHL never has a chance to make it in America, the Best Countrty in the World?

[Marc]

To all of you who asked questions to Lee, you can view his full article now at: http://www.sports-central.org/sports/nhl/articles/article59.shtml

[Wedge231]

Oh, cool!

[lmanchur.]

...if you have any more questions at this, or any other time in the season, post them here or e-mail me @ leemanchur@sports-central.org and I will compile them into another article in the future!

Thank you to everyone who asked a question for this past week's article! Next week's NHL column will feature my opinions on the future of the game of hockey in North America, so stay tuned, and keep posting on this board! :)

[Montreal Binz]

Originally posted by Rick Reighard
Dont freak out because he speled Gretzky's name wrong. Remember Perdu or Perde or whatever else you said. Here is a question for you... Why do you think the NHL never has a chance to make it in America, the Best Countrty in the World?



Because Hockey is the fastest game on the planet !
Because Hockey is Canada national sport !
Because Canada was voted the best country to live in !
Because we have beer that taste like beer !
Because we are canadian !!!

( Sorry had to say that ! I love that Molson Canadian Commercial ! )

[Rick Dogg]

Hey Lee, have you ever heard of "Stompin' Tom Connors"?

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by Rick Reighard
Hey Lee, have you ever heard of "Stompin' Tom Connors"?

...you couldn't call me a Canadian if I said, "No"!!!... of course I have!!!

...now, I am guessing there was a purpose for you asking me that... what is it?

[Rick Dogg]

You mean he is popular in Canada!!!!!!! I'm rolling on the floor laughing. This guy is so Canadien it is scary. I heard two of his songs online, what do you like better, the hockey game song or the snowmobile? I thought he was a small time garage band or something. It is just hard to imagine that kind of music being popular somewhere. Although, I guess we have crap too. Like all rap singers for instense.

[Wedge231]

Anti-rap comments continue. Even though, I myself don't like rap, I feel people can like whatever music they want.

[Rick Dogg]

I am aware of that. But I can also insult any kind of music I want.

[Wedge231]

Oh. Never thought of that. Good point.

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by Rick Reighard
You mean he is popular in Canada!!!!!!! I'm rolling on the floor laughing. This guy is so Canadien it is scary. I heard two of his songs online, what do you like better, the hockey game song or the snowmobile? I thought he was a small time garage band or something. It is just hard to imagine that kind of music being popular somewhere. Although, I guess we have crap too. Like all rap singers for instense.


Okay... let's not get into an argument about rap or anything.... but anyways, he isn't hugely popular in Canada, I guess.... for instance, I doubt if half the people in my school have heard of him, so he's definitley not popular among my age group, but he is well-known among "older" people and, of course, hockey fans... and to be truethful, I have ONLY enjoyed "The Hockey Song".... I dispise his other songs and never listen to him otherwise... he's horrible performing live, too... he's not overly popular... I made an overstatement :)

[lmanchur.]

One of the members on these boards has e-mailed me, but I guess s/he does not wish for her/his name to be released, so I will just post their e-mail and my response:

The e-mail:
Dear Lee:

I've watched hockey for over half a century, but have never been able to find out just what a "one-timer" is. Hope you can increase my knowledge with this bit of info. Thanks


My Response:
First of all, no question is "too silly" if you don't know it! I do find it odd, however, that you could have been watching hockey for over 50 years and not know what a one-timer is, especially as they happen every game.

Quite simply, a one-timer occurs when a player passes the puck to another player on his team. As the pass is heading towards his teammate, the teammate winds up his stick like he would for a slap shot, and the down swing occurs at the exact time the puck enters his swings' range.

So instead of receiving the pass and stickhandling, the puck is not on the stick more than a fraction of a second and an immediate shot occurs (this shot usually very hard, and often it will go wide of the net as it is hard to project exactly how the puck will hit the stick, and even if it is a perfect pass, it is still hard to control).

This type of play is most noticeable on the power play of the Dallas Stars. Usually, they have two defencemen high and near the center of the ice, two wingers between the boards and the hash marks (one is ALWAYS Brett Hull), and a player near the net. The puck is usually worked towards the defensemen, and they usually set Brett Hull up for a one-timer. If you ever see the Stars play live or on TV, I gaurantee you to watch #16 (Hull), and you will try to set Hull up for a one time at least once per power play.


Again, if anyone else has question, NO QUESTION is too stupid or silly, so e-mail it or post it under this thread and I will get back to you!

[Edited by SC-Lee on 01-20-2001 at 08:50 AM]

[lmanchur.]

Hey guys -- I've never been able to figure out exactly what a "one-touch pass" is... does anyone know!?.. help out the "expert", here!"

[iFroggy]

Originally posted by Rick Reighard
I am aware of that. But I can also insult any kind of music I want.

Yeah, great logic on that one. :)

[Rick Dogg]

Were you being sarcastic froggy?

[Wedge231]

I think I might've been sarcasm since IFroggy likes rap a lot. I dunno though. Might have been a compliment.

[iFroggy]

Thats alright. I won't say anything about whatever music Rick likes. What you like is what you like and I have some tact, so its cool. :)

You don't have to talk for me Wedge, but thanks. :)

[Rick Dogg]

Who knows? Rap fans are kind of wierd anyway. lol

[ppsprotec]

Hi Montreal Binz.Will be in your city Easter for a CAN/AM hockey torni,can`t wait.You made all good points,but lets face facts.The USA has 10x the population,a stronger dollar,a larger marketing base,and president Garry Betman(ex NBA president)is a USA marketing wizard.Hockey in the USA is and will continue to be successful,but my concern is will Canadian teams be able to keep up with the richer US. based teams.We have already lost Qubec,Winnipeg,and almost Edmonton.Rumor has it that Montreal could be next.Consider this,if you put up 200 million to purchace the Canadians would you leave them in Montreal and run them at a loss?I wouldn`t.PPS.

[Lauri24]

SC~

PLEEEEEAAAAASE tell me that you think the Leafs have a shot at Rob Blake in the off season!! I don't think there's anyway that he stays in La-La land, and I definitely think he's one of the pieces to the complete the Leafs!

I don't get many reports on the Leafs here, and there's really nothing online that tells me much, either. I was spoiled when I lived up there for 6 years!

Thanx!
Lauri

[lmanchur.]

...this is more appropriate for the trade discussion thread, but here is fine as well!

If the Leafs have enough funds to pay Rob Blake (we're talking between $7 and $10 million), then yes, they DEFINITELY have a shot. The reason is because Blake grew up close to Toronto (it seems everyone has... Gretzky.. Lindros.. Blake... etc.), and he would like the chance to play for the Leafs.

Ideally, Blake wants to stay in Los Angeles 'cuz he's been there since before the days in '93 when he was a "kid" playing with Gretzky when they made it to the finals... now he's the leader and captain of the team and wants to lead the team to the Stanley Cup.

I don't think the Kings will trade Blake unless it's a considerably good offer. However, I DO think he will sign with Toronto, Detroit, or St. Louis... well, that's the rumors, at least!

I do believe this is your first post at the hockey forum... Congratulations, Lauri!

[Lauri24]

Thanx, SC!

My bad! I didn't see the trade thread. :eek:

[J_Sinclair]

Alllllrite, I personally think L.A is going to trade Blake before the trade Deadline because they'll probably lose him at the end of the season so they might as well trade him and get something for him. I think at the end of the season, Toronto or Detroit will get him because those teams are close to his home town.
Also, next season the leafs are going to be an amazing team. I heard on TSN they're getting; Blake, Lindros, tkachuck, lumme, green, housley, weinrich and leclair - (wants to play with lindros).
Dolars to donuts the leafs are winning the cup next year
GO LEAFS GO!

[Wedge231]

I doubt they will get all of those players. Do they have the money for all of them? Probably not.... Then again, what team does....

[J_Sinclair]

Actually, the leafs are one of the richest teams in the NHL, every game has been sold out for sooooo long.....us toronto fans are patient.

[Rick Dogg]

Originally posted by SC-Lee
[BI do believe this is your first post at the hockey forum... Congratulations, Lauri! [/B]
How come nobody congratulated me after my first post? I am pissed!

[BTRoots]

Well, Grizzled Veteran, maybe sports rulers and gurus don't qualify?

But perhaps you can answer my question, one I've asked a couple, few times already, but no one has answered. I'll congratulate you.

What is the origin and story of the Stanley Cup? I know the answer, being Canadian, so I won't answer.

[Rick Dogg]

All I know is that it has something to do with a guy called Lord Stanley.

[BTRoots]

Congratulations Rick. Your're right. :D (Although a little short on facts). Have you read our other threads? There's a little more information on the subject if you want to know a little more. I believe this disucssion is still on-going too. Have fun!!! :)