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Home , 1996 World Cup of Hockey, Alexei Gusarov, Anders Kallur, Andrei Kovalenko, Arturs Irbe, Calgary Cup

Publisher: International Federation, Editor-in-Chief: Jan-Ake Edvinsson Editors: Kimmo Leinonen and Szymon Szemberg, Layout: Szymon Szemberg, Photos: IIHF Archives Zürich, City Press, December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 Let everyone join the party NHL teams should to understand the posi- show the Olympic spi- tion taken by the NHL rit and release the managers who have , Latvians, announced that their players will not be relea- Germans, Swiss and sed earlier. I am very well This December issue of the IIHF News others for the Release is almost entirely devoted to aware that the players Preliminary Round of are well compensated to the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in the Olympic hockey perform for their teams . Some players are very tournament, writes and that the managers fortunate to have participated in several IIHF president René have a responsibility Olympics. , whom we Fasel in his Christmas towards the fans who pay featured in the September issue, has editorial. for the tickets. played in five Olympics and he could But I am sure that the fans of the Washington be on his way to a record breaking ■ Things became clear sixth. , the former great Capitals would fully to me when I happened understand and support goalie of the , has three to catch a glimpse of the idea of letting Peter Olympic gold medals and one silver in the - Bondra play for four appearances. Tretiak is featured World Cup soccer qua- and Olaf Kolzig for on the back cover of this issue. lifying game on TV. The . I can not imagi- But others are less fortunate. In an arti- commentator informed ne that true Carolina fans that Leeds United, the cle in the Sun, former Team would not wish Arturs English Premiership Irbe good luck if he mis- greats and Mike team, released their Bossy regret never playing in the sed a couple of league Australian super pairing games for what could be Olympics. of Mark Viduka and Irbe's first and last “That would have been wonderful”, said , for this Olympics, playing for Orr in the interview. “I would not have home-and-away fixture, , something that we refused it”. The 1976 was which meant that the all know makes Irbe the only international tournament Orr players missed four Photo: CITY-PRESS immensely proud. Would vital games with Leeds. Irbe’s last Olympic chance?: Latvia’s anyone in the Buffalo played in. Arturs Irbe is one of several players who could miss This in a league where area not feel true joy if participated in the 1981 the Olympic Winter in Salt Lake City if he is not rele- teams play only 38 their hero, Miroslav and 1984 Canada Cup, but the NHL ased by his club team. games (home and Satan, performed some did not take a break for the Olympics in away) to decide maybe Olympic magic while missing a couple of league those days. “If there is something today the most prestigious league championships in the games? How much would the that I look back on, it would have been most global of all team sports. champions suffer if they let their backup ■ a heck of a lot of fun playing for the In soccer, and all other big team sports that I goaltender David Aebischer go earlier and let Olympic team” said the 44 year old sni- can think of, the general view is that major inter- , maybe the best goalie in the league, per. national competition like the Olympics or World handle the duty in the meanwhile? Cup, always is above domestic league competi- Bossy holds the memories of four As for the players themselves, needless to tion. Soccer is already mentioned, but it is the Stanley Cup wins with the Islanders in say, they want to play. same case in , , and ■ Their NHL fans would be happy for their high regard with the Canada Cups furt- rugby, just to mention some team sports with glo- heroes, the NHL players would be happy for their her down the list. “It would have been a bal appeal. team mates and the league itself would support ■ lot different if it would have been the The IIHF and the NHL have, together, come a that gesture. I call on all relevant NHL teams, Olympics”, he said. “The Canada Cups long way in making ice hockey a truly global their boards and managers to show some true were sort of our Olympics, but they Olympic sport where all top-level domestic com- Olympic spirit and let their players go. They might weren’t the Olympics”. petitions take a break for this great event, which miss a couple of games, but they will return as comes along only once every four years. As most happier players and bring back the Olympic of you know, eight teams start their Olympic momentum to their teams for the rest of the regu- Preliminary Round on February 9, while players lar season. from the NHL are released on February 14 for As President of the International Ice Hockey the Final Round, which starts a day later. Federation I wish you a wonderful holiday season Among the eight teams which play their prelimi- and a prosperous 2002. It should be a great year naries, are Slovakia, Latvia, Germany and for hockey. , teams who have some of their best players performing in the NHL. Some of them, if René Fasel not released in time, will miss the opportunity to International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF President represent their country in the Olympics, probably Parkring 11, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland the biggest honour in sports. Phone: +41-1-289 86 00, Fax: +41-1-289 86 20 ■ See also related article on page 5: “Stastny on crusa- ■ As much as I am happy and appreciate our Internet: www.iihf.com E-mail: [email protected] de to get players.” agreement with the NHL, it is somewhat difficult December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 OLYMPIC PREVIEW SECTION - SALT LAKE CITY 2002 Triple GGoolldd Club Hockey’s most prestigious company It takes extraordinary commitment, outstanding skill and - as ■■ February 27, 1994 saw the Mats Naslund points out - lot's of luck and timing. Otherwise, three first players become members the criteria, for joining the club are simple. You only have to of the TGC. At the same moment win: when saved the last ■ The IIHF World Championship from Canada's in the Olympic final in , ■ The Olympic hockey tournament Naslund, and ■ The Stanley Cup Hakan Loob became the historical Welcome to the - at present an exclusive trio to hold all three championships. company of 10. “Of course, I was told by media then that we were the first to win all ■■ The IIHF conducted a very unscientific poll among a three, but I must admit that I did not know that this group had only ten number of hockey experts and asked question: members so far”, said Naslund “If you were a hockey player and wanted to become when the IIHF informed him about immortal by winning the three most prestigious team cham- it. “I was sure that there were some pionships in the game today, which would you want to Golden moment: This fine Czechs… if you think about it, this win?” Each and every one in the panel listed the three trio was the first to join group might not grow much bigger above mentioned championships as hockey's grand slam. hockey’s Triple Gold Club than this. If you happen to be draf- The next step was to jump into the archives and search the on February 27, 1994. The ted by Nashville and Atlanta, you record books for players who have won all three honours. picture is taken minutes will probably never get the triple. Or We found ten of them, all shown on these pages. Four after sco- look at Borje Salming, probably the Swedes and six Russians. red his famous Game best European to have played in the The most exclusive and prestigious society in international Winning against NHL, he never won anything.” hockey. Canada in the Olympic ■■ Mats Naslund, Aleksander ■■ The IIHF called one of them, Mats Naslund, one of the final in Lillehammer. From Mogilny and Vladimir Malakhov are left: Hakan Loob, Mats finest players in the international game and one of the best the most economical of the TGC Naslund and Tomas Europeans to play in the NHL. Naslund played for the members. They have won one of Jonsson. Canadiens for eight seasons and he led them to a each championship. On the other Seven more players joined Stanley Cup victory in 1986 and another final in 1989. He side of the scale you have the club in the following won the IIHF World Championships in 1991 and was gran- Vyacheslav Fetisov, the GM and years. Peter Forsberg had ted entry to the Triple Gold Club in 1994 by winning the of Team at the to wait until 1996 before Olympic gold in Lillehammer in 1994. Salt Lake City Olympics, who won he had his triple. “When you are in the middle of your career, you shrug your seven IIHF World Championships shoulders at things like that”, said Mats from Malmo, and two Olympic gold medals befo- where he now resides. “But a couple of years after re he finally you retire, you really feel a sense of pride when you think could join the about it. I mean, lot of things must work out in your career to TGC at able to win all three. Lot's of luck and good timing, for exam- of 39 when his ple.” Red When Mats - at 170 cm (5'7) one of the best small players Wings won the ever - started his career, there were really two hockey Stanley Cup. worlds and a Triple Gold Club lacked all relevance. The two last European players dreamt about representing their country in members joined the World Championships and the Olympics, while the North when New American counterparts focused entirely on the Stanley Cup. Jersey won the “When I grew up, the NHL hardly existed in my world and Stanley Cup in winning the Stanley Cup was something nobody even men- 1. JONSSON 2. LOOB 3. NASLUND 4. 2000. The Cup tioned”, says Mats. “To make the national team was the big was the missing link for Aleksander Mogilny and Vladimir and the players I idolized were Russians, Maltsev, Malakhov. There are currently ten pla Kharlamov and those guys. Even when I was drafted by won all three championsh Montreal in 1979, it took a couple of days before anyone told ■■ Who could join the Triple Gold Club after the Salt Lake (In bold denoted when the me about it, and even than I really did not know what being City Olympics? Well, there are four who would ted his triple. WS: World S drafted really meant.” , SC: Stan ■■ Things started to change in 1977 when NHL professio- boost the numbers if Canada win their first Olympic gold medal in 50 years. , , and 1. Tomas Jonsson (SWE nals were allowed to compete in the IIHF World have all won the Stanley Cup and the WS 91 Championships. In 1980, Swedes Stefan Persson and IIHF World Championship. , who is a long shot OG 94 Anders Kallur were the first European trained players to win to be picked, is also a two-out-of-three. SC 82, 83 (NY Islanders) the Stanley Cup (with the New Islanders) and that If win their first Stanley Cup in 35 years, Robert started an avalanche of Europeans going to the NHL trying Reichel could join, and so could his countrymen Roman 2. Hakan Loob (SWE 03. to win Lord Stanley's mug. Ice hockey became truly global Cechmanek and Jiri Dopita if Philadelphia wins. Jaromir WS 87, 91 after the fall of the communist regimes in the East and final- Jagr? He is just one of several two-out-of-threes. OG 94 ly, in 1998, the first time the Olympics became an Jagr has never won an IIHF World Championship. SC 89 () opportunity for all players from all leagues.

2 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 OLYMPIC PREVIEW SECTION - SALT LAKE CITY 2002

Photo: LENNART MANSON, Bildbyran, Hassleholm

. KAMENSKY 5. FORSBERG 6. FETISOV 7. LARIONOV 8. MOGILNY 9. MALAKHOV 10. GUSAROV ayers who have 3. Mats Naslund (SWE 31.10.59) 6. Vyacheslav Fetisov (RUS 20.04.58) 9. Vladimir Malakhov (RUS 30.08.68) ips: WS 91 WS 78, 81, 82, 83, 86, 89, 90 WS 90 e player comple- OG 94 OG 84,88 OG 92 Seniors, OG: SC 86 (Montreal) SC 97, 98 (Detroit) SC 00 (New Jersey) nley Cup.) E 12.04.1960) 4. (RUS 18.04.66) 7. (RUS 03.12.60) 10. (RUS 08-07-64) WS 86, 89, 90 WS 82, 83, 86, 89 WS 89, 90 OG 88 OG 84, 88 OG 88 SC 96 (Colorado) SC 97, 98 (Detroit) SC 96 (Colorado)

07.60) 5. Peter Forsberg (SWE 20-07-73) 8. Aleksander Mogilny (RUS 18-02-69) Players are numbered in chronological order WS 92, 98 WS 89 after the year they completed their triple. If two OG 94 OG 88 players got the triple in the same year, the year of SC 96, 01 (Colorado) SC 00 (New Jersey) of the first championship won gives precedence.

3 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 OLYMPIC PREVIEW SECTION - SALT LAKE CITY 2002

Photo: AL BEHRMAN, Associated Press The Goal: Peter Forsberg scores the most famous penalty shot in Olympic hockey history and photographer Al Behrman, sitting on a catwalk high up beneath the roof of the Lillehammer arena, get a shot that was published in most sports magazines around the world. Behrman cought the moment tenths of a second after Reuters collegue, Gary Hershorn, whose photo became a stamp a year after. (see right). A GREAT SHOT!

- but not only for Forsberg Stamp: With permission from Swedish Post Photo: Gary Hershorn, Reuters Al Behrman does not get to cover much hoc- was to the goal beneath where I was sitting.” The Stamp: The Swedish Post published this stamp depicting key. After all, he is from Cincinnati, Ohio, hardly Behrman knew that he had a shot of what the goal one year after it was scored when Sweden oragnized a hockey hotbed. But Al was happy to be one eventually was the game winning shot, but he the 1995 IIHF World Championship in . Canadian goalie did not sanction the reproduction so the of the Associated Press photographers to be had no idea of the quality. “With today's digital cameras I would have known pretty much post authorities had to change details on the goalie figure. assigned to work the 1994 Olympic ice hockey immediately if it was good or not”, says the The jersey is therefore blue and Hirsch wears number 11 in tournament in Lillehammer. photographer. “But then we were still shooting the stamp. He walked away with what has become one of film and I had to wait through the whole deve- Hirsch he said no. Hirsch told us that this was the most famous shots in hockey. loping process to see how the picture came the most embarrassing moment of his career, out. Of course, I was very pleased when I saw but he would agree if we paid him hundred ■■ Sometime in the late 70s Al Behrman was the result. It was definitely one of my career thousand dollars. That was of course out of the assigned to cover a press conference in highlights.” question.” ■■ when the Indianapolis Racers of On Al's photo, Forsberg has just flipped the So the art designers at the Swedish Post chan- the defunct WHA announced the signing of a puck with his one hand grip under goalie Corey ged the jersey colour to blue and Hirsch's num- 17-year old whiz kid by the name of Wayne Hirsch's catching glove. Within a split second ber from 1 to 11. Gretzky. the puck would slowly cross the goal . Just ■■ Forsberg's incredibly hazardous move on That was pretty much Al's hockey experience beside Behrman was Reuters' photographer Hirsch (how many players would dare to make when he went to Lillehammer in 1994 to cover Gary Hershorn. His picture - taken a moment that fake in an Olympic final?) gave Sweden a the Olympics. His special assignment: ice hockey. earlier - was chosen by the Swedish Post as a 3-2 lead in the penalty shoot-out after the He was there for the entire tournament but, model for the stamp that was launched for the game ended 2-2 in regulation time. Some come the final between Sweden and Canada, 1995 IIHF World Championship. moments after, goalie Tommy Salo made an all the regular photograph locations around the Stephan Fransius of the Swedish Post marke- incredible kick save on Paul Kariya's almost rink were taken. ”Our photo editor got the idea ting department tells this background story: perfect shot and Sweden had won their first of making some of us go all the way up to the “We had to ask the players in the picture for Olympic hockey gold medal. rafters and shoot the game from there”, says Al permission in order to reproduce the photo as What few remember is that the hero had a to the IIHF News Release. I was sitting in a accurately as possible so the players could be poor tournament in Lillehammer. Forsberg had catwalk in the same spot during the whole identified in the stamp. There was no problem only one regular goal in the Olympic tourna- game and I was lucky that Forsberg's last shot with Forsberg, but when we called Corey ment, against . But that's another story. 4 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 Stastny on crusade to get players ■■ Slovakian GM Peter Stastny is players, but I'm hoping that we can “optimistic” he will be able to ice a about half,” said Stastny. “I've spo- competitive lineup for the Salt Lake ken with a lot of GM’s and I'm just waiting to see what happens”. Olympics in February. “It would be good for some of the Speaking to the Sun the players to get the chance to play at other week in Ottawa, he confirmed these games. They would come back that he's held talks with Ottawa refreshed and ready for the final 35 Senators GM Marshall Johnston games of the season.” about getting Zdeno At this , Slovakia would be forced Chara and Marian Hossa to go into the games without the likes released in time to play at the of St. Louis winger , Olympics. Johnston himself repres- Phoenix' Michal Handzus, Ziggy Palffy ented Canada in the 1968 Olympics of L.A., Washington's , in . along with Chara and Hossa. ■ Stastny, who met with Johnston ■ Stastny said in most cases he during the Hall of Fame meetings in simply wants the players to miss two Toronto, said he's been told by lea- regular season games. gue officials that they will try to René Fasel touring the Balkans: The IIHF president is about to drop the puck in the “This is an opportunity of a lifetime ceremonial face-off between Vojvodina Novi Sad (champions of Yugoslavia) and come to some kind of agreement to for most of these players and they Croatian champions Medvescak . The rivals squared off in the International get some players released in time to should have the chance to play Hockey League on November 20, 2001. Fasel and IIHF Event manager Hannes play for Slovakia on February 9 in there,” said Stastny. “I think the fans Ederer were visiting Yugoslavia to promote the upcoming World Championship the Preliminary Round. According to in the NHL cities would understand Division II in Novi Sad in March 2002. The Yugoslav hosts also invited the IIHF the IIHF-NHL agreement, the NHL these players missing a few games. delegation visit a 20,000 seat arena in Belgrade which can be used for future World players are to be released as of Ice Hockey Championships. “I speak to people in Germany and February 14, just in time for the final other countries and they under- round which starts February 15. stand. The only people who don't ■■ CZECH FEDERATION PRESENTS 2004 GUARANTEE. The Czech “I know we're not going to be able to seem to understand are some NHL get one hundred percent of the Republic was initially awarded the 2003 IIHF World Championship, club people.” - OTTAWA SUN but they had to swap years with as the federation could not guarantee a new arena in time. In a meeting with IIHF president McCREARY TO LEAD NHL OLYMPIC REFEREES: The René Fasel and IIHF treasurer in on has announced to the IIHF their game officials assigned to the Olympic Ice November 1, the Czech Federation and government representati- Hockey tournament in Salt Lake City. Bill McCreary, who before this season ves assured that a multi-purpose arena will be built in by had officiated in 1088 NHL games, will be the most experienced referee. February 2004, just in time for the event. The other two referees will be Dennis LaRue (362 games) and Stephen A national sports lottery agreed to fund the building of the facility. Walkom (476). Four linsemen were assigned: Tim Novak, Dan Schachte, The construction of the arena is scheduled to start in June 2002. Jean Morin and Mike Cvik. The names of the IIHF on ice officials were announced in the November issue of the IIHF News Release.

Changed starting time of U20 Gold medal game Finland 2003 The Gold medal game of Walter Bush gets the Olympic Order the IIHF World U20 ■■ logo unveiled Championship in Czech IIHF Vice President and tion to the development of Republic will start at 20.30 USA Hockey President sport. Nominations are on January 4, 2002 and not Walter L. Bush, Jr. has been proposed by the Olympic at 17.00 as initially stated. named a recipient of the Orders Council and deci- The tournament, which Olympic Order, the highest ded upon by the IOC starts on December 25, can possible individual honor in Executive Board. be followed on the IIHF.com international athletics. The “I am humbled by this were our game reports IIHF and the International honor,” Bush said. “I am show every game action as Olympic Committee (IOC) proud and pleased to feel they happen, live. The offici- will honor Bush with the that I have made a contri- bution to the Olympic 2003 IIHF World Championship al site of the organizing Olympic Order at the XIX Walter L. Bush Jr: committee is: Olympic Winter Games in Recipient of Olympic movement worldwide. It is www.iihfworlds20-2002.cz Salt Lake City. Order a movement I feel very Dates: 26th April - 11th Most of the games featuring “Walter's recognition for his strongly about, and I have May 2003 the defending world cham- efforts marks a great day for inter- made it a priority to further hockey's Host cities: , pions, , as national hockey,” said IIHF international relationships around and well as the semi-finals and President Rene Fasel. “Walter's the world.” World Championship ■ final, are sold out. contribution to our global game has One of the most recognized and 2003 office been outstanding and has lasted respected leaders in the sport of Address: Areenakuja 1, ■■ USA sweep Canada longer than anybody else's in North hockey, Bush has served as presi- FIN-00240 Helsinki America. The IIHF congratulates dent of USA Hockey for more than Tel: +358 204 1997 USA are heavy favorites to Walter Bush for this honor. It is very 15 years and has been a member Fax: +358 204 195 302 win their second consecuti- well deserved.” of the IIHF council since 1986. ve women’s Olympic gold ■ The Olympic Order is awarded to Other recipients within the sport of OLDTIMERS WORLD CUP. medal in Salt Lake City. The a person who has illustrated the hockey who have received the Finland is also organizing the Americans swept Canada Olympic ideal through his/her Olympic Order include Tutt, Peter IIHF Oldtimer World Cup in the 5-2, 4-3 and 1-0 in the TSN actions, has achieved remarkable Stastny, Vyacheslav Fetisov, greater Helsinki area, April 16 - Challenge in late November merit in the sporting world, or has Miroslav Subrt and . 20, 2002. A total of 157 teams which means that USA is rendered outstanding services to Other recipients include Steffi Graf, from 18 countries have enter- 5-0 vs their biggest rivals in the Olympic cause. This includes Jean-Claude Killy, Jesse Owens, ed. Teams will be seeded by exhibition play this fall. The personal achievement and contribu- Indira Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. age classes 35+, 40+, 45+, US is 15-0 overall in pre- 50+, 55+ and 60+. In total 350 Olympic action. games will be played.

5 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 1st INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CONCUSSION IN SPORTS VIENNA SUMMIT a milestone in treatment of concussions in sport The International Symposium on Concussion in Sport the conclusion of the event: was a success from the moment it started. As sympo- sium chairman, Murray Costello, put it: “We have “This symposium was an assembled the best possible panel from the entire unparalleled success in that we brought together for the world in the field of concussions in sport, which has first time, the top neuroscien- become a very big issue in our game.” tists in the world to share their research. What we have ■■ The IIHF, the International Football Association gathered from this two-day (FIFA) and the International Olympic Committee meeting is that the experts (IOC) were the three sport bodies behind the sympo- still do not fully understand sium that was held in Vienna, November 2-3, 2001. what happens to the brain “This joint venture marks the first collaboration bet- after a traumatic brain injury, ween three major sport bodies, in an effort to bring nor is there a universally current knowledge in conjuction with new agreed upon definition of research in the area of concussion in sport” what concussion means. Furthermore, the success of IIHF President, Renè Fasel, who was in attendance this symposium will be com- for the two days in Vienna had this statement upon plete when the core group of these out- The Vienna Protocol standing experts The International Symposium on Concussion in Sport, held in within six weeks will Vienna, on November 2 and 3, 2001, endeavored to clarify unite behind uni- major concerns in the growing problem of concussion in sport. One form phrasing on hundred and fifty medical experts, representing more than 15 spor- those very impor- ting organizations, attended the conference. tant issues.” (See The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the Federation “The Vienna Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), invited medical experts from around the Protocol” to the world specializing n the area of brain injury, to present their research left). experience. Significant progress was made in consensus for the deve- lopment of a concussion protocol, global in scope, led by a core ■■ Twenty high group of the medical experts working with the sporting bodies. profile experts from A unanimous decision by the sport medical representatives in atten- three continents dance, to pursue the development of the Concussion protocol was were on hand for made, which, essentially, will address the following areas: the two days and ■ Concussion Identification their presentations Medical Dream Team in Vienna: Back row, Mark Aubry (IIHF Medical C ■ Concussion Evaluation ranged from being James Kelly, Willem Meeuwisse, Mark Lovell, Jiri Dvorak, Patrick Schama ■ Implementation of New Concussion Research Techniques very scientific to ■ Concussion Management, Including Immediate Assessment, practical assess- Return To Play, and Rehabilitation ments in every-day hockey. Dr. Yelverton number of games - that wou ■ Concussion Prevention Tegner, who for many years has been cause", said Tegner. associated with the Swedish elite club, As a result of the Meeting, a Concussion Working Group will move Lulea, lists three major reasons behind Don't expect too see his ide forward with the next steps. The sporting bodies, led by the IIHF and the increase of severe head injuries in nearest future. Many teams FIFA, are prepared to recommend the immediate implementation of gling financially and both of the expected recommendations in a uniform manner in both sports, hockey: 1. Bigger players would be cost effective, mea beginning with the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City less gate revenues. and the World Cup of (Soccer) Football in the spring of 2002. 2. Faster game Although the findings will be released as recommendations, it will 3. More games and shorter rehabilitation ■■ mark the first time that multi-sport disciplines will uniformly apply In addition to better helmet designs and Willem Meewisse, a spo medical research to respond to serious injury in their respective com- increased education to players and the National Hockey League petitions. team medical staffs, Tegner proposed things which players and tea The presentations by these outstanding medical experts were extre- two ideas that would definitely be consi- in order to decrease head in mely detailed in dealing with response to serious head injuries. The dered as controversial by the manage- met correctly, to change hel clear message to the sporting community, however, is to diligently to change the helmet after a pursue preventative measures to eliminate concussion through such ments and leagues. initiatives as respect and fair play. “Having bigger team rosters where enti- re five man units could be rested every The problems with short reh fourth or fifth game and a decreasing playing schedules was also 6 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 1st INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CONCUSSION IN SPORTS

Photo & portraits: JUKKA RAUTIO Committe), Karen Johnston, Yelverton Tegner, Paul McCrory, Peter Jako, Vladimir Benes, Andrew McIntosh and Eric Matser. Front row: Bogdan Radanov, Beat Villiger (IIHF Medical Committee), asch (IOC), René Fasel (IIHF President), Toni Graf-Bauman, Murray Costello (Symposium chairman).The presenters who do not appear in this picture are featured in portraits. uld very likely help our as implemented in the and leagues are strug- Tegner's suggestions aning larger payrolls and Robert Cantu Peter Hamlyn Barry Jordan Inggard Lereim Thomas Mussack Paul Piccinini ort injury consultant for Matser from the , who has worked a lot position, found that forwards are always most liable e, listed three simple with the PSV Eindhoven football club. “Mental fati- to concussions as opposed to defenseman and goal- am physicians could do gue is a significant factor. Our study shows an incre- tenders. On the other hand, Yelverton Tegner had to njuries: to strap the hel- ase in head injuries when the schedule is heavy with tell a player to retire from the game after he had mets every season and two games a week as opposed to one”, said Matser. sustained his 12th concussion. That was a goalie. a serious hit to the head. Another study showed that at least 20 percent of all elite hockey players will sustain a concussion during The symposium was covered by reporters from the habilitation and heavy his career. two biggest wire services in the world, the brought up by Eric Studies that looked at head injuries by playing Associated Press and Reuters. 7 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6

EHL - can it have a second coming? Does the have any They must play in future? modern arenas, and The man who has been assigned the job to tho- we must do it on roughly look at the issue says yes, but, long term. In order to create a strong “We have to learn from our mistakes last time brand, you must and we have to be very, very careful”, says IIHF have long-term thin- council member Rickard Fagerlund. king. You don't crea- te brands in one ■■ The 2002 IIHF year.” World Championship in Sweden will be ■ Money usually is Fagerlund's last major an issue… job as the President of “Yes, the new ventu- the Swedish Ice Hockey re needs money. Association. After 19 Money always con- years, Fagerlund has tributes to creating decided not to stand for status. We need re-election, and at the money to get it age of 65 he has underway and we also retired from his need serious prize regular job. money.” Rickard will devote his Fagerlund: “We must do time to a possible re- ■ That means that our home work dilligently.” launch of the European the league needs a Hockey League, the commercial part- club competition which ceased operations after ner who is willing the 1999-2000 season to pay big time? “Our last effort with ■ What are the major problems regarding a the EHL showed re launch of a top European club competi- that it is a gamble to tion? rely only on one “When the EHL came to an end, it was a big partner. If that part- blow for us. We failed. We must do our home- ner loses enthu- work very diligently in order not to repeat the siasm, it's over. This mistakes. We have to very thoroughly is one of the most research two vital issues: Is there real interest important issues we from clubs, fans and TV, and what is the have to research. situation concerning the market - who do we Maybe we compete against?” should look at FIFA, they are big enough ■ Why did the EHL fail last time? to do most of the “It was a product which was not one hundred work in-house.” Photo: Ti-Press, Stabio percent solid. It was a compromise from the Euro rivalry: The EHL created many exciting match-ups, like this one between Dynamo ■ very beginning and compromises do not last Some say that Moscow (blue) and from Switzerland. Lugano’s superstar Christian Dubé tangles for very long. Everything was a confusing mish- the national lea- position. mash, which was not appealing to TV or to the gues play so many ■ viewers.” games that there is no room for internatio- How will you proceede with this whole nal club games? project? ■ Do we need a major club league to start “The national leagues play 50 games in eight “I will start by contacting all national federa- with? months, that means that we have 190 free tions, leagues, their top clubs, TV companies “Yes, we do. I strongly believe that there is a nights. But our product must be of such a quality and marketing companies and thoroughly market for a club hockey league in . that the fans will want to embrace the European check their interest and commitment.” Football has it, basketball, handball, now even league. Last time, not many of them really ■ speedway is talking about a European circuit. It cared.” When can we expect a re launch of the would be very strange if one of the most popu- EHL? lar and trendy team sports in the world wouldn't ■ Are you of the opinion that the EHL “At the earliest, for the 2003-2004 season.” be able to create a league in Europe. If the champion must play the Stanley Cup cham- IIHF won't organize one, someone else will.” pion in a final for world club supremacy? NB. The EHL operated for four seasons. The “Yes, that must be the big catch. That was, by EHL-champions were: ■ So what must we do so we don't fail the way, one of the things that never materiali- 1996/97: TPS Turku, FIN again? zed in the old EHL. We need a global super 1997/98: Feldkirch, AUT “The new league must be of top quality, with top final, which would be played in September. 1998/99: , RUS players and top teams which are known to the And the NHL has, in principal, agreed to this.” 1999/00: Metallurg Magnitogorsk, RUS fans. We can't have anonymous teams playing. 8 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 Dump & Chase from the World of Hockey 2003 World Juniors in ■■ WILL MISS GAMES: , the 34 year old Swedish defenceman of the , Canada almost sold out will miss the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Johansson was hurt during the second game of the season Do you plan to see the 2003 Halifax. Which means that on October 8 when he was checked by 's Kyle IIHF World U20 hockey fans in the city bought McLaren. Calle will need surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff Championships in Halifax and tickets to games when they and he will be out six to eight months. Johansson has won ? didn't even know which teams two IIHF World Championships with Sweden and he captai- were playing. And that was Then you better hurry - the tic- ned Sweden in both the 1996 as well almost two years before the Johansson as in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. kets are almost sold out - more tournament. than a year before When Halifax and ■■ IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY: The fame of the Tambellini family is just gro- the tournament Sydney were offici- wing. Eighteen year old center Jeff Tambellini, who played for Canada on the ally awarded the gets underway. U18 national team, has opted to play for . Jeff is the son 2003 IIHF World of , who represented Canada in the 1988 Olympics in ■■ U20 After hosting Calgary and who now is the director of player personnel for Canada's Olympic Championship, the a tremendous men's team for Salt Lake City. Jeff is the son of Addie ticket sales skyroc- World U20 Tambellini, a member of the famous , keted. Championship in IIHF World Champions in 1961. The young Jeff honoured his “As of now we in 1999, grandfather by taking Addy's number 15 as his jersey number. the World have sold 189,000 tickets to the 21 Juniors are back ■■ CZECHS ENJOY OMSK: First goalie Jaroslav Kames, than games at the in Canada. forward Pavel Patera and, as of midway of November, Halifax and Metro ”, said . “This Martin Prochazka. All three Czechs are now members of Sydney, in the of the Russian Hockey League. Patera and beautiful province is, of course, very Photo: DAVE SANDFORD Prochazka are four time IIHF World Champions for Czech of Nova Scotia, good. There are Super Fan: Canadian Republic and also Olympic gold medallists from Nagano. Prochazka won the bid to only one thousand fans have a way of sho- ticket packages left. host the 2003 wing their true colours. ■■ MONEY IS NO PROBLEM: The Russian Hockey League teams are able to championship in But we will keep pay serious salaries, and not only to Czechs. Canadian David Nemirovsky has a tough battle with one thousand sub- signed with Lokomotiv , the same team where other Canadian bidding sidized single tickets (ex-) plays. cities. which can be purchased “The Halifax group sho- for ten dollars starting ■■ MONEY IS A PROBLEM: Czech champions Vsetin are not able to overco- wed very early that they next fall”. had the commitment me their financial troubles. Numerous reports in the Czech media outlined ■■ and the community support to Each 21 game package to serious cash flow problems. At the end of November, Vsetin were also strug- organize a highly successful the Metro Centre cost 609 gling in the domestic league. The champions were only ninth in the 14-team tournament”, says Scott CDA. A 10 game ticket packa- league. ge to the games at Smith, vice president of opera- ■■ tions at the Canadian Hockey the 4,500 seat arena in NO DEVILS FOR McSORLEY'S: The attempt by the McSorley brothers, Association. Sydney costs 265 CDA. Marty and Chris, to buy the Devils of the British Findus National ■■ Well, that's the least you For the games in League, has broken down. The asking price, believed to be around £500,000, can say. Even before Halifax Sydney, 700 packages are was considered too high by the Canadian brothers. sold. “We are right now targe- and Sydney were awarded the ■■ championship, the organizers ting corporations in Sydney to NEW ZWEDISH ZUPER KID: , also had already sold 6,000 ticket buy packages and after New called "Z", is the new hero of Swedish hockey fans. The packages for 21 games at the Year we will start targeting 21 year old forward scored four goals in Sweden's 5-2 victo- 10,000 seat Metro Centre in other groups”, says Smith. ry against Finland in the last game of the Sweden Hockey Games and led the Tre Kronor to the tournament win. But his club team, Timra IK, is struggling badly. They are dead Ihalainen honoured last in the 12 team Swedish Elite League. ■■ As their first women ice hockey play- ■■ er ever, Marianne Ihalainen had her jer- DOES NOT MASK HIS TASTE: The goalie on the same sey, number 16, retired by in Zetterberg Swedish team was Stefan Liv of HV71. Liv, who was born Tampere, Finland. Ice Hockey Club in the Polish city of Gdynia in 1980 and later adopted by a Ilves wanted to honour the spectacular Swedish couple, uses his goalie mask to profile women of his taste. On the career of the long time captain of the mask he donned during the Sweden Hockey Games, Liv had a painting of the Ilves women's team and the most suc- Swedish Princess Madeleine. Pop artist Britney Spears is depicted on Liv's cessful player in the history of women mask which he wears in league games with HV71. ice hockey in Finland. ■■ Marianne Ihalainen represented Ilves for IT'S WAYNE & LANNY AGAIN: The Canadian 19 seasons from 1982 to 2001 in the Hockey Association announced on October 30 that national league. She scored 320 goals Lanny McDonald will be the General Manager of and recorded 282 assists in 323 regular Team Canada for the 2002 IIHF World Championship season games, adding 37 goals and 25 16 no more: First in Sweden. McDonald immediately announced that assists in 56 playoff games. Marianne women’s ersey retired Wayne Fleming will be head coach. McDonald and McDonald & Fleming was crowned eight times as Finnish Fleming led Canada at the 2001 IIHF World champion adding four silver and four bronze medals to her Championship in Germany. Fleming will also be one of the associate coaches merits. to at the Salt Lake City Olympics. Ihalainen represented Finland in 116 national team games scoring 73 goals and 64 asssists. She was the captain of the ■■ GARPENLOV FORCED TO RETIRE: Swedish forward, Johan Garpenlov, 33, 1998 Olympic bronze medal team, as well as five IIHF World announced his retirement on October 29. Garpenlov, who played for cham- Championship bronze medal teams, four IIHF European pions Djurgarden and also was a member of the Swedish national teams Championship gold medal winning teams and one bronze medal that won the IIHF World Championships in 1991 and 1992, suffered from a shoul- team. Marianne’s retirement celebration was held before the der injury, which did not heel properly. Garpenlov also played for Detroit, San Finland - Canada game in Tampere on November 4, 2001. José and Florida in the NHL.

9 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 ICE HOCKEY 2000 PROGRAM - REPORTS FROM AUSTRIA & GERMANY Our association welcomed the introduction start of this season, and the regional tour- of the Learn to Play program and the U16 “We need to start develo- naments are in full swing. Resistance from and U17 development camps. We want to parents and coaches disappeared quickly express our gratitude to the IIHF for and gave way to enthusiastic support. having taken the initiative. We expect ping our own players - these two development tools to help us U16 and U17 Development along the path of improving the game of Camps/National Program hockey. We are confronted with the urgent The IIHF has extended their help to the need to develop own national players and and this is the way to go” national associations by organising a set to reduce the number of imports on our top teams. The only way this can of training camps and by supplying top international instructors for the be achieved is by putting the emphasis on improving our young players. age group immediately under the players who have to carry the respon- sibility for the national hockey program. AUSTRIA Besides extending help to develop the players’ technical skills, there is emphasis on international participation. Also, the dominant theme of the U10 Learn To Play Program camps (Fair Play and Respect) is promoted, to create a game more in This program is targeted at improving the development program for our line with today's standards of society. youngest players. While in the past it was common to use the full surfa- Our association has enthusiastically embraced the program and is sup- ce of the rink to practice with one team and plementing it with its own actions, such as also to play on the full surface, international development camps for the U16 and U17 experience has shown that skill improvement players during two weeks in the summer, is greatly enhanced when switching to the and organising participation in international cross ice technique. Here the kids are confron- tournaments at home and abroad. ted with a much more “hockey-like” situations. Supplementing the work with players is a There are also other appropriate changes in development program for coaches. Within the equipment: kid-size hockey sticks, a lighter our summer camps, the national association puck and smaller goals. coach instructor is conducting coach deve- lopment seminars to enhance the quality of There is also an equally important change in coaching. attitude. Again, international experience has shown that it is necessary to decrease empha- With the stepping up of all these efforts we sis on competition and to underline the fun are confident that the quality of our game will element. This is achieved by not counting improve and the improvements in the neigh- goals and assists and by using leaders on the Face-off: Phillipp (green jersey) from the Vienna Devils tries to bouring countries in this program will make ice rather than referees. Within our association win the draw against Lukas (yellow jersey) from the Vienna Kings. for better and more popular hockey within all these changes were implemented at the They are the future of Austrian ice hockey. our countries.

Ice Hockey 2000 GERMANY IIHF goes to U16 and U17 Hockey Development Camps, November 2001 Cross ice extended to Facts: Under 11 in Bavaria for orientation session Four camps (Hull, GBR, Kapfenberg, AUT, ■■ IIHF representatives Pascal Stucki Füssen, GER, Pralognan, FRA) and Hannes Ederer visited Zagreb, Five days Learn To Play Program ❑ Croatia in late November as a part of an Two age groups Cross-ice tournament season has started orientation session in order to get Eight national associations (AUT, FRA, GBR, in all regional associations. ❑ Based on good feedback and long-term acquainted with the situation of ice hoc- GER, ITA, NED, NOR, SLO) 16 National Teams including players, team experience, Bavaria, the largest regional key within the country. staff, and game officials association, has extended cross ice tourna- 15 total countries represented including IIHF ment system to Under 11 category. The purpose of the orientation sessions is staff (CAN, CZE, FIN, RUS, SWE, SUI, USA) ❑ IIHF Learn to Play (LTP) binders became to introduce the possibilities offered by 440 total number of participants compulsory in coaching education in all the use of the individual IIHF training main regional associations in Germany. documentations in the field of ❑ The German Ice Hockey Federation also Development Resources. IIHF Learn To Play Program incorporates LTP Program into coaching Translation Update curriculum for A and B levels. ❑ The IIHF places high priority on streng- Based on IIHF LTP Program, the German thening the cooperation with member Facts: Ice Hockey Federation now has issued simi- national federations and direct contacts The program is approaching nine languages lar material for Under 12 and Under 14 age ❑ categories. by means of personal discussions. The Two IIHF languages, English and purpose of such discussions is to analyse German ❑ Seven national associations have officially Under 16/17 Hockey Development Camps the general situation of ice hockey in the ❑ announced that they are translating the pro- In November, Germany successfully countries. gram, FRA, HUN, ITA, JAP, NED, NOR, SLO. hosted a Hockey Development Camp (U17) for the first time in Füssen. Things like programs for player, coaching, ❑ In February 2002, the German Ice and referee development are monitored Hockey Federation will again organize a as well as putting emphasize on pro- HDC (U16) in Füssen, but, with eight teams. grams like Partnership for Progress and This is considered a big challenge for the Fair Play and Respect. federation since the eight team format has never been organised before. ❑ Nomination process for both U 16 & U 17 This is seen as a important step towards will be completed by January 10, 2002. establishment of the IIHF Development Program in all IIHF member national federations.

10 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 SCORELINE HOCKEY SHORTS SWEDEN HOCKEY GAMES IIHF CONTINENTAL CUP The Swedish Olympic November 6-11, 2001 Third Round November 23 - 25, Committe (SOK) postponed Finland - Czech Republic 2-7 (1-4, 0-2, 1-1) Group N : Asiago (ITA) the decision whether to Canada - Sweden 4-7 (0-3, 2-4, 2-0) HC Milano - HC Lugano 4 - 2 (1-1, 2-1, 1-0) send the women’s ice hoc- Russia - Canada 3-2 (2-0, 0-1, 0-1, 0-0, 1-0) Keramin - HC Asiago 2 - 5 (1-2, 1-2, 0-1) key team to Salt Lake City. Finland - Russia 4-2 (2-1, 1-0, 1-1) HC Lugano - Keramin Minsk 3 - 1 (1-1, 1-0, 1-0) The decision will be made Sweden - Czech Republic 1-2 (1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-1) HC Asiago - HC Milano 2 - 2 (0-2, 2-0, 0-0) on December 19 instead... Czech Republic - Canada 3-1 (1-0, 1-1, 1-0) HC Milano - Keramin Minsk 3 - 0 (1-0, 1-0, 1-0) Polonia Bytom had to with- Canada - Finland 3-4 (0-2, 3-0, 0-2) HC Asiago - HC Lugano 4 - 4 (0-1, 3-2, 1-1) Russia - Sweden 1-2 (0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 0-0, 0-1) draw from the Polish Czech Republic - Russia 2-3 (0-1, 1-1, 1-1) 1. HC Milano (ITA) 3 2 1 0 9 : 4 5 Extraliga due to financial dif- Sweden - Finland 5-2 (1-0, 2-2, 2-0) 2. HC Asiago (ITA) 3 1 2 0 11 : 8 4 ficulties. The decision was 3. HC Lugano (SUI) 3 1 1 1 9 : 9 3 made on November 8. 1 Sweden 4 2 2 0 15:9 9 4. Keramin Minsk (BLR) 3 0 0 3 3 : 11 0 Polonia finished third last 2 Czech R 4 2 1 1 14:7 8 season... November was a 3 Finland 4 2 0 2 12:17 6 Group O : Zvolen (SVK) dark month for coaches in 4 Russia 4 1 2 1 9:10 6 HKM Zvolen - HC Prostejov 6 - 4 (3-0, 1-4, 2-0) 5 Canada 4 0 1 3 10:17 1 Oswiecim - ERC Ingolstadt 2 - 1 (2-0, 0-1, 0-0) the Swiss NLA league. Oswiecim - HKM Zvolen 4 - 6 (1-3, 2-1, 1-2) Canadian was Media All Star Team Ingolstadt - HC Prostejov 1 - 5 (0-2, 1-3, 0-0) fired from champions ZSC Goaltender: Egor Podomatsky, RUS Prostejov - Oswiecim 4 - 1 (2-0, 2-0, 0-2) Lions of while Defenseman: Michal Sykora, CZE HKM Zvolen - ERC Ingolstadt 2 - 0 (1-0, 0-0, 1-0) Russian Vassily Tichonov Defenseman: Thomas Rhodin, SWE was released by Langnau. Forward: Jani Hassinen, FIN 1. HKM Zvolen (SVK) 3 3 0 0 14 : 8 6 Tichonov, 43, is the son of Forward: Henrik Zetterberg, SWE 2. HC Prostejov (CZE) 3 2 0 1 13 : 8 4 Forward: Valery Karpov, RUS 3. Oswiecim (POL) 3 1 0 1 7 : 11 2 former Soviet coaching 4. Ingolstadt (GER) 3 0 0 3 2 : 9 0 legend Viktor Tichonov... Scoring leaders The , 1. Henrik Zetterberg, SWE 4 4 3 7 Group P : Valerenga (NOR) Europe’s oldest club tourna- 2. Valery Karpov, RUS 4 1 5 6 Knights - Jukurit 2 - 5 (1-3, 1-2, 0-0) ment, will celebrate its 75th 3. , SWE 4 2 3 5 Anglet Hormadi - Valerenga 1 - 4 (1-0, 0-3, 0-1) anniversary this year. Check Anglet H - London Knights 3 - 5 (1-1, 2-4. 0-0) spenglercup.ch for all scores DEUTSCHLAND CUP Valerenga - Jukurit 2 - 2 (0-1, 1-1, 1-0) Jukurit - Anglet Hormadi 5 - 1 (1-0, 2-0, 2-1) December 26 - 31. HC November 9-11, 2001 , Team Canada, TPS Switzerland - Slovakia 2-1 (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 1-0) Valerenga - London Knights 4 - 4 (3-0, 1-2, 0-2) Germany - Canada 3-2 (1-0, 1-1, 1-1) Turku, Sparta Prague and Slovakia - Germany 2-0 (0-0, 1-0, 1-0) 1. Jukurit Mikkeli (FIN) 3 2 1 0 12 : 5 5 Mannheim participate this Switzerland - Canada 4-2 (2-1, 0-1, 2-0) 2. Valerenga (NOR) 3 1 2 0 10 : 7 4 year... Swiss-Canadian Canada - Slovakia 6-4 (2-2, 2-2, 2-0) 3. London K (GBR) 3 1 2 1 11 : 12 3 Kent Ruhnke is the newest Germany - Switzerland 1-2 (1-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1) 4. Anglet H (FRA) 3 0 0 3 5 : 14 0 member of IIHF’s Rules FINAL ROUND January 12 - 13, 2002 Committee. Ruhnke led 1 Switzerland 3 3 0 0 8:4 7 ZSC Lions to the Swiss 2 Slovakia 3 1 0 2 7:8 4 3 Germany 3 1 0 2 4:6 4 Group N : Zürich (SUI) championship 1999-2000... 4 Canada 3 1 0 2 10:11 3 ZSC Lions Zurich SUI and had a HC Milano ITA rough ride in the Intrum Scoring leaders HKM Zvolen SVK Justitia Cup in in 1. Peter Douris, CAN 3 2 2 4 Jukurit Mikkeli FIN November. The newcomers 2. Dusan Milo, SVK 3 2 2 4 January 12: Semifinals: 15.30: HKM Zvolen - HC Milano in the IIHF World 3. Brad Purdie, CAN 3 2 1 3 Championship finished third 4. Jeff Tory, CAN 3 1 2 3 19.30: ZSC Lions - Jukurit, Mikkeli 5. Martin Kulha, SVK 3 1 2 3 January 13: Third place game, 13.00, Final game, 16.30 and fourth in the four team tournament. Slovenia lost all games while Poland lost to Abuse awareness guidelines will be Denmark and . The Danes beat Norway 4-3 to win the cup... Latvia beat integrated into IIHF education program France, Austria and to ■■ The IIHF held its second Chief Medical Officer's of ex-NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, who went public win the Alps International (CMO) Workshop on November 4, 2001, immediately with accusations of sexual abuse against his former Tournament in Grenoble. following the International Symposium on Concussion in coach, Graham James, were presented. France finished second Sport. Representatives from 24 countries were in atten- Kennedy's subsequent abuse lawsuit and James con- ahead of Austria and win- dance. The purpose of the workshop was to receive viction of three years in prison resulted in Canadian less Italy... Czech Republic feedback from the CMO'S on some of the initiatives Hockey developing an abuse awareness program that won the U18 Four Nation’s undertaken by the IIHF Medical Committee. will be integrated into the IIHF education programs for tournament in Slovakia. ■ At the first CMO workshop in November 1999, the use by national associations. Czechs beat Russia (finis- ■ issues discussed became part of the IIHF Medical Abuse, which includes any form of physical, emotio- hed 2nd), Slovakia (3rd) Regulations, which now guide the medical programs nal and/or sexual mistreatment, can cause emotional and Germany (4th). Czechs operated at IIHF competitions around the world. Topics damage or physical injury. The IIHF advocates the beat Russia 3-1 in the top discussed in this workshop included “Fair Play and development of respect by all participants in the sport of game... Martin Urban Respect”, and the CMO'S were encouraged to carry this ice hockey, including players, adult instructors and figu- (CZE) is the new member of message back to their member national associations to res of authority. the IIHF Technical incorporate into their educational and lifestyle develop- ■ During the workshop session, Dr. Serge Van Committee. Urban is a for- ment programs. Canneyt, a plastic surgeon from , demonstrated mer Sport Manager of A resource booklet entitled “Nutritional Guidelines” was a new product from Johnson & Johnson called Pardubice and currently distributed, which contains guidelines for developing Dermabond, and Medtronic outlined the application of General Manager of Sparta menus and sample menus for the many cultures partici- an automatic external defibrillator (AED) for use in an Prague, of the Elite League. pating in events, including Asian, western and ice arena. He also coached the Czech European food choices. In acknowledgment of the enthusiastic feedback and national junior team and ■ Doping Control, the Emergency Action Plan and the wholehearted participation from the Chief Medical was an assistant coach of IIHF Injury Reporting System were reviewed, but per- Officer's in attendance in Vienna, the IIHF Medical the of haps the most significant item on the day's agenda was Committee is proposing to hold another workshop in the the Western Hockey the topic of “Harassment and Abuse”. The experiences near future. League.

11 December 2001 - Vol. 5 - No 6 OLYMPIC PREVIEW SECTION - SALT LAKE CITY 2002 Olympics are something else, for legend Tretiak By Szymon Szemberg, IIHF At the age of 32, when most goalies start to reach their peak, Tretiak The Olympic games will always bear a special significance for Vladislav told his club and his national coach that he was quitting the game. One Tretiak, 49, and not only because he is the only person in hockey history to of the most spectacular careers had a premature end. have three Olympic golds and one silver. “I had at least five to seven good years left in me”, says Vladislav. “I was still very fit and in excellent shape. “You have to wait four years not only Montreal's general manager Serge to represent yourself, your national Savard was in Moscow to negotiate team but also your nations' Olympic my release, but it was useless. They movement. And nowadays the wouldn't let me go.” Olympics are even more important ■■ It would have been a wonderful with all the marriage because there was an best players ongoing love affair between Tretiak there”, says and the fans at the . Tretiak. It seems that the more Tretiak stop- ped the home heroes, the more the Forum crowd adored him. ■■ The IIHF These Forum games will forever be called up the etched in the history of hockey as man who maybe the three best performances many consider as the best goalten- by a goaltender ever: der to have ever played the game. If ■ Septemer 2, 1972: The first of you want to talk about Olympic ice eight games in the hockey success, whom do you talk between Team Canada and Soviet to if not Vladislav Tretiak? No one Union. A totally unknown Tretiak has a more impressive collection of stuns Canada as a nation: 7-3. “My Olympic hockey medals in his dra- best game ever”, says Tretiak. wer than”Vladislav the Great”. Gold ■ December 31, 1975: “The New medals from 1972, 1976 and 1984 and a silver medal from 1980. And Year's Classic”, is also described by we know that the silver one from many as the best hockey game ever Lake Placid hurts. played between two club teams. “Yes, I will never forget that as long Tretiak's CSKA Moscow played a 3-3 a I live”, says Tretiak from his tie against the Moscow office from where he runs a and Vladislav stopped 35 out Sports Academy which bears his Montreal's 38 shots. “An unbelieva- name, and from where he runs youth ble game”, says Tretiak. “I still have hockey tournaments in Moscow, the picture of me with Yvon Photo: SEVA KUKUSHKIN other Russian cities and Chicago. Cournoyer and Pete Mahovlich by Vlad the Great: As a 20 year old, he shocked the North American hockey my side. We were selected as the “Coach Viktor Tichonov pulled me establishment in with his style and his strange bird cage mask from the decisive game against USA stars of the game.” and he continued to mesmerize opponents until his retirement in 1984. In ■ September 13, 1981: Team after the first period. He told me that 1989, Tretiak was the first European player to be elected to the Hall of Fame. I made a bad mistake on Mark Canada is all over Tretiak in the one- Johnson's 2-2 goal and that reserve Myshkin would play the rest. I would game Canada Cup final, but the hot have had four gold medals if not for Tikhonov's bad judgement.” goalie makes the home team lose all composure. Soviets win their only ■■ Everyone knows the rest. The USA collegians scored two goals on Canada Cup title by stomping Canada 8-1. “I really loved playing at the Myshkin in the third period and 4-3 for the USA was the biggest upset in Forum because there was no place in the world where the fans knew Olympic hockey history. Although Tretiak still believes that his team was their hockey as well as in Montreal. It was very emotional for me.” ■■ far superior to the young Americans, he still -- almost 22 years after- Today, Vladislav Tretiak does not need to ask any’s permission when he tra- wards -- gives Team USA a lot of credit. vels once a month to Chicago where he is the gaolie consultant for the “That was the first North American team I met that really played as a Blackhawks. He has been with the organisation for eleven years and he team, and not as individuals”, says Tretiak. will, of course, be back as a goaltender coach for Team Russia in Salt It is strange really, but every time you talk to this magnificent athlete who Lake City, just as he was in Nagano four years ago. has four Olympic medals, ten IIHF World Championship gold medals, “Nikolai Khabibulin will most probably be our number one goalie”, says one Canada Cup victory and who was the first European to be inducted Tretiak. to the Hall of Fame, you find yourself talking about things which did not Will he be the new Tretiak? happen. “I hope so.” Losing, like Tretiak and his comrades did in 1980 is, after all, a part of the Vladislav does not want to say that, but we know his dream scenario. It game. But Tretiak will never forgive the old Soviet authorities for not let- is the first time the Olympic Winter Games return to the USA since Lake ting him play in the NHL after his last Olympic Placid 1980. Tretiak, still a fierce competitor, wants his Russia against gold in in 1984. Team USA and coach Herb Brooks in the gold TRETIAK, Vladislav Aleksandrovich medal game. Twenty two years after he was His voice is filled with resentment when he talks Born: April 25, 1952 in Dmitrovo, Soviet humiliated by his own coach, Tretiak wants to us about that. Union. “I did everything possible for my country”, says Olympic champion: 1972, 1976, 1984. nothing more than to be part of a team which Tretiak. “I played every tournament and in fifteen Silver medallist: 1980. defeats USA in an Olympic final on American ice. years, I missed one practise when the coach told IIHF World Champion: 1970, 71, 73, It is the only thing that can make Tretiak forget me to go home because I was so sick. I was 74, 75, 78, 79, 81, 82 and 83. Silver medallist: about 1980. At least for a while. 1972, 1976. Bronze medallist: 1977. hundred percent disciplined, I never smoked or NB. Vladislav Tretiak was voted the “Best Canada Cup champion: 1981. Russian Hockey Player of the 20th Century” in drank, but when I asked them in 1984 to let me ■ 117 games in IIHF World Championships and 2000. He played every minute of the eight game join the Montreal Canadiens who drafted me, Olympic Winter Games. Goltender consultant for they said no and the reason was that I was a sol- the NHL . President of a series in 1972 vs Canada without letting in a bad dier in the Red Army.” Moscow sports academy which bears his name. goal. He lists as the best goalie Tretiak had only one thing that he could counter ■ Resides in Moscow with his wife Tatiana and ever and Viktor Konovalenko as the best with -- retirement. their two children, Dmitri and Irina. European goalie he has seen.