Publisher: International Ice Hockey Federation, Editor-in-Chief: Jan-Ake Edvinsson Editors: Kimmo Leinonen and Szymon Szemberg, Layout: Szymon Szemberg, Photos: IIHF Archives, Jukka Rautio, City Press December 2002 - Vol. 6 - No 6 The game is vital - not the coaches’ job Coaches who mainly the attitude of the coaches. Their job stress defence and offici- is to keep the players fit and motiva- als who don't enforce ted. They are not entitled to hijack a rules are the two biggest beautiful and entertaining game for the simple purpose of just keeping dangers to our game. their jobs. Let the players play! I remember watching a game II I perfectly understand that coa- between Sweden and ches need to win in order to keep Switzerland at the 2000 IIHF their jobs. But what will their jobs World Championship in Russia. be worth once the fans have aban- The game ended 1-1 and, from doned the arenas? We have just my point of view, it was a terri- started the process and we will rel- ble performance, a show of entlessly pursue our goals which we “anti-hockey” featuring two truly believe are in the best interests strictly defensive teams, and the of hockey. entertainment factor was very low, to say the least. The other side of this will be even stricter rule enforcement (just like II I couldn't believe my eyes the NHL) or even rule changes. The when I saw the coaches of the National Basketball Association teams congratulate each other (NBA) benefited tremendously many for a good game afterwards. I years ago by not allowing the teams told them honestly how I felt to play the static zone defence. It about the game. was a bold move. Hockey is a diffe- rent game from basketball, but we The following years were very can still make changes, which can positive for international hoc- have profound impact on the game, key. The permitted two-line pass especially on how teams set up their opened the game, gave the cre- defence. ative players more freedom, and the hurry-up face off spee- II We will not be afraid to experi- ded up the game. The 2002 ment with ideas like four-on-four Olympic hockey tournament at hockey, reducing the mid zone and Salt Lake City showed the entire thus increasing the offensive and hockey world how great this defensive zones, or taking away the game is when skilful players are blue lines altogether. This is how it given a positive environment to works in the IIHF World In-Line excel in. Championship and the show they put on last summer in Germany was The Olympic hockey tournament highly entertaining. - by many observers described as the best hockey ever played - The issue of goaltending equipment was the reason why, some Photos: IIHF Archives must also be closely monitored. Just months later, the NHL decided FROM WORLD JUNIORS TO WORLD BEATERS. Great talents will become great players as long as take a look at a goaltender in a to diligently enforce all obstruc- they are allowed to excel their skills and not be confined to defensive systems. On top: Henrik photo or TV footage from a game 15 tion rules starting this season. Zetterberg, Sweden. Portraits: Marian Gaborik, Slovakia and Jarome Iginla, Canada. Below: or 20 years ago and compare them The reports from the first part Aleksander Ovechkin, Russia. Zetterberg (1999), Gaborik (2000) and Iginla (1996) are former World with today's goaltenders, which look of their season have been all Junior stars. Ovechkin is projected as the “Next One” and should be the toast of Halifax 2003. like those Michelin-figures one can but positive. see on trucks. Every piece of equip- ment, including the jersey, seems to be out of proportion. II While the NHL seems to have grabbed the momentum from Salt Lake City, the II pendulum is again swinging the other way in the European leagues. Lot's of what I We are approaching one of the highlights of the hockey season - the IIHF World have seen during this season reminds me of the depressing Sweden vs Switzerland U20 Championship, which this time will be played in Halifax and Sydney, Canada. game in St. Petersburg. The wonderful thing about these tournaments, is that not even coaches are able to sabotage the good show we are in for. Too many coaches are instructing their teams too defend their own blue line and Those 18 and 19 year olds know only one gear - fast forward. Don't miss the oppor- wait for the opposing team to come at them, thus reducing the risks of the long out- tunity to see these kids. This could be the last time they are allowed to express their let pass. The idea behind allowing the two-line pass gets lost. We are back to the creative skills before they are forged into a system only a coach can appreciate. dire days of the mid-zone traps, hookings, holdings, interferences and all kinds of illegal obstructions. René Fasel IIHF President This is something that the IIHF will not hesitate to address. First of all we must change December 2002 - Vol. 6 - No 6 IIHF CONTINENTAL CUP SUPER FINAL - JANUARY 10 - 12, 2003 Europe’s top 8 battle for continental supremacy LOKOMOTIV YAROSLAVL RUS HCJ MILANO VIPERS ITA Super Final Competition Format League: Serie A (Italy). Group M (at Lugano) Group N (at Milan) League: Professional Hockey League HC Davos, SUI HCJ Milano Vipers, ITA (Russia). 2001-2002: Champions. HC Lugano, SUI Jokerit Helsinki, FIN 2001-2002: Champions. Current position: Second (as of Dec 9). Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, RUS Keramin Minsk, BLR Current position: First (as of Dec. 9). National champion: Once, 2001-2002. Belfast Giants, GBR Slovan Bratislava, SVK National champion: Two times. Coach: Adolf Insam. Follow every game LIVE! and get the total stats package on IIHF.com Coach: Vladimir Vujtek, CZE. Key players, defence: Leo Insam, Rob Key players, defence: Denis Grebeshkov, Cowie (GBR), Justin Peca (CAN), Slava Uvayev January 10 (in Milan) Aleksander Guskov, Martin Strbak (CZE). (RUS). Game 1 Jokerit Helsinki - Slovan Bratislava 17.00 Key players, offence: Andrei Kovalenko, Sergei Key players, offence: Mario Chittaroni, Scott Game 2 HCJ Milano - HC Keramin Minsk 20.30 Nemchinov, Anton But, Vladimir Antipov. Beattie, Patrice Lefebvre (CAN). Goalie: No. 1 Jason Muzzatti should get the calls, but January 10 (in Lugano) Goalie: Solid veteran Yegor Podomatski. Backup Game 3 HC Davos - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 17.00 Gianluca Canei can play. Andrei Malkov seldom sees any action. Game 4 HC Lugano - Belfast Giants 20.30 By the way: Lokomotiv is the best drawing team in By the way: Justin Peca is the cousin of NHL star the Russian league averaging 9.000 spectators. Michael Peca of the N.Y. Islanders. January 11 (in Milan) Game 5 Loser Game 1 - Loser Game 2 17.00 Game 6 Winner Game 1 - Winner Game 2 20.30 JOKERIT HELSINKI FIN SLOVAN BRATISLAVA SVK League: ST Extraliga (SVK) January 11 (in Lugano) League: SM-Liiga (Finland). Game 7 Loser Game 3 - Loser Game 4 17.00 2001-2002: Champion. 2001-2002: Champions. Game 8 Winner Game 3 - Winner Game 4 20.30 Current position: First (as of Dec. 9). Current position: Fourth (as of Dec 9). National champion: Six times. National champion: Three times. January 12 (tentative allocation of the games) Coach: Raimo Summanen. Coach: Julius Supler Game 9 (in Milano) Loser Game 5 - Loser Game 7 11.00 Key players, defence: Mika Stromberg, Ari Vallin, Key players, defence: Josef Mrena, Vladimir Vlk, (Place 7 - 8) Antti-Jussi Niemi. Michal Safarik. Game 10 (in Lugano) Winner Game 5 - Winner Game 7 Key players, offence: Igor Rataj, Jan Lipiansky, 17.00 (Place 5 - 6) Key players, offence: Ville Peltonen, Antti Aalto, Game 11 (in Milano) Loser Game 6 - Loser Game 8 14.30 Richard Kapus. Jukka Voutilainen. (Bronze Medal) Goalie: Sensational 19-year old Kari Lehtonen, if he Goalie: Pavol Rybar plays virtually every game. Game 12 (in Lugano) Winner Game 6 - Winner Game 8 makes it back in time from the World U20 in Canada. Backup Jozef Andrejka is just that. 20.30 (Gold Medal) Backup Markus Helanen isn't used very often. By the way: Forward Zdeno Ciger, 33, returned to By the way: Jokerit were European Hockey League club in November. Ciger had not played since leaving Champions in 1995 and 1996. Tampa Bay (NHL) after last season. Forward Lubomir IIHF News & Appointments Hurtaj left for Czech club Plzen in November. Ken Inagaki, 29, is the SUI HC DAVOS BELFAST GIANTS GBR latest addition to the IIHF. League: Nationalliga A (Switzerland). His position as the IT League: Ice Hockey Sekonda League, ISL (GBR) 2001-2002: Champions. Development Manager is 2001-2002: Won regular season, flopped in play-offs. Current position: Second (as of Dec 9). to refine the IIHF IT solu- Current position: Third (as of Dec 9). National champion: 26 times. tions, including the stati- National champion: - Coach: Arno Del Curto stics, accreditation and Coach: David Whistle, CAN Key players, defence: Marc Gianola, Ralph Ott, internet systems. In addi- Key players, defence: Curt Bowen (CAN), Robby Michael Kress. tion, he will assist in the Sandrock (CAN). Key players, offence: Lonny Bohonos (CAN), Kevin day-to-day issues concerning IT operations within Key playere, offence: Paxton Schulte (CAN), Rod Miller (USA), Reto von Arx, Michel Riesen. the federation. Goalie: Swiss international Lars Weibel. It's safe to Stevens (CAN), Kevin Riehl (CAN). Goalie: First stringer Ryan Bach has been injured, but say that backup Jonas Hiller won't see any action as Inagaki has worked as results manager for nume- British born Colin Ryder has done a great job since long as HCD is in contention.