Blackhawks’ Dustin Byfuglien ‘Next American Star’

CHICAGO – In a day of banged-up economies, collapsing housing markets and difficult daily challenges, if you are searching for an inspirational story, look no further than the Chicago Blackhawks forward Dustin Byfuglien.

April 2, 2009 | Read the story »

Scotty Bowman Exclusive – Fighting and Rule Changes

CHICAGO – NHL icon Scotty Bowman holds a laundry list of coaching records including 1,244 regular season wins and 9 Stanley Cups and is currently the Senior Advisor for Hockey Operations for the Chicago Black Hawks.

Now in his fifth decade in the NHL, he has seen drastic changes over the years and believes it is time to look hard at implementing stricter fighting rules.

March 9, 2009 | Read the story »

NHL enforcer Eric Boulton interview/feature

ATLANTA – Atlanta Thrashers forward Eric Boulton is no stranger to fisticuffs. After recording 131 points (65g 66a) and 1,374 penalty minutes in 319 minor league games, Boulton journeyed his way to the NHL where he has established himself as one of the game’s respected enforcers.

I sat down with the 7-year NHL veteran to get his feedback on the possibility of fight rule changes in the league.

March 8, 2009 | Read the story »

Trading Kovalchuk not the answer for NHL Thrashers

ATLANTA – There has been a buzz around the NHL about the possibility of the Atlanta Thrashers trading their Russian star Ilya Kovalchuk before this year’s trade deadline but trading away their hugest asset may is not fix this club’s problem, it may add to it.

December 15, 2008 | Read the story »

Falcons and Hawks offer healthy ‘fix’ for Atlanta

Published in The Sunday Paper, Atlanta.

There’s a buzz around the ATL that is gaining momentum by the week.

The buzz is about the new ‘fix’ in town that is providing relief to the stress of multi-billion dollar wars, historical home foreclosure numbers and the foul stench of national recession that is in the air.

November 13, 2008 | Read the story »

Hollywood Helps NHL Get It’s Mojo Back

Published in San Fran Examiner.

After years of hiding in the shadows of the rival NBA, the NHL is making its way back into the ratings and into Hollywood’s spotlight. Since the Red Wings clinched the finals, the Stanley Cup has made a trip down the red carpet and has appeared on several popular television shows including “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

After their “Sexy Back” dance performance that night, we shouldn’t expect Osgood and Lidstrom to make it to “Dancing With the Stars,” but their representing the NHL and Red Wings that night in front of millions of coast-to-coast viewers is exposure the league desperately needs.

October 26, 2008 | Read the story »

Tiger Stadium Demolished . . . But Not The Memories

DETROIT – Witnessing the demolition of Detroit’s historic ballpark, Tiger Stadium, is like attending the burial of a loved one. While we cannot stop death from consuming one’s final breath and beat of a heart, we can never allow it to pilfer the memories.

At the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, demolition experts and heavy machinery continue to flatten Tiger Stadium, one beam and support at a time. Those bulldozers may rip the concrete and riveted steel girders out of that structure and bury it in a nearby landfill, but it will never purge the heart and soul out of that ballpark.

August 26, 2008 | Read the story »

Eighteen-year-old Bogosian Has Sights Set On NHL

Published in The Hockey News.

ATLANTA – As a teen, Zach Bogosian dedicated his summers to taking long road trips across the Canadian border from his hometown Massena, NY to Ottawa to attend vigorous workouts with premiere NHL players like Daniel Alfredsson and Daniel Briere.

Possessing these strong work ethics and born competitive to the core, it’s no surprise the seventeen-year-old American was selected No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 NHL draft.

August 24, 2008 | Read the story »

Another Esposito In The NHL?

Published in The Hockey News.

ATLANTA – IN THE 1970′S, Esposito was a household name in Canada and the United States, the name made famous by two NHL legends who loved the game of hockey.

All-Star Phil Esposito, a record-setting, Hall of Famer rewrote the record books in the NHL during the peak of his career, becoming the first NHL player to break the 100 point barrier in a season when he beat the record by a landslide, tallying 126 points in 1969. Later he would score a record-shattering 76 goals during the 1970-71 season.

Decades later, another Esposito is emerging, hovering over the NHL, pursuing the opportunity to make a name for himself.

July 18, 2008 | Read the story »

Thrashers Roster Has Huge Void To Fill

Published in Inside Hockey

ATLANTA – It seems like an eternity ago when the Atlanta Thrashers’ roster was overflowing with high-profile, star-caliber players, won the Southeast Division and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Philips Arena was rocking with wall-to-wall fans in blue with dreams of their team orchestrating a long playoff run . . . a run that could possibly lead to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

Approximately 60 goals departed with Hossa, Dupuis and Holik and in today’s low-scoring NHL that’s a huge void to fill . . . rather than void, you may call it an abyss if the Thrashers are unable to land a few proven goal scorers.

June 26, 2008 | Read the story »