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The Finnish SM-liiga comes down to the wire next week, and the race to the regular season title is still wide open. With two games remaining, the top of the standings looks like this:
1. JYP 100 points
2. KalPa 97
3. Jokerit 96
4. HPK 95
5. Kärpät 94
6. Blues 91
KalPa has improved its record with 45 points from last season when it finished 13th in the 14-team league.
You are viewing the archives for February 2009
Down to the wire
Feb 28, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | SM-liiga | Send to a buddy
THN: Eye on Europe
Feb 27, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Europe | Send to a buddy
And here's this week's Eye On Europe from The Hockey News. Enjoy.
Hired to be fired to be hired
Feb 27, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Elitserien | Send to a buddy
Södertälje, the last-place team in Elitserien, fired coach Jim Brithén on Wednesday and re-hired Leif Strömberg whom the club fired in November. Strömberg will now enter the qualification series for the third time in four years with Södertälje.
First, getting relegated in 2006, getting promoted in 2007, and now trying to stay afloat again.
Brithén won just three of his 22 games behind the SSK bench.
First, getting relegated in 2006, getting promoted in 2007, and now trying to stay afloat again.
Brithén won just three of his 22 games behind the SSK bench.
Norway!
Feb 27, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Elitserien | Send to a buddy
If Per-Åge Skrøder wins the Elitserien scoring title, he will become the first non-Swede or non-Finn to do so. The Norwegian forward has 30 goals and 29 assists this season, and he’s the only one to reach the 30-goal mark.
Skrøder has a four-point lead over Fredrik Bremberg, with one game remaining in the regular season.
Skrøder has a four-point lead over Fredrik Bremberg, with one game remaining in the regular season.
IIHF.com: Färjestad
Feb 26, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Elitserien | Send to a buddy
Färjestad bagged the regular season title in Sweden. Read my story on IIHF.com, or continue below.
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Cont.
Magic Man
Feb 26, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Elitserien | Send to a buddy
Djurgårdens IF’s center Fredrik Bremberg is the king of Stockholm, at least between October and the end of February. October because that’s the end of the soccer season, and if Djurgården’s soccer team is anywhere near the top, Bremberg can work his magic in front of a half empty Hovet on the side of town from the Stockholm Olympic Stadium.
And, on the other hand, the end of February is when Djurgården’s hockey season ends when the eight best teams continue their season with the playoffs.
Cont.
And, on the other hand, the end of February is when Djurgården’s hockey season ends when the eight best teams continue their season with the playoffs.
Cont.
THN: Eye on Europe
Feb 20, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Europe | Send to a buddy
What a shot!
Feb 15, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Hockey | Send to a buddy
Right above my desk there’s a photo of a hockey player flying through the air after he’s just scored the Stanley Cup winning goal. The player is Bobby Orr, of course, a Canadian and Boston Bruins’ hockey legend, and the photo itself, is a part of the hockey lore as well.
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Cont.
THN: Eye on Europe
Feb 13, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Europe | Send to a buddy
Here's my latest from THN. Enjoy.
The pantheon of Finnish hockey
Feb 13, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | SM-liiga | Send to a buddy
About a month ago, the Finnish “Hall of Fame”, the Hockey Museum, announced its new crop of “Hockey Lions”, the equivalent of being inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, or the IIHF Hall of Fame. A big honor, in other words, and a recognition of a job well done for Finnish hockey.
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Cont.
The week in Finland
Feb 13, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | SM-liiga | Send to a buddy
A roundup of the week that was.
- While outdoor games are all the craze in the world, Finnish SM-liiga teams Ässät, Pori and Lukko, Rauma, are taking it one step further, by staging an exhibition game...
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Liv’s complete makeover
Feb 09, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Elitserien | Send to a buddy
A season to forget may turn into a season to remember for Stefan Liv, the gentleman goaltender.
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Cont.
LG Hockey games recap
Feb 09, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Europe | Send to a buddy
Here's what happened at the LG Hockey Games in Stockholm this past weekend:
- Sweden took a sweet victory in the LG Hockey Games, the third tournament in this season’s Euro Hockey Tour. The hosts grabbed three wins – Russia (4-3), Czech Republic (6-4), and Finland (4-0) – and gave head coach Bengt-Åke Gustafsson something to wave in front of those critical of the team’s performances this season.
- The LG Hockey Games All-Stars, as voted by the media:
Goaltender: Johan Holmqvist (Sweden)
Defencemen: Janne Niinimaa (Finland), Kenny Jönsson (Sweden)
Forwards: Niko Kapanen (Finland), Mattias Weinhandl (Sweden), Maxim Rybin (Russia) - Sweden iced a very experienced defence corps in the tournament. In the team’s first game against Russia, Dick Tärnström, 34, was the youngest defenceman on Team Sweden, while Marcus Ragnarsson, 37, was the oldest. Tärnström injured his knee in the second game, opening the door for Victor Hedman, 18.
- Even though Russia didn’t win the tournament, it collected enough points to already secure the total victory of the Euro Hockey Tour 2008-09, when one tournament still remains to be played.
- Finland scored nine goals in the first five periods of the tournament, and none in the last four. The team had a 4-1 lead after two periods against Russia, but lost the game 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out, and was shut out by the Swedes in the last game of the tournament.
Blue suede skates
Feb 05, 2009 by RistoP | 3 assists | Hockey | Send to a buddy
Instead of calling myself a one-track mind, I just say that I’m focused. I’m very, very focused. I’m goal-oriented, I’m dedicated.
But between you and me? Yeah, I am a hockey nerd.
Cont.
But between you and me? Yeah, I am a hockey nerd.
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Eye on Europe
Feb 03, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Europe | Send to a buddy
Here's something new from The Hockey News.
Few players exemplify hockey’s progress as a true international sport as well as Sebastién Bordeleau and Ryan Gardner, two second-generation Canadian-born pro players who now play under different flags. Bordeleau plays for France and Gardner - who got his Swiss citizenship last year – plays for Switzerland.Read the rest here. My "Eye on Europe" will be featured on THN.com every Friday.
Bordeleau, the son of Paulin Bordeleau - also a French national team player - will be wearing the tricolors this weekend when France takes on Kazakhstan, Denmark, and Norway in the Olympic qualification tournament in Oslo, Norway.
Leino, Lei-yes
Feb 01, 2009 by RistoP | 2 assists | NHL | Send to a buddy
First goal, and it was a nice one.
It's not hockey show, it's hockey business
Feb 01, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Elitserien | Send to a buddy
And it ain't easy being in the show business. Swedish Malmö won the Swedish title twice in the early nineties, and thanks to the city's geographical location - and a wealthy backer - its place in the upper echelons of Swedish hockey has always been considered important for the country's hockey.
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Cont.
Ryan Gardner celebrates
Feb 01, 2009 by RistoP | Comment here | Pucktalk | Send to a buddy
The ZSC Lions Zurich became of the first champions of the champions, claiming the Champions Hockey League title by beating metallurg Magnitogorsk 5-0 on Wednesday. Afterwards, I ducked the champagne and sat down briefly with Ryan Gardner.
Remember. You can also subscribe to Pucktalk on iTunes, icon to the right here.
Remember. You can also subscribe to Pucktalk on iTunes, icon to the right here.