ALEXEI CHEREPANOV's DEATH INVESTIGATION CASE REOPENED

MOSCOW -- Prosecutors will reopen the investigation into the death of New York Rangers draft pick Alexei Cherepanov, who collapsed during a Continental Hockey League game last year in Russia.



The federal prosecutor's Investigative Committee ruled last month that team doctors were not to blame for Cherepanov's death and would face no criminal charges. Investigators said doctors with Siberian team Avangard Omsk had no reason to suspect the 19-year-old suffered from a chronic heart problem and therefore did not prescribe the medicine he was taking.

But the committee on Monday reopened the case and ordered that new medical tests be carried out in a federal centre for forensic medicine.

Cherepanov, a first-round pick in 2007, died after collapsing on the bench during an Oct. 13 game in Chekhov, a town outside Moscow. Authorities say an autopsy showed he suffered from myocarditis, a condition that obstructs blood flow to the heart and other organs.

The investigators' initial conclusion seemed to lay more blame on Cherepanov than anyone else. They said Cherepanov most likely felt unwell but hid his condition from team doctors for fear of being pulled from games.

Cherepanov's mother, Margarita, rejected the conclusions, and insisted that her son was healthy.

In December, the Investigative Committee said medical experts had concluded from analysis of blood and urine samples that Cherepanov "engaged in doping" for several months before his death.

But in their July ruling investigators said he had been taking cordiaminum, which apparently stimulates circulation and breathing as well as the central nervous system, suggesting he may have been taking it to treat his condition.

Avangard's president, general manager and a team doctor were suspended indefinitely from positions in the league, and another Avangard doctor was suspended for two years.

The president of the host club, Vityaz, also was suspended indefinitely amid complaints about medical services at the arena.

NHL STARS SHOWCASED IN COPENHAGEN

While we all are waiting 'the-miserable-Kane's-story" to be continued and, hopefuly, ended up as a perfect lesson to Chicago uprising star, some Swedish NHLers managed to find spare time (and money) to play charity game in Copenhagen, Danmark, not to beat taxi drivers instead...



Danish hockey fans had a rare opportunity to watch a parade of the biggest Swedish NHL stars when the Icebreakers visited Copenhagen 5-6 August 2009.

On 5-6 August, the Icebreakers, a charity team formed by Peter Forsberg and Markus Näslund in 2002, visited Copenhagen to play two games against an All-Star Danish teams and the local team of Rødovre. It was the first time in its history, the Icebreakers played outside Sweden and Finland.

Icebreakers' featured an impressive lineup of some of the biggest Swedish NHL stars: Peter Forsberg, Markus Näslund, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Bäckström, the Sedin twins,. Indeed, in both games, the Icebreakers played with a superline centered around Forsberg with Bäckström, Näslund and Zetterberg, and this line received plenty of icetime. The Danish Allstar team included NHL'ers Frans Nielsen (NY Islanders) and Peter Regin (Ottawa Senators) as well as North American legionars Sebastian Dahm and Morten Madsen. Unfortunately, the Danish teams missed some of the biggest NHL prospects, Mikkel Bødker (Phoenix Coytotes), Lars Eller (St. Louis Blues)and Philip Larsen (Dallas Stars). If available, Bødker and Eller would have played both games as they grew up with Rødovre.

The Icebreakers games nevertheless featured the biggest contingent of NHL stars on Danish ice since a starpacked Slovakian national team played a IHWC warmup game in the same arena during the NHL lockout in April 2005--a game that Denmark won 2-1.



Forsberg's comeback?

In the Swedish media there was much hype about the possible comeback of Peter Forsberg who hasn't played since February when he made another attempt to relaunch his career. Forsberg has been suffering from a foot injury ever since his time at Philadelphia Flyers. Over the years, he has visited nearly every single specialist on the planet. He has undergone surgery several times and used special designed skates, but the injury won't heal. After another surgery earlier this Summer, Forsberg plans to make one final attempt to make a comeback, but a few days before the Icebreakers games, he announced that it was not likely that he would play in Copenhagen. To everyone's surprise, Forsberg not only dressed for the games, he also logged more than 20 minutes in each game. If things finally works out for Forsberg, he will likely play for MODO with a view to make a NHL comeback later this season.

Curiously, both games in Copenhagen ended 10-6 for Icebreakers

Lineups:

BT All Stars: Peter Hirsch (41:00 - Sebastian Dahm); Rasmus Nielsen, Jesper Duus (2); Morten Madsen-Frans Nielsen-Thor Dresler / Mads Bødker, Jesper Damgaard; Nicklas Hardt - Morten Green - Kim Staal / Kasper Pedersen,Simon Grønvaldt; Jesper Jensen - Lasse Degn - Mads Christensen / Thomas Johnsen; Jeppe Linander Henriksen - Thor Dresler - Mads Christensen.

Icebreakers: Johan Backlund; Mattias Timander, Markus Näslund; Nicklas Bäckström - Peter Forsberg - Henrik Zetterberg/Hans Jonsson; Per Svartvadet; Andreas Salmonsson - Per Åge Skröder - Niklas Sundström / Jan Öberg, Tobias Enström; Henrik Sedin -Samuel Påhlsson - Daniel Sedin.

PATRICK KANE - SCANDAL IN CHICAGO

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and his cousin were arrested early Sunday morning for assaulting and robbing a cab driver in Buffalo, according to several news sources in that city.

According to a police report, the 20-year-old Kane and his cousin James M. Kane, 21, were arrested around 5am et after allegedly punching the cabbie after he said he did not have proper change for their trip fare.

The report says the cab fare was $13.80 and the Kanes handed the driver $15. He claims he had only $1 change and was not in possession of another twenty cents to give back. According to the police report, both Kanes took their money back and punched the cabbie in the face and head.

Both men have been charged with second-degree robbery, fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services.

The NHL is working with the local police department in trying to assemble the details.

Kane, a Buffalo native, had attended a press conference with the mayor to announce funding for a local rink earlier in the evening.

WGRZ.com says the driver appeared to have suffered cuts to his face as well as damage to his glasses.

Buffalo's WIVB is reporting that an attorney for the Kanes has entered a plea of not guilty in City court.

BRETT HULL TURNS FORTY-FIVE TODAY

On behalf of all my friends, readers and visitors I would like to congratulate Brett Hull, who was inducted to the NHL Hall of Fame this year, all his family and his dad in particular.


SUCH PHOTO IS EVERY HOCKEY DAD's DREAM (EVEN IF YOUR NAME IS BOBBY HULL)

by HAll of Fame:
As the son of the "Golden Jet" Bobby Hull, the younger Hull came into the game with the pressure that having a famous name can bring, pressure that he shrugged off easily. After his 1,000th point, Brett and Bobby became the only father and son combo in NHL history to each score 1,000 points and now both will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
But this was not the first time the younger Hull hit a scoring milestone. As a St. Louis Blues player nine years earlier, he scored 50 goals in 49 games. He became just the fifth player in NHL history to do the 50/50, tying as third fastest ever. This achievement put Hull in an elite group of superstar players alongside Wayne Gretzky, Maurice Richard, Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux.
Despite his father's impressive career, Brett was not always seen as being destined for hockey stardom. He began playing junior hockey in Penticton, in the BCJHL. This was only a Tier II junior team, one level below major junior hockey. In those days, Hull weighed 220 pounds and was nicknamed Pickle. Despite his size, he scored 105 goals in 56 games and won a scholarship to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

In 1984 the Calgary Flames drafted Hull 117th overall after just two years in college, and he spent the next couple of seasons splitting his playing time between Calgary and their minor league team in Moncton. In Moncton, Hull finished third in league scoring and was name the IHL's Rookie-of-the-Year.
In 1988 the Flames traded Hull to St. Louis. In his first season, he scored 41 goals and captured the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. 1990-91 marked the first Hull's three consecutive 70-plus goal seasons, which included a career high 86 goals in 1990-91 which earned him the Lester B. Pearson Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player.


BRETT HULL SCORES HIS CONTROVERSIAL GOAL ENDING THE GAME 6 TRIPLE OT OF 1999 PLAYOFFS FINALS

After eleven seasons in St. Louis, Hull signed with the Dallas Stars in the summer of 1998. He had said he wanted to play for the Chicago Blackhawks, his father's team, but the Stars made him an offer he just could not pass up. Despite the big contract, the move to the Stars took some pressure off Hull. A perennially strong team, the Stars had never played quite as well on the ice as their name suggested. When Hull joined their ranks, they went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1999, with Hull scoring the winning goal in triple overtime.

Long-time Flyers' goalie Ron Hextall once summed up the opposition's take on Hull: "When he comes in on the wing, he's got an awful lot of speed. If you give him a hole, he hits it." And for his part, Hull has always had a pretty clear idea of what he has been paid to do. Possessed of a mean slapshot and a solid frame, Hull has had a decided knack for finding the back of the net throughout his career.

Early in the 99-2000 season, Hull scored his 600th goal, thus ensuring he and father Bobby were the first and only father-son combination to reach that remarkable plateau. After three seasons in Dallas, Hull signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings prior to 2001-02 season and went on to capture his second Stanley Cup later that spring.


BRETT HULL. DALLAS STARS GENERAL MANAGER

Hull surpassed the 700-goal mark and 1,300-point mark in 2002-03 and shows no signs of slowing down. After three seasons in Detroit, Hull went on to sign as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes in the summer of 2004 and following a lock out year in 2004-05, would play a mere five games with the club before announcing his retirement from the game.

On the international stage Hull has represented the United States at the Winter Olympics (1998 and 2002), the 1996 World Cup, the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1986 World Championships.

In his illustrious NHL career, Brett Hull scored 741 goals, 650 assists and 1,391 points.

REF KERRY FRASER ADMITS MISTAKE AFTER...SIXTEEN YEARS

By GARY LOEWEN, SUN MEDIA


1993 STANLEY CUP. LA vs LEAFS. GRETZKY vs GILMOUR

Referee Kerry Fraser admits to human error regarding a blown call on Wayne Gretzky — a missed penalty that, 16 years later, still rankles some Maple Leafs fans.

But, evidently, Doug Gilmour shares the blame for Gretzky not getting a five-minute major for high-sticking the Leafs star.

“Any official absolutely has nightmares when they have an effect on the game — and a negative effect,” Fraser said yesterday on Leafs Lunch on AM640, reflecting on the incident in Game 6 of the 1993 conference final between Toronto and the Los Angeles Kings.

“When it crosses over into what occurred that night, the human error, the element that we miss ... I think about it often.”

Gretzky drew blood when he clipped Gilmour on the chin, but Fraser had an obstructed view and the linesmen missed it as well.

Fraser said he asked Gilmour for his side of the story, and the Leaf said he was hit on the follow-through of Gretzky’s shot.

Replays showed otherwise. The Kings centre should have been penalized for a high stick.

Gretzky went on to score the winning goal when he should have been serving a major, and the Kings wrapped up the series in Game 7.

Fraser faced the wrath of a handful of callers with long memories — one suffered from sleepless nights, and an e-mailer said it was “the game that broke my heart.” But the referee handled them with aplomb.

While agreeing with one gent that he blew the call, Fraser said: “I hope you got it all out — you should not carry this anger and resentment.”

After 16 years, yeah, time to give it a rest.

THEO "THE REBEL" FLEURY RETURNS?

Sources tell TSN Theoren Fleury is attempting a comeback and wants to play in the NHL again.



After playing senior hockey last season, Fleury decided in February he was fit enough to give the NHL another try, so he hired a personal trainer and has been working diligently since.

Those close to him say he didn't leave the National Hockey League the way he wanted, which is fueling his desire to return.

The 41-year-old has been sober for almost four years and has been skating daily in Calgary in the hope that an NHL team is willing to invite him to training camp.

Interest in the former Stanley Cup champion won't be enough to clear the way for Fleury's return. He remains under indefinite suspension and would first have to be approved by the NHL and the NHLPA's Substance Abuse programs doctors before reinstatement would be considered.

Sources say Fleury recently sent NHL commissioner Gary Bettman a letter acknowledging his comeback bid and has also discussed the possibility with the leagues doctors.

At 5 feet 6 inches, Theo Fleury is one of the smallest players in hockey, and he had to disprove many doubters and skeptics to become a bona fide NHL star. Intense and fearless, Fleury made a name for himself for more than his stature he could score, play defensively and lead teams to championships in junior hockey, in the NHL and on the international stage.

In 1984, as a 16-year-old,Fleury joined the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. In his second year he emerged as the team leader, and in his third and fourth years he became a star for his offensive achievements and for his entertaining, all-out style of play. In 1986 he was invited to the training camp for the team that would represent Canada at the World Junior Championships in Czechoslovakia. Scouts were already voicing the opinion that Fleury would be too small to play in the NHL, giving Fleury that much more to prove as a member of Team Canada.



Fleury brought his typical pesky game to the championships, but was involved in an infamous brawl that cost Canada a chance at the gold medal.

Fleury was selected in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, but not until 165 players were chosen ahead of him. The Calgary Flames chose him with their ninth-round pick, projecting him as a potentially entertaining addition to their minor-league club in Salt Lake City. Fleury played a final season in Moose Jaw in 1987-88, and he tied Swift Current's Joe Sakic for the league scoring title. He also racked up 235 minutes in penalties as he stepped up his aggressive play to combat the criticism of his size. He once again played in the World Junior Championships, this time as team captain in an uneventful affair in which Canada won the gold medal. Fleury was named to the tournament's All-Star team.

Though Fleury was confident in his abilities, the Flames seemed less than sure. They signed him to a pro contract late in the 1987-88 season, just in time for him to join Salt Lake for the IHL playoffs. He seized the opportunity, scoring 11 goals in 8 games and leading the Golden Eagles to the Turner Cup championship. He began the next season in Salt Lake but an outburst of 37 goals and 74 points in only 40 games finally convinced the Flames that he deserved a chance to play in the NHL.



Used at center and at right wing, Fleury helped the Flames capture the Stanley Cup in 1989, and in his first full season he scored 31 goals. In 1990-91 he netted 51 goals and 104 points, and he made his first appearance at the NHL All-Star Game. Prior to the next season he played in the Canada Cup tournament, and he went on to score 30 goals in each of his next three seasons. He was also among the league leaders with 29 during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season.

Though outspoken and often brash, aggravating opponents, Fleury matured in time, becoming team captain in 1995. He continued to pick up honors for his hard work, including a berth on the league's Second All-Star Team in 1995 and spots on Team Canada's roster at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, the 1998 Nagano Olympics and later down the road Canada's Gold Medal Olympic Team in Salt Lake City.

On November 29, 1997, Fleury scored his 315th career goal, passing Joe Nieuwendyk for first place on the Flames' all-time list. In February 1999 the Flames, who felt they wouldn't be able to re-sign Fleury when his contract expired that summer, traded him to the Colorado Avalanche. He ended up with a season total of 40 goals and signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers during the off-season.

The dimunitive forward went on to play three seasons on Broadway before joining the Chicago Blackhawks for one season in 2002-03.
by HOCKEY HALL OF FAME.

SID THE KID CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY WITH STANLEY CUP IN HALIFAX, QUE

HALIFAX, N.S. - Hockey star Sidney Crosby stepped off a Sea King helicopter at a wharf in Halifax harbour on Friday, the Stanley Cup aloft over his head, to cheers from hundreds of fans.



The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins is celebrating his 22nd birthday in Halifax and the suburban community of Cole Harbour - his hometown - with the trophy.
The military helicopter carrying Crosby and the cup landed on the flight deck of the HCMS Preserver at the Halifax Dockyard.
Crosby said because of the city's connection with the military, he wanted to share the cup with members of the Armed Forces.
"This is something that I felt was important," he said. "There's a lot of troops that aren't here right now who are overseas ... but for the ones who are here I thought they would really get a kick out of it."
Crosby said the NHL is unique because it allows its players to travel with the championship trophy.

"That's what we get a kick out of us players is the sharing with everyone," said Crosby, who is also making a private visit to a children's hospital in Halifax.
Crosby said he dreamed of winning the Stanley Cup as a child, but the experience is better than he imagined.
"When you finally win it you realize the experience that comes with it and how good that is. I'm finding that out right now, but it's probably everything and better."
Later, he leads a parade through Cole Harbour, where thousands of people are expected to show up.



Hundreds of military members and their families, some decked out in Penguins jerseys, were at the wharf to greet Crosby, along with Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Rear Admiral Paul Maddison.
The Penguins won the NHL final in seven games against the Detroit Red Wings this spring as Crosby became the youngest captain ever to win the Stanley Cup.
Crosby's hockey career has been chronicled since he was a boy in Cole Harbour, where his prodigious talent emerged at a young age.
Paul Mason, who coached Crosby in minor hockey, said as a young player in the local minor hockey association, Crosby stood out.

"He was exceptional. He had an ability to see the ice and he was very tenacious," said Mason, who remembers Crosby as the most skilled player he's worked with in 31 years of coaching.
"He made, as he does now, made everyone on the ice better in the way he moves the puck, his ability to control the play. He was a very coachable young fellow."
After learning to skate on the rinks of Cole Harbour, Crosby left home in 2002 to attend Shattuck St. Mary's, a boarding school in Farbault, Minn., known for its hockey program.



He returned to Canada to play junior hockey and led the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to a Memorial Cup final in 2005.
There was plenty of buildup for Crosby's NHL debut. Years before he was drafted, Wayne Gretzky said he was the best player he'd seen since Mario Lemieux.
The hockey world buzzed that "The Next One" was coming.
Crosby was the much-anticipated first overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft.
In his rookie season with the Penguins, Crosby held his own, finishing sixth in league scoring and becoming the youngest player to score 100 points in a season.
In his second season with the franchise, Crosby started to shine. Leading the NHL in scoring, he won the Art Ross trophy, becoming the youngest person to do so. He was named the league's most valuable player and the players' association voted him the outstanding player.