UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (02/04/96)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

Mid season marvels

It is the National Hockey League's age of experience. The results of some informal 1995-1996 mid-season award polls and all-star balloting confirm the old tricks of old dogs continue to amaze.

Pick any position and you'll find that the best players this year have been spinning and weaving their magic at a higher level than their peers for a long, long time.

Thirty-five-year-old New York Rangers' center Mark Messier, in his 16th season, finished second in voting for the Hart Trophy (MVP) at mid-season.

Florida Panthers' goalie John Vanbiesbrouk, 32, is the mid-season winner of the Vezina as the league's top goalie.

On defense, Chris Chelios of the Chicago Blackhawks and Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins occupy their usual positions as blueline powerhouses.

The winner of the mid-season Selke Award for best defensive forward is Pittsburgh Penguins' 32-year-old center Ron Francis, who also stood third in over-all league scoring.

None of these results are really surprising.

But the Penguins' Mario Lemieux and St. Louis Blues' Grant Fuhr are two more thriving thirtysomethings who only one year ago were dismissed as overtaken by the talent-sucking duo of poor health and Father Time. Both have come back with seasons that truly rank among their best.

Lemieux, 30, led the NHL and teammate Jaromir Jagr (by 11 points) in scoring at the halfway mark despite playing only 38 of the Penguins' first 45 games. He was the runaway first-team Eastern Conference all-star center and winner of the league-wide Hart Trophy.

Fuhr, 33, was the only goalie to play in all of his team's games and recorded a goals-against average of well below 3.00. He finished second to Vanbiesbrouck in league-wide Vezina voting and second to the Detroit Red Wings' Chris Osgood in Western Conference all-star voting.

Of 14 players (Francis was a dual finalist) who finished among the top three in league-wide voting for the Hart, Norris, Vezina, Selke and Lady Bing Trophies, 10 are age 29 or older.

"Perseverance is a great thing," Fuhr said. "All those guys so far mentioned have perseverance. Part of the (reason) is we should know how to win."

The experts believe the NHL's ultimate power resides in the Eastern Conference. Lemieux, Messier and Philadelphia Flyers' center Eric Lindros finished 1-2-3 in voting for Eastern all-star team centers, the Eastern Hart Trophy and the league wide Hart Trophy.

The Penguins, Rangers and Flyers dominated Eastern Conference all-star voting by taking 12 of 18 spots.

"Right now," Messier said, "I feel like I can play as well as I ever have. I feel as good as I ever have in my career."

In league-wide Norris voting, Chelios won a three-way race with Bourque and the Rangers' Brian Leetch.

The Chicago defense pairing of Chelios and Gary. Suter were partners on the Western all-star first team. They were joined by Osgood, the Winnipeg Jets' Ukrainian left-winger Keith Tkach, Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic and Vancouver Canucks' right-winger Alexander Mogilny.

The Blackhawks also have the mid-and center Petr Sykora of the New Jersey Devils.

In the Eastern Conference, Lemieux. Bourque, Jagr at right wing and Flyers' left-winger John LeClair were unanimous first-team selections, while Leetch eclipsed New Jersey Devils' defenseman Scott Stevens for the final first-team defense spot.

It is Super Mario, though, who continues to inspire the greatest awe.

"For Mario to be on a 1 85-point pace, the way the game is played today, he really is playing phenomenal hockey," said the phenomenal Great One himself, Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky. The pollsters managed to vote Gretzky in as the Western Conference's third team all-star center.

In Fuhr's case, all he wanted the past couple of years was a chance to play. Playing on five teams in six years, and, for parts of that time, not particularly well, lowered his value. Fuhr claims he feels as good as during his glory years in Edmonton. He's also aware his old teammate helped get him a shot in St. Louis.

"I know he made me a lot of money and won a few Cups for me (in Edmonton)," Gretzky said. "He needed a change to get his confidence back, get in shape. He's a great kid."

A kid? Surely you jest, Wayne. But, there are some of those, too, whom voters singled out for recognition. Twenty-one year-old Roman Hamrlik of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Sergei Gonchar of the Washington Capitals, born two days apart in April 1974, continue to blossom on their respective bluelines.

Paul Kariya, 21, of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks is the second-team right winger in the Western Conference and finished second behind Mogilny in NHL-wide Lady Bing (most gentlemanly) voting.

Florida rookie coach Doug MacLean is the Adams winner as top coach, finishing ahead of Detroit's Scotty Bowman and the Rangers' Colin Campbell.

Ukes abound after season's first round

At hockey's half-way point of the 1995-1996 season, it's time to grab a capsulized view of every NHL team (in order of current standing), with heavy emphasis on Ukrainian contributions (GP-G-A-PTSPIM). At the recently completed NHL All-Star game in Boston, two Ukrainians participated: King of Kings Gretzky and Capital sniper Bondra. Here goes:

In the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, the Rangers seem to have regained their Stanley Cup desires of two years ago. Joey Kocur (25-1-2-3-33) contributes when not injured. Florida is the surprise team of the year so far. Philadelphia's Legion of Doom will push those Rangers down to the wire. Russ Romaniuk (11-3-0-3-6) just may have revitalized his NHL career in Philly. Two of Washington's top offensive threats are Peter Bondra (33-26-16-42-20) and Steve Konowalchuk (40-17-13-30 40). Lightning strikes a bit more often in Tampa Bay this season. Brian Bellows (43-12-12-24-16) has been relegated to a part-time role. The defending champion Devils have lost a few players and a lot of fire power. Ken Deneyko (45-3-3-78) remains a pillar of strength on defense. The Islanders have lately rebounded after a truly pathetic start.

A quick glance at the Northeast Division reveals the awesome Penguins have a new G.M, new coach and a new No. 1 goalie (Patrick Roy has been banished to Colorado). Boston has been devastated by poor defense and poorer goaltending. Buffalo has dumped most of its payroll, going with cheap youth. Among their few positives is Alexei Zhitnik (425- 17-22-36). The Whalers continue to try new combinations office (head coach) and on-ice (the players still shuffled and dealt). Ottawa has played 43 games and boasts a whopping 17 points.

Out West there are two teams that jump right out as potential Stanley Cup favorites. The top performing squad of this season is once again in Detroit (many competent Russian Red Wings). Chicago started slowly with a rookie coach; Belfour in net, Chelios on defense and Roenick on the forward line should be enough. Toronto is one of many definite disappointments thus far. Dave Andreychuk (40-12-21-33-38) has severely underachieved and is on the trading block. No takers because of his $2 million salary. Dictator Mike Keenan's iron hand has been felt by one of 20-plus guys who has suffered through Keenan's wrath. The Winnipeg Jets have been cleared to move to Phoenix next year. The Southwesterners should fall in absolute love with Keith Tkachuk (42-27-25-52-71) and greatly admire the rebirth of Eddie Olczyk (31-18-12-30-24). The woeful Dallas Stars seem to be spinning their collective wheels with no plan in place. Richard Matvichuk (40-2-10-12-47) is but one of three hopeful Ukie Stars. Back-up goaltender Darcy Wakaluk (26GP-1316MIN-75GA-6W-12L-5T) and recently acquired winger Brent Fedyk (39-14-721-26) are the others.

The Pacific Division of the Western Conference consists of a clear favorite (the aforementioned Avalanche), four clubs of the same ranking, Anaheim and the retreating San lose Sharks. Colorado has made great strides in the past couple of years. Curtis Leschyshyn (46-2-8-10-36) is the Avalanche version of Daneyko plus a bit of offense. Vancouver lost superstar Pavel Bure months ago. Dave Babych (26-3-9-12-16) and returning Jim Sandlak (18-2-1-3-6) are but two of several other oft-injured Canucks. Thanks to a mediocre crop of division mates, the Kings of L.A. have managed to stay in the thick of the playoff battle. Wayne Gretzky (46-13-54-67-30) was fourth in the league in total scoring at the all-star break. Dimitri Khristich (43-1522-37-26) has contributed in his first year here. Kelly Hrudey (16GP-901MIN-42GA-3W-6L-5T) has rebounded from a severe ankle sprain to reclaim the top netminder slot. Ciary Shuchuk (13-0-6-6-4) has come up from Phoenix to add playmaking. If not for mighty-mite Theo Fleury, Calgary's Flame would be barely flickering. Yet another small-market Canadian team in turmoil is located in Edmonton. Disney's Mighty Ducks are up-and-coming with the exciting Paul Kariya and Oleg Tverdovsky (46-7-15-22-31).

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