UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (06/08/97)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

News in the AHL

Midway through last summer, Greg Gilbert was content to get on with his life after hockey. His ailing back not responding to treatment, Gilbert was forced to retire after 15 NHL seasons.

"I was trying to deal with my body telling me I couldn't play anymore," the 35-year-old Gilbert said. "I wanted to get some normalcy to my life."

But then Mike Keenan called and wondered if Gilbert wanted to coach the St. Louis Blues' American League affiliate, the Worcester IceCats.

Keenan is no longer employed as the Blues' coach-GM, but he definitely knew coaching potential. Gilbert guided the IceCats to a franchise-record 43-win, 100-point season and the New England Division championship with a roster of undistinguished players.

For this accomplishment he was voted winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL coach of the year in voting by media members.

In other league news, J.F. Labbe of the Hershey Bears became just the fifth goalie in AHL history to be voted MVP and the first since Pelle Lindbergh of the Maine Mariners in 1980-1981. Labbe led the AHL in goals-against average (2.52) and shutouts (6) while posting a 34-22-9 record for the Bears. He tied for first in wins. The writers and broadcasters also voted him winner of the Bastien Award as the best goalie.

The Philadelphia Phantoms and Hershey not only dominated in the standings as the AHL's only 100-point teams, they also filled the all-star teams.

Center Vaclav Prospal (he's a Czech), defenseman Darren Rumble and left winger Patrik Juhlin of the Phantoms were first-team selections and Peter White was the second-team center.

"Our guys had a phenomenal year, and I'm proud of them," said Philadelphia coach Bill Barber, whose club went 49-21-10 to win the MidAtlantic Division over Hershey (43-27-10).

Hershey goalie J.F. Labbe was the first-team goalie and was joined by Bears' right winger Blair Atcheynum. Defenseman Pascal Trepanier was named to the second team. The only non-Bear or Phantom on the first team was Rochester Americans' defenseman Terry Hollinger.

Also on the second team are Hamilton Bulldogs' left winger Ralph Intranuovo, Kentucky Thoroughblades' left winger Jan Caloun, Worcester IceCats' defenseman Jamie Rivers and Adirondack Red Wings' goalie Norm Maracle.

Portland Pirates' dynamic right winger Jaroslav "Yogi" Svejkovsky (we're not sure if he's Russian or a Uke) won the Dudley Garrett Award as AHL rookie of the year. A first round pick of the Washington Capitals in 1996, Svejkovsky scored 38 goals and 66 points in only 54 games. Svejkovsky scored seven goals in 19 games for the Capitals, including an unbelievable four-goal performance in the last game of the regular season.

AHL wrap-up

Here now is a quick look at the 21 Ukrainians who saw action in the American Hockey League's 1996-1997 regular season:

Three Ukes found themselves playing in the Canadian Division of the league's Northern Conference. Mark Kolesar was St. John's third leading scorer with 22 goals and 50 points in 62 games. Teammate and fellow Uke Brandon Yarema totaled five points in only nine games. Promising defenseman Steve Cheredaryk finished 1996-1997 with the Fredericton Canadians after being acquired in a late season deal from Springfield. Cheredaryk had four points and 93 PIM's in 60 games. No Ukrainians in either St. John or Hamilton. Shame on them!

In the Empire State Division (where all five franchises are located in upstate New York) five native sons toiled away on the ice. In Rochester there was Sergei Klimentiev, the Amerks' second top defenseman in scoring with 14G-28A-42 PTS and 114PIM in 77 games. The AHL's ninth over-all goaltender in save percentage, but third in the league in games played, minutes and tied for third in wins was veteran netminder Peter Sidorkiewicz. His final stats: 62GP-3539MINS-31-23-6-2.90AVG and .901 percentage. Boy, did he ever carry the workload! Syracuse Crunchers this season were defenseman Yevgeny Namestnikov and right-winger Bogdan Savenko. Namestnikov was his team's fourth top scorer and top defenseman in scoring. In 55 games he notched 9G-37A for 46PTS and 73 minutes. Savenko, who finished the season with Quebec in the IHL, posted meek 7-9-16 points in 33 games. Veteran blueliner Lee Sorochan was Binghamton's second top defenseman in scoring with 4-27-31 and 160PIM in 77 games. No Ukrainians in Adirondack.

Glancing at the Southern Conference, one finds eight Ukrainians in the New England Division, with the remaining five located in the Mid-Atlantic Division. The Worcester IceCats lay claim to the team with the most Ukrainians, with a total of four. Mike Maneluk was second in team scoring (70-27-27-54-89). Both Alex Vasilevski (48-821-29-84) and Nick Naumenko (54-6-22-28-72) contributed to the IceCats' third over-all league standing and 100 points. Young netminder Mike Buzak served as back-up, and served quite well. Buzak played in 19 games, winning nine, losing four, tying three. In 972 minutes he compiled an outstanding .918 save percentage and 2.53 average. Defenseman Steve Halko enjoyed a solid season as a defensive stalwart on the Springfield Falcons' blueline. He didn't score a lot (six points in 70 games), but that's not his job. Top draft selection Trevor Wasyluk (Curtis Leschyshyn's cousin) was called up from juniors for one match. Pirates found in Portland this past regular season included Rick Kowalsky (11 games with seven points) and Alexander Alexeev (zero points in six games). The only team in this division sans Ukrainians were the Providence Bruins.

In the Mid-Atlantic Division Philadelphia was the AHL's top squad, earning a whopping 111 points. One of many enforcers here was Phantom Frank Bialowas with 254 minutes in penalties to go with 7G-6A and 13PTS. A true Bear on Hershey's backline was Colorado Avalanche hopeful Wade Belak, what with the league's fourth highest penalty minute total of 320. In 65 games, Belak tallied one goal and added seven helpers. Right winger Jack Kowal saw action in 40 games for Kentucky, getting five goals and 13 points for the Thoroughblades. The Carolina Monarchs brought in young veteran NHL-er Drake Berehowsky last December in a deal with the IHL's San Antonio Dragons. Berehowsky posted 2-15-17 with 55PIM in 49 games. Current Florida Panther David Nemirovsky (27-10-17-27-18) was off to a point-per-game start in Carolina prior to his recall. No Ukrainian Bandits were caught in Baltimore in 1996-1997.

Cap breathes new life into IHL

The International Hockey League had 57 players earning $100,000 or more in 1996-1997, the first season of a six-year collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Hockey Players' Association. Of the 19 teams, all but the Fort Wayne Komets, Phoenix Roadrunners and Indianapolis Ice had at least one player making $100,000 on an IHL contract. All of Indianapolis' players were on NHL contracts.

Orlando Solar Bears' center Hubie McDonough was the highest-paid player, earning $243,000. Scoring champion Rob Brown of the Chicago Wolves was second at $180,000. The league's salary cap was $1.4 million per team this season. Teams over the cap pay a luxury tax and preliminary figures show 10 of the 19 teams exceeded the $1.4 million limit.

Unless revenues increase under a pre-determined formula, the salary cap will decrease to $1.3 million in 1997-1998 and $1.2 million in 1998-1999. Larry Landon, executive director of the PHPA, said the union had to sign the agreement to help save the league from financial disaster.

Cleveland Lumberjacks' owner Larry Gordon, chairman of the IHL board of governors, said previously he was concerned about the long-term viability of the league. However, he said the CBA has done what it was intended to do and has stabilized the league and given teams a chance at success.

In league news, Rob Brown of Chicago won his third scoring title in four years, though he had to hold off a late charge from teammate Steve Maltais to do it. Brown had 36 goals and a league-high 80 assists for 117 points in 76 games. Maltais had a league-high 60 goals and 114 points in 81 games. Maltais led the league with 27 power play goals and had eight game-winners.

Maltais was just one of two 50-goal scorers in the league. Las Vegas Thunder right winger Martin Gendron scored 13 goals in his last 10 games, including two in each of the last three, to finish second to Maltais with 51 goals.

Detroit Vipers' goalie Jeff Reese set a league record with a 1.87 goals-against average, barely bettering the mark of 1.88 set by Glenn Ramsay of the Cincinnati Mohawks in 1956-1957.

IHL summary

Following is a synopsis of the International Hockey League's regular season, Ukrainian style:

There was perfect balance among Ukrainians in the IHL. An exact 14 saw game action in each of the two conferences, the Eastern and Western. The positional breakdown was as follows: five centers, six left-wingers, eight right-wingers, six defensemen and three goalies. Three players also spent time in the NHL (Joey Kocur, Alex Vasilevski and Dave Chyzowski). Three players split time with other clubs in the AHL (Drake Berehowsky, Alex Vasilevski and Bogdan Savenko).

The top team in the league (122 points) and third best squad (111 points) respectively, were the Detroit Vipers and Orlando Solar Bears. Neither club featured any Ukrainian pucksters. Defensive leader Dave Marcinyshyn (74-1-9-10-141) remains a valuable asset on the Cincinnati Cyclones' defense. The afore-mentioned Savenko (14-2-1-3-4) was joined by defenseman Dan Ratushny (44-13-21-34-32) and Wayne's younger brother Brent Gretzky (41-5-12-17-8) on the roster of the Quebec Rafales. Vasilevski, much traveled in 1996-1997, got into 10 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, managing a sole goal, six points and 43-three penalty minutes.

The Indianapolis Ice topped the Central and boasted of major contributions by two solid Ukrainian performers. Minor league sensation (and major league flop) Dave Chyzowski finished 20th in league scoring, first on the team in goals and third in team scoring, totaling 34G-40A-74PTS and a ton of PIM's (261) in seventy-six games. Ryan Huska (80-18-12-30-100) was a valuable third-line left-winger. Goaltender Jeff Salajko tended goal in one game for the Ice and he won it. Two grizzly veterans skated in Cleveland this past regular season. Minor league veteran and record holder Dave Michayluk (46-10-15-25-18) and NHL veteran Mark Osborne (59-7-25-32-96) aided the Lumberjacks' cause. By the by, Mark Osborne is one-half Ukrainian - on his mother's side. (His middle name is Anatole.) The Michigan K-Wings employed two ex-Dallas Stars this season, in the persons of right-wingers Pat Elynuik (81-24-34-58-62) and the team's leading scorer while second in goals and assists, and Brent Fedyk (9-1-2-3-4). A third Ukrainian, defenseman Brad Lukowich (69-2-6-8-77) made it a trio of Ukie K-Wings. The worst-in-the-league Fort Wayne Komets had left winger Peter Ambroziak (57-15-5-20-28) on their payroll.

Over in the Western Conference's Midwest Division, the San Antonio Dragons managed 97 points in 1996-1997. Joey Kocur (4-1-1-2-17) got a new lease on life here before finishing the season and making it into the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Detroit Red Wings. Drake Berehowsky (16-3-4-7-36) started in the Alamo city before moving on to Carolina (AHL). No Ukes in Kansas City. Defenseman Paul Koch (41-4-8-12-34) was steady for the Chicago Wolves. Milwaukee's veteran NHLer Tony Hrkac (81-27-61-88-20) was top Ukrainian gun in the NHL: 12th in league scoring, sixth in the league in assists while leading the Admirals in team scoring. Ex-Whaler Mike Tomlak (47-8-23-31-44) made it two Ukes in Milwaukee. The transplanted Manitoba Moose assembled an all-Ukrainian forward line of Greg Pankewicz (79-32-34-66-222), second in team scoring and tops in team goals, Russ Romaniuk (46-14-13-27-43) and Wayne Strachan (316-10-16-26).

The league's second best squad skated in Long Beach and the Ice Dogs quickly gained a loyal following. The Houston Aeros picked up ex-L.A. Kings center Gary Shuchuk (55-18-23-41-48) two years ago and have not complained yet. Defenseman Aaron Boh got into three games with the Aeros. Keith Osborne (61-15-13-28-45) skated for the Utah Grizzlies, the New York Islanders' top farm club. The retired Clint Malarchuk, Las Vegas Thunder's assistant GM, was pressed into emergency goaltending duty on three occasions this regular season. Igor Karpenko likewise played three games in the nets for Las Vegas. Dean Shmyr saw action in eight games (24 PIM). No Ukrainian sightings in Phoenix.

* * *

We certainly continue to see more and more Ukrainians playing and having an impact in not only the National Hockey League, but also the professional minor league ranks. Some 66 known players of some Ukrainian descent played in the NHL, AHL and IHL in 1996-1997 Still more can be found in the East Coast Hockey League, the Central League, the Colonial League and the West Coast League, the lower levels of professional minor league hockey.

Indeed, Ukrainians are making a major impression in the minor leagues!

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