UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

Magical playoff moments

Hockey in July? You bet! How else could we hockey fans get through the summer? Besides, the Stanley Cup playoffs just ended in June ...

After a goal like the one he scored on June 7, Darren McCarty won't have to pay for another meal in Motown as long as he lives. Not only did the Detroit Red Wings' right winger score the Stanley Cup-winning goal, he did it in dramatic championship style. The amazing deke into the history books ranks at the top of one hockey expert's list of the top plays of the 1996-1997 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Below are the top 15 plays of the playoffs.

1) Darren's Dash, Game 4, Philadelphia at Detroit, June 7: McCarty picks up the puck near center and powers in over the Flyers' blueline against defenseman Janne Niinimaa. McCarty pulls an inside-out move, and the rookie bites. McCarty seizes the chance and powers around Niinimaa on his backhand before cutting back in front of goalie Ron Hextall. Hextall waits. McCarty waits longer. Finally the net opens and McCarty tucks it in the far side to give Detroit a 2-0 lead at 13:02 of the second period.

2) Cujo's Bite, Game 7, Edmonton at Dallas, April 29: Curtis Joseph leaps across the crease in overtime to smother a point-blank rebound shot from Stars' forward Joe Nieuwendyk. It is the save of the playoffs. In the press box, Dallas GM Bob Gainey dies a thousand deaths.

3) Mario's Magic, Game 4, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, April 23: Mario Lemieux scores with 64 seconds left in his last game at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena and looks toward the heavens. After the game, he takes a farewell lap around the rink. There are tears in Lemieux's eyes as he steps from the Pittsburgh ice for the final time.

4) Brodeur's Bravado, Game 1, Montreal at New Jersey, April 17: Devil goalie Martin Brodeur proves he can score 'em too with a 200-foot shot into an open net for the final goal in a 5-2 New Jersey win.

5) Tikk on Camera, Game 3, Rangers at Florida, April 22. Esa Tikkanen wires a slapshot past Panthers' goalie John Vanbiesbrouck in overtime, but play continues. When play stops on a whistle eight seconds later, the shot is reviewed on video and it shows the puck did indeed cross the goal line - right off the goal cam.

6) Gretz Lights It Up, Game 4, Rangers at Florida, April 23: Wayne Gretzky's third goal of the period, at 9:30 of the middle frame in the Rangers' 3-2 win is a classic: He curls into the Panthers' zone, fakes a shot near the right boards, cuts back toward the middle, waits for a screen to develop and fires a laser off the post.

7) Bow Shoots Down Crow, Game 4, Detroit at Colorado, May 22: The cauldron of frustration in Colorado coach Marc Crawford's gut boils over with just 2:18 left in a 6-0 Detroit drubbing. As the players turn thuggish on the ice, Crawford stands on the Avalanche bench and spews vitriol at counterpart Scotty Bowman, almost scaling the glass partition that separates them. He is fined $10,000 and later apologizes.

8) Hurting Hasek, Game 3, Ottawa at Buffalo, April 21: Sabres' star goalie Dominik Hasek abruptly pulls himself from the game in the second period with what doctors later describe as a mild knee sprain. He is not seen again, on the ice, during the playoffs.

9) Hasek Loses It, Game 5, Ottawa at Buffalo, April 25: Hasek attacks Buffalo News columnist Jim Kelley and rips his shirt in a hallway in Marine Midland Arena after Kelley writes a column questioning Hasek's mindset. Hasek later apologizes. Commissioner Gary Bettman hands him a three-game suspension and $10,000 fine.

10) Play on, Then Celebrate, Game 3, Philadelphia at Rangers, May 20: Eric Lindros is foiled on a wrap-around attempt by Rangers' goalie Mike Richter at 7:33 of the first period. Or is he? Play continues, but at the next whistle the play is reviewed and the goal is awarded.

11) Kocur's Karma, Game 1, Detroit at Philadelphia, May 31: Red Wings' right winger Joey Kocur intercepts a ghastly clearing pass by Flyers' defenseman Kjell Samuelsson, drops a shoulder and goes backhand, top shelf, past Hextall to give Detroit a 2-1 lead.

12) Eric's Adventures, Game 5, Buffalo at Philadelphia, May 11: First Eric Lindros bowls over Sabres' goalie Steve Shields Shields needs five minutes to recover, then charges in alone on Shields during a penalty shot and twice loses control of the puck before slipping in a backhand deke at 9:13 of the second period.

13) Help! I'm Melting! Game 2, Rangers at Philadelphia, May 18: Gretzky's third goal of the game - an unspectacular 25-foot slapper at 9:30 of the second period - proves the Snow is melting. All three of the Great One's goals are stoppable. Snow is pulled after allowing five goals in 10 shots.

14) Gilmour's Nightmare, Game 3, New Jersey at Rangers, May 6: Devils' center Doug Gilmour has just four assists in eight games when he scores with 7:43 remaining to pull New Jersey into a 3-3 tie. But a video review finds Bill Guerin's skate was in the crease. No goal, no tie, no peace for Gilmour.

15) Real Fans Wear White, Game 3, Anaheim at Phoenix, April 20: Coyote fans follow the lead of their predecessors in Winnipeg and turn America West Arena into a sea of white for their opening series against the Mighty Quacks, er, Ducks. Anaheim fans do the same for Games 5 and create the first series ever played in Arizona and California under white-out conditions.

Ukrainian goes sixth over-all in '97 entry draft

The Calgary Flames selected Barrie Colts' (OHL) Ukrainian Daniel Tkaczuk with their top pick, sixth overall, and were very thankful to get him. They desperately needed to add to their depth down the middle, but were afraid all four of the top-rated centers would be gone by sixth over-all.

Even though he's just eighteen, Tkaczuk may only be a year away from making the team's lineup.

"Any youngsters my age could use another year of development," Tkaczuk said. "For any 18-year-old to step into the NHL and play, it obviously takes an exceptional player to do that. I won't see it as a setback."

Daniel Tkaczuk, different spelling, is not related to Captain Coyote Keith Tkachuk, nor is he related to the old New York Rangers' star, Walt Tkaczuk (same spelling).

Here is a profile of this year's sixth overall first round selection:

Profile: Daniel Tkaczuk
'96-97: Barrie
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 190
Pos: C
Shoots: L
Born: June 10, 1979
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario

By all accounts, Barrie Colts' captain Daniel Tkaczuk is one cut below the trio of top centers that head the class of 1997, but is a blue-chipper nonetheless, rated by The Hockey News as the fifth best prospect in this year's entry draft.

He was the first player chosen in the Ontario Hockey League's junior entry draft two years ago and this season was the youngest captain in the OHL.

"He has great leadership and character," one NHL scout said. And, above average offensive ability, too, witness his 45 goals and points in only 62 games. That was four goals more in three more games than top prospect and fellow center Joe Thornton.

Barrie coach Bert Templeton, as demanding as they come, touts the young Ukrainian as his best defensive forward and top penalty killer. All in all, he's an all-around, two-way threat who is as composed and confident off the ice as he is on. When teammate Alexander Volchkov tried to bolt to the IHL at the end of last season, Tkaczuk didn't mince his words when criticizing the Russian for developing a bad attitude.

Year	Team	Lea.	GP	G	A	PTS	PI
94-95	Mississauga	Ben.	51	64	65	129	20
95-96	Barrie	OHL	61	29	39	68	38
96-97	Barrie	OHL	62	45	48	93	49

1996-1997 All-Star Voting (Ukrainians):
Center: 2nd team - Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers
Left Wing: 3rd - Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix Coyotes
Right Wing: 5th - Peter Bondra, Washington Capitals
Defense: 13th - Oleg Tverdovsky, Phoenix Coyotes

NHL Award Balloting (Ukrainians):
Hart Trophy (MVP): 10th - Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix
Norris Trophy (top defenseman): 10th - Oleg Tverdovsky, Phoenix
Lady Bing (most gentlemanly): 5th - Wayne Gretzky, Rangers

Ukrainians Winning Team Awards:
Los Angeles: MVP - Dimitri Khristich
New Jersey: Player's player - Dave Andreychuk
N.Y. Rangers: Good guy award - Wayne Gretzky
Phoenix: MVP - Keith Tkachuk
Best forward - Keith Tkachuk

Ukrainian Transactions:
Calgary - Todd Hlushko, LW, signed two-year contract. Daniel Tkaczuk, C, Barrie (OHL), selected in first round of entry draft, sixth over all.
Carolina - Alexander Godynyuk, D, traded to St. Louis.
Colorado - Graham Belak, D, Edmonton (WHL), selected in second round of entry draft, 53rd over all.
N.Y. Islanders - Yevgeny Namestnikov, D, agreed to contract terms as free agent.
Philadelphia - Todd Fedoruk, LW, Kelowna (WHL), selected in seventh round of entry draft, 164th over all.
Tampa Bay - Kyle Kos, D, Red Deer (WHL), selected in second round of entry draft, 33rd overall.
Vancouver - Denis Martynyuk, LW, CSKA Moscow, selected in eighth round a entry draft, 227th over all.

Ukrainian NHL Free Agents:
The following players were eligible to become free agents as of July 1.
Restricted (subject to the right to match offer and draft pick compensation): D. Berehowsky, Pittsburgh; Y. Namestnikov, Vancouver; F. Bialowas, Philadelphia; A. Nikolishin, Washington; P. Elynuik, Dallas; D. Ratushny, Florida; B. Fedyk, Dallas; O. Tverdovsky, Phoenix; T. Hlushko, Calgary; A. Zhitnik, Buffalo.
Unrestricted (no right to match or compensation): D. Babych, Vancouver; J. Kocur, Detroit; B. Bellows, Anaheim; P. Sidorkiewicz, New Jersey.

FINAL '96-97 UKRAINIAN UTTERINGS (juicy little tidbits of insider hockey infomation): Andrei Nikolishin had his first chance to play against his old teammates. He was traded to Washington for fellow Ukrainian Curtis Leschyshyn last November 9. He had three shots and was +1. "Things are pretty good," Nikolishin said. "I have a nice home and the family is healthy. But I had a lot of friends in Hartford, and I miss it some times" ... Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky said he thought he had the best seat in the house during the All-Star game, playing alongside veteran Detroit defenseman Slava Fetisov. "It was amazing," said the Ukrainian Tverdovsky." He's twice as old as me. I could have been his son. When he played his first game with (the) Russian national team in 1975, I was one year old. He is (the) best defenseman in (the) world. I had (a) great time out there with him" ... Left winger Steve Konowalchuk scored his second overtime goal of the regular season last February 14 against Tampa Bay, a 5-4 win. He shares the club record for most career overtime goals (four) with former Caps Mike Ridley and Mike Gartner ... Wayne Gretzky notched his 2,700th career point last April 4 on a goal against Boston. That put the Great One 850 points ahead of the NHL field, with Gordie Howe next at 1,850 ... Philly's Dale Hawerchuk was hampered throughout the season by injuries. He was talking retirement during the year, due to a hip injury, and the latest problems (rib muscle, groin) may have him thinking that way again ... Canucks' defenseman Dave Babych, 35, slated to become an unrestricted free agent, indicated he would like to re-sign (one more time) with Vancouver ... Captain Coyote Keith Tkachuk scored six goals in the first six playoff games against Anaheim - a league high at the time - to match his exploits during the regular season, when he led the league with 52 goals ... More Tverdovsky: formerly with the Ducks, he regretted making critical comments on Anaheim's talent level prior to the start of the playoff. "I'm taking everything back," Tverdovsky said. "How can I say I didn't really want it to be in the paper? It's not exactly what I think of (their) team." Turned out Tverdovsky was a non-factor in the series, possibly why the Coyotes were nipped by those pesky Ducks in seven games ... Speaking of the Coyotes, a major priority this off-season will be to find a right winger who can play with Tkachuk and still produce. And, re-signing Tverdovsky is an absolute must.

ln the minor leagues, Albany River Rats' goalie Peter Sidorkiewicz tied Ken Holland for second place on the AHL's all-time victory list at 142 when he came in relief for a 6-2 win over Syracuse last February 26. Sidorkiewicz was upgraded to the Devils' third goalie in the recently completed 1996-1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. There's still hope ... Worcester Icecats' goalie Mike Buzak had such an easy time in posting his first career shutout (16 saves) that he wasn't even one of the three stars in the 4-0 victory over St. John Flames last March 2 ... Phoenix Roadrunner coach Robbie Laird and Detroit Vipers' Ukrainian coach Steve Ludzik got into a fist fight following a March 8 game. Witnesses said as the coaches left the ice, Ludzik shoved Laird, who turned around and landed a punch. They proceeded to exchange blows before security broke the fight up. Ludzik was apparently upset the Roadrunners were playing exceptionally physical hockey and was yelling at Laird throughout the game. Each coach was fined $500 ... More with coach Ludzik: impressed with teenage left winger Sergei Samsonov, he talked about the young Russian's poise under pressure: "I think he's better in traffic, because he has the ability to turn on a dime and he can leave you five cents change," Ludzik said ... Las Vegas Thunder assistant GM Clint Malarchuk was pressed into duty last March 14 against Long Beach when his team was left with one goalie. Then, when Andre Racicot was hurt during a shootout, Malarchuk had to come in. Malarchuk, 35, stopped all four shooters he faced, and, Las Vegas, which trailed the shootout 3-1 when Racic left, came back to win. Malarchuk played the entire 60 minutes the next night against the Cleveland Lumberjacks, making 27 stops in a 5-2 loss. "I don't know how I did, but l'm pretty sure I lead all assistant GMs in most goaltending categories," he cracked.

ln juniors news, Barrie Colts' captain Daniel Tkaczuk was CHL player of the month for last January with 11 goals and 27 points in 14 games ... Regina (WHL) named Perry Andrusiak assistant GM. Andrusiak, 26, replaces Graham Tucker, who resigned last November 4.

Have a great summer. I'll be back. Back with off-season and training camp news in early September...

(Quotes courtesy of Eric Duhatschek, Calgary Flames' beat writer, and The Hockey News.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 27, 1997, No. 30, Vol. LXV

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