UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (11/04/01)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

INTRO TO NEW SEASON

There continues to be no shortage of Ukrainian representation in the ranks of the world's highest echelon of professional hockey. No less than 62 pro players of some Ukrainian background were listed on training camp rosters submitted by the 30 clubs of the National Hockey League. Training camp rosters include only players signed to NHL level or minor league contracts; they do not include many dozens more skaters of Ukrainian descent toiling away in the professional minor league ranks. The list of 61 included a player who has actually been retired for several years - goaltender Kelly Hrudey is still carried on the Calgary Flames' roster in case he desires to "unretire."

Excluding the aforementioned Hrudey, the defense position is most popular among Ukrainian NHLers with 25 of the total 60 plying their trade on the blueline. Thirteen left-wingers, nine centermen and only five right-wingers fill out the forwards. Nine gutsy guys don the heavy equipment and attempt to stop speeding pucks in front of the nets.

Examining the 30 NHL team lists, from a Ukrainian perspective, the "shame on you" awards for zero Ukrainians go to six clubs: Boston, Chicago, the New York Islanders, Minnesota, Nashville and Phoenix. That's right, no Bruins, Blackhawks, Isles, Wild, Predators or Coyotes for us Ukrainians to root for in the 2001-2002 season, barring minor league call-ups or trades.

Leading the Ukrainian charge this season are the Washington Capitals with five, count' em, five Ukes. In second place with a fourspot of Ukes each are those transplanted Hurricanes in Carolina, the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, finalist New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Canucks of Vancouver. Five NHL franchises boast three pucksters of Ukrainian background while another eight sport a pair each. This, of course, leaves the remaining five squads with a solitary Ukrainian each.

Here's a sneak peak at all 30 NHL teams, by conference, some one month into the current campaign, and a fearless forecast blurb on each organization's prospects with Ukrainians on NHL rosters individually highlighted.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Philadelphia - Many experts predict Flyers in cup finals. What can go wrong this time? Pair of Uke left-wingers RUSLAN FEDOTENKO and TODD FEDORUK.

Washington - A solid club with the biggest talent in game. Peter Bondra not alone anymore; ANDREI NIKOLISHIN and STEVE KONOWALCHUK major contributors; DMITRI KHRISTICH still around, while GLEN METROPOLIT claimed by Tampa Bay in recent waiver draft.

New Jersey - Long on tooth on defense including KENNY DANEYKO. Probably long gone before cup finals this year. STANISLAV GRON, IGOR POHANKA and ROB SKRLAC on the farm in Albany.

N.Y. Isles - Readmitted to league thanks to wheeling and dealing by G.M. Milbury. Yashin and Peca make major impact.

Ottawa - Another first-round loss won't be the same without Yashin bashin'. Veteran rearguard CURTIS LESCHYSHYN resigned with Senators Defender Jason Maleyko and pivot Grant Potulny on camp roster.

Buffalo - If Martin Biron can't make 'em forget about ol' Slinky (Dominik Hasek), it'll be a long cold winter in upstate New York. Top rearguard ALEXEI ZHITNIK back in fold for three more years.

Boston - Three key free agent signings, plus new coach, plus good health equal return to playoffs.

Carolina - Nothing to dislike about these guys. Nothing to like about them, either. STEVE HALKO occasionally skates as extra defenseman. Trio of youngsters down on the farm: Goalie RANDY PETRUK, center BRETT LYSAK and left-winger DAMIAN SURMA.

Pittsburgh - Loss of best player in the world does not "jagr" well for this tenuous franchise, Mario or not. ROSS LUPASCHUK acquired from Caps in Jagr deal - will join PETER RATCHUK on Wilkes-Barre (AHL) blueline.

Toronto - Old legs almost knocked out Devils in playoffs. Will Renberg and Reichel improve Leafs? Don't think so. WADE BELAK is club's enforcer on ice. Youngster DMITRI YAKUSHIN awaits his call from the minors.

N.Y. Rangers - ER action? Top players are blind-in-one-eye defenseman, head-traumatized No. 1 center, 40-year-old captain, goalie off double knee reconstruction and incumbent top scorer out of substance rehab! Left wing BRAD MEHALKO valuable Hartford Wolfcat, while RORY RAWLYK working his way up to Hartford.

Montreal - The mighty have fallen and now begin the slow rise back through the ranks. GENNADY RAZIN about one to two years away from opportunity on Canadiens' blueline.

Atlanta - Making about average progress for three-year expansion club. Need help everywhere. Signed free agent power play specialist TONY HRKAC in off-season. Draft picks DARCY HORDICHUK and DAVID KACZOWKA show lots of promise for the future.

Florida - When lots of Bure goals don't win games, this brother act could get boring. Right-winger DENIS SHVIDKI starts new season on injured list. Right wing JOEY TETARENKO starts new season as spare part always willing to duke it up.

Tampa Bay - A few more years of this and they may have to Bolt the doors forever. 500+ goal scorer DAVE ANDREYCHUK a welcome free-agent addition to goal-less Bolts. Top pick NIKITA ALEXEEV sticks with parent club out of camp. Goaltender DIETER KOCHAN and defender KYLE KOS among baby Lightning in AHL.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas - The only major player in a strong conference that got better over the summer. Defenders RICHARD MATVICHUK (top pairing with D. Hatcher) and BRAD LUKOWICH (third pairing with J. Lumme) are vital to the Stars' cause. Young center ALEXEI TERESCHENKO a recent draftee.

Colorado - Devils fry forever for letting these guys win without Forsberg. Any attempt to repeat is doomed to "Peter" (head Forsberg) out! Defenseman JAROSLAV OBSUT moves over from St. Louis. Should join YURI BABENKO (c) and PETER BUDAJ (GT) for more minor seasoning.

Detroit - Bring in the world's best goalie to crank up another (final?) run at the cup. Yzerman, Shanahan, Fedorov, Lidstrom and company try one more time. JEFF FENIAK on training camp roster.

St. Louis - Mike Keane? Rich Pilon? Still another team getting older, not better. KEITH TKACHUK lean and mean heading into first full year with Blues. Promising DANIEL TKACZUK over from Calgary is one injury away from the show. Netminder CODY RUDKOWSKY continues his development in AHL.

San Jose - The up-and-coming team in the West. Got goalie prospect in person of SEAMUS KOTYK.

Edmonton - Take Hasek away from the Sabres, and the Oilers may have been best small market model of the last five years. Lose best player (Doug Weight) but someone new always appears. Defender TYLER HANCHUK and goaler JEFF SALAJKO saw action in training camp.

Calgary - Hockey world up in arms over Craig Button's acquisition of Roman Turek. Truth be told, he alone can make this a better team. RICK MROZIK returns to Calder Cup winner St. John.

Nashville - Hope they make the playoffs so we can meet good old country boys like Karlis Skrastins, Kimmo Timonen and Vladimir Orzagh. Right!

Los Angeles - Bleak without ex-captain Rob Blake, never mind the emotional playoff run. Need a couple of forwards to step it up and join Ziggy Palffy on the scoring sheet. CRAIG OLYNICK a talent.

Anaheim - Kariya and Friesen the only reason to watch the Ducks on the Pond. Well, don't forget a strong Ukrainian presence on defense with OLEG TVERDOVSKY (gets points) and VITALY VISHNEVSKI (gets the hits). GREGG NAUMENKO a possible future man in net.

Vancouver - GM Brian Burke stood pat over summer, thinking he's got a playoff bound group. Maybe not. DRAKE BEREHOWSKY transplanted at last trade deadline. ZENITH KOMARNISKI hopes to join Berehowsky on the Canucks' "D." DENIS MARTYNYUK, left wing, and RENE VYDARENY, defense, reassigned to minors/juniors.

Chicago - Hawks players welcome a coach, Brian Sutter, who will make them accountable. If only someone would make owner Bill Wirtz accountable.

Columbus - Respectable second-year expansion team will see its second season go downhill after Columbus Day. Goaltender SHANE BENDERA a prospect; defenseman ANDREI SRUBKO a bit advanced in minor leagues.

Minnesota - If these Wild dudes win 25 games again, let's have coach Jacques Lemaire calling the shots against the Taliban.

Phoenix - With superstars Roenick and Tkachuk gone, it could be 40 years in the desert before any Coyotes see playoff action again. Director of hockey operations Wayne Gretzky basically starting from scratch with low budget youth.

OFF-SEASON TRANSACTIONS/INJURIES:

Anaheim - Gregg Naumenko, GT, signed one-year contract; Vitaly Vishnevski, D, suspended one pre-season game and fined $1,000 by league for elbowing head of Daymond Langkow of Phoenix in September 21 pre-season game; Naumenko assigned to Cincinnati (AHL).

Atlanta - David Kaczowka, LW, signed contract; Tony Hrkac, C, signed free-agent contract; Kaczowka assigned to Chicago (AHL).

Buffalo - Alexei Zhitnik, D, signed three-year contract.

Calgary - Daniel Tkaczuk, C, traded to St. Louis; Rick Mrozik, D, signed contract and assigned to St. John (AHL); David Boychuk, D, assigned to St. John.

Carolina - Brett Lysak, C, signed multi-year contract; Randy Petruk, GT, Damian Surma, LW, and Lysak all assigned to Lowell (AHL); Alexander Godynyuk, D, assigned to Florida (ECHL).

Columbus - Andrei Srubko, D, signed contract; Shane Bendera, GT, returned to Red Deer (WHL); Srubko assigned to Syracuse (AHL).

Colorado - Jordan Krestanovich, LW, assigned to Hershey (AHL).

Dallas - Brad Lukowich, D, signed two-year contract.

Edmonton - Jeff Salajko, GT, returned to Hamilton (AHL); Tyler Hanchuk, D, returned to Barrie (OHL).

Florida - Joey Tetarenko, RW, signed one-year contract; Denis Shvidki, RW, concussion, day-to-day.

Los Angeles - Craig Olynick, D, returned to Seattle (WHL).

Minnesota - Brendan Yarema, C, assigned to Houston (AHL).

Montreal - Vadim Tarasov, GT, signed two-year contract; Gennady Razin, D, assigned to Quebec (AHL).

New Jersey - Rob Skrlac, LW, assigned to Albany (AHL); Igor Pohanka, C, returned to Prince Albert (WHL); Stanislav Gron, C, assigned to Albany.

N.Y. Rangers - Rory Rawluk, D, Brad Mehalko, LW, assigned to Hartford (AHL).

Ottawa - Curtis Leschyshyn, D, signed three-year contract.

Pittsburgh - Peter Ratchuk, D, signed contract and assigned to Wilkes-Barre (AHL).

St. Louis - Keith Tkachuk, LW, signed one-year contract; Cody Rudkowsky, GT, Daniel Tkaczuk, C, assigned to Worcester (AHL).

San Jose - Seamus Kotyk, GT, signed contract; Kotyk assigned to Cleveland (AHL).

Tampa Bay - Dave Andreychuk, LW, signed free-agent contract; Dieter Kochan, GT, Kyle Kos, D, assigned to Springfield (AHL); Glen Metropolit, RW, claimed in waiver draft from Washington.

Toronto - Dmitri Yakushin, D, signed one-year contract; Wade Belak, D, signed contract.

Vancouver - Drake Berehowsky, D, signed contract; Zenith Komarniski, D, signed contract; Rene Vydareny, D, Denis Martynyk, LW, and Komarniski assigned to Manitoba (AHL).

Washington - Ross Lupaschuk, D, traded to Pittsburgh in Jaromir Jagr deal; Andrei Nikolishin, C, signed one-year contract; Nick Naumenko, LW, assigned to Portland (AHL).

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