1.
Freiburg im Breisgau
–
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany with a population of about 220,000. In the south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain. The city is known for its medieval minster and Renaissance university, as well as for its standard of living. The city is situated in the heart of the major Baden wine-growing region, according to meteorological statistics, the city is the sunniest and warmest in Germany and held the all-time German temperature record of 40.2 °C from 2003 to 2015. Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Berthold III of Zähringen in 1120 as a market town, hence its name. Frei means free, and Burg, like the modern English word borough, was used in those days for a city or town. The German word Burg also means a town, as in Hamburg. Thus, it is likely that the name of place means a fortified town of free citizens. This town was located at a junction of trade routes between the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea regions, and the Rhine and Danube rivers. In 1200, Freiburgs population numbered approximately 6,000 people, at about that time, under the rule of Bertold V, the last duke of Zähringen, the city began construction of its Freiburg Münster cathedral on the site of an older parish church. Begun in the Romanesque style, it was continued and completed 1513 for the most part as a Gothic edifice, in 1218, when Bertold V died, then Egino V von Urach, the count of Urach assumed the title of Freiburgs count as Egino I von Freiburg. The city council did not trust the new nobles and wrote down its established rights in a document, at the end of the thirteenth century there was a feud between the citizens of Freiburg and their lord, Count Egino II of Freiburg. Egino II raised taxes and sought to limit the freedom, after which the Freiburgers used catapults to destroy the counts castle atop the Schloßberg. The furious count called on his brother-in-law the Bishop of Strasbourg, Konradius von Lichtenberg, the bishop responded by marching with his army to Freiburg. According to an old Freiburg legend, a butcher named Hauri stabbed the Bishop of Strasbourg to death on 29 July 1299. It was a Pyrrhic victory, since henceforth the citizens of Freiburg had to pay an annual expiation of 300 marks in silver to the count of Freiburg until 1368, in 1366 the counts of Freiburg made another failed attempt to occupy the city during a night raid. Eventually the citizens were fed up with their lords, and in 1368 Freiburg purchased its independence from them, the city turned itself over to the protection of the Habsburgs, who allowed the city to retain a large measure of freedom. Most of the nobles of the city died in the battle of Sempach, the patrician family Schnewlin took control of the city until the guildsmen revolted
2.
West Germany
–
West Germany is the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation on 23 May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990. During this Cold War era, NATO-aligned West Germany and Warsaw Pact-aligned East Germany were divided by the Inner German border, after 1961 West Berlin was physically separated from East Berlin as well as from East Germany by the Berlin Wall. This situation ended when East Germany was dissolved and its five states joined the ten states of the Federal Republic of Germany along with the reunified city-state of Berlin. With the reunification of West and East Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, enlarged now to sixteen states and this period is referred to as the Bonn Republic by historians, alluding to the interwar Weimar Republic and the post-reunification Berlin Republic. The Federal Republic of Germany was established from eleven states formed in the three Allied Zones of occupation held by the United States, the United Kingdom and France, US and British forces remained in the country throughout the Cold War. Its population grew from roughly 51 million in 1950 to more than 63 million in 1990, the city of Bonn was its de facto capital city. The fourth Allied occupation zone was held by the Soviet Union, as a result, West Germany had a territory about half the size of the interbellum democratic Weimar Republic. At the onset of the Cold War, Europe was divided among the Western and Eastern blocs, Germany was de facto divided into two countries and two special territories, the Saarland and divided Berlin. The Federal Republic of Germany claimed a mandate for all of Germany. It took the line that the GDR was an illegally constituted puppet state, though the GDR did hold regular elections, these were not free and fair. For all practical purposes the GDR was a Soviet puppet state, from the West German perspective the GDR was therefore illegitimate. Three southwestern states of West Germany merged to form Baden-Württemberg in 1952, in addition to the resulting ten states, West Berlin was considered an unofficial de facto 11th state. It recognised the GDR as a de facto government within a single German nation that in turn was represented de jure by the West German state alone. From 1973 onward, East Germany recognised the existence of two German countries de jure, and the West as both de facto and de jure foreign country, the Federal Republic and the GDR agreed that neither of them could speak in the name of the other. The first chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who remained in office until 1963, had worked for an alignment with NATO rather than neutrality. He not only secured a membership in NATO but was also a proponent of agreements that developed into the present-day European Union, when the G6 was established in 1975, there was no question whether the Federal Republic of Germany would be a member as well. With the collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989, symbolised by the opening of the Berlin Wall, East Germany voted to dissolve itself and accede to the Federal Republic in 1990. Its five post-war states were reconstituted along with the reunited Berlin and they formally joined the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990, raising the number of states from 10 to 16, ending the division of Germany
3.
Ice hockey
–
Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice, usually in a rink, in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponents net to score points. Ice hockey teams usually consist of six each, one goaltender. A fast-paced, physical sport, ice hockey is most popular in areas of North America, Ice hockey is the official national winter sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity. In North America, the National Hockey League is the highest level for mens hockey, the Kontinental Hockey League is the highest league in Russia and much of Eastern Europe. The International Ice Hockey Federation is the governing body for international ice hockey. The IIHF manages international tournaments and maintains the IIHF World Ranking, worldwide, there are ice hockey federations in 74 countries. Ice hockey is believed to have evolved from simple stick and ball games played in the 18th and 19th century United Kingdom and these games were brought to North America and several similar winter games using informal rules were developed, such as shinny and ice polo. The contemporary sport of ice hockey was developed in Canada, most notably in Montreal, some characteristics of that game, such as the length of the ice rink and the use of a puck, have been retained to this day. Amateur ice hockey began in the 1880s, and professional ice hockey originated around 1900. The Stanley Cup, emblematic of ice hockey club supremacy, was first awarded in 1893 to recognize the Canadian amateur champion, in international competitions, the national teams of six countries predominate, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States. Of the 69 medals awarded all-time in mens competition at the Olympics, in the annual Ice Hockey World Championships,177 of 201 medals have been awarded to the six nations. In Russia and the Ukraine, where hockey can also refer to bandy, the name hockey has no clear origin. The English historian and biographer John Strype did not use the word hockey when he translated the proclamation in 1720, the 1573 Statute of Galway banned a sport called hokie—the hurling of a little ball with sticks or staves. A form of this word was thus being used in the 16th century, though much removed from its current usage. According to the Austin Hockey Association, the word derives from the Scots Gaelic puc or the Irish poc. The blow given by a hurler to the ball with his caman or hurley is always called a puck. Stick-and-ball games date back to pre-Christian times, in Europe, these games included the Irish game of hurling, the closely related Scottish game of shinty and versions of field hockey. IJscolf, a game resembling colf on a surface, was popular in the Low Countries between the Middle Ages and the Dutch Golden Age. It was played with a curved bat, a wooden or leather ball
4.
Winger (ice hockey)
–
Winger, in the game of ice hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward, originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink. Nowadays, there are different types of wingers in the game — out-and-out goal scorers, checkers who disrupt the opponents and they tend to be bigger than centreman and smaller than defenceman. This position is referred to by the side of the rink that the winger normally takes. On the backcheck, it is essential that they cover the last free opposing player rushing in, once the puck is controlled by the opposing team in the defensive zone, however, wingers are responsible for covering the defenceman on their side of the ice. Prior to the puck being dropped for a face-off, players other than taking the face-off must not make any physical contact with players on the opposite team. After the puck is dropped, it is essential for wingers to engage the players to prevent them from obtaining possession of the puck. Once a team has established control of the puck, wingers can set themselves up into an appropriate position, some wingers are also employed to handle faceoffs. Rover Centre Defenceman Forward Goaltender Power forward List of NHL players
5.
Atlanta Thrashers
–
The Atlanta Thrashers were an American professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25,1997 and they were members of the Southeast Division of the NHLs Eastern Conference, and played their home games at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta. The Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006–07 season in which won the Southeast Division. In May 2011, the Thrashers were sold to Canadian-based ownership group True North Sports & Entertainment, the group moved the franchise to Winnipeg, Manitoba, which became the second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets. The sale and relocation were approved by the NHL on June 21,2011, with the sale and relocation of the team, Atlanta became the first city in the NHLs modern era to have two ice hockey teams relocate to different cities. In both cases, the team moved from Atlanta to Canada, the citys previous NHL team moved to Calgary, Alberta and this also included teams in Nashville, Columbus and St. Paul, in which each new franchise would begin play as its respective new arena was completed. The birth of the new franchise marked NHL hockeys return to Georgia, as the Atlanta Flames, established in 1972, departed for Canada in 1980 to become the Calgary Flames. The Flames had been the Leagues first foray into the southern U. S. the nickname Thrashers, after Georgias state bird, the brown thrasher, was selected from a fan poll. Thrashers had actually been runner-up to Flames in the poll, and Philips Arena, the Thrashers new home, was built on the site of the former Omni, which had been home to the Flames. The newly formed Thrashers selected Patrik Stefan with the first overall selection, the Thrashers played their first game on October 2,1999, losing 4–1 to the New Jersey Devils. Atlanta had the second pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. The team also had a choice in the 2001 Draft. Tragedy struck the team just eight days after the sale, as star forward Dany Heatley crashed his Ferrari in an accident that seriously injured both himself and Thrashers center Dan Snyder. Heatley suffered a jaw and arm, a sprained wrist. The Thrashers dedicated their entire 2003–04 season to Snyders memory, and Thrashers players wore patches with Snyders number,37. Heatleys blood alcohol content was below the limit, but his combination of speeding and recklessness led to criminal charges. He eventually received three years probation and community service, led by captain Shawn McEachern, the Thrashers jumped quickly out of the gate with some notable highlights. Eleven games into the season, the Thrashers were alone in first place both the Southeast Division and the NHL
6.
SC Bern
–
Schlittschuh Club Bern is an ice hockey team based in Bern, Switzerland. They play in the National League A, it is the top tier of the Swiss hockey league system, for the 16th time in a row, the club is the most attended team in Europe for the 2016–17 season, averaging 16,399 spectators. They are traditional rivals with HC Fribourg-Gottéron, EHC Biel, the ice hockey section of the Bern Sports Club, which was established on November 3,1930, officially began playing on January 1,1931. Today, SC Bern is a popular team and regularly fills its home stadium. In 2006, they set a new record among European clubs for average attendance, although, league rules allow only four players without Swiss passports to suit up in a single game. After a disappointing run in the 2006 playoffs, the club replaced head coach Alpo Suhonen with John van Boxmeer, Leuenberger had previously played thirteen seasons of defence with the club, totaling 67 goals,145 assists, and four national championships. His jersey number 16 is one of many that has been retired by SC Bern, on September 30,2008, SC Bern faced off against the National Hockey Leagues New York Rangers to celebrate one hundred years of ice hockey in Switzerland. Forty-nine years since the Rangers last visit to Switzerland, the beat the home team 8-1 in front of a sellout crowd. Despite the slanted score, SC Bern played a game with a 2-0 score at the end of the second. Former Phoenix Coyotes Canadian-born defenceman Travis Roche scored SC Berns goal early in the third period, SC Bern only allowed two even-strength goals, but could not withstand the Rangers potent power play in the final frame. We played for our pride tonight, said center Sébastien Bordeleau after the exhibition game, christian Dubé wore the captains C because Ivo Rüthemann was injured. During the 2012 NHL lockout, Roman Josi, Mark Streit, Tavares quickly became the PostFinance Top Scorer tallying 42 points in 28 games. During the 2013-14 season, Guy Boucher signed a contract as coach of the SC Bern for the current year, Leuenberger was then replaced by former Finnish national team coach Kari Jalonen prior to the 2016-17 campaign. com Retrieved 03-21-07
7.
Ak Bars Kazan
–
Hockey Club Ak Bars, also known as Ak Bars Kazan, is a Russian professional ice hockey team based in Kazan, Tatarstan. They are a member of the Kontinental Hockey League, the teams name, Ak Bars, is derived from the official symbol of Tatarstan, translated as Snow Leopard, a traditional symbol which has its origins with the Barsil, one of the Tatar tribes. Founded as Mashstroy Kazan in 1956, the name was changed to SC Uritskogo Kazan when it entered the Soviet Class B league in 1958. It was promoted to Soviet Class A2, where it gained promotion to the top tier of Soviet hockey. Kazans performance was respectable, starting the season by winning 6 out of 19 games against the best of the Soviet teams before falling away in the half of the season and was demoted. From this point onward, SC Uritskogo Kazan established a reputation as a strong team in the second tier leagues of the USSR. Renowned as a high scoring team, Kazan averaged over four goals a game throughout the 1960s and 1970s, twice they won the USSR League, being named Champion of Russia in 1962 and 1976. SC Uritskogo Kazans most successful period occurred in the late 1970s, during this period, Kazan was consistently among the top teams in the league but failed year after year to gain promotion to the top flight of Soviet hockey. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Uritskogo Kazan became Itil Kazan in 1990, Itil was only mildly successful, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Vysshaya Liga in 1991 and 1992. It was following the establishment of the Russian Superleague in 1996 that the age of hockey in Tatarstan began. Renamed Ak Bars Kazan after the symbol of the Tatars. Benefiting from the boom in the Urals, Ak Bars began its history in fine form. During this period, Kazan lacked the scoring of their predecessors but regardless continued to be a dominant team in Russian hockey. During this period, Kazan developed players such as Denis Arkhipov and they did not succeed, however, as a lack of continuity and chemistry saw them finish in fourth place and were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Since then, Ak Bars Kazan dominated the RSL, winning the league in 2006 on the back of a brilliant performance from Aleksey Morozov, in 2007, Kazan paced the league with 35 wins and 214 goals in 54 games before falling at the final hurdle to Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Combined with veterans such as Vitaly Proshkin and Vladimir Vorobiev, and imports, such as Ray Giroux, Petr Čajánek, however, they have been at times criticized for lacking consistency and relying too heavily on star players such as Morozov. Ak Bars Kazan are strong rivals with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and the team of Salavat Yulaev Ufa. However, Ak Bars was the strongest rival with Dynamo Moscow in 1990s, Ak Bars Kazan official site Ak Bars Kazan on http, //www. eliteprospects. com/ Ak Bars Kazan on http, //www. khl. ru/
8.
Ottawa Senators
–
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League, the Senators play their home games at the 18,694 seat Canadian Tire Centre which opened in 1996. Founded and established by Ottawa real estate developer Bruce Firestone, the team is the second NHL franchise to use the Ottawa Senators name. The original Ottawa Senators, founded in 1883, had a history, winning 11 Stanley Cups. On December 6,1990, after a public campaign by Firestone, the NHL awarded a new franchise. The current team owner is Eugene Melnyk, and in 2016, the club has been regularly represented in the top half in attendance in the NHL. Ottawa had been home to the original Senators, a founding NHL franchise, the NHL team was unsuccessful in St. Louis, and planned to return to Ottawa, but the NHL decided instead to suspend the franchise and transfer the players to other NHL teams. His firm, Terrace Investments, did not have the assets to finance the expansion fee and the team. Public support was high and the group would secure over 11,000 season ticket pledges, on December 12,1990, the NHL approved a new franchise for Firestones group, to start play in the 1992–93 season. The new team hired former NHL player Mel Bridgman, who had no previous NHL management experience, when Sutter was eventually signed to coach the Boston Bruins, Ottawa signed Rick Bowness, the man Sutter replaced in Boston. The new Senators played their first game on October 8,1992, the Senators defeated the Canadiens 5–3 in one of the few highlights that season. The Senators had aimed low and considered the 1992–93 season a small success, the long term plan was to finish low in the standings for its first few years in order to secure high draft picks and eventually contend for the Stanley Cup. Bridgman was fired after one season and Team President Randy Sexton took over the general manager duties, Firestone himself soon left the team and Rod Bryden emerged as the new owner. The strategy of aiming low and securing a high position did not change. The Senators finished last overall for the three seasons. Alexei Yashin, the teams first-ever draft selection from 1992, emerged as one of the NHLs brightest young stars, as the 1995–96 season began, star centre Alexei Yashin refused to honour his contract and did not play. Rick Bowness was fired in late 1995 and was replaced by the Prince Edward Island Senators head coach Dave Allison, Allison would fare no better than his predecessor, and the team would stumble to a 2–22–3 record under him. Sexton himself was fired and replaced by Pierre Gauthier, the former assistant GM of Anaheim, Martin outlasted several general managers and a change in ownership
9.
San Jose Sharks
–
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League and they play their home games at the SAP Center, known locally as the Shark Tank. The Sharks were founded in 1991 and were the first NHL franchise based in the San Francisco Bay Area since the California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland in 1976 and they have won six division titles and one conference championship. The Oakland Coliseum Arena was home to the California Golden Seals of the NHL from 1967 to 1976. They had long wanted to bring back to the Bay Area, and asked the NHL for permission to move the North Stars there in the late 1980s. Meanwhile, a group led by former Hartford Whalers owner Howard Baldwin was pushing the NHL to bring a team to San Jose, in return, the North Stars would be allowed to participate as an equal partner in an expansion draft with the new Bay Area team. On May 5,1990, the Gunds officially sold their share of the North Stars to Baldwin and were awarded a new team for the Bay Area, over 5,000 potential names were submitted by mail for the new team. While the first-place finisher was Blades, the Gunds were concerned about the potentially negative association with weapons. The name was said to have inspired by the large number of sharks living in the Pacific Ocean. Seven varieties live there, and one area of water near the Bay Area is known as the red triangle because of its shark population. The teams first marketing head, Matt Levine, said of the new name, Sharks are relentless, determined, swift, agile, bright and we plan to build an organization that has all those qualities. For their first two seasons, the Sharks played at the Cow Palace in Daly City, just outside San Francisco, a facility that the NHL, pat Falloon was their first draft choice, and led the team in points during their first season. George Kingston was their first coach during their first two seasons, Wilson was named the teams first captain and All-Star representative in the inaugural season. However, the Sharks first two seasons saw the struggles for an expansion team. The 71 losses in 1992–93 is an NHL record, and they suffered a 17-game losing streak, while winning just 11 games. Kingston was fired following the end of the 1992–93 season, several team firsts happened in the 1992–93 season. On November 17,1992, San Jose goaltender Arturs Irbe recorded the first shutout in team history, the early era also saw the birth of the San Jose Sharks long-time mascot, S. J. Sharkie. On January 28,1992, at a game vs. the New York Rangers, a Name the Mascot contest began that night, with the winning name of S. J. Sharkie being announced on April 15,1992
10.
Minnesota Wild
–
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League, the Wild are the only one of the Minneapolis-St. Paul areas major professional sports league franchises to play in St. Paul, the other three play in Minneapolis. The new team was founded on June 25,1997, the Wild were the first NHL franchise in Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993. They lost their first game, 3–1, to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the Wild play at the Xcel Energy Center. In the 2002–03 season, the team made its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance, as of 2015, the Wild have averaged a.537 points percentage since entering the league. Following the departure of the Minnesota North Stars after the 1993 season, mayor Norm Coleman began a campaign to either recruit the relocation of an existing franchise to St. Paul or the award of an expansion franchise to a Minnesota-based ownership group. Shortly after the attempt to relocate the Jets, the NHL announced its intention to expand from 26 to 30 teams. Bob Naegele, Jr. became the lead investor for an application to the NHL for an expansion franchise, on June 25,1997, the NHL announced that Minnesota had been awarded an expansion franchise, to begin play in the 2000–01 season. The six finalist team names for the new NHL franchise, were announced on November 20,1997. Jac Sperling was named Chief Executive Officer of the Minnesota team, Doug Risebrough was named General Manager, Tod Leiweke was named President, the team was officially named the Wild, with the unveiling occurring at Aldrich Arena in the suburb of Maplewood on January 22,1998. The new name was introduced to everyone with the song Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf playing over the speaker system. The Minnesota Wild announced its first major agreement with MasterCard from First USA. It was the earliest that First USA had ever signed an agreement in advance of a team beginning play. The State of Minnesota adopted legislation in April,1998 to loan $65 million to the City of St. Paul to fund 50% of the estimated $130 million project costs for the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The City of St. Deconstruction of the St. Paul Civic Center began soon thereafter, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Xcel Energy Center was hosted in St. Paul. The Minnesota Wild announced a 26-year partnership agreement with the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, the Minnesota Wild-MASC partnership is the first partnership of its kind between a private professional sports team and a public amateur sports organization. Doug Risebrough was named executive vice president/general manager of Minnesota Wild, the Wild named Jacques Lemaire their first-ever head coach and the team picked Marian Gaborik third overall in the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Gaborik would go on to score the first ever goal for the Wild in their debut on October 6 at Anaheim
11.
Anaheim Ducks
–
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League, since their inception, the Ducks have played their home games at the Honda Center. The club was founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a name based on the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks. Disney sold the franchise in 2005 to Henry and Susan Samueli, the Ducks have made the playoffs 12 times and won five Pacific Division titles, two Western Conference championships and one Stanley Cup. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company, the franchise was awarded by the NHL in December 1992, along with the rights to a Miami team that would become the Florida Panthers. An entrance fee of $50 million was required, half of which Disney would pay directly to the Los Angeles Kings in order to share Southern California. Philadelphia-arena management specialist Tony Tavares was chosen to be president, and Jack Ferreira. The Ducks selected Ron Wilson to be the first coach in team history, the Ducks and the expansion Florida Panthers team filled out their rosters in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft and the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. In the former, a focus on defense led to goaltenders Guy Hebert and Glenn Healy being the first picks, followed by Alexei Kasatonov and Steven King. In the latter, the Ducks selected as the fourth overall pick Paul Kariya, the resulting roster had the lowest payroll of the NHL, with only $7.9 million. Led by captain Troy Loney, the Ducks finished the season 33–46–5, a number of wins for an expansion team. The Ducks sold out 27 of 41 home games, including the last 25, Ducks licensed merchandise shot to number one in sales among NHL clubs, helped by their presence in Disneys theme parks and Disney Stores. The lockout-shortened 1994–95 NHL season saw the debut of Paul Kariya, the Ducks had another respectable season, going 16–27–5. 1995–96 would mark a big change for the team, especially for second-year superstar Paul Kariya, during the season, he was chosen to play for the Western Conference in the 1996 NHL All-Star Game as the lone Ducks representative. At the time of his selection, Kariya was ranked 14th in league scoring with 51 points over 42 games, and his efforts, then a midseason blockbuster deal with the Winnipeg Jets improved the franchise. The Ducks sent Chad Kilger, Oleg Tverdovsky and a third round pick to the Jets in return for Marc Chouinard, following the trade, Ducks centre Steve Rucchin commented, Paul had a lot of pressure on him. He singlehandedly won some games for us this year, now that we have Teemu, theres no way everybody can just key on Paul. These three players formed one of the most potent lines of their time, although the trade proved to be an important effort in the team, they still finished short of the playoffs, losing the eight spot in the West to the Jets based on the number of wins
12.
Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
–
The Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers Nürnberg are a professional ice hockey club located in Nuremberg, Germany. They play in the premier league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The roots of the team can be traced back to SG Nürnberg, todays team was founded in 1980 as EHC Nürnberg 1980 e. V. as a non-profit organization. Play started in 1980–81 in the Bavarian state ice-hockey league, after a single season, the team moved up to the Southern Regional league, and was promoted again after just one season in 1983 to the 3rd tier German Ice Hockey league. By 1987, EHC Nürnberg 1980 moved up to the 2nd Bundesliga, in the early 90s, financial uncertainty around German professional ice-hockey lead to the foundation of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga – DEL. The DEL was modeled after the NHL, with hopes of providing stability through licensing and franchising of teams. EHC Nürnberg 1980 was admitted to the DEL as a member on 13 June 1994. As the DEL replaced the 1st Bundesliga and now represents the highest level of German professional ice-hockey, in the first DEL season, the EHC80 Nürnberg finished the regular season on the 12th place, only to be eliminated in the first playoff round. For the next season, the team was broken out of the non-profit organization and incorporated as the Nürnberg Ice Tigers, with the youth. In the 1998–99 DEL season the Tigers finished the season in first place, but lost in the playoff finals to the Adler Mannheim. In 2006, the Ice Tigers and Bionorica AG, signed an agreement giving Bionorica the naming rights to the team. Starting with the 2006–07 DEL season, the team was renamed to Sinupret Ice Tigers, during the 2008–09 season it became obvious that the Ice Tigers were in a dire financial situation. On 25 November 2008 preliminary insolvency was filed and declared on 30 December declared and this led to the corporate sponsor Bionorica pulling their support in March 2009. An investor group led by local jeweler Thomas Sabo intervened on 3 April 2009, pre-empting bankruptcy proceedings, the team is now known as the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
13.
Canada men's national ice hockey team
–
The Canadian national mens ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada internationally. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, from 1920 until 1963, Canadas international representation was by senior amateur club teams. Canadas national mens team was founded in 1963 by Father David Bauer as a part of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, the nickname Team Canada was first used for the 1972 Summit Series and has been frequently used to refer to the Canadian national team ever since. They are 26-time IIHF World Champions and winner of the 2004 and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Canada is a member of the so-called Big Six, the group of the six strongest mens ice hockey nations, along with the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden. Canada was first represented internationally at the 1910 European Championships by the Oxford Canadians and they represented Canada again at the 1912 World Championships. From 1920 until 1963, the amateur club teams representing Canada, were usually the most recent Allan Cup champions. The last amateur team from Canada to win a gold medal at the World Championship was the Trail Smoke Eaters in 1961. Following the 1963 World Championships, Father David Bauer founded the team as a permanent institution. The new permanent national team first competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics, before the Soviet Union began international competition in 1954, Canada dominated international hockey, winning six out of seven golds at the Olympics and 10 World Championship gold medals. Canada then went 50 years without winning the Winter Olympic Gold medal and from 1962 to 1993 and this was in part because Canadas best professional players were unable to attend these events as they had commitments with their National Hockey League teams. Canada withdrew from official IIHF events in 1970 and the National Team programme was suspended after they were refused permission to use semi-professional players at the World Championship. Canada returned to the IIHF in 1977 after a series of negotiations between IIHF President Dr. Sabetzki and top officials of professional ice hockey in Canada and the United States. In 1983, Hockey Canada began the Program of Excellence, whose purpose was to prepare a team for the Winter Olympics every four years. This new National Team played a season together all over the world against both national and club teams, and often attracted top NHL prospects. In 1986, the International Olympic Committee voted to allow athletes to compete in Olympic Games. Veteran pros with NHL experience and, in a few cases and this program was discontinued in 1998, when the NHL began shutting down to allow its players to compete. After not winning a medal for 33 years, Canada won the 1994 World Championship in Italy
14.
NHL Entry Draft
–
The NHL Entry Draft is held once every year, generally within two to three months after the conclusion of the previous season. During the draft, teams take turns selecting amateur players from junior, collegiate, the first draft was held in 1963, and has been held every year since. The NHL Entry Draft was known as the NHL Amateur Draft until 1979, the entry draft has only been a public event since 1980, and a televised event since 1984. Up to 1994, the order was determined by the standings at the end of the regular season. In 1995, the NHL Draft Lottery was introduced where only teams who had missed the playoffs could participate, the chances of winning the lottery were weighted towards the teams at the bottom of the regular season standings. The first NHL Entry Draft was held on June 5,1963 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, any amateur player under the age of 20 was eligible to be drafted. In 1979, the rules were changed allowing players who had played professionally to be drafted. This rule change was made to facilitate the absorption of players from the defunct World Hockey Association, consequently, the name of the draft was changed from NHL Amateur Draft to NHL Entry Draft. Beginning in 1980, any player who is between the ages of 18 and 20 is eligible to be drafted, in addition, any non-North American player over the age of 20 can be selected. S. College and high school, or European hockey, in 1980, the Entry Draft became a public event, and was held at the Montreal Forum. Prior to that year the Entry Draft was conducted in Montreal hotels or league offices and was closed to the general public, the first draft outside of Montreal was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, in 1985. Live television coverage of the began in 1984 when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation covered the event in both English and French for Canadian audiences. The 1987 Entry Draft, held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, sportsChannel America began covering the event in the United States in 1989. Prior to the development of the Draft, NHL teams sponsored junior teams, the C form could only be signed by the player at age eighteen or by the players parents, often in exchange for some signing bonus. The first drafts were held to assign players who had not signed with an NHL organization before the sponsorship of junior teams was discontinued after 1968, the selection order in the NHL Entry Draft is determined by a combination of lottery, regular season standing, and playoff results. The order of picks discussed in this section always references the original team, the basic order of the NHL Entry Draft is determined based on the standings of the teams in the previous season. Subject to the results of the NHL Draft Lottery, the pick in the same order each round. The teams in group are ordered within that group based on their point totals in the preceding regular season
15.
2000 NHL Entry Draft
–
This was the second NHL Entry Draft in which a goaltender was taken first overall, when the New York Islanders selected Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick. Previously, Michel Plasse was selected 1st overall in the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft, club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted. 2000 NHL Expansion Draft 2000–01 NHL season List of NHL first overall draft choices List of NHL players SLAM,2000 NHL Entry Draft player stats at The Internet Hockey Database prosportstransactions. com,2000 NHL Entry Draft Pick
16.
Calder Memorial Trophy
–
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League. It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL, serving as the NHLs Rookie of the Year award, this version of the trophy has been awarded since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season. The voting is conducted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of regular season to determine the winner. The Calder Memorial Trophy is named in honour of Frank Calder, although Rookie of the Year honors were handed out beginning in 1932–33, the Calder Trophy was first presented at the conclusion of the 1936–37 NHL season. After Calders death in 1943 the trophy was renamed the Calder Memorial Trophy, in 1990, Sergei Makarov of the Calgary Flames became the oldest player, at age 31, to win the trophy, even though he had played for HC CSKA Moscow in the Soviet Union. After that season, the rules for awarding the Calder were amended so that players could only be if they were under 26 years old by September 15 of their rookie season. In 1991, goaltender Ed Belfour won the Calder having previously appeared in 32 games with the Chicago Blackhawks over the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons. Belfour was eligible for the award because nine of those came during the 1990 Stanley Cup playoffs. The nine playoff games did not count towards the regular season eligibility requirements, in 2010–11, Logan Couture was eligible for the Calder Trophy despite having played in 40 previous games, while Alex Pietrangelo was ineligible despite having played only 17 previous games. The trophy has been won the most times by rookies from the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks, three finalists are named and the trophy is awarded at the NHL Awards ceremony after the playoffs. List of National Hockey League awards List of NHL players List of NHL statistical leaders Calder Trophy history at NHL. com Calder Trophy profile at Legends of Hockey. net
17.
Dan Snyder (ice hockey)
–
Daniel Joseph Snyder was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre in the National Hockey League for the Atlanta Thrashers, following a single-vehicle accident in which he was a passenger, Snyder was injured and fell into a coma as a result. He died six days later of septic shock, although he played in only forty-nine NHL games, the Thrashers named an annual award after him. The Dan Snyder Memorial Award is given each year to the player who best embodies perseverance, dedication, after the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg the Jets continued to present the award. Likewise the Ontario Hockey League renamed their Humanitarian of the Year trophy in his honor as the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy, in 1994 Snyder was one of the last players selected for his hometown Junior B team, the Elmira Sugar Kings. He struggled early in the season and was warned that if his play continued he might be replaced. Snyders play improved following the talk, eventually earning the Sugar Kings rookie of the year honors, the following year he tried out for the Owen Sound Platers, a Major junior team playing in the Ontario Hockey League. After starting his try-out slowly, the staff gave him the option to stop. Snyder decided to continue his try-out and made the team leading the Platers in scoring during the exhibition season. He played four years for the Platers registering 75 goals and 221 points, undrafted, Snyder was signed by the Thrashers as a free agent in 1999. On September 29,2003, Snyder was critically injured after the Ferrari 360 Modena, being driven by his friend and teammate Dany Heatley, Heatley, who was driving between 55-82 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, lost control and skidded into a brick pillar and iron fence. Both players were ejected from the car, which was split in half by the force of the impact, Snyder required surgery to repair a depressed skull fracture and was comatose. Six days later on October 5, he lapsed into septic shock and died, Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide as a result of the crash, a sentence that could have carried as much as 15 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain a lane. He was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to give 150 speeches on the dangers of speeding, and pay $25,000 to Fulton County for the cost of investigating the crash. The following season Atlanta dedicated the season to Snyder and Heatley, while further honoring Snyder with a patch displaying his number 37 on it, Snyder was further honored with the creation of The Dan Snyder Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships were to be given to three recipients from the Elmira area, on December 31,2003 the Thrashers played the Detroit Red Wings, during the game both teams wore the commemorative patch. Following the game the NHLPA auctioned off the game-worn jerseys with the proceeds going towards the scholarships, Canadian band The Tragically Hip recorded a song called Heaven Is a Better Place Today in honor of Snyder
18.
Jason Spezza
–
Jason Rocco Anthony Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. After beginning his junior career at the early age of 15 in the Ontario Hockey League. Playing in the American Hockey League in 2004–05 due to the NHL lock-out, in 2005–06, Spezza set an Ottawa Senators franchise record with 71 assists, while hitting the 90-point mark for the first of two times in his NHL career. Internationally, Spezza has represented Team Canada at three World Junior Championships and two World Championships, when he made his World Junior debut in 2000, he became just the third 16-year-old in history to make the team, behind Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros. Spezza was born to Italian parents Rino and Canadian Donna Spezza in Mississauga and he has twin siblings, a sister, Michelle, and a brother, Matthew, an ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League. Growing up in the Toronto area, he watched the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the age of 1, Spezza won a baby contest and began his youth modelling career. The victory resulted in Spezza becoming the poster boy for Baby, at five years old, Spezza was chosen for a Minute Maid commercial. Two years later, he modelled clothing for stores Woolco and Kmart and he recorded beyond a point-per-game pace as an underaged player with 71 points in 67 games. He subsequently became the youngest player ever to participate in an OHL all-star game at the age of 15, after one season with the Battalion, he was required to enter the OHL Priority Draft and was selected by the expansion Mississauga IceDogs in the teams second season in 1999–2000. He recorded 61 points in 52 games that season before requesting a trade, Spezza went on to record a career high 116 points in 66 games that season. Going into the 2001 NHL Entry Draft having been named the Top CHL Prospect, the second overall pick originally belonged to the New York Islanders, but was traded to Ottawa along with Zdeno Chara and Bill Muckalt for Alexei Yashin on draft day. During the summer of 2001, Spezza passed on an invitation to the Canadian junior teams summer camp because he said he wanted to prepare for his first NHL camp. After one more OHL season split between the Spitfires and the Belleville Bulls, resulting in a 105-point season, Spezza began his career in the American Hockey League. He signed his first professional contract with the Senators, a multi-year deal, Spezza made his NHL debut the next season in 2002–03 with Ottawa, playing in 33 games and recording 21 points. He played the majority of the season, however, in the AHL with Ottawas new affiliate, the Binghamton Senators and he also competed in three playoff games with Ottawa during his rookie season, helping the team in its 2003 playoff run to the semifinals. The Senators came within one game of the Final, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils, Spezza played his first full NHL season with the Senators in 2003–04 and scored 22 goals and 55 points in 78 games. However, due to the subsequent NHL lock-out, Spezza returned to the AHL in 2004–05, scoring 117 points with Binghamton, he outscored Mike Cammalleri of the Manchester Monarchs by eight points to capture the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the leading scorer
19.
Daniel Alfredsson
–
Daniel Alfredsson is a Swedish-Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. He spent 18 seasons in the National Hockey League,17 with the Ottawa Senators, Alfredsson was the longtime captain of the Ottawa Senators, serving from 1999 to 2013. He is considered a leader by example and had compared to former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman in his value during his tenure as captain of the Ottawa Senators. He had traditionally been the forward on the ice in the role of pointman on Ottawas powerplay. He was one of the leagues top players, and he holds the Senators franchise records for goals, assists. He had played for Sweden internationally fourteen times, including the 2006 gold medal and 2014 silver medal winning Olympic teams. He was the 75th player to reach 1,000 career points in the NHL, Alfredsson holds an Honorary Degree from Carleton University. Drafted 133rd overall in the round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He had been overlooked by many NHL scouts, but one man in Ottawas front office, John Ferguson, saw the potential, in 1996–97, he improved on his rookie totals and played in the All-Star Game again. He finished second in scoring, contributing to the Senators first modern playoff qualification. Alfredsson missed the beginning of the 1997–98 season due to a contract dispute, on 24 August 1997 he demanded a trade from the Senators after the five-year contract offered to him was $1 million less than that of Alexei Yashin per season. He signed a new deal on 12 October 1997, worth $14 million over four years, after missing the first five games of the season, he was greeted by a standing ovation in his first game back in Ottawa. Alfredsson would later be named the Senators representative at the All-Star Game for the consecutive season. During that season, Alfredsson would play in only 55 games, due to the contract dispute. The Senators qualified for the playoffs again and defeated the New Jersey Devils, Alfredsson would score seven goals in 11 playoff games in 1998. In 1998–99, Alfredsson missed 24 games due to an injury, the club once again qualified for the playoffs, and Alfredsson hoped to have a good postseason, but was limited to one goal and three points in a sweep at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. The next season, he was named captain of the Senators after Alexei Yashin was stripped of the captaincy for refusing to honor his contract, after two somewhat disappointing seasons, Alfredssons scoring totals improved, with 21 goals and 59 points in 57 games. In the playoffs, the Senators met the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Senators would lose the inaugural Battle of Ontario, although Alfredsson contributed three goals in the six-game series
20.
Ice Hockey World Championships
–
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual international mens ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sports highest profile annual international tournament, the IIHF was created in 1908 while the European Championships, the precursor to the World Championships, were first held in 1910. The tournament held at the 1920 Summer Olympics is recognized as the first Ice Hockey World Championship, between 1920 and 1968, the Olympic hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year. The first World Championship that was held as an event was in 1930 in which twelve nations participated. In 1931, ten teams played a series of round-robin format qualifying rounds to determine which nations participated in the medal round, medals were awarded based on the final standings of the teams in the medal round. This basic format would be used until 1992, in 1951, thirteen nations took part and were split into two groups. The top seven teams played for the World Championship, the other six played for ranking purposes. During a congress in 1990, the IIHF introduced a playoff system, as the IIHF grew, more teams began to participate at the World Championships, so more pools were introduced. The modern format for the World Championship features 16 teams in the group,12 teams in Division I and 12 teams in Division II. If there are more than 40 teams, the rest compete in Division III, the teams in the championship play a preliminary round, then the top eight teams play in the playoff medal round and the winning team is crowned World Champion. Over the years, the tournament has gone through several rule changes, in 1969 body-checking in all three zones in a rink was allowed, helmets and goaltender masks became mandatory in the early 1970s and in 1992 the IIHF began using the shootout. The current IIHF rules differ slightly from the used in the NHL. The World Championships have been open to all players, both professional and amateur, since 1977, the IIHF requires that players are citizens of the country they represent and allow players to switch national teams provided that they play in their new nation for a certain period of time. Canada was the tournaments first dominant team, winning the tournament 12 times between 1930 and 1952, the United States, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Great Britain and Switzerland were also competitive during this period. The Soviet Union first participated in 1954 and soon became rivals with Canada, from 1963 until the nations breakup in 1991, the Soviet Union was the dominant team, winning 20 championships. During that period, only three other nations won medals, Canada, Czechoslovakia and Sweden, Russia first participated in 1992 and the Czech Republic and Slovakia began competing in 1993. In the 2000s, the became more open as the Big Six teams – Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden. Thus, NHL players generally only participate once their respective team is eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, the 79th World Championship was held in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic, and was the most successful to date in terms of overall attendance
21.
Winter Olympic Games
–
The Winter Olympic Games is a major international sporting event that occurs once every four years. Unlike the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics feature sports practised on snow, the first Winter Olympics, the 1924 Winter Olympics, was held in Chamonix, France. The original five sports were bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, Nordic skiing, the Games were held every four years from 1924 until 1936, after which they were interrupted by World War II. The Olympics resumed in 1948 and was held every four years. The Winter Games have evolved since its inception, others have been discontinued and later reintroduced, or have been permanently discontinued. Still others, such as speed skiing, bandy and skijoring, were demonstration sports, the rise of television as a global medium for communication enhanced the profile of the Games. It created a stream, via the sale of broadcast rights and advertising. This allowed outside interests, such as companies and corporate sponsors. The IOC has had to address several criticisms, internal scandals, nations have used the Winter Games to showcase the claimed superiority of their political systems. The Winter Olympics has been hosted on three continents by eleven different countries, the Games have been held in the United States four times, in France three times, and in Austria, Canada, Japan, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland twice. Also, the Games have been held in Germany, Yugoslavia, the IOC has selected Pyeongchang, South Korea, to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Beijing, China, to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Twelve countries – Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States – have sent athletes to every Winter Olympic Games. Six of those – Austria, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United States – have earned medals at every Winter Olympic Games, Norway leads in terms of number of gold medals and overall number of medals. Germany and Japan have been banned at times from competing in the Games, the Olympic Charter limits winter sports to those. Which are practised on snow or ice, since 1992 a number of new sports have been added to the Olympic programme, which include short track speed skating, snowboarding, freestyle and moguls skiing. The addition of events has broadened the appeal of the Winter Olympics beyond Europe. While European powers such as Norway and Germany still dominate the traditional Winter Olympic sports, countries such as South Korea, Australia, the results are more parity in the national medal tables, more interest in the Winter Olympics and higher global television ratings. Figure skating events were held at the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics. ^ Note 2, a mens ice hockey tournament was held at the 1920 Summer Olympics. ^ Note 3
22.
World Cup of Hockey
–
The World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it was the successor to the previous Canada Cup, the tournament occurred twice on an irregular basis, with the United States winning in 1996 and Canada winning in 2004. The World Cup of Hockey was preceded by the Canada Cup, taking inspiration from soccers FIFA World Cup, Eagleson proposed a new tournament that would bring together all the top hockey–playing nations. After successful negotiations with officials from the Soviet Union in September 1974, Eagleson began arranging the Canada Cup tournament. The tournaments, held three to five years, took place in North American venues prior to the start of the National Hockey League regular season. Six teams competed in each edition, of the five Canada Cup tournaments, four were won by Canada, while the Soviet Union won one in 1981. In 1996, the Canada Cup was officially replaced by the World Cup of Hockey, the Canada Cup trophy was retired. The United States defeated Canada to win the inaugural event, eight years later, the second installment of the World Cup of Hockey took place in 2004, just prior to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Canada won its first tournament championship, defeating the Czech Republic in the semifinals, on January 24,2015, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the 2016 World Cup of Hockey to be held in September 2016 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The 2016 edition featured a modified format, alongside the Big Six countries. Canada again won the championship, defeating Team Europe in the finals, for the 2020 edition, the all-star teams will be replaced by qualifying teams. There are also plans for a spin-off event beginning in 2018 and this event would also occur every four years, alternating biannually with the World Cup of Hockey. These moves are intended, primarily, to expand the international prominence of the NHL. In 2004, Canadian American architect Frank Gehry designed a new trophy for the tournament and it is made from a composite alloy of copper and nickel as well as solid cast urethane plastic. The trophy was criticized by the community, noting the Toronto Suns headline What is that. Müller, Stephan, International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904-2005 / BoD GmbH Norderstedt,2005 ISBN 3-8334-4189-5
23.
Marcel Dionne
–
Marcel Dionne was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992. On January 27,2017, in a ceremony during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles and he became the leagues preeminent star, winning scoring titles in 1970 and 1971 and adding a record 122 points in 43 playoff games. Dionnes scoring feats were marred by one of the most infamous events in Canadian junior hockey during the 1971 Richardson Cup finals against the Quebec Remparts. Dionne finished his career by shattering the OHAs career scoring record. He was subsequently drafted in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft, Dionne played his first four seasons with the Red Wings, where he was one of the few stars on an otherwise stagnant team that failed to make the playoffs. Despite having teammates such as Alex Delvecchio and Mickey Redmond, Dionnes frustrations with losing were evident and his agent, Alan Eagleson pushed for more money. The owner of the Los Angeles Kings, Jack Kent Cooke, a deal was struck with the Red Wings and Dionne was traded for Terry Harper, Dan Maloney, cash, and draft picks, Dionne then signed with the Kings and became their franchise player. At the time, it was the richest deal in hockey history, during his time with the Los Angeles Kings, he played eleven and one-half seasons and formed the famed Triple Crown Line, centering Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor. During the 1986–87 season, Dionne mentored the rookies of the Kings as Mickey Redmond had mentored him during his years in Detroit. He took eventual Calder Trophy winner Luc Robitaille, Jimmy Carson, despite the rapport with the rookies, there was also a falling out with coach Pat Quinn, moreover, the aging Kings were on track to miss the playoffs. Dionne did not want to be part of a rebuilding project and he was traded to the New York Rangers. He played his two and a half seasons there, where the Rangers lost in the first round of the playoffs twice. One consolation was that he would finally have Guy Lafleur as his teammate to mark the beginning of the 1988–89 NHL season, in January 2004, Dionne was featured on a Canadian postage stamp. As part of the NHL All-Stars Collection, Dionne was immortalized along with five other All-Stars, Dionne has homes in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Clarence Center, New York. He has maintained a business and investment portfolio since his playing days, operating a sports memorabilia store in Buffalo. Dionne owns a diner in Niagara Falls as well as a memorabilia store. During his first season for Detroit in 1972, he set an NHL record for scoring by a rookie with 77 points and this record has since been surpassed. His best season was 1979–80 when he had 137 points and that season, he was tied for the league lead in points with Wayne Gretzky
24.
Steve Yzerman
–
Stephen Gregory Steve Yzerman is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, Yzerman spent his entire NHL playing career with the Detroit Red Wings and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. On January 27,2017, in a ceremony during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, once voted to be the most popular athlete in Detroit sports history, locals often simply refer to Yzerman as The Captain. Yzerman led the Wings to five regular season finishes and 3 Stanley Cup championships. He was a ten-time NHL All-Star, a First Team All-Star in 2000, Yzermans #19 jersey was retired on January 2,2007, during a pre-game ceremony at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. On November 4,2008, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and he also became an honoured member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility, inducted alongside 2001–02 Red Wing teammates Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille. On September 25,2006, Yzerman was named as a president of the Detroit Red Wings. He won a fourth Stanley Cup as the president of operations in 2007–08. He then served as the teams alternate governor until his hiring as the manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning in May 2010. Yzerman has represented his country in international tournaments as a member of Canadas national hockey team. In 2002, Yzerman won an Olympic gold medal, making him one of few players to win an Olympic gold medal, Yzerman was the general manager of Team Canada for the 2007 IIHF World Championship, which they won. Yzerman was appointed director of Team Canada on October 7,2008. Team Canada went on to win the medal by defeating Team USA. Yzerman was again appointed director of Team Canada on March 5,2012. Canada went on to win their second-straight gold medal after defeating Sweden, Yzerman was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia, but grew up in Nepean, Ontario, where he attended Bell High School and played for his hometown Nepean Raiders Junior A hockey team. After one season with the Raiders, the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League drafted him, the 1983 NHL Entry Draft was the first for Mike and Marian Ilitch, who had purchased the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of 1982. Jim Devellano, the Red Wings then-general manager, wanted to draft Pat LaFontaine, however, when the New York Islanders selected LaFontaine third overall, Devellano settled on Yzerman, drafting him fourth. Yzerman tallied 39 goals and 87 points in his rookie season and that season, Yzerman also became the first 18-year-old to play in an NHL All-Star Game since the current format was adopted in 1969
25.
Edmonton Oilers
–
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League, the Oilers were founded on November 1,1971, with the team playing its first season in 1972, as one of the twelve founding franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association. They were originally intended to be one of two WHA teams in Alberta, however, when the Broncos relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, before the WHAs first season began, the Oilers were renamed the Alberta Oilers. They returned to using the Edmonton Oilers name for the following year, the Oilers subsequently joined the NHL in 1979 as one of four franchises introduced through the NHL merger with the WHA. After joining the NHL, the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup on five occasions, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1989–90. This remains the most championships won by any team since the NHL-WHA merger, among all NHL teams, only the Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup more times since the Leagues 1967 expansion. For their success in the 1980s, the Oilers team of this era has been honoured with dynasty status by the Hockey Hall of Fame, on November 1,1971, the Edmonton Oilers became one of the 12 founding WHA franchises. The original team owner was Bill Hunter, Hunter owned the Edmonton Oil Kings, a junior hockey franchise. He also founded the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, hunters efforts to bring major professional hockey to Edmonton via an expansion NHL franchise had been rebuffed by the NHL. So, he looked to the upstart WHA instead and it was Hunter who chose the Oilers name for the new WHA franchise. This was a name that had previously used as a nickname for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 1950s and 1960s. They won the first game in WHA history 7–4 over the Ottawa Nationals, the Oilers drew fans with players such as defenceman and team captain Al Hamilton, goaltender Dave Dryden and forwards Blair MacDonald and Bill Flett. However, a relatively little-noticed move in 1976 would have an important impact on the history of the franchise and that year, journeyman forward Glen Sather was acquired by the Oilers. It turned out to be his final season as a player, however, he was named player-coach late in the season, moving to the bench full-time after the season. Sather would be the coach or general manager of the Oilers for the next 23 years, although the Oilers on-ice performance for most of the WHAs history was mediocre, they remained relatively well-supported and financially stable by WHA standards. In 1976, the franchise was acquired by wealthy entrepreneur Peter Pocklington, Gretzkys first and only WHA season, 1978–79, saw the Oilers finish first in the WHA standings, posting a league-best 48–30–2 record. However, Edmonton failed to win the championship, as they fell to the Winnipeg Jets in the Avco World Trophy Final, Dave Semenko of the Oilers scored the last goal in WHA history in the third period of the final game, which the Oilers lost 7–3. The Oilers joined the NHL for 1979–80, along with fellow WHA teams Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, originally, Gretzky was not eligible to be protected, under the rules of the time, he normally would have been placed in the Entry Draft pool
26.
Jonathan Cheechoo
–
Jonathan Cheechoo is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who is currently playing for HC Slovan Bratislava of the Kontinental Hockey League. During the 2005–06 National Hockey League season, he led the NHL with 56 goals and he was the first San Jose Sharks player to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the NHL player with the most goals in a season. After the 2005–06 season, his numbers began to fall. Drafted by the Belleville Bulls of the OHL in the 1997 OHL priority selection, Cheechoo had a strong rookie year in 1997–1998 with 76 points in 64 games. In the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, San Jose sent the 2nd overall pick to Nashville for the third overall pick and the 29th overall pick, Cheechoo joined the Bulls for the 1998–1999 season and finished with 82 points in 63 games. Taking off in the playoffs, Cheechoo scored 30 points in 21 games, five of those goals were scored during Game 7 of the OHL Final against the London Knights, a game the Bulls would win 9–2 to secure their first OHL Championship. Although he was now eligible for AHL assignment, San Jose chose to leave him unsigned, San Jose was patient with Cheechoo, knowing he still had room to improve in the OHL. In the following season, Cheechoo had his best year, tallying a team-high 91 points in 66 games, Cheechoo added 17 points in sixteen games during the playoffs. His high goal total hinted at his sniping capabilities, and his statistical improvement mirrored his development, notably, Cheechoo never played a full season while in juniors because of minor injuries he gained from his crash-and-bang style of play. For development, Cheechoo joined San Joses AHL affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades, in the 2000–2001 season before deciding to give the NHL another go, Cheechoo had a strong rookie season with Kentucky in the AHL scoring 66 points in 75 games. After going scoreless in the playoffs, Cheechoo rebounded with 46 points in 53 games, in 2002–03, after scoring seven points in nine games with the Cleveland Barons, Cheechoo was recalled to San Jose to help revitalize the struggling team. Playing mostly on the third and fourth lines, Cheechoo had a modest 16 points in 66 games and his hard work paid off, as Cheechoo had 47 points in 81 games in 2003–2004. Playing alongside Mike Ricci and Scott Thornton, Cheechoo had two mentors who taught Cheechoo how to be defensively responsible, also, Cheechoo became one of San Joses best grinders, his new upper-body strength allowed him to win many battles along the boards. In the 2004 playoffs, Cheechoo had 10 points in 17 games, San Jose was eliminated by Calgary. During the NHL lockout, Cheechoo played with HV71 of the Swedish Elitserien and had 5 goals in 20 games, in the 2005–06 season, Cheechoos offensive statistics took off, netting a franchise record 56 goals and 93 points. Much of Cheechoos success was augmented by the Sharks acquisition of superstar Joe Thornton in late November, before the trade, Cheechoo had 15 points in 24 games. In the 57 games after the trade, Cheechoo had 78 points, Thornton knew how to get the puck to Cheechoo – who had the skill to score the goals. In the 2006–07 season, Cheechoo got off to a start as he, Joe Thornton
27.
2010 NHL Entry Draft
–
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26,2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft, an unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in the first round, starting with Jack Campbell and ending with Brock Nelson. The record was set in the 2006 and 2007 drafts, where 10 U. S. -trained players were selected in the first round, source, NHL Central Scouting Bureau final rankings. The 2010 NHL Entry Draft Lottery was held on April 13,2010, the lottery saw no change from the overall NHL standings to end the 2009–10 NHL season. For the fourth time in five years, the 30th placed team, the condition – Calgary had the option to give their first-round pick to Phoenix either in 2009 or 2010 – was converted on June 1,2009 when Calgary decided to keep their first-round pick in 2009. The Ottawa Senators first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 25,2010 that sent David Rundblad to Ottawa in exchange for this pick. Chicago previously acquired the pick as the result of a trade on September 12,2008 that sent Robert Lang to Montreal in exchange for this pick. The condition – Calgary chooses to trade a pick in either 2009 or 2010 – was converted on March 4,2009 when Calgary traded their pick in 2009 to Colorado. The Nashville Predators second-round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on March 1,2010 that sent Denis Grebeshkov to Nashville in exchange for this pick. The Pittsburgh Penguins second-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a trade on March 1,2010 that sent Jordan Leopold to Pittsburgh in exchange for this pick. The Columbus Blue Jackets third-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on September 28,2009 that sent Anton Stralman to Columbus in exchange for this pick. The New York Rangers third-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on June 27,2009 that sent Brian Boyle to New York in exchange for this pick. The Dallas Stars third-round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche as the result of a trade on June 26,2010 that sent a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick to Dallas. The Anaheim Ducks third-round pick went to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the result of a trade on August 13,2009 that sent Evgeny Artyukhin to Anaheim in exchange for Drew Miller and this pick. The Colorado Avalanches third-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on June 26,2010 that send a third-round pick to Colorado in exchange for a fourth-round pick and this pick. The Los Angeles Kings third-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 26,2010 that send a third-round pick in 2012 to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick. The Phoenix Coyotes third-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 27,2009 that sent a third-round pick in 2009 to Phoenix in exchange for this pick. The Vancouver Canucks third-round pick went to the Carolina Hurricanes as the result of a March 3,2010 trade that sent Andrew Alberts to the Canucks in exchange for this pick
28.
Waivers (NHL)
–
Waivers is a National Hockey League labor management procedure by which an NHL team makes a professional ice hockey player’s contract and rights available to all other NHL teams. Other NHL teams waive any claim to a designated for assignment in the American Hockey League or designated for release. The process is referred to as being placed on waivers. In the NHL, each player signs what is, or is a variation of, the contract specifies that the team has exclusive rights to the player playing in the NHL. In the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement assignment waivers applies only to loans from an NHL club to its American Hockey League affiliate, after a player has been designated for assignment, the other 29 NHL teams can put in a claim or waive their claim for that player. The claims process starts at noon Eastern Time and ends 24 hours later, if only one team makes a claim for the player, then he will be transferred to the claiming team. If more than one team makes a claim, then the player will be transferred to the team having the lowest percentage of points in league standings at the time of the request for waivers. If waivers are requested outside of the season, or before November 1. If no team places a claim, the player can be sent to a minor league affiliate. When a player clears waivers and is sent down and then is called up again, the 2005 NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement introduced re-entry waivers. Exceptions are players who have played in over 320 professional games and have not spent more than 80 games on an NHL roster in the past two seasons or 40 games during the previous season, the CBA ratified in January 2013 eliminated re-entry waivers. If the player is picked up by another NHL club on waivers, a third type of waivers, unconditional waivers, applies when a player is to be given an unconditional release from his contract. NHL teams give notice to the player and the league that they intend to buy-out a players rights under the terms of the CBA, in this case, the waiver period is 48 hours. These waivers can only be requested during two periods, Between June 15, or 48 hours after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final series if it ends later, and June 30 of each year. Salaries of players playing for an NHL team count against its salary cap, NHL teams have waived players with high salaries, thereby freeing up salary cap space for other signings. In a more interesting case, following the 2011 NHL pre-season, as a result, the Stars, who had been using Averys re-entry waiver loss to reach the salary floor for the 2011–12 season, had to trade for winger Eric Nystrom to reach the salary floor. The player is paid his full salary. There is an exception to rule, if the player has a contract that took effect after a players 35th birthday
29.
Deutsche Eishockey Liga
–
The Deutsche Eishockey Liga or DEL, is a German professional ice hockey league that was founded in 1994. It was formed as a replacement for the Eishockey-Bundesliga and became the new league in Germany as a result. Unlike the old Bundesliga, the DEL is not under the administration of the German Ice Hockey Federation, the DEL currently has the highest number of American and Canadian players outside North America. In the 2015–16 season the league was the second-best supported in Europe, behind the Swiss National League A, the Eishockey-Bundesliga was formed in 1957 as the elite hockey competition in the Federal Republic of Germany, replacing the Oberliga in this position. It was in turn replaced by the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, which now carries the name 1st Bundesliga in its logo. The DEL was founded in the 1994–95 season, consisting of teams from the Eishockey-Bundesligas 1st, the condition of these earlier leagues had become intolerable. Many 1st and 2nd division teams were heavily in debt, the 2nd division attracted few sponsors and spectators. As a result, many clubs were forced to fold or withdraw to the lower leagues, fans and corporate sponsors focused on the 1st Bundesliga teams, forcing the elite teams to invest heavily in players to avoid relegation. This increased budgets 25 percent over the two years. In the final Bundesliga season, 1993–94, only 11 teams wanted to play in the 2nd Bundesliga, furthermore, two teams folded during and after the season. Ice hockeys reputation in Germany was heavily tarnished and this made it difficult to attract serious sponsorship. In January 1994,20 out of the remaining 21 1st and 2nd Bundesliga teams voted for creating a new entity, upon founding, the DEL Betriebsgesellschaft mbH was the first German professional sports league managed by an organization whose members were incorporated as well. The goal behind the DEL was to create a league, based on the model of the North American NHL, in which teams could play consistently without relegation concerns, clubs in the DEL were required to conform to rules, which were designed to ensure long-term viability. Twelve clubs from the old 1st Bundesliga, and six from the 2nd Bundesliga came together as founding members, the new league immediately attracted corporate sponsorship with the Krombacher Brewery, which was prominently featured on the new league logo. The hope of avoiding the troubles of the old Bundesliga by stricter financial controls did not materialize, during DELs initial season, on 18 December 1994, the Bundesligas final champion, the renamed EC Hedos München, folded. This was controversial, as DELs president Franz Hofherr had approved their license, Hofherr was Mad Dogs former president and it was alleged that he must have known about their desperate financial situation. The Bosman ruling, a 1995 decision of the European Court of Justice regarding the movement of labor in soccer, had influence on the league. The old Bundesliga had national character with German clubs competing for the German title using mostly German players, after the ruling European Union players were excluded from the foreign player quota
30.
Calgary
–
Calgary is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, the city anchors the south end of what Statistics Canada defines as the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor. The city had a population of 1,239,220 in 2016, making it Albertas largest city, also in 2016, Calgary had a metropolitan population of 1,392,609, making it the fourth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada. The Calgary CMA is home to the second-highest number of head offices in Canada among the countrys 800 largest corporations. In 1988, Calgary became the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympic Games, Calgary was named after Calgary on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. In turn, the name originates from a compound of kald and gart, similar Old Norse words, meaning cold and garden, alternatively, the name might be Gaelic Cala ghearraidh, meaning beach of the meadow, or Gaelic for either clear running water or bay farm. The Calgary area was inhabited by people whose presence has been traced back at least 11,000 years. Before the arrival of Europeans, the area was inhabited by the Blackfoot, Blood, Peigan, in 1787, cartographer David Thompson spent the winter with a band of Peigan encamped along the Bow River. He was a Hudsons Bay Company trader and the first recorded European to visit the area, John Glenn was the first documented European settler in the Calgary area, in 1873. The site became a post of the North-West Mounted Police, the NWMP detachment was assigned in 1875 to protect the western plains from US whisky traders, and to protect the fur trade. Originally named Fort Brisebois, after NWMP officer Éphrem-A, Brisebois, it was renamed Fort Calgary in 1876 by Colonel James Macleod. When the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the area in 1883, over a century later, the Canadian Pacific Railway headquarters moved to Calgary from Montreal in 1996. Calgary was officially incorporated as a town in 1884, and elected its first mayor, in 1894, it was incorporated as The City of Calgary in what was then the North-West Territories. The Calgary Police Service was established in 1885 and assumed municipal, local duties from the NWMP, the Calgary Fire of 1886 occurred on November 7,1886. Fourteen buildings were destroyed with losses estimated at $103,200, although no one was killed or injured, city officials drafted a law requiring all large downtown buildings to be built with Paskapoo sandstone, to prevent this from happening again. After the arrival of the railway, the Dominion Government started leasing grazing land at minimal cost, as a result of this policy, large ranching operations were established in the outlying country near Calgary. Already a transportation and distribution hub, Calgary quickly became the centre of Canadas cattle marketing and meatpacking industries. By the late 19th century, the Hudsons Bay Company expanded into the interior and established posts along rivers that later developed into the cities of Winnipeg, Calgary
31.
Minor ice hockey
–
Minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from class to class, in North America, the rules are governed by the national bodies, Hockey Canada and USA Hockey, while local hockey associations administer players and leagues for their region. Many provinces and states organize regional and provincial tournaments. Minor hockey is not to be confused with minor league professional hockey, in Canada, the age categories are designated by each provincial hockey governing body based on Hockey Canadas guidelines, and each category may have multiple tiers based on skill. To qualify in a category, the player must be under the age limit as of December 31 of the current season, initiation, under 7 years of age AKA Hockey 1 and Hockey 2 and previously known as Mite and Tyke respectively. Those not playing Junior or playing Senior, Junior, under 21 years of age Junior, divided into Major Junior, Junior A, Junior B and Junior C. Senior, No age limit There are two broad grouping of skill levels, competitive and non-competitive, from house league/recreation hockey, progression is made to competitive travel hockey. A competitive team will hold tryouts and players will be selected for the roster depending upon skill level, at this level, players chosen to compete experience a higher level of on-ice competition and coaching. Players learn systems, coaches maximize his/her potential and train them to work together as a unit, HL teams are intra-city and players may be of any skill level. Rostered Select teams will consist of better House League players who in addition to HL play, League Select teams will consist of better House League Players but can also play in a league for a full season in addition to the House League Season. This is also known as Minor Development in some areas, higher-skilled players will typically play on representative or travel teams that will travel to play representative teams from other areas. These teams are classified by skill, not all cities will have teams at all skill levels, depending on size and the popularity of hockey, however even small communities may field teams at multiple levels. The classifications are not certified by any external organization, so there is speculation about what levels are truly better or stronger than others. AAA, AA, and A hockey are nationally recognized as competitive levels of organized hockey, the competitive level players generally engage in high levels of physical play from a young age. This physical play can lead to injuries and most often these are related to the head, injuries have become more prevalent as physical play has increased in the sport. House Level Inter Association hockey never leaving own association C Playing other associations in a region, B A AA AAA is the highest caliber of minor hockey In British Columbia, BC Hockey has a different system for competitive teams. Midget Rep has a BC run Midget AAA league, All other Rep teams are exclusively inter association under the guidance of PCAHA, OMAHA, VIAHA, and are labeled as A1, A2, A3, and A4
32.
College ice hockey
–
College ice hockey is played in Canada and the United States, though leagues outside of North America exist. University hockey is the used for hockey primarily played at four-year institutions. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has conducted national championships for mens ice hockey since 1948, U. S. college hockey players must be deemed eligible for NCAA competition by the NCAA Eligibility Center, a process that examines a student-athletes academic qualifications and amateur status. Players who have participated in the Canadian Hockey League or any professional league are considered ineligible. Mens U. S. college hockey is a system to the National Hockey League. As of the 2010–11 season,30 percent of NHL players had U. S. college hockey experience prior to turning professional and that percentage has been maintained the past three seasons, with a record 301 NHL players coming from college hockey in 2011–12. One hundred thirty-eight colleges and universities sponsor mens ice hockey in the NCAAs three divisions, the NCAA Division I has 60 ice hockey teams as of the 2015–16 season. The NCAA Division I Championship is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament, divided into four, the winner of each regional advances to the Frozen Four to compete for the national championship. For many years,5 teams earned automatic bids through winning conference tournament championships, with the addition of the Big Ten Hockey Conference for the 2013–14 season, the tournament now features 6 automatic qualifiers, and 10 at-large bids. In 2015–16, there were 60 schools competing in Division I, with 59 of them organized into six conferences, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference sponsored D-I mens hockey, but dropped the sport in 2003. The Hobey Baker Memorial Award honors the top player in mens Division I hockey, the Mike Richter Award honors the top goaltender in Division I. The NCAA does not currently sponsor a championship in Division II, as there is only one conference that currently sponsors hockey, several other schools that normally compete in Division II play up to the Division I level in hockey. The NCAA conducted a Division II national championship from 1978 to 1984, the current championship format is an 12-team, single-elimination bracket. Eighty-eight colleges and universities sponsor womens ice hockey in two divisions, National Collegiate and Division III, there are 36 teams in the National Collegiate division. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is awarded annually by USA Hockey to the top player in womens Division I hockey. The most recent school to add varsity womens hockey was Merrimack, University hockey teams in Canada compete in leagues as part of U Sports, the national governing body for Canadian university athletics. U Sports sponsors both mens and womens hockey, like in the United States, teams compete in athletic conferences based on geographical locations of the schools. Unlike the NCAA, U Sports does not award players with athletic scholarships, individual conferences hold postseason tournaments, followed by the round-robin U Sports championship tournament in late March
33.
United States
–
Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
34.
Calgary Canucks
–
The Calgary Canucks are a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Max Bell Centre, the Canucks franchise has the longest tenure of any in the AJHL in one city, as the 2005-06 season represented its 35th in the Stampede City. The Canucks entered the AJHL with the goal of giving Calgary area kids a place to play competitive hockey without sacrificing their education. The team considered itself an extension of the Calgary minor hockey system, while the import cap has long since been dropped, the Canucks remain true to their ideal of Education through Hockey and being a place for Calgary area kids to play to this day. The team has seen 42 former Canucks reach the NHL, including former NHL star Dany Heatley, hundreds more have earned scholarships to American and Canadian universities. The Calgary Canucks broadcast their games by webcast. Franchise returned in 1984-85 under new ownership, Fort Saskatchewan Traders and St. Fort Saskatchewan Traders and St
35.
Alberta Junior Hockey League
–
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It was formed as a league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league, the regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy. The playoff champions receive the Gas Drive Cup, the winner of the AJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Western Canada Cup in a round robin tournament with the MJHL, SJHL, AJHL and BCHL. The winner of the Western Canada Cup competes in the Junior A National Championship for the Royal Bank Cup, the early 1960s saw a much different junior hockey scenario in Alberta than what currently exists. The Edmonton Oil Kings were the only true Junior-A-calibre team in the province, the Oil Kings were the Western Canadian champions from 1962 until 1966, Abbott Cup champions in 1954 and from 1960 to 1966, and Memorial Cup national champions in 1963 and 1966. In 1966, the Oil Kings helped create the Western Hockey League, the issue in 1964 was that there were hundreds of junior-calibre players in the province, but really only one team to play for. A group of business and hockey people got together in 1964, the original league consisted of the Edmonton Safeway Canadians, the Edmonton Maple Leafs, the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, Calgary Cowboys, and the Calgary Buffaloes. The Edmonton Safeway Canadians and Maple Leafs later merged in 1971 to become the Edmonton Mets and they lasted only three seasons in Spruce Grove, however, they won the AJHL title twice, and the Manitoba Centennial Trophy in 1975. In 1976, they moved again to become the St. Albert Saints, in 2004, the team returned to Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Saints. This well-travelled franchise has sent over 30 players into the National Hockey League, one of the AJHLs most famous franchises, the Red Deer Rustlers, joined the league in 1967, capturing the championship in their first season. The Rustlers had attempted to join the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, but were blocked by the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association, in 1971, the Rustlers captured the first Manitoba Centennial Trophy as national Junior A champions. The Rustlers, who featured all six Sutter brothers who would go on to the National Hockey League, won eight AJHL titles and they were expelled from the league, however, in 1989, and formally folded in 1992 when the Red Deer Rebels joined the WHL. In 1971, the Calgary Canucks were founded following the demise of the Cowboys, today, the Canucks are the oldest franchise still operating in the AJHL. It was founded with a mandate to focus on giving Calgary-area kids a place to play while focusing on their educational needs. The Canucks have captured a record nine AJHL championships and won the Centennial Cup in 1995. After a game on February 21,1980, the AJHL was shaken by a tragedy, twenty-year-old Trevor Elton, Captain of the Sherwood Park Crusaders was hit cleanly along the boards by a player on the St. Albert Saints in St. Albert, Alberta. Elton landed and went into convulsions and died later that night while in hospital, on November 26,2010, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Drayton Valley Thunder played the first ever modern era regulation outdoor junior hockey game at MacDonald Island in Fort McMurray
Canada
