http://www.openicehockey.com A New Era of Hockey Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:08:54 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Nail Yakupov is the clear cut leader to be drafted first overall in this year's NHL Draft in Pittsburgh.  He will be pushed by the likes of Mikhail Grigorenko, but should be able to hold him off, as long as he returns to 100% health. http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5673 For one coach it marks his return to junior hockey, and for another it’s his first shot at being behind the bench after an illustrious NHL career. 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Team Orr coach Pat Quinn and Team Cherry coach Mark Recchi have taken very different paths to ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5664 The 2012 NHL Central Draft Rankings have been released and the number four overall skater was found right here in Kitchener. Rangers forward, Radek Faksa, has impressed scouts across the country in a season where he has been scoring at a point per game pace. Despite his terrific play, the Czech forward ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5661 From NHL.com... Team captains Alfredsson and Chara, with their respective assistant captains Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, selected the skills participants from the teams they picked last night at the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft. The order of ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5656 Tomas Hyka feels like he already has an NHL home. “The experience with the Flyers was unbelievable,” he said. “I really want to go back there.” The undrafted Czech forward played deep into the training camp of the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent, getting into a late pre-season game with the ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5652 Forty of the best Canadian Hockey League players are set to descend into Western Canada, as the 17th edition of the annual Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game takes place February 1 from Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C. These players will get their chance to stand out on the national stage ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5669 Petr Mrazek may have been relatively unknown heading into the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, but his zesty personality certainly left a mark at this year’s tournament. The 19-year-old Red Wings prospect stood on his head for the Czech Republic and was nothing short of a crowd pleaser for the Canadian ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5648 Gone are the days of Tomas Jurco “The Magician.” At least that’s not the reputation Tomas himself would like to have anymore. “I want to be known as a good hockey player, not just the guy with the stick and puck.” The Kosice, Slovakia native became an instant You Tube sensation after an ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5641 It’s been a long time coming for the Tre Kronor. 31 years to be exact. In fact, head coach Roger Rönnberg was only 10-years-old the last time he witnessed his country win a gold medal at the IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championship. This year, a lesser known, but always skilled Swedish squad worked ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5638 Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Nathan Beaulieu knows pressure. In one calendar year, the upstart prospect has played in the Memorial Cup tournament, played in two NHL exhibition games with the Montreal Canadiens, and earned a bronze medal in the World Junior Championships with Team Canada. “I hope with this experience that ... http://www.openicehockey.com/index.php/archives/5635