The Shjon Podein Children's Foundation is hosting their annual "Boys are Back in Town" Celebrity Party and Golf Tournament in Rochester this weekend. Plans are already in the works for Podein to host another fundraiser this fall, an outdoor concert at Bullwinkle's Saloon and The Corner Bar. GB Leighton has already committed to performing and celebrities, both local and international, are clamoring to be a part of the event. Anyone interested in helping to sponsor the event can contact Holly Renn at (507) 990-1266, but please wait until this weekend's festivities are over.

Rochester native John Pohl, who just re-signed with the St. Louis Blues, will be attending the Podein event with Women's Gopher hockey star Krissy Wendell and ESPN analyst Ray Ferarro will be going with his fiancee, Cammi Granato.

Contrary to what Quick Facts was told by Blackhawks management last month, former Gopher Joey Martin will be at Blackhawks Prospect camp beginning next week at Johnny's Ice House in Chicago.  He will be playing with Adam Berkhoel who was responsible for ending Martin's tenure with the Gophers after Berkhoel's Denver Pioneers, on the strength of his goaltending, ousted the Gophers from the NCAA playoffs.

The Minnesota Wild's Willie Mitchell  will host the first-ever Willie Mitchell Classic golf tournament on July 24th at Seven Hills Country Club in Port McNeill, British Columbia. The event will feature an 18 hole scramble golf tournament, silent and online auction and gala.   Willie's mother Nadija is handling all the donated items and the auction.  Wes Walz, Nick Schultz and Bill Muckalt have already commited to attend along with fellow NHLrs Rob Skrlac of the Devils and former Wild defenseman Jason Marshall.  Items up for live, silent and online auction include a Minnesota Wild trip package, World Cup of Hockey trip package, a day of salmon fishing with Mitchell, Markus NaslundGame Used Signed Stick , Jarome Iginla Signed Game Used Stick, Ed Jovanovski Signed Game Used Stick, Authentic Willie Mitchell Signed Jersey, Jean Sebastian Giguere Signed Game Used Goalie Stick, Keith Thachuk signed ‘04 All-Star Game Used Stick and a Ric k Nash Game Used Signed Stick. The 18-hole scramble is sold out but there are still tickets for the Gala Event.

Former Boston Bruins tough guy, and headlining contender in this fall's Hockey Gladiators event at Target Center, Lyndon Byers, played 7 games with the IHL Minnesota Moose in St. Paul in 1994.  Byers had one goal and 16 penalty minutes and those games were the last professionally for Byers, he ended his career as a Moose.

The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues traded prospects with former Blues pick Shawn Belle heading to Dallas and Garden City, Minn native goalie Jason Bacashihua going to St. Louis. The goaltender went against the norm for Minnesota players by choosing to play with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL rather than attend college.  Bacashihua played well with the Utah Grizzlies last season but due to an affiliation change is likely to be headed to the Hamilton Bulldogs next year.  The netminder had a 2.66 goals against-average and a .916 save percentage in 39 games with the Grizzlies.

Former North Star Moe Mantha has signed on as the head coach of the new WHA team in Detroit. Four teams are confirmed for the upstart league, Dallas; Detroit; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Quebec. Hamilton, Ontario, and Toronto are scheduled to play but haven't completed lease agreements yet. The Detoit team name will be announced on June 30. The WHA draft will take place July 10.

The Glens Falls UHL Hockey Team has a new name. The former Adirondak IceHawks were purchased by a group that includes Barry Melrose and Steve Levy of ESPN. Voting for the Name the Team Sweepstakes began on April 10th with over 3,000 names being submitted in the first round. On May 1st the list was narrowed down to six finalists, including favorite "Mulletteers". Hockey fans had one month to choose their favorite nickname with voting limited to one entry per person.  The grand prize winner, determined with a random draw of all participants from both phases of the contest, will receive a personalized tour of the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., personally escorted by Melrose and Levy.

The Worcester IceCats signed former UW Badger Don Granato, one of the famous Granato clan, to a contract extension as head coach.

"We feel Jason as the ability to be a No. 1 goaltender in the future. This is a solid acquisition for the St. Louis Blues." Blues GM Larry Pleau on the trade to acquire Jason Bacashihua from the Dallas Stars. (CP)

Coleraine native Ken Gernander has re-signed with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. Gernander recently completed his 10th season with the New York Rangers organization and his ninth as captain of the Rangers' top developmental team. The AHL named the 34-year-old forward the 2003-04 recipient of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award (sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey), marking the second time Gernander earned the honor (winning in 1995-96 as well). The Wolf Pack's all-time franchise leader in games-played (533) is second overall on the club in points (334), goals (155) and assists (179). During the 2003-04 campaign he became the team leader in playoff games-played (72) and moved into second place in AHL playoff games-played with 117, three behind leader Fred Glover. He also moved into 11th place on the all-time regular season games-played list, 907, which makes him the leader among active players in that category.  Gern ander was given the opportunity to play in the NHL with the Rangers last season for the first time since the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals when he was knocked out of the line-up by his brother-in-law and former teammate Trent Klatt after Klatt's check gave him a concussion. He suited up for two games with the Rangers. This will likely be the last year playing for the gritty winger. He would like to remain in the Hartford area and move into a coaching capacity with the Rangers organization. (some info from AHL)

Colorado College Athletic Director Julie Soriero announced today that assistant hockey coach Norm Bazin will not return to his coaching duties this season in order to focus on his continued recovery and physical rehabilitation from injuries suffered in an automobile accident last November. The college will hire former Tiger defenseman Eric Rud on a one-year interim temporary basis to replace Bazin as he recovers. Bazin, the team’s recruiting coordinator, anticipates being released by doctors later in the year to return to a role in the athletics department. Rud, a Minnesota native graduated from CC in May 1997, has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League.  The Minnesota native graduated from CC in May 1997 after an illustrious playing career with the Tigers, whom he helped win league titles in each of his first three years and served as team captain for his last two (1995- 96 and 1996-97). Colorado College also reached the NCAA Frozen Four while Rud was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association his junior and senior seasons. (Colorado College)

Twig, Minnesota's Steve Rodberg has re-signed with the Fort Wayne Komets of the UHL.  Rodberg, a former UMD Bulldog blueliner split time between the Komets and the now-defunct Columbus Stars last season. He was named to the UHL All Rookie Team.

Pat Conacher, a former teammate of Phoenix Coyotes' owner Wayne Gretzky, has been named head coach of the Utah Grizzlies, the new affiliate of the Coyotes. Conacher will be joined by former North Star and Grizzlies hero Gord Dineen. Dineen is the Grizzlies' franchise leader in games played at 440 and is a favorite of team co-owner David Elmore, who lobbied hard to get him on the coaching staff when the Grizzlies changed affiliates in April, dropping Dallas and pairing with the Coyotes for the next three years. Dineen, a 15-year NHL veteran, was team captain when the Denver Grizzlies won the IHL Turner Cup in 1994-95 and was captain for most of the next five seasons in Utah. Dineen was assistant coach for the AHL Louisville Panthers in 2000-01 and head coach at Macon and Richmond in the ECHL before becoming the Springfield assistant to McSorley last season. Conacher and Dineen may end up coaching players K eith Ballard, Erik Westrum and Jeff Taffe if the NHL's labor agreement isn't resolved. (Some info from Deseret News)

Taffe was held out of the Phoenix Coyotes lineup toward the end of the season so that he would not exceed the maximum number of games allowed before it would be necessary for him to clear waivers if sent to the AHL.  He came just under the mark at 79 games played so he can be reassigned to Salt Lake City without needing to clearing waivers.

The Toronto Sun reported that tickets sales for Hockey Gladiators set for Target Center in late August have cooled off in the last month, but that sales are around the 5,200 mark. However, event organizer Daryl Wolski told the paper that 50% of ticket sales take place in the final week before the event.

As reported in Quick Facts a few weeks ago, the Chicago Blackhawks decided not to sign former Gopher Joey Martin, their 6th round pick, 193rd overall, in the 2000 entry draft.

The transfer agreement between the IIHF and NHL has expired meaning that Federations representing the expected top two picks in this weekend's NHL entry draft, Ovechkin and Malkin could charge whatever fee they wish from the NHL teams wishing to sign the prospects. Under the previous agreement the standard fee paid to European teams was $100,000.

Phoenix Coyotes forward and former Gopher Erik Westrum will be married this weekend to fiancee Kelly Siedel.

Reports are that the LA Kings are speaking with the agent for Dan Welch, who is likely to sign a minor league deal with the club and return to the AHL Manchester Monarchs.

Blaine's Matt Hendricks and St. Paul's Matt Koalska were both drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 5th round of the 2000 NHL entry draft.  Both completed their college eligibility this season, Hendricks with the St. Cloud State Huskies and Koalska with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
 
Though Hendricks did sign an amateur tryout agreement with the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL farm club of the Predators, neither he nor Koalska have been signed to contracts and there remains a strong likelihood that neither will be signed.
 
Ray Shero, the Assistant General Manager of the Nashville Predators said on Friday that the Predators had not made a final determination on either player yet but that it was likely they would make a decision within the week. 
 
Of Koalska Shero said "Matt is a skilled centerman with good hands and a great collegiate player.  Whether he can play at the NHL level remains to be seen. Playing with Vanek was good for him."
 
"Hendricks has a good work ethic, is a good hard-working winger, what we thought he would be when we drafted him." Shero said of the former Husky.
 
Shero said that neither Hendricks nor Koalska have been invited to the Predators' rookie/prospect camp in early July, saying that both have attended in the past and neither are under contract so, Shero said, there is little need to bring them in. 
 
The Assistant GM said they had not ruled out trading the rights to either player during the draft, but that it was unlikely.  He said that because both players are older, Hendricks is 23, Koalska 24, they would have to determine what, financially, would best work for the orginization because players already playing in the AHL could be easier to sign.  The Preds are expected to take a hard-line conservative approach, similar to the Minnesota Wild, in signings involving veterans and prospects as well as free agents.
 
Regarding Koalska and Hendricks Shero said, "guys that age are usually more expensive, especially with signing bonuses, than some free agents that are available, players that have already been in the AHL for a couple of years.  We are always weighing the financial side with the hockey side." said Shero.  "You always sign the best possible players if you can balance the hockey side and financial part."
 
The impending work-stoppage in the NHL is affecting decisions regarding player signings, especially with collegiate players.  Nashville has already decided that they will not bring any of their European prospects to the NHL for next season, leaving them instead with their professional teams overseas.  Shero said that in the event of a work stoppage it is more beneficial to leave them there than to bring them over to play in the AHL.
 
It would not be surprising to see Nashville choose to waive their rights to Koalska and Hendricks, making them free agents with the ability and freedom to sign wherever they choose, should they recieve any offers.   Should that occur, the move is not uncommon (the Edmonton Oilers chose not to sign NCAA Championship goaltender Adam Hauser after he graduated), but will be much more commonplace this summer with the NHL labor woes on the horizon. 
 
A decision from Nashville regarding the two Minnesota players, Koalska and Hendricks, is imminent.  "Next week is the draft, we will see where we are by then" said Shero.

“When we acquired both David (Tanabe) and Mike (Comrie), we knew we were acquiring top quality players. We believe that both individuals possess a lot of skill and they are two very good young hockey players. We were very pleased to have acquired both individuals over the last year and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if teams had to reselect, both Comrie and Tanabe would be at the top of their respective lists.”  - Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Mike Barnett on the two former college players now in his system. (phoenixcoyotes.com)

“Anytime you have the chance to be selected in the Entry Draft, especially in the first round, it makes you very proud. Having the chance to be live at the draft and walk up on that podium was very exciting. It’s a great honor to be viewed as a first round pick because there are so many great players in this league. Five years ago, I was thrilled to be a part of the draft and that feeling hasn’t changed. “I wouldn’t change where I was selected, like I said, just to be picked is very gratifying. It’s always fun to look back and see how things could have transpired, but I am happy I had the chance of being selected by Carolina five years ago and I am excited about my future in Phoenix with the Coyotes.” - Bloomington Defenseman David Tanabe on being selected on the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, 16th overall, in the 1999 Entry Draft.  (phoenixcoyotes.com)

“I think we’re still talking with them (Chouinard and Hauser), but I think that’s a better question for (Kings assistant GM) Kevin Gilmore. We’re going to see how the draft goes . . . If you’re a goaltender and you’re a free agent we’re a good organization to come to because there’s a lot of opportunity. I’m not sure there’s a goaltender who we would draft and sign right away, but there’s always a lot of deals made at the draft that’s why I say that. There could be some type of deal made.”  - LA Kings GM Dave Taylor on the status of free agent goaltender Adam Hauser especially in light of the Kings signing former Wild goalie prospect Barry Brust. (Manchester Union Leader)

The team of Jeff Nielsen, Chris McAlpine, John Brill and Tom Newman won the Mariucci Classic Golf Tournament last Monday with a score of -14.

The University of Minnesota Gopher Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament will be held Sunday, August 8th at Legends Golf Club in Prior Lake, the course operated by Tradition Golf, the company owned by the Enebak family, and run by CEO and former Gopher Jake Enebak.  Up to 100 former Gopher hockey players are expected to play. For information on participating or sponsorships please call Mark Barr at the U of M Hockey office at (612) 624-6889.  All funds raised benefit Gopher Hockey Alumni.

Rochester's Colin Stuart, one of the Colorado College Tigers' famous Stuart brothers signed with the Atlanta Thrashers who drafted him in the fifth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.  Colin joins his brother Mike who signed with the St. Louis Blues after completing his eligibility at CCC.

Shjon Podein's annual "Boys are Back in Town" Celebrity Party and Golf Tournament will be held next weekend in Rochester.  The 6-year-old event benefits Podein's Childrens Foundation. 

Podein will make a decision on where to play next season in August, he has received numerous offers from European teams after a successful season with the Lakers in Sweden last year.  Podein was an unrestricted free agent and went unsigned in the NHL last year.

2003 first round draft pick Ryan Suter has decided to return to the Wisconsin Badgers rather than sign with the Nashville Predators.  Reports out of Nashville have the 1999 expansion team lowballing the top-ranked defenseman when Suter is expecting the current rookie maximum, approximately $1.24 million, which has recently been standard for most top-ten first round picks. 

Former St. Cloud State standout and Minnetonka native Steve Martinson was named the new coach of the Rockford IceHogs.  Martinson chose not to exercise the option on his contract as head coach of the San Diego Gulls this spring.  In San Diego, Martinson won five West Coast Hockey League Taylor Cup Championships in six championship appearances and won four Founders Cups as the league's regular season champion.  Martinson played 49 NHL games, including some with the North Stars, and racked up 244 penalty minutes and still owns the AHL single-season major penalty record.

Marian Gaborik will be returning home to Slovakia in July to train for the World Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins scout Chuck Grillo's highly regarded summer program in Brainerd, Minn., begins today and runs in week-long segments through Aug. 21.  It typically attracts 800-900 players, ranging from nine-year-olds to pros.  Grillo emphasizes off-ice work at his camps. There are 32 hockey-related activities, only 12 of which require players to be on skates. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Minnesota Wild announced that the club has been selected by the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Department of Sport Management and its sponsor, The Sports Business Daily, as the winner of the 2004 PRISM (Professionalism, Results and Innovation in Sport Management) Award in the Major League franchise category. (Wild.com)

Dynamo Moscow has signed several NHL players to contracts to play in the Russian Superleague next season in the event of an NHL lockout.

Steve Ludzik, who lead the Bill Davidson-owned Detroit Vipers of the IHL to a Turner Cup Championship in 1997 was named head coach of the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate San Antonio Rampage.

Reebok International expects to complete its acquisition of The Hockey Co. Holdings Inc. next week in a deal that will give the footwear and apparel maker its first presence in hockey.  Reebok, which announced plans for the acquisition on April 8, said Thursday that it has acquired 92 percent of the shares of the Montreal-based maker and marketer of hockey apparel and equipment. (AP)

The NHL Players' Association and International Management Group are in the preliminary stages of planning an exhibition hockey game at the SkyDome on Dec. 31 in the event of an NHL lockout.  Tentative plans call for Canada's historic win over the Soviets in Game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series to be shown on the stadium's video screen before a squad of present-day Canadian NHLers face off against current Russian NHL stars.The dome's roof would be open for the contest, modeled after the popular outdoor NHL game held last season in Edmonton. The event would be held a decade after the last NHL lockout prompted Wayne Gretzky to headline a series of exhibition games in Western Europe.  There is talk of a Scandinavian tour or tour of Canadian cities. (Toronto Star)

Insurance rates for professional athletes have tripled in the past decade, said Greg Sutton of Toronto-based underwriter William J. Sutton & Co., a specialist in the sports industry.  A healthy NHL player in his mid-20s with no history of serious injuries now pays as much as $15,000 for each $1 million worth of coverage, Sutton said. (Toronto Star)

Look for the SHL and SEHL minor hockey leagues to announce a merger soon.

The ECHL approved rules changes for the 2004-05 season. The 10-minute misconduct instigator penalty was changed to two minutes for instigating and a five-minute major for fighting. Also, a minimum of 10 shooters can participate in a shootout. After the initial 10 shooters have gone, the team has the option of using a player who already shot or another player on the roster.  The league also changed the name of the conferences to National and American and realigned the division.(ECHL)

ESPN's top hockey color analyst Bill Clement will provide commentary on badminton for NBC during the Olympics.  Clement, a former NHL standout with the Flyers, was a champion badminton player as a youth in Canada (AP).

Blaine's Matt Hendricks and St. Paul's Matt Koalska were both drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 5th round of the 2000 NHL entry draft.  Both completed their college eligibility this season, Hendricks with the St. Cloud State Huskies and Koalska with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
 
Though Hendricks did sign an amateur tryout agreement with the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL farm club of the Predators, neither he nor Koalska have been signed to contracts and there remains a strong likelihood that neither will be signed.
 
Ray Shero, the Assistant General Manager of the Nashville Predators said on Friday that the Predators had not made a final determination on either player yet but that it was likely they would make a decision within the week. 
 
Of Koalska Shero said "Matt is a skilled centerman with good hands and a great collegiate player.  Whether he can play at the NHL level remains to be seen. Playing with Vanek was good for him."
 
"Hendricks has a good work ethic, is a good hard-working winger, what we thought he would be when we drafted him." Shero said of the former Husky.
 
Shero said that neither Hendricks nor Koalska have been invited to the Predators' rookie/prospect camp in early July, saying that both have attended in the past and neither are under contract so, Shero said, there is little need to bring them in. 
 
The Assistant GM said they had not ruled out trading the rights to either player during the draft, but that it was unlikely.  He said that because both players are older, Hendricks is 23, Koalska 24, they would have to determine what, financially, would best work for the orginization because players already playing in the AHL could be easier to sign.  The Preds are expected to take a hard-line conservative approach, similar to the Minnesota Wild, in signings involving veterans and prospects as well as free agents.
 
Regarding Koalska and Hendricks Shero said, "guys that age are usually more expensive, especially with signing bonuses, than some free agents that are available, players that have already been in the AHL for a couple of years.  We are always weighing the financial side with the hockey side." said Shero.  "You always sign the best possible players if you can balance the hockey side and financial part."
 
The impending work-stoppage in the NHL is affecting decisions regarding player signings, especially with collegiate players.  Nashville has already decided that they will not bring any of their European prospects to the NHL for next season, leaving them instead with their professional teams overseas.  Shero said that in the event of a work stoppage it is more beneficial to leave them there than to bring them over to play in the AHL.
 
It would not be surprising to see Nashville choose to waive their rights to Koalska and Hendricks, making them free agents with the ability and freedom to sign wherever they choose, should they recieve any offers.   Should that occur, the move is not uncommon (the Edmonton Oilers chose not to sign NCAA Championship goaltender Adam Hauser after he graduated), but will be much more commonplace this summer with the NHL labor woes on the horizon. 
 
A decision from Nashville regarding the two Minnesota players, Koalska and Hendricks, is imminent.  "Next week is the draft, we will see where we are by then" said Shero.

"We need to talk to his agent and talk to Wyatt.  He did a good job this season and the coaches seem to like him.  He's a good depth player even though his stats weren't that great with Milwaukee.  He was a leader as Assistant Captain for the Admirals.  Wyatt was a good signing for us.  We need to talk to him and see where he wants to be, whether he wants to return.  He may think he has a better opportunity elsewhere and you can't begrudge a player who thinks the grass is greener somewhere else." - Nashville Predators Assistant General Manager Ray Shero on Wyatt Smith and whether he would be re-signed by the organization for next season.

"The thing that I looked at when considering Rockford was the overall picture and that they have what you need to support an excellent hockey program.  It's an excellent town, there's good proximity to some AHL cities and I really liked the town when I visited. The team was third in attendance last season even though there wasn't a winning team on the ice. The only thing missing is a team that puts up some wins." Steve Martinson on Rockford where he was just named head coach of the UHL IceHogs.

''We just want Ryan to be treated like their other six (first-round) draft picks, and that hasn't been the case.  Just for Ryan's own self-esteem and the way others perceive him, we thought that was important. We're kind of disappointed he didn't sign, but we'll keep the doors open because it's his goal to be in the NHL.''  - 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Suter on his son Ryan's decision to return to play for the Wisconsin Badgers of the WCHA rather than sign with the Nashville Predators. (Nashville Tenneseean)

Jordan Leopold stated during an on-air interview with KFAN's PA & Dubay that he is still nursing an injured finger and sore knee, both suffered during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Keith Ballard might be wearing number 2-4 for the Phoenix Coyotes next season.  His number 13 is currently worn by Mike Rupp, who was traded to the Coyotes last season.  Derek Morris is changing from the number 2 he wore for the Coyotes last season.

The International Scouting Service has AJ Thelan ranked 15th in this year's draft. Drew Stafford is ranked 11th. Andrej Meszaros, who remains Quick Fact's prediction for the Minnesota Wild should he be available with the 12th pick, is ranked 4th by ISS.

Former Minnesota North Stars draft pick David Quinn has resigned his position as head coach of the US National Developmental Team in Michigan to join his alma mater, Boston University, as an assistant coach.

Mark Strobel, John Pohl, Brian Bonin, Bob Motzko, Mike Schwartz, Joe Doyle Steve Rohlik are coaches for the Model Hockey camp for high school players being held this week.

Much has been made of the three national championships Detroit's Bill Davidson now owns; the Stanley Cup, NBA Championship and WNBA Championship. However Davidson is no stranger to championships in hockey. His Detroit Vipers were perennial powerhouses in the International Hockey League after joining with the Minnesota Moose, Denver (now Utah) Grizzlies and Houston Aeros in 1994. In fact Davidson had the Pistons' logo redesigned to match the successful color scheme and logo of the Vipers. Sandy Smith and John Gruden both spent time with the Vipers, Gruden winning the Turner Cup with them in 1996-97.

The Spruce Meadows national show jumping tournament in Calgary saluted the Calgary Flames at the competition with two riders wearing Flames jerseys. Flames alumni and member of the 1989 Stanley Cup-winning team Joel Otto was there for the event. (Calgary Sun)

Look for Jordan Leopold's Calgary Flames to be honored at the annual Calgary Stampede that begins early July.

Leopold's teammate Craig Conroy is rumored to not be in Calgary's future plans. The Minnesota Wild will get a good chance to check out the gritty and sometimes high-scoring winger during the World Cup competition at Xcel Energy Center this fall when Conroy plays for Team USA..

Also on the market as unrestricted free agents this summer are former Wild defensemen Curtis Lechyshyn and Sean O'Donnell and former North Star Richard Matvichuk, as well as former UMD Bulldog Brett Hull.

The San Jose Sharks have laid off 16 members of staff. "This has happened in anticipation of potential events," Sharks CEO Greg Jamison said, an indirect reference to the lockout many are forecasting for Sept. 15 when the league's collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players Association expires. "But I can't say it's all based on that. A number of factors led to this." (Mercury News)

Eight years after they packed up and left the Saint Paul Civic Center to move into Winnipeg Arena the Manitoba Moose are moving again, this time into a brand spanking new arena. On 16 December 1993, the IHL granted approval for Kevin MacLean and Roger Sturgeon rights to an expansion franchise in the Twin Cities. When it looked like the Winnipeg Jets would relocate to the Twin Cities the Moose owners MacLean and Sturgeon jumped at the chance to move to the vacated Winnipeg arena. The franchise eventually changed hands to Mark Chipman, a Winnipeg local, and changed leagues to the AHL when the IHL folded. Next season they will begin play in the MTS Center in downtown Winnipeg. The building will open November 16th with the Moose playing 4 games at Winnipeg Arena before moving into the new digs. Already the franchise has doubled season ticket purchases to more than 4,000 and are targeting a capacity crowd of just over 8,000. The main money-maker for the Moose as it was in Minnesota, is not ticket sales, however, but merchandise sales. The Moose logo, designed by Richard Valentine of Valentine Design in Edina, remains one of the most popular in minor league sports. (some info from Winnipeg Sun)

The press has jumped on the possibility of the WHA beginning play next season but no one seems to have noticed another start-up professional league that claims to be starting next season. The Canadian-based Federal Hockey League has a target of 6 teams that will play a 60-game schedule. Only one owner is confirmed, the president of the league John Larsen. The league has set a motto that it wants to be the "number one choice" for players that don't make the NHL 'for whatever reason' says their website.

''To think the Nashville incident is the reason for his good play is nuts. He was fine in the middle of the season, too, and he started the previous year on fire when Daze went down [with a back injury].'' - Tyler Arnason's father, ex NHLer Chuck Arnason on his son's increased production toward the end of last season following a reported tussle with the Hawks' head coach. (Chicago Tribune)

"AJ Thelen has been a favorite among ISS scouts all season. This freshman defenseman has proven to scouts that he is the real deal and will be a highly sought after commodity come draft day. On power plays he is very dangerous, leads the rush, gains the zone, and has good lateral movement with or without the puck. Thelen is the quarterback, and has a quick hard shot that is dangerous and most often is on net. He has both the imposing size and skating ability scouts love. Thelen finished the season as the highest scoring defenseman in all of NCAA Division I Hockey. Anytime a 17-year-old freshman can have that much of an impact on a U.S. college team, you have to appreciate the accomplishment. He needs to work on becoming more physical on a consistent basis, however. NHL Potential: Top offensive defenseman. Thelen’s quiet playoff run with the Spartans may keep him out of the top ten." (International Scouting Service)

Dino Ciccarelli was again shut out in the voting for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Chosen for induction were Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Larry Murhpy and Cliff Fletcher. Fletcher was elected in the builders category. Murphy was traded to the North Stars during the 1988-89 season. He played in Minneosta until being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1990-91 season, ending up playing against his former teammates and beating them out for the Stanley Cup Championship that year.

The Minnesota Wild chose not to offer their draft pick Barry Brust a contract prior to the June 1 deadline this year, allowing him to become a free agent. Brust has now signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings. The contract  means that former Gopher Adam Hauser will have one more netminder to compete with if the Kings or Monarchs choose to resign him. Hauser played last season for the Kings'  ECHL and AHL affliates and had an outstanding year.

Former Wild forward Jeremy Stevenson underwent shoulder surgery. Stevenson is a Restricted Free Agent and GM David Poile is waiting for results of the surgery to determine whether to offer the gritty winger a qualifying offer.  (Tennesseean)

The University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey programs announc