From THN European correspondent Risto Pakarinen, Eye on Europe focuses on all the top leagues, teams and players from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Switzerland the Czech Republic and all other reaches from the across the pond.
by Risto Pakarinen - November 6, 2009 3:55 PM EST
Forsberg returns, again... A new Finnish leader... Gerber playing well... A Canuck in Germany... and Yushkevich goes to Finland.
With all eyes on Peter Forsberg once again, let’s get familiar with the Swedish language. The actual phrase used in the Swedish television broadcast of the Sweden-Czech Republic game in Jonkoping, Sweden was “Foppa Kollen,” meaning “Foppa Watch.
by Risto Pakarinen - October 30, 2009 1:50 PM EDT
Euro Hockey Tour kicks off... Laviolette heads to Germany... Daigle in the doghouse... KHL expansion?... and more.
It’s time for another national team break as the top four European hockey nations – Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic – play the second phase of the annual Euro Hockey Tour in Helsinki.
by Risto Pakarinen - October 23, 2009 12:35 PM EDT
Thanks to Yashin and Esche, St. Petersburg is tearing up the KHL... and the Champions League returns?
St. Petersburg SKA is on top of the Western Conference in the Kontinental League with 39 points in 17 games, second in the league. Alexei Yashin leads the way on offense – 20 points in 17 games – and goalie Robert Esche is taking care of the back end of the business.
by Risto Pakarinen - October 16, 2009 2:15 PM EDT
Is the KHL preparing to become a pan-European circuit?... EV Zug heads to the top... Backman comes home... and a new Canuck at the Swiss helm.
According to a report in Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, KHL president and IIHF council member Alexander Medvedev has presented the IIHF council his new plan for a pan-European league, going under the working title “United Hockey Europe.
by Risto Pakarinen - October 9, 2009 4:45 PM EDT
Steve Kariya injects new life into JYP... Bonk back home... HV71 a force to be reckoned with... KHL stars of the week... and more.
The second-fastest way to get a team going – an early-morning bag skate being the best – is to get some new players. Thanks to the global downturn, and the usual volatility of the hockey managers’ tempers, there are still a lot of players available – and in rotation.
by Risto Pakarinen - October 2, 2009 12:45 PM EDT
Blackhawks down... Finnish champs start poorly... Djurgarden's slow road back... and NHL exhibition games struggle for fans.
If one team approaches a game with a sense of purpose and the other not so much, which team is going to win? The correct answer: ZSC Lions.
In less than a year, the Swiss team has won over European hockey fans by first advancing to the final of the Champions League, a cup tournament for European club champions, and then beating the heavy favorite Metallurg Magnitogorsk of Russia twice in the two-game final.
by Risto Pakarinen - May 7, 2009 12:26 PM EDT
Alexander Medvedev - president of the Kontinental League; member of the KHL’s St Petersburg team SKA’s board; and council member of the International Ice Hockey Federation - is right at the epicenter of European hockey.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 17, 2009 12:34 PM EDT
In our last installment following the pro leagues in Europe, we wrap up a few leagues and look at a World Championship prep tournament.
JYPPEE KAYAY!
Just as bizarre as having local boy Matti Nykanen, a former ski jumping World and Olympic champion-turned pop singer/general celebrity perform at the championship parade in downtown Jyvaskyla may seem, just as logical was the fact JYP won the Finnish SM-liiga championship this season.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 10, 2009 9:54 AM EDT
End of an era in Farjestad, but the future is bright... new lesson for HV71... and Hungary bites into international play.
“So there, Sweden,” said an excited Farjestad coach Per-Erik Johnsson right after his team had beaten HV71 3-2 in Game 5 of the Elitserien final.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 3, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
Top prospect take rookie of the year honors... and playoff updates from Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Modo’s Victor Hedman was elected rookie of the year in the Swedish Elitserien. The 18-year-old defenseman “was decisive and consistent all season.
by Risto Pakarinen - March 27, 2009 11:10 AM EDT
Swedish goalie rolls on... Eaves loves the Finnish playoffs... a French triple crown?... and NHL Euro games a hot ticket.
MONSTER’S BALL
These days, if you reach for your Swedish-English dictionary and look up “domination,” you’ll see a photo of Färjestad’s goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.
by Risto Pakarinen - March 20, 2009 9:00 AM EDT
Devils prospect brings HV71 back from brink... a nasty injury for Niemi... the best and worst of Finland... and more.
HV71, the reigning Swedish champion, has had a roller coaster ride of a season. The team started the season slow, got ousted from the Champions League after the group stage – advancing came down to a loss against SC Bern in a game where the Swiss team scored four shorthanded goals – then started to climb in the Elitserien standings, finishing fourth.
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Who should start in goal for Russia at the Olympics?
“I was coming in to take the boards away and had some good jump. He bobbled the puck at the last second and I don’t think he saw me coming at all. It was a shoulder right in his chest. He’s eight feet tall, so it’s not like you could hit him in the head.”
- Ottawa's Chris Neil about a hit he threw on Tampa's Victor Hedman Thursday night, causing Hedman to leave the game.
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