Top 10 Mullets in Hockey

by Murray Crawford… Is there any sport more associated with mullets than hockey?  Maybe soccer in Europe but hockey hair has become synonymous with mullet.  And with very good reason, some of the best players have had their best seasons partying in the back.  But was there anything sweeter than seeing a helmetless player fly down the wing.  The mullet was the ultimate anti-helmet.  And so here are the top 10 mulleted players and how their mullet led them to greatness.

10. Barry Melrose.  Some may expect that he should be number one but his mullet isn’t what made him famous as a player, it was his coaching hair that is best remembered.  It led him all the way to the Stanley Cup final in 1993, although maybe Wayne Gretzky and Kelly Hrudey had something to do with that.  Leaf fans won’t forget it that’s for sure.

9.  Wendel Clark.  Anyone remember when he had 17 shaved into the side of his head on top of his mullet that was freaking awesome.  His mullet was matched only by his tenacity; it’s too bad his body couldn’t keep up with his will. Still one of the most beloved Leafs is only more so beloved for his hair.

8. Wayne Gretzky.  Yes I rated the great one more on his mullet than on his career.  His mullet led him to greatness, or followed whichever you prefer, but his mullet was really second rate.  You only ever really saw it when the helmet was off otherwise he’s better remembered for his helmet, which was also unique.

7. Brett Hull.  Everyone remembers those GT snow racer commercials with Brett Hull, we all wanted to go out and get one with Brett Hull’s face on the box, with a glorious mullet.  Well it also led him to a very successful career, his 86 goals in 90-91 third all-time.  He finally won a cup long after the mullet came off.  The only thing bigger than his mullet was, and still is, his mouth.

6. Mario Lemieux.  Yes Gretzky had better career statistics, but Lemieux had a better mullet.  Between the great one and super Mario they owned the Art Ross between 1981 and 1994.  Mario also had 199 points in 1988-89.  But Mario and mullet’s best accomplishments, arguably the two consecutive Conn Smythes, Bernie Parent is the only other player to accomplish that.

5. Jaromir Jagr.  Lemieux’s partner in crime, both in mullets and in success, had a better mullet and was the best scorer in a time when scoring was harder to find than an exciting Devil’s game.  But his mullet was pure gold; it led him to five Art Ross’ and a Hart, as well as two Stanley Cups while with Lemieux and the Penguins.

4. Dean Evason.  Who?  He didn’t have much of a career; his best season was 1986-87 when he had 59 points.  He did finish with 139 goals and 372 points, which is nothing to sneeze at but he did have one of the best mullets.  It was blonde and all party in the back.  If he had been a few years younger he might have even gone without the helmet and just let it flow.

3. Mike Ricci.  He came into the NHL billed as an offensive talent, coming off 50 goal 116 point season with the Peterborough Petes.  He never got close, with only 30 goals in 1993-94.  But the Petes have produced some of the best checking forwards, Bob Gainey, Jamie Langenbrunner, Doug Jarvis and Steve Yzerman all won the Selke.  Ricci didn’t but he carved a niche being a shutdown forward.  And his hair was the best, black and covering most of his name on the back of his jersey, some American announcers had a tough time figuring out who he was.

2. Ryan Smyth.  His NHL success has only been limited by the teams he’s played for, but he is the toughest son of a bitch in the league right now.  Taking a Pronger shot to the teeth and playing again in the same game.  He’s the modern era mullet, something that has gone out of style of late but still represents hockey.

1. Al Iafrate.  By the time he was done Iafrate didn’t have the hair in the front anymore, but that didn’t stop him from having the league’s best skullet.  It’s his dedication to the hair style that sets him apart from the rest; he didn’t let baldness get him down.  But his awesome hair was made all the more awesome during his hardest shot competitions; before Al MacInnis ran away with it Iafrate was the man.  And his skullet was the best.

Hockey Canada, OHA Feeling Rattled.

by Ross Vennare… Hockey Canada and the Ontario Hockey Association are feeling rattled by the surge of a outlaw Junior A hockey League, known as the GMHL.

The Greater Metro Hockey League (GMHL) is gaining popularity and fan basis in areas in which the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) thought were not great locations. It’s amazing to see the hundreds of fans pouring into the Centennial Arena in Gravenhurst every Friday night to see the South Muskoka Shield games! There is way more fans than I’ve ever seen at an OHA game. It’s like a mini OHL game in South Muskoka.

The Ontario Hockey Association feels threatened by the Greater Metro Hockey League and has posted a letter on their website trashing the GMHL and its credibility. They go on to say that the ‘outlaw’ league does not support nor has the consideration for the impact and development of male and female hockey minor, junior, senior, adult recreational hockey, officiating development, coaching development or administrator development in Canada. “These “Outlaw” organizations do not support the development of these programs.”

It is very hard to agree with this statement when colleges, universities and even NHL scouts are checking out certain players in the league. They recognize the talent and alternatives as opposed to what the OHA has to offer. On December 16, 2007, Tim Murray, Assistant GM for the Ottawa Senators, was scouting the Bradford vs. Innisfil game in Bradford. He was checking out Andreas Goetz from Bradford and Tim Revell from Innisfil. A scout from the Boston Bruins was also in attendance for this game.

Another supporting argument is that if anyone supports the development of minor hockey, it is the Bradford Rattlers of the GMHL who are affiliated with the World Hockey Center. It focuses on skill development programs and has produced many talented young men and woman to come out of the school. One of them, Kiril Tupulov, got drafted to the NHL. The 6ft 3, 220lbs defenseman went in the third round, 67th overall to the New Jersey Devils at the NHL draft in Vancouver in 2006. Hockey Canada, nor the OHA, had any part in this.

The game of hockey in Canada does not belong to the OHA, it belongs to everyone. It belongs to those who play the game for what it is and to their best to make it to ‘The Big Show.’ The GMHL is entering its third season and more teams have been added to the league. It is gaining more and more exposure and more scouts are coming to the ‘outlaw’ league to look for talent.  This just proves hockey is big in Ontario!

check out Ross at his blog Ross Hockey

Takin’ a T/O With BT: Jeff O’Neill Just Doesn’t Give Up

by Bryan Thiel…

Unretiring and indecision. Those two things certainly seemed to have defined this summer.

Whether it was in the NFL, the MLB, the NBA, or the NHL, you could probably name one player who has had a difficult time deciding to retire, and then publicly stating he’d like to come back to the sport he loves, only to be met with outcry and abuse.

Jeff O’Neill did the same thing this past week, though—and almost no one took notice.

In a fairly low-key announcement, the Carolina Hurricanes told the press that they had invited the long time Hartford Whaler and Carolina Hurricane to training camp this September.

For O’Neill, training camp is something he probably thought he’d never experience again.

It was just last year, the 2007 offseason, that O’Neill announced his retirement from the NHL.

It may not have been because he lost the drive to play hockey—but for O’Neill, the passion didn’t seem to be there anymore. Completely understandable when you consider the circumstances that Jeff was playing under.

After beginning his career in a fairly average manner with the Hartford Whalers, O’Neill’s best offensive campaign came in 1999-2000, when he posted 25 goals and 63 points. From there, he continued to improve, posting a career-high 41 goals the next season, followed by two straight 30-goal years.

O’Neill also got himself into 28 playoff games throughout this time, including the fateful 2001-02 season where the Hurricanes would make their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance, only to be easily dispersed by the Detroit Red Wings.

The year before the lockout, however, O’Neill fell flat on his face. In 2003-04, O’Neil scored 14 goals—his lowest total since his sophomore season—and he tore the labrum in his shoulder. For a guy who had spent three years smelling like roses, O’Neil’s difficult time was just getting started.

Like all of the NHL players, O’Neill had a choice during the lockout—either sit out from hockey for (hopefully just) a year, or play overseas.

O’Neil—who is very committed to his family—chose to stay at home.

After staying at home during the lockout, O’Neill still couldn’t catch a break. He was caught and charged with impaired driving in Raleigh, N.C. and it seemed that he wasn’t wanted in the only organization he had ever known, as trade rumors circulated the troubled winger.

Little did O’Neill know it was about to get worse.

Just before the summer of the first entry draft since the lockout ended, Jeff O’Neill was met with tragedy. His brother Donny—the older brother who took Jeff under his wing and showed him the game—was gone. Donny died when his truck rolled off highway 401 outside of Toronto.

O’Neil was devastated.

Following those tumultuous times, a little light shone into O’Neill’s life. He got the opportunity to play for his hometown team—the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As much as it was a dream come true for O’Neill, however, he could still only think about his family “If I put a smile on their faces for just half a day with this, I’m happy,”. he said. A boy who was finally going to live his dream couldn’t think of dedicating it to anyone else aside from his family.

Unfortunately, O’Neill’s time in Toronto soon became one he’d rather forget.

It first began with Gary Roberts—whom O’Neill had befriended during their time in Carolina—signing with the Florida Panthers, eliminating the opportunity for O’Neill to play alongside his good friend and one of the most legendary Leafs ever—Mats Sundin—on Toronto’s top line.

In light of everything though, O’Neill put up some alright numbers with Toronto in 2005-06, posting 19 goals and 19 assists, and it seemed that O’Neill’s former coach Paul Maurice was going to get the best out of him in his time in Toronto.

The 2006-07 season started well for O’Neill, as he posted 17 points in 24 games to open the season. As the games wore on though, the weight of the emotions Jeff still had over his brother Donny’s death, as well as his fear of flying began to show in his play, and wear on the Leafs organization.

An NHL player with a fear of flying—that can’t be a good combination.

In O’Neill’s final twelve games with the Leafs, he was scoreless, and a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness ended his season on March 23rd in Buffalo.

Not long after came the news that O’Neill felt that he was done with hockey, that because of everything happening with him at that time, he needed to step back from the game.

Today though, it seems that O’Neill is ready to try it again—and his old General Manager and friend Jim Rutherford is just the person to give him that chance, as the 32 year-old O’Neill has received an invite to ‘Canes camp.

For his sake, I hope he can prove that he’s earned a spot on the Carolina Hurricanes roster.

Or at least proves to the league that, after everything he’s been through, he can still play, and still be a factor, maybe prove that he’s still that mullet-wearing, hockey-loving kid he used to be, with the same passion anyone brings to the game—just now with a little added fire.

Jeff O’Neill—wouldn’t that be a story?

NBA Predictions: Best Power Forwards for 2008-2009 Season

by TJ Zwarych… Power forwards are often the most intense and athletic players on a team. They are usually the ones who are tall enough to play center, but are too skilled, quick, and good at shooting.

For example: KG. He is tall enough to play center, but is a better shooter than most centers. He is a lot quicker than most centers, and he can play great defense against small, quick forwards.

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the players I think will be the six best power forwards in the 2008-2009 NBA season.

6. Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk is a great player nearing the edge of his prime. Although very talented, he will not have the team he once had this season. The Mavs will be on the playoff bubble this season, and Dirk will be one of the only things keeping them there.

With Josh Howard being an emerging star, this will slowly decrease the amount of touches Dirk will get, even though he is still a great player.

Projected Stats: 22.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 0.7 bpg

5. David West

West went to his first All-Star game last year, and I can guarantee it won’t be his last. He is a great player who is finally emerging as the star he is capable of being. West came into his own last season and will only improve.

And hey, having the best point guard in the league getting you the ball helps, too.

Projected Stats: 23.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.3 spg

4. Chris Bosh

Bosh is one of the best players from one of the best drafts in NBA history. Many think his scoring averages will go way down this season since they have another great forward/center in Jermaine O’Neal.

This, however, is not true. With O’Neal in there, it will simply limit the times Bosh gets double-teamed from the post, creating easier scores. And when he does get doubled, look for his assist averages to skyrocket.

Projected Stats: 23.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.8 bpg, 1 spg

3. Kevin Garnett

KG is flat out one of the best players ever to play in the NBA. Now, KG’s stats might not be as high as these other players next season, but when you have two other scoring All-Stars in Allen and Pierce on your team, sometimes it is hard to rack up the points.

And stats aren’t everything. Although they might not be as good as some, what he brings to his team in emotion and intensity trumps all.

Projected Stats: 17.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.3 bpg, 1.4 spg

2. Amare Stoudemire

Stoudemire is a fantastic player who is in the same position as many of these players. They have a good center, which means less double teaming from posts, and if teams do double team them, their assist numbers go up.

Also, among many forwards on this list, Stoudemire has a great pass first point guard who can feed him the ball very easily.

Stoudemire is a fantastic young talent who is already a veteran player and is only 25. He is strong, athletic, and is starting to be able to shoot a decent jumper. Stoudemire can guard any player from sf-c and IS the best player on the Suns.

1. Carlos Boozer

Now, many people will think this will be way too high up for Boozer. Well, I would have to disagree with them.

Boozer is a fantastic player on a fantastic team who I think will have a breakout year. He is a big guy who isn’t afraid to get dirty inside and grab rebounds.

With good chemistry and a great two-man game he will get going with Deron Williams, Boozer will have a stellar season.

Projected Stats: 25.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 1.7 spg

WWE Summerslam: Which Match Will Main Event?

by Adam Wright…

WWE’s Summerslam is billed as one of the biggest Pay Per Views of the year. Just to be apart of this event is an honour for any WWE Superstar, but to main event Summerslam, it means that much more!

With that said, who will have the honour to main event this year?

This year’s Summerslam has booked two World Title matches, but I doubt either will be picked as the main event.

The WWE Title match-up between Triple H vs. The Great Khali is painfully obvious the outcome. No to mention the quality of the match. How good of a match can we expect from The Great Khali?  How the hell will Triple H manage to hit his signature “Pedigree” on Khali?  Either way, Triple H walks out still WWE Champion.

The World Title match will feature CM Punk defending his Title against J.B.L. This match is much less predictable.  Will they keep the Title on CM Punk? Or will “The Wrestling God” reign supreme? But unfortunately, this match is not a “main event” match-up either. Not to mention the possible interference that will end the match. I’m looking at you Kane!

So, what will main event Summerslam?

There’s two obvious choices!

The first is the blockbuster match-up of two of the biggest stars of the company today. For the first time ever, John Cena will face Batista. This match is so hard to predict, it could go either way. I’m HOPING for a Batista victory (because I’m over the age of 15).

This match is one of the most awaited in recent history, but the build-up to it has been way to quick. I can see this feud continuing, and I don’t think it will main event Summerslam.

That leaves one match! One possibility that should Main Event Summmerslam. Two of the biggest stars in the last decade in a feud in one of the hottest feuds of the past year. Of course I’m talking about Edge vs. The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match.

This match-up needs no additional hype. You have The Undertaker, a legend of the ring, against Edge, one of the most extreme superstars, in a Hell in a Cell! We’ve seen Edge take serious bumps in “Table, Ladders and Chairs” matches, but he has never stepped into The Undertaker’s playground, Hell in a Cell.

Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero ordered this match up to make Edge pay for his sins. She “reinstated” The Undertaker to punish him in his match. But as we saw these past weeks, who is punishing who?

After Mick Foley woke up the inner Edge, we’ve seen a part of Edge that we’ve never seen before. Borderline psychotic. He has shown us these past weeks how brilliant he is with the  mic, and why I call him the best heel in the business.

Edge certainly is ready for The Undertaker’s return. No matter the result of the match, it will no doubt be a match for the books.

This could very well be the best Hell in a Cell match EVER! And that is why it should Main Event Summerslam.