Post by Jazz on May 27, 2004 2:43:52 GMT -5
ROSTER EXTENSION[/u][/color]
by Alan Adams, May 25th, 2004
source: www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/columnist.jsp?content=20040525_103914_5952
With the Russian Hockey Federation in disarray, don't be surprised if we see a below-average team hit the ice at the World Cup this summer.
It should come as no surprise that the Russian Ice Hockey Federation has been given an extension until the end of May to announce its World Cup roster.
Hockey in Russia is a game of politics more than anything else and suffice it to say, the political infighting in Moscow has prompted World Cup officials to give the Russians more time to get their act together.
Tuesday was the deadline for the eight countries competing in the World Cup to announce its rosters and Russia was the only country needing more time. They now have until May 31 to come up with a staff and 26-man roster.
Sources say the Russians are still trying to find a coach and general manager who NHLers will play for. The Russians run the risk of being assembling a weak team unless the federation can find someone who players respect and will play for.
Sources also say Russian Sports Minister Slava Fetisov met with Russian hockey federations on Monday, putting the heat on them to get their act together.
The Russian federation had asked Pavel Bure of the New York Rangers to be GM of the World Cup team but he turned them down. Recently retired Igor Larionov walked away from discussions to run the team when the federation insisted on being involved in the day-to-day running of the team.
The federation does not have a good relationship with a majority of NHL players and the federation is to blame for the current mess. The same officials trying to find a World Cup coach and GM are the same people who appointed Viktor Tikhonov as World Cup coach last year.
With Tikhonov behind the bench, the Russians bombed at the 2004 world championship tournament in Prague.
Tikhonov is loathed by a majority of Russian NHLers for his dictatorial ways when he was head coach of the Russian National team. He showed in Prague that he hasn't changed his ways and had personality conflicts with players.
Meanwhile the Czech Republic and Finland announced its rosters on Tuesday.
The Czechs have 10 players returning from the 1996 World Cup, and they will be coached by Ivan Hlinka, who led the Czechs to the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers, Robert Lang of the Detroit Red Wings, Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils and Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche are some of the stars on the Czech team.
Tomas Vokoun of the Nashville Predators will be the No. 1 goalie.
Notable omissions are Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek, who recently underwent groin surgery, and forwards Petr Sykora of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Radek Bonk of the Ottawa Senators and Petr Nedved of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Finns will look to goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to lead them to victory. The Calgary Flames goalie has other things on his mind, such as Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His backup is Vesa Toskala of San Jose while Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers is the third goalie.
Finland's forwards include Teemu Selanne of the Colorado Avalanche, Oli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers and Saku Koivu of the Montreal Canadiens.
Veteran hockey writer Alan Adams is a regular contributor to Sportsnet.ca.
by Alan Adams, May 25th, 2004
source: www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/columnist.jsp?content=20040525_103914_5952
With the Russian Hockey Federation in disarray, don't be surprised if we see a below-average team hit the ice at the World Cup this summer.
It should come as no surprise that the Russian Ice Hockey Federation has been given an extension until the end of May to announce its World Cup roster.
Hockey in Russia is a game of politics more than anything else and suffice it to say, the political infighting in Moscow has prompted World Cup officials to give the Russians more time to get their act together.
Tuesday was the deadline for the eight countries competing in the World Cup to announce its rosters and Russia was the only country needing more time. They now have until May 31 to come up with a staff and 26-man roster.
Sources say the Russians are still trying to find a coach and general manager who NHLers will play for. The Russians run the risk of being assembling a weak team unless the federation can find someone who players respect and will play for.
Sources also say Russian Sports Minister Slava Fetisov met with Russian hockey federations on Monday, putting the heat on them to get their act together.
The Russian federation had asked Pavel Bure of the New York Rangers to be GM of the World Cup team but he turned them down. Recently retired Igor Larionov walked away from discussions to run the team when the federation insisted on being involved in the day-to-day running of the team.
The federation does not have a good relationship with a majority of NHL players and the federation is to blame for the current mess. The same officials trying to find a World Cup coach and GM are the same people who appointed Viktor Tikhonov as World Cup coach last year.
With Tikhonov behind the bench, the Russians bombed at the 2004 world championship tournament in Prague.
Tikhonov is loathed by a majority of Russian NHLers for his dictatorial ways when he was head coach of the Russian National team. He showed in Prague that he hasn't changed his ways and had personality conflicts with players.
Meanwhile the Czech Republic and Finland announced its rosters on Tuesday.
The Czechs have 10 players returning from the 1996 World Cup, and they will be coached by Ivan Hlinka, who led the Czechs to the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers, Robert Lang of the Detroit Red Wings, Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils and Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche are some of the stars on the Czech team.
Tomas Vokoun of the Nashville Predators will be the No. 1 goalie.
Notable omissions are Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek, who recently underwent groin surgery, and forwards Petr Sykora of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Radek Bonk of the Ottawa Senators and Petr Nedved of the Edmonton Oilers.
The Finns will look to goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to lead them to victory. The Calgary Flames goalie has other things on his mind, such as Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His backup is Vesa Toskala of San Jose while Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers is the third goalie.
Finland's forwards include Teemu Selanne of the Colorado Avalanche, Oli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers and Saku Koivu of the Montreal Canadiens.
Veteran hockey writer Alan Adams is a regular contributor to Sportsnet.ca.
