WHLBanner.PNG
The Web Hockey League News        Volume 14 04-22-2001


Table of Contents

1) Contributing Writers
2) Players of the Week 
3) Team News           
4) Playoff Report      


All items should be sent to:
mailto:magazine@platinumcomputing.com

Contributing.PNG
Contributing Writers

Mike Hebert
Chris Kordyback
Chris Kubinec
Lee McEwen

Playersoftheweek.PNG
Players of the Week


Player of the week for week #16 is Eric Lindros of the Toronto Stallions.

Goaltender of the week goes to Eric Fichaud of the Chicoutimi Sparrows.


               Player               GP   G   A  PTS +/-  PP  SH GW  GT    S  PIM   PCT
Stallions:     Eric Lindros          5   6   3    9  -3   4   0   0  0   31   13  19.4
Bulls:         Patrik Elias          5   5   2    7   1   4   1   0  0   19   11  26.3
Dropkicks:     Pavel Bure            5   3   4    7  -1   0   1   1  0   19   11  15.8
Sparrows:      Rene Corbet           5   2   5    7   3   0   0   0  0   17   18  11.8
Vikings:       Milan Kraft           5   4   1    5  -1   2   0   1  0   19   15  21.1

               Goalie                GP   MIN   AVG  W   L   T  EN  SO  GA   SA  PCT
Sparrows:      Eric Fichaud           5   305  3.54  3   1   1   0   0  18  148 .878
Vikings:       Jamie Storr            5   300  4.60  2   3   0   0   0  23  178 .871
Bulls:         Jeff Hackett           5   300  3.60  1   4   0   0   0  18  159 .887
Dropkicks:     Arturs Irbe            3   180  4.33  1   2   0   0   0  13   89 .854
Stallions:     Curtis Joseph          4   240  4.75  3   1   0   0   0  19  123 .846

Teamnews.PNG
Team News

Toronto One Win From Conference Title

Toronto, ON (AP)- The Toronto Stallions are one win away from their second ever conference title. They last won the conference back in 1997-98(Season 3). Oddly that was the same season the Vancouver Voodoo won their first conference title and they too have won it for the second time this year.

Toronto had an average week last week with a 3-2 record. Starting the week they trashed the Steelcats by winning a home-at-home series by 8-6 and 8-3 scores. They then beat the Icedogs 5-4 in overtime at home. Then hosting the Vipers they lost 6-2, but worse they lost right winger Zigmund Palffy. Aging cheap shot artist Mark Messier took Palffy into a corner and clearly slashed his ankle. Palffy went down and was taken off the ice, it was later reported that he had a slight fracture. He is expected to be ready for game one of the playoffs. In an completely  uncharacteristic move, captain Joe Sakic went after Messier.

Toronto finally hosted the hapless Lunatics and with Sittler playing around with the line-up they lost 6-4. That game saw Toronto end their 10 game streak of scoring at least one PP goal, the streak saw them score 17 PP goals on 56 chances. Toronto finishes the home-at-home series in Waterloo next game and will try to avenge that last game. Toronto then travels to Mississauga to play both the Icedogs and then the Vipers before coming home to finish the regular season schedule against the Enforcers.


Edmonton's Playoff Hopes Are Faltering

Edmonton, AB - As the playoffs approach, the Vikings appear destined for another first round playoff exit. For whatever reasons the team has not gelled this season and could be playing their worst hockey of the year right now. Centre Alexei Yashin has had an awful second half and has only scored 12 even strength goals all season. Len Barrie has been somewhat productive since being acquired from the Chicoutimi Sparrows but his +/-, like Yashin's, is quite poor.

This edition of the Vikings has no direction in its own end and has given up more goals than any other Western Conference team that will make the playoffs.

GM Lee McEwen still believes that the team has a bright future though and has given a vote of confidence to head coach Rob Ziccarelli:
"Ziccer's done a good job for a guy in his first year as a professional coach. The club got a lot younger during the course of the season and we have better days ahead. Ziccer's going to be the guy that helps us get there."

Looking ahead to the match-up with the Krushers, one has to believe it will be a short series. Just a few weeks ago these team were battling for home-ice in the series but the Krushers have subsequently pulled away from the Vikings. Last year's series went seven, Edmonton will be lucky to win a game this year.

Jim Matheson for the WHL Weekly


Dropkicks Rink Is Spotless

New England, MA - In a surprising move the Dropkicks tried to name, for their Player of the Week, the guy at Dropkick Gardens in Hartford who sweeps up the garbage after the games. He's been able to keep the place spotless, since there haven't been many games played lately. All of the Dropkicks players are beginning to feel like the Maytag repair man. Their play of late has reflected that as well.

Playoff.png
Playoff Report


I will write a playoff preview at the end of the season. If anyone else is going to write a playoff preview send it to the magazine and I will have a whole section made up of previews.



                                Wales Conference

Rnk LW  Team       GP   W   L   T   GF   GA   PTS    PCT
 1   1 x STALLIONS  80  52  21   7  370  259   111   .694
 2   2 x CORINTHS   80  49  25   6  341  267   104   .650
 3   4 x SPARROWS   80  49  27   4  347  263   102   .638
 4   3 x ICEDOGS    80  46  25   9  317  259   101   .631
 5   5 x SEAGULLS   80  42  29   9  264  266    93   .581
 6   6 x BULLS      80  40  35   5  311  270    85   .531
 7   7 x VIPERS     80  38  36   6  328  303    82   .513
 8   8   J-NAUGHTS  80  33  40   7  255  285    73   .456
Out  ------------------------------------------------ Magic #
 0   5   ENFORCERS  80  29  41  10  262  289    68   .425   2
 1   8   STEELCATS  80  27  42  11  271  344    65   .406 1
13  21   HAWKS      80  21  49  10  257  337    52   .325 Eliminated
23  24   LUNATICS   80  21  52   7  239  318    49   .306 Eliminated

- Sparrows(3-1-1) steal 3rd place from the Icedogs(1-3-1) this week and set their sights on the Corinthians(3-2).
- Toronto needs just one more win to clinch the conference title for the second time in club history.
- Juggernaughts(4-1) appear set to take the final playoff spot from the Enforcers(1-3-1).




                                Campbell Conference

Rnk LW  Team       GP   W   L   T   GF   GA   PTS    PCT
 1   1 x VOODOO     80  58  15   7  378  243   123   .769
 2   2 x DROPKICKS  80  47  24   9  357  271   103   .644
 3   3 x EXPRESS    80  42  27  11  346  280    95   .594
 4   4 x KRUSHERS   80  38  30  12  282  239    88   .550
 5   5 x VIKINGS    80  35  33  12  288  298    82   .513
 6   6 x ISLANDERS  80  33  37  10  268  266    76   .475
 7   7 x DOMINATRS  80  32  42   6  272  296    70   .438
 8   8 x RAIDERS    80  32  43   5  239  290    69   .431
Out ------------------------------------------------ Magic #
 9   4   SAINTS     80  25  45  10  268  316    60   .375 Eliminated
 9   8   CHIEFS     80  25  45  10  267  361    60   .375 Eliminated
14  14   ENDLESS    80  24  49   7  255  333    55   .344 Eliminated
15  16   OCEANICS   80  24  50   6  253  382    54   .338 Eliminated

- Voodoo clinch their second conference title in club history.
- All playoff spots are taken; Saints, Chiefs, Endless and Oceanics are out.
- Most playoff spots appear confirmed except 7th and 8th.

mailto:magazine@platinumcomputing.com

©2001 by Platinum Computing Systems & Web Hockey League