The Web Hockey League News

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:
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Contributing Writers

Mike Hebert
Chris Kordyback
Chris Kubinec
Lee McEwen

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

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 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.

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