Somewhat Stubborn
Art,Russia,Uncategorised / Feb-2016
1972 Summit Series,Russia / Feb-2016
Photos courtesy JP Melville These days, I only really ever play a rare pickup hockey game. Most…
Canada,Free Agency,PEI / Oct-2015
He ended up making the team that year and I ended up getting cut. He played there for about 10 years and won a Stanley Cup with them. That’s the way the world works.
Boston Bruins,Canada,Father Ted Flanagan,National Hockey League,Signing / Oct-2015
When I told my father about the scout, he couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe a pro team was interested in a 16-year-old. “You’ve never lied to me before,” he said. “Pa,” I told him, “I’m not lying now.”
Countries,Croatia,Europe,Kontinental Hockey League / Sep-2015
I was unrestricted and unsigned and it was getting late in my career. I pretty much knew that a one-way ticket in the NHL was not gonna come and a two-way contract was not what I was looking for.
American Hockey League,Detroit Red Wings,Edmonton Oilers,National Hockey League,United Kingdom,Washington Capitals / Sep-2015
I got in a fight that night with Claude Julien. I’d fought him in junior, so I knew I could beat him up. I did pretty good against him, and all the scouts were there.
Russia / Sep-2015
Sometimes, I call myself the man without a country. I left Lithuania at a young age, went to Russia, and ended up just everywhere.
Countries,Kontinental Hockey League,Leagues,Russia / Sep-2015
The next morning I got a call from Steve’s brother saying he’d passed the night before. It was at the same time that I was walking home.
Kontinental Hockey League,Russia / Sep-2015
When it was my turn to go get my money, I walked in to find an old lady sitting at a small table with a mail bag full of 100 dollar bills (all American), a money counter and a list of the players and their salaries. Behind her was a big scary looking mob guy for security.
Lithuania,National Hockey League,New York Islanders,Olympics,Russia / Sep-2015
1992 was one of the best years of my life. I won Gold at the World Juniors and the Olympics; got drafted; and then played my rookie year with the Islanders.
Boston Bruins,Canada,Russia,St Louis Blues / Sep-2015
Jacques Plante was a great goalie, but as a team guy he was a piece of shit. He was always broke and borrowing money, but he’d never pay you back.
Boston Bruins,Canada,Countries,National Hockey League,Olympics / Sep-2015
During college I had good marks, I was an All-American, I was the Hobey Baker finalist for two years, and I felt I had earned a one-way contract in the NHL.
Lithuania,The Modern Game / Jun-2015
I played the game hard and no matter where I played, I played to win. But I’ll be honest: I always played to hit someone. That was my number one goal.
1972 Summit Series,Chicago Blackhawks,Events,Russia / Jun-2015
I tried getting in shape before the 72 Series, but I hated running. I’d jogged a little up north but had come across a mother bear and her cubs, which gave me the excuse: “Too dangerous.”
Europe,Finland,Germany,Switzerland / Jun-2015
That’s the biggest thing when you go to Europe, don’t stand around and think you have all kinds of time, you still have to play with pace.
Minnesota,NHLPA,USA / Jun-2015
After leaving hockey, I was devastated that I couldn’t play. I felt self-pity and depression. I was 25 years old walking out a door and into a world I didn’t know.
Broadcasting,Canada,Coaching,Family,Gordie Howe,Minnesota Fighting Saints,World Hockey Association / May-2015
My dad built me a rink when I was five years old in the backyard in Sarnia. It was only a small rink but I played all the time. In those days, the winters in Southern Ontario gave you ice from early December all the way to March.
There are more pictures of Sami and Teemu Selanne than there are of the two of us. Her mom got so mad about that when I tweeted it. Her mom said, ‘That’s not true, there’s one of you in the corner of our living room…’
American Hockey League,Canada,Countries,Leagues,Montreal Canadiens,Newfoundland / May-2015
Episode One: Surviving Michel Therrien - Stories of a life in hockey, about hockey, by former Montreal Canadien and Newfoundland hockey legend and author Terry Ryan with broadcaster Victoria Matiash.
Philadelphia Flyers,Saskatchewan / Apr-2015
Most of my youth was spent on a pond or in a rink– natural ice only– and because our community was so small, you were lucky if you could get six or seven other kids to play with you.
New York Islanders,Russia / Apr-2015
Alcohol is a disease. If you have it, you have it. It doesn’t have to happen right away. It happens over years. Once you’re made aware you have this problem, you must accept it.
United Kingdom / Apr-2015
Maybe I was destined to play one game in the NHL, because I only dreamed of playing. I never thought about it any further than that. It could’ve been one game or a hundred.