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…
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.
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.
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.