It’s a place where kids have flirted with frostbite and battled their best friends over the past 23 years, and the Slukynsky name is well-known in Warroad, known to some as Hockeytown USA.

As Hockey Day Minnesota took place this past weekend in Shakopee, it’s been a year since Warroad hosted the same event, as all eyes focused on the town of 1,900 and its rich hockey history.

However, a pair of Warroad kids are still receiving plenty of attention, as Grant and Hampton Slukynsky are enjoying a tremendous season at Western Michigan.

“Grant and Hammer have meant so much to our town and specifically our hockey program, and the example they set and the way they conduct themselves is second to none,” said Hardwick, who coached both brothers in high school. “Obviously, they’re both talented hockey players, but they’re awesome leaders and they both set a great example for their teammates and future players.

“They were raised right and in everything they did growing up – They did it the right way and they showed up with a purpose. They’ve really helped set the standard here the last few years, and you don’t find many kids like them. So, we were super fortunate to have both of them come through our program.”

Grant (right) and Hampton (middle) Slukynsky grew up skating on their family’s backyard rink, which their father, Tim (left), has maintained since 2002. “I still make it every year and clean it off, and even this year Grant came home over Christmas break and skated,” Tim said. “It’s a family tradition and our nieces and nephews come over to skate, and I just remember the boys always begging to skate growing up. There were so many good memories made out there as kids.” (Photo courtesy of the Slukynsky Family)

Grant, 22, played three seasons with the Warriors and the left-shot forward captained the team twice, putting up 101 points (39-62-101) in 2019-20.

Hampton, 19, followed soon after, tending the Warroad crease for three seasons before heading to the USHL. Hampton won the Frank Brimsek Award in 2023 as the state’s top goaltender and led the Warriors to back-to-back Class 1A championship games and runner-up finishes. The success has followed both out of Warroad, too.

Grant won a Clark Cup with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers in 2021-22 and spent last season at Northern Michigan before transferring to WMU in June. Hampton was named the USHL Goaltender of the Year and back-stopped the Fargo Force to an Anderson and Clark Cup last spring. He flipped his commitment to WMU at the same time.

Hampton, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2023 NHL Draft (fourth round, 118th overall), has continued to excel this winter, too, as one of the nation’s top freshmen goaltenders.

He’s currently 5-3-1 with a .946 save percentage and 1.55 GAA for the Broncos, and Grant has 15 points (4-11-15) through 22 games. WMU has won six straight, is ranked third in the country and sits atop the NCHC standings with 30 points.

“You grow up wanting to play for the high school team and make the state tournament, and then you want to play at this level and in a conference like the NCHC, and it’s been great so far,” Hampton said. “Going back to this summer, we honestly didn’t know a ton about Western. But we were looking for a spot that would be a good fit for both of us and a place we could win.

“We knew they had a successful program and the staff was highly-regarded, and everyone here has been great to us. I think we have a really good team and can hang with anybody in the country.”

Hampton Slukynsky is sharing the crease with Cameron Rowe this season, who has been “huge’” for Slukynsky’s development. WMU allows 1.8 goals per game, tied for third in the NCAA. Slukynsky earned his first NCAA shutout on Jan. 25 against Miami. (Photo courtesy of Western Michigan Athletics)

Reunited
This season has been an adjustment for both brothers, in a good way.

It’s their first year living in Kalamazoo and attending a new school, and the first at the college level in Hampton’s case. The two are sharing an apartment and living together and they even share a few classes, which has helped ease the adjustment.

However, it’s also their first time playing on the same team.

“It’s been unbelievable and definitely something we’ve been looking forward to,” Grant said. “From the moment we got here, we’ve loved every minute and it’s been a ton of fun going to the rink every single day and working to get better. We’re just taking it one day at a time, and I think that’s part of why we’ve had so much success. But I know for us personally, it’s been really special to finally play together and the off-ice part and living together has been fun too.”

Hampton added: “It’s been really cool. Obviously, he’s three years older, so we never got the chance to play together in youth hockey or high school, but I know both of us and our family have really enjoyed it so far. Playing at this level is special as it is, but to do it with your brother is something both of us will cherish forever.”

Make no mistake, the rest of the family is enjoying it too.

“I think when they were committed to Northern we just took it for granted and kinda expected it was gonna happen, but it’s been surreal seeing it come to fruition and Western has been an amazing fit for both of them,” said Tim Slukynsky, who doubles as their dad and the backyard rink’s maintenance manager. “I don’t know if you want to call it fate or hockey karma, but it’s been amazing how everything has worked out over the past few months. Obviously their team has been playing lights out on top of it too, and I know they’re really happy with where they’re at.”

Grant (left) and Hampton (right) Slukynsky have played in nine games together this season. “You would’ve thought given our numbers in our small town there would’ve been a little bit of overlap, but it’s just never happened,” said their father Tim. “It’s been amazing to watch them this year, and it’s really special for our family.” (Photo courtesy of the Slukynsky Family)

Family Affair
Tim and his wife, Jenny, have attended nearly every WMU game this season. They’ve missed three games total – two of which they were in Ottawa watching Hampton at the World Junior Championships.

Having both kids under one roof has “been a game-changer” Tim quipped, especially after they racked up thousands of miles in recent years. At times driving through the night after Northern Michigan’s games in the upper peninsula to watch Hampton in Des Moines, Omaha or Sioux City – among other locations.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without them, and I know they’re loving watching us on the same team, and it’s been awesome sharing it with them,” Grant said. “It’s hard enough to play college hockey at this level as it is, but to go through it with your best friend makes it that much more special, and I know we’re not taking it for granted.

“Just being there to support each other in practice, or working together on a project has been awesome, and obviously Hammer’s handled this season tremendously well. At the end of the day, we’re each other’s biggest supporters and we’re just hoping to keep it going.”

Grant Slukynsky has played in all 22 games this season, including two in Grand Forks earlier this month. WMU swept North Dakota and the Slukynskys had roughly 25 friends and family in attendance from Warroad. “We love Warroad and are super proud that we grew up there,” Grant said. “We know a lot of people back home are always pulling for us and that’s pretty special, and we love representing the community.” (Photo courtesy of Western Michigan Athletics)

It’s been quite the year for the Slukynsky brothers, and the Broncos look poised for a deep run in the spring. Hampton also helped the U.S. win a gold medal earlier this month at the above-mentioned WJC in Ottawa, where he won a pair of games.

They both have promising careers ahead of them and have found a good home in Kalamazoo, and they’re making everyone back home in Warroad proud in the process.

“When you know how much hockey means to their family and how professional and caring they are every single day, it’s not a surprise at all to see them having the success they are,” Hardwick said. “They’re both extremely driven and passionate kids, and that’s been evident from a young age, and they’re just winners.

“I’m sure they’ve spent thousands of hours skating in their backyard and during the summer together, but to see them playing together now and being big contributors on one of the country’s top teams – it’s incredible. I know it means so much to both of them and for them to be representing our community in the process, I know everyone here in Warroad is super proud of them and they deserve it.”

The post Successful Slukynskys appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

The young NHL rookie has been a showstopper since game one this season, when he scored the overtime winner in Los Angeles.

He already had a pair of assists in his first NHL game when he pounced on a loose puck at neutral ice in overtime. He turned that into a breakaway with a nifty move in front before casually fluttering the puck past goaltender Jonathan Quick.

It was enough to make the veteran Quick glance over almost in disbelief at Kaprizov celebrating in the  corner.  

That goal and that game weren’t flukes.

Kaprizov’s dazzled ever since, with his skating abilities, unreal passes to set up teammates and a few highlight-reel goals of his own. The only real complaint might be that he can be too selfless with the puck at times. But that’s a hard argument to justify at the moment, when his playmaking abilities create some of the best chances and scoring opportunities, too.

He’s even found himself in the right place at the right time on broken-stick plays.  

Early in the second period of Saturday’s game against Los Angeles, Victor Rask fanned on a pass at the blue line. He later took a slapshot but broke his stick in the process. As the hockey gods would have it, the puck went right to Kaprizov.  

He didn’t miss the one-timer and made it a 3-0 Wild lead that eventually ended in a 4-3 Wild overtime victory on Hockey Day Minnesota as Matt Dumba scored as time expired.

“He’s an unbelievable player,” teammate Kevin Fiala said of Kaprizov, following Saturday’s game. “He does it every night on a consistent basis, and he’s very strong.”

Kaprizov can create havoc for the opposition, being hard to read with the way he opens up his hips, said Joel Eriksson Ek on Saturday.

“You don’t know which way he’s going,” Eriksson Ek said. “He’s super smart, too. He’s been great for us.”

Kaprizov’s sixth goal of the season and team-leading 17th point also brought him into some more history among Wild rookies. His point streak is up to five games with Saturday’s goal, bringing him into a four-way tie (Ryan Donato, Nick Johnson, Pascal Dupuis) for Wild rookies with the longest point streaks.

He also needed the fewest number of games to reach 10 points in the league among NHL rookies to debut with the Wild. He reached 11 points in 14 games (3-8—11).

On the current six-game winning streak for the Wild, Kaprizov had three consecutive multi-point games. He came into Saturday night leading the Wild and NHL rookies in assists with 11 and points, now up to 17 in 18 games.

It’s not only about the skill and scoring goals either, according to Fiala.

“It’s the work ethic,” Fiala said. “You see when he loses the puck, he gets it back. He does all the little things right now to make a skilled player. Just everything works.”

Taking a look back at some of Kaprizov’s other goals this season, there was a six-game gap between his first and second, coming Jan. 28 against the Kings.  

Already up 2-0 in the first period, Kaprizov tossed the puck from the top of the zone down into the corner. Marcus Johansson corralled it and made a heads-up centering pass to Kaprizov who made a beeline for the slot. The pass connected perfectly, and Kaprizov didn’t miss his chance to bury the puck, top-shelf.

It’s no secret the Wild’s power play has been abysmal this season, 5-for-63 and 30th in the league. But one of those power-play goals came from Kaprizov Feb. 2 in Colorado, the final game the Wild played before being shut down for two weeks because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Already down 2-0 with a power-play chance in the second period, Kaprizov made himself wide open for a quick pass from Zach Parise behind the goal. The puck wasn’t on Kaprizov’s stick long as he fired the shot.  

Things really started to gel for the Wild starting with a pair of victories in Anaheim after the return to play with a near-full lineup. By Feb. 22 in San Jose, a new dominant line really took shape with Mats Zuccarello, Rask and Kaprizov.

The line already had a goal in the 1-1 game early when Rask started the next scoring play at center, dishing it off to Carson Soucy, who made a cross-ice pass to Zuccarello who then found Kaprizov right on the doorstep of the goal. All he had to do was have his stick on the ice for the tap-in, tic-tac-toe goal.

Kaprizov’s assists are about as fun to watch as his goals.

Take his assist on Ryan Hartman’s goal in Colorado to wrap up the recent road trip. Kaprizov took the puck into the offensive zone and battled 

along with boards with a defender right on him. Buying time, he eventually turned the other way and fired a brilliant pass toward the goal and a streaking Hartman who finished the play with a backhand goal.

Not only did Kaprizov keep puck possession along the boards when many players might get pushed off the puck or opt to simply dump it around the boards, but then he finished it off with a spectacular pass that connected through the opposing players.

The benefit of Kaprizov is more than the numbers he puts up, according to coach Dean Evason, who noted Kaprizov’s “team-first” mentality.

“How he’s as excited about somebody else scoring a goal or somebody else making a play as he is,” Evason said. “That’s what really resonates with us, and I think his teammates as well.”

Once the Wild finally returned to Xcel Energy Center for the first time in nearly a month, to face Los Angeles on Feb. 26, it was a battle of winning streaks. The Kings had won six in a row, the Wild four in a row.

The Wild weren’t intimidated and came out flying with a three-goal first period, scoring three goals in about three minutes. Kaprizov got it started.

Wraparound attempts to score a goal are fairly common. A player takes the puck behind the goal, maybe tries to fake one way but goes the other. The execution of the play is usually met with a goaltender’s pad save along the post.

Kaprizov rewrote the book on wraparounds with this particular tally. He had the puck behind the goal line, defended by veteran Drew Doughty. Kaprizov dished the puck out to the point for a Jonas Brodin shot, then took a rebound shot on goal. Denied, he grabbed his own rebound, when behind the net with Doughty on his tail and slid the puck into the net for the wraparound goal as he was falling to the ice. Quick was out of position, still trying to get his stick in the way on the other side of the net.

That goal opened the floodgates for the Wild. Nick Bjugstad and Eriksson Ek added goals. On each one of those, the FSNorth director immediately cut to a shot of Kaprizov’s reaction on the bench.

The spotlight is indeed on the 23-year-old.

“We knew as an organization that we were getting a special player. There was no secret there,” said coach Dean Evason after Friday’s victory. “We’ve all watched tape on him. Watched his abilities last year.

“He hasn’t disappointed.”

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St. Paul – Nic Dowd couldn’t help but smile.

The 6-foot-2 former St. Cloud State star winger got his first NHL action for the Los Angeles Kings in their 2-1 loss to the Wild Tuesday night, calling it “a dream come true.”

Dowd, 25, collected 13 goals and 48 points in 57 games for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League, earning him a spot in the Kings’ lineup because of injuries to Marian Gaborik, Tanner Pearson and Kris Versteeg.

“My whole family was here, so it was great,” he said. “Disappointing we didn’t come out with a win, but yeah, it’s been a long road. It was great to play in the first one.”

The smile widened on Dowd’s face when someone asked him if it felt appropriate to make his debut at the Xcel Energy Center because the Huskies will play in the NCAA West Regional this weekend at the X.

“I was pretty excited knowing I was going to debut in Minnesota,” the native of Huntsville, Ala., said. “The state means a lot to me. The culture here is awesome, and going to St. Cloud, we had a lot of people in the stands that I wouldn’t be here without them.”

How many?

“Half a dozen important people in my life, and I’m sure there were a lot more than that,” he said.

Nic Dowd (MHM Photo / Jeff Wegge)

In four seasons with the Huskies, Dowd totaled 52 goals and 69 assists in 155 games, but picked up 39 points in 42 games as a junior and 40 points in 38 games as a senior, when he was a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award.

Dowd was strong on the puck all evening for the Kings, who outshot Minnesota 39-18 but were unable to solve goaltender Devan Dubnyk as the Wild climbed back into eighth place in the NHL West.

Dubnyk had to be especially good with 3 ½ minutes left in the third period when the puck came Dowd’s way with teammate Nick Shore in front and Jake Muzzin closing in from the left point.

“I tried to bump it back to Shorsie. I missed it,” Dowd said. “Got a piece of it and it ended up working out and going to Muzz. He (Dubnyk) made a good save. A tough break.”

Dubnyk actually steered the puck wide after Dowd deflected it, then had to dive to cover the corner of the net when Muzzin tried to pot the rebound.

“Duby got us two points tonight,” Wild interim coach John Torchetti said.

The night began on a strange note for Dowd, who took a stick to the chops from former University of Minnesota opponent Erik Haula on his first shift. Dowd played 2 minutes, 48 seconds in the first period, 4:05 in the second period and 5:22 in the third, finishing with two shot attempts, one hit and one giveaway.

He spent much of the game on a line with Kings leading goal-scorer Tyler Toffoli and Dwight King.

“I felt really good,” Dowd said. “I think the adrenalin really kicked in. I was fortunate my first shift was in the O-zone, and I happened to take a high stick. The game went from there. I think I was lucky I got to play with Toff and King all night – two pretty good players.”

He was plus-1 for the evening and won 63 percent of his faceoffs (5-for-8).

“He was solid,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. “You get called up, you get to play.”

Dowd says he has no idea how long he will stay in the NHL, but he enjoyed his first taste.

Asked what’s next, he smiled and said, “Just continue to take what’s given to me and work from there.”

The post A Husky Homecoming appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

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Koivu, Niederreiter lead Minnesota over defending champs

St. Paul — The Wild get a day off Sunday.

They earned it.

Led by two goals apiece from Mikko Koivu and Nino Niederreiter and another superlative performance from goaltender Devan Dubnyk, the Wild tripped the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 Saturday night at the Xcel Energy Center.

Unlike so many of their games during an incredible hot streak, however, this win was equally about tenacity and goaltending as 19,204 onlookers shifted uneasily in their seats over an uncomfortable 37 of the final 40 minutes.

Niederreiter’s power-play goal with 3:03 remaining made it 3-1 and allowed the home fans to breathe easier before Koivu’s empty-netter 101 seconds later made the final margin look a whole lot different than how the game actually proceeded.

“I’m just really impressed with a lot of things in this game,” Wild coach Mike Yeo said after his team climbed over Chicago and temporarily into third place in the NHL Central Division, although the Blackhawks have two additional games remaining. “We had a huge win last night and we came back in today and there was a real sharp focus and determination today, and that’s a good sign.”

Asked if this has developed into a pretty special team, Yeo pointed out that there are six games remaining, but admitted that things right now are not too bad.

“Look at what we’ve done lately,” he said, “and there’s no reason we should not feel good.”

The win over the Kings – Los Angeles outshot Minnesota 32-20 including 25-11 over the final two periods – lifted the Wild’s record since Jan. 15 to a stunning 26-6-2.

Of course, Dubnyk has started every one of those games. He has allowed 57 goals for a 1.70 goals-against record, a .939 save percentage and a 26-6-1 record since joining the Wild.

Despite working the night before in a home win over Calgary, he posted 31 saves Saturday and is now 4-0-1 in the second games of back-to-backs with the Wild since he was pulled Jan. 20 in Detroit.

“What can you say about the job he did tonight?” Yeo commented. “He was outstanding.”

Again.

Dubnyk did get some help when defenseman Jonas Brodin stepped in to keep a puck out of the net in the second period.

“Brods saved me from one there,” Dubnyk said.

This was an evening when the Wild came out strong, grabbed a 2-0 first-period lead and then bent like a tree in a strong wind against some relentless pressure applied by Los Angeles.

“We didn’t have the legs,” Yeo confessed.

They did what was necessary, however, impressively killing three penalties including a five-on-three that lasted 20 seconds. The Wild have now killed 76 of their past 81 penalties to lead the NHL with a 93.8 percent success rate since the all-star break.

And they have four days to regroup before their next game against the New York Rangers Thursday night at the X.

Yeo said most of his players will also get Monday off.

One of those will be Dubnyk, who truly has earned a breather.

“It’ll be fun to try to get together with some of the guys and take a breath and look back and really enjoy what we’ve done so far,” he said. “We don’t usually get this much time to think about it, so it’s a good time to relax and think about it and get ready for Thursday.”

Yes, the team is rolling, Koivu said, but this is no time to take a postseason berth or anything else for granted.

“It doesn’t matter now where we are right now,” he said. “It matters after 82.”

Nevertheless, after 76 games they have 95 points, a five-game winning streak and – yippee — a day or two off.

The post Wild hold off Kings appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Plenty of blame to go around in shutout loss to Kings

SAINT PAUL – After going 7-1-0 through eight home games and 12-8-0 overall this season, the Wild were perhaps due to endure one of those nights.

It happened on Thanksgiving eve Wednesday night at a very quiet Xcel Energy Center.

The oft-snoozing crowd of 19,038 was able to summon a few loud boos after the first period, but even the boos were less free-flowing after two periods.

By then, this had become pretty much the definition of “blah game.”

The Wild, trailing 4-0 at that point, failed to muster a single shot on goal for the first seven minutes of the final period.

Thus, a 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings was inevitable.

Los Angeles beat starting goalie Darcy Kuemper four times on 10 shots in the first 20 minutes to set the tone.

Kuemper called it “an off night,” adding, “It was one of those nights where it doesn’t really go your way.”

Even though the Kings were playing the second of back-to-back road games after losing to Nashville in overtime the night before, and even though the Kings came to town with exactly one road victory this season, they seemed to have their way from the beginning.

Mike Richards deflected in a shot 4:21 into the first period for L.A. and three goals in the final seven minutes of the period left Minnesota reeling.

“It got away from us in a hurry there,” Wild winger Zach Parise said. “We gave up what, 15 odd-man rushes in the first period. They capitalized on them and it got away from us after that.”

It did, so much so that it’s nearly difficult to remember that the Wild have played mostly terrific hockey for the first quarter of the season.

Even though Matt Cooke and Jonas Brodin are still sidelined by injury and illness, Minnesota has shown an abundant balance with13 players totaling between seven and 13 points.

But this is a team that came into Wednesday’s game with 58 goals, more than just three Western Conference NHL teams.

It’s a team that signed ex-Gopher Thomas Vanek during the offseason to supply a few goals.
Vanek, despite 11 points in 21 games, is on pace to score four goals this season.

He had four giveaways Thursday, one of which led to a goal, and just one shot on net.

The guys who have picked up the slack have been Nino Niederreiter and Jason Zucker. The two have combined for 18 goals and Wednesday, when the Wild outshot the Kings 28-22, Neiderreiter had six shots and Zucker two.

Other notables: Mikael Granlund had one shot, Mikko Koivu one and Charlie Coyle zero.

Compare those numbers to those of defenseman Keith Ballard, who was playing his 600th NHL game on his 32nd birthday.

Ballard, who has no goals and one assist in 10 games this season, contributed two shots and two hits.

Nevertheless, so little went right for the home team on this evening that coach Mike Yeo even claimed a share of the blame, admitting he should have yanked Kuemper after the Kings made it 2-0 and again when it went to 3-0.

He didn’t, and it was 4-0 before Niklas Backstrom entered to start the second period.

“The list of regrets I have right now,” Yeo said, “is very long.”

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League sends proper message on domestic abuse

Between Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, steroids in baseball, even going back to the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal last year and so much more, it’s been a bad several months for professional sports leagues.

Last week it was the NHL’s turn and they got it right.

By now you’ve probably heard, on Oct. 19 Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. The NHL and the Kings suspended him with pay while the legal process is settled which is allowable per the collective bargaining agreement. This decision shows that the league and the Kings have indeed learned from what has recently gone on with the NFL.

And for that I say, kudos!

Slava Voynov

Yes, they are still paying him but in my mind that is small price to pay in order to demonstrate a greater message: Domestic abuse will not be tolerated by the NHL. That indeed it is ridiculous to – even for mere moments, allow this kind of behavior in people who are elevated to the status of role models. The NFL is beginning to realize this, clearly the NHL already has.

Too many times in the last 4 -6 months I have found myself pouring through legal documents and getting myself acquainted with what is and what isn’t acceptable treatment of others by local law. All the while wondering, why in the world it’s even a question as to whether these athletes should be playing.

Yes, I am talking about the Adrian Peterson child abuse situation and by this point we all understand that AP sitting out and not playing football is the right thing to do. The problem is, it took the Vikings and the NFL far too long to figure this out.

The NHL has not repeated the cycle.

Now, I am not saying that Voynov is guilty. That is for a court of law to figure out. But the NHL is essentially saying that anytime you are involved in something like this, you will have to sit regardless of your level of innocence. It is also important to note that Voynov’s wife has not decided whether she will press charges or not.

One can only hope that this will become the norm for the NHL and other sports leagues. It is important for players to understand that young kids, and even adults, look up to them and their actions. I know that some players don’t want to admit that they are role models, but they are. And part of the reason they get paid so much money is the inconvenience of having their lives lived under a microscope.

No, you can’t go out, get intoxicated and act like a fool; no you can’t drive 50 miles per hour over the speed limit and, unfortunately, in some cases you can’t even go out at all. I am sorry, but that’s the way it is and that is why you get paid all of that money. It’s not fair, but in many respects neither is the amount that you get paid to play a game, but it is part of the deal.

The life of a professional hockey player (or any athlete for that matter) is both great and awful at the same time and THAT is why they are compensated to well. I’m not here to argue whether it’s worth it or not, just simply stating the facts (as I see them).

But let’s not stop there. Why not stop the bullying and hazing in all of these leagues as well? I know that it’s a “rite of passage” to be tough on the new class and that we’ve ALL had it done to us at one time or another — but that doesn’t make it right and at some point the cycle needs to be broken.

We’ve heard far too many stories of young high school kids in all sports taking part in this (when I was a high school football player I once got taped to a fire hydrant with my friend). The only way that it will stop on the smallest level is for the kids to see that it’s not accepted on the largest.

Having harmless fun is one thing, wearing costumes or carrying skates and pads is harmless. But as adults we all know where the line is and when it’s crossed. I’d like to see the NHL and the other leagues make sure that is doesn’t get crossed anymore. Then and only then will the cycles start to break from the ground up.

So congratulations NHL on realizing that putting on hockey games is only part of your job … and realizing that setting an example to those watching is just as big of a part.

The post Schwartz: NHL got it right in Voynov case appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.