Latest news with #NHLAll-StarGames
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Oilers' Kapanen's Stanley Cup Final Game 1 performance eerily similar to his dad's
In Game 1 of the 2002 Stanley Cup final, Sami Kapanen had two assists, as his Carolina Hurricanes beat the Detroit Red Wings in overtime. Twenty-three years later, his son, Kasperi, put up a two-assist performance for the Edmonton Oilers in a Game 1 triumph over the Florida Panthers. Call the numerologist. Cue The X-Files theme music. And, there's more to this case of history repeating itself through generations. The coach of that Carolina team in 2002? Paul Maurice, who is now behind the Panthers' bench. 'I saw that this morning, that he had two assists and two shots like me, the same ice time on the same day,' Kasperi said ahead of Game 2 Friday. 'It's a little spooky.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But, Oilers fans will hope the parallels stop there. After that Game 1 win in 2002, the Hurricanes felt the wrath of the super-powered Red Wings roster. Detroit won the series in five. Kasperi said his dad will fly to Edmonton in time for Game 5, which falls on June 14. That happens to be Sami's birthday. But, does Kasperi remember his early childhood in North Carolina? For the most part, no. He said most of his recollections of his dad's playing days come from when Sami was a Philadelphia Flyer later in his career, and the family lived in the Jersey suburbs. While his dad isn't set to get to Edmonton till Game 5 (and we're still at the stage where we need to put in the qualifier 'if necessary'), Kasperi and Sami do regularly chat. 'We don't talk about hockey as much,' said Kasperi. 'He just wants to see how I'm doing, asking me how I am doing emotionally. Obviously, we've been playing well so it's mostly been positive.' And, while Kasperi doesn't remember much from his dad's time in Carolina, his dad has spoken about his relationship with Maurice. 'I think he loved him,' said Kasperi. 'I think there are so many positive things to say about Paul. Obviously, he's a tremendous coach as well. Nothing but good stuff.' Maurice, though, was happy to share his favourite Sami Kapanen story. It came from when the Hurricanes' enforcer was Darren Langdon, back in the early 2000s. Sami, like his son, was a blur on skates. Langdon was not. 'He took off in front of me, and I'd never seen a guy skate that fast in my life,' Maurice said. 'And I was standing beside Darren Langdon one day… he was a tough lad. And (Sami) took off in front of us, and Darren said, 'Man, just once in my life I'd like to skate like that.' So, I went over and told Sami that. I am not going to pretend that I can do his accent, but he said, 'Yeah, but if I could fight like that once, I'd kill everybody.'' Sami twice won fastest skater at NHL All-Star Games. Kasperi now has the chance to do something his dad couldn't — and that's to hoist the Stanley Cup. Earlier this season, Kasperi's career was left for dead when he was placed on waivers by the St. Louis Blues in November. He had just one point in 10 games. The Oilers claimed him off the waiver wire, and, after sitting in the press box through the first round of the playoffs. He added energy to the Oilers when coach Kris Knoblauch dressed him for Game 3 of the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Since then, he's made himself a fixture on the Oilers second line with Leon Draisaitl, and Edmonton is the only place on the planet where the Rocket Richard Trophy's trio would be called the second line. Kasperi's greasy net-front overtime goal sealed the Oilers' series win over the Knights. Now, Kasperi's on hockey's biggest stage. 'It's hard to put into words, I guess,' Kasperi said. 'It's always something you dreamed about when you're a kid. You dream about a lot of stuff, but you never know if it's going to happen. I'm finally here. I'm excited. I am going to cherish every moment.' Because he knows from his dad's experience, you might get to the biggest stage once, and never get back there again. Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters . You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joe Micheletti joins partner Sam Rosen, retires from Rangers broadcasts
New York Rangers broadcasts on the MSG Network will have a completely new look and sound next season. Not only has Sam Rosen retired as the Rangers longtime play-by-play broadcaster, but his partner for the past 19 seasons is also stepping away from the TV booth. Joe Micheletti announced his retirement on Thursday. Unlike Rosen, who made his announcement last summer and had a full season to say goodbye to his fans throughout the NHL, Micheletti quietly stepped aside with far less fanfare once the season ended. Advertisement 'From pond hockey in Minnesota to the bright lights of Broadway, my hockey journey has been a magical ride,' Micheletti said in a statement. 'My wife Kathy and I have ben thinking about this for a few years, and we decided that now is the right time to retire, and we look forward to spending more time with our family.' The 70-year-old didn't let on that this might be his last season with the Rangers. Instead, he stood to the side and let Rosen bask in the adoration from fans in every city the Rangers visited this season. Rosen retired after 40 years behind the mic for the Rangers, and had his own special retirement night at Madison Square Garden late this season. The final broadcast for the pair was dubbed 'Salute to Sam,' with highlights of Rosen's career shared throughout the broadcast. The Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning that night and Rosen headed out the door and into the sunset. Advertisement If Rosen knew that Micheletti was joining him, he never let on. It was already announced that Kenny Albert will replace Rosen as the Rangers play-by-play voice on television, sliding over from the radio booth. It's not known who will replace Micheletti. Dave Maloney is the longtime radio analyst and former Rangers captain. Ryan Callahan, Brian Boyle, Mike Rupp, Henrik Lundqviost, Martin Biron, Anson Carter and Steve Valiquette are former Rangers players currently working as broadcasters, either with MSG Network or elsewhere. Related: Rangers have 3 percent chance of winning No. 1 pick at 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on May 5 Joe Micheletti retires from Rangers broadcasts (Photo Courtesy of MSG Networks) Micheletti worked as an analyst on his first NHL broadcast in 1985 for the St. Louis Blues, for whom he played three seasons as a defenseman. Two years later, he was hired as an assistant coach with the Blues, and spent four seasons in that role before returning to the booth. Advertisement Over the years, Micheletti was an TV analyst for the Minnesota North Stars and New York Islanders before replacing John Davidson alongside Rosen with the Rangers. He also worked on nationally televised broadcasts, covering 25 Stanley Cup Finals, 15 NHL All-Star Games, and five Winter Olympics. 'This career has been so special because of the amazing people that I've worked with at every stop along the way,' Micheletti said. 'Thank you to my remarkable family at MSG Networks, to the Rangers organization, and to all the teams that allowed me to do what I love for 40 years.' Related Headlines
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bruins trade longtime star Brad Marchand to Panthers after 16 seasons with Boston
A generation of Boston Bruins fans that has always seen Brad Marchand wearing its team's sweater now must become accustomed to seeing the veteran left wing wearing a Florida Panthers jersey. Marchand, 36, was dealt to Florida before the NHL trade deadline on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. The deal caps weeks of speculation that the Bruins would part with their longtime star and team captain in the final year of his contract as the team fell out of the playoff race. What the Bruins will receive in return hasn't yet been announced, as the trade is still pending with the league. Marchand is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since March 1. Bruins fans might wince even further at Marchand being traded to the Panthers, who have eliminated Boston from the past two Stanley Cup playoffs, last year in the second round. Marchand played 16 seasons with the Bruins, winning a Stanley Cup in his second season with the franchise in 2011-12. He's been the team captain for the past three seasons, taking over the mantle in 2023 following Patrice Bergeron's retirement. During his career, Marchand scored 422 goals with 554 assists in 1,090 games. He has scored 20 or more goals for 12 consecutive seasons. Holy moly, what a goal by Brad Marchand 😍 — NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) March 7, 2018 Among his career honors are two NHL All-Star Games and twice being named to both the first-team and second-team All-NHL teams. In international play, Marchand most recently played for Team Canada's championship team in the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament. He was on Canada's gold medal-winning clubs in the 2016 World Cup and IIHF World Championship. The Bruins finished second in the Atlantic Division last year, finishing just one point behind the Panthers with 109. However, Boston has slid significantly this season, holding seventh place in the division with just 64 points thus far. The team is still in contention for one of the Eastern Conference's two wild-card berths, trailing the Ottawa Senators by three points. Dealing Marchand was one of several teams the Bruins made before the NHL trade deadline. The team also traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs and center Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
