First Mini

There hasn't been anything real interesting in the world of hockey hits, fights and other oddities.  Either that or there simply isn't video.  Normally it comes down to video and the majority of leagues are not filming games.  However we did have the first dust up of the season from the WHL.  Surprise, surprise.  It will be the first of probably 30-50 this season.




This one sparked my interest for a couple reasons.  The disagreement was all verbal until the action of one player and a guy on the bench changed that.  And that quickly everybody on the ice was apparently peeved.  I also liked the player at the end pumping up the crowd even though he got his can kicked.  At least he has energy.


OTHER NOTES:

AHL preseason has begun.  I'm sure there will be tons of action in these games though probably not a lot of post game tape of it.  The ECHL also begins action tonight with the welcoming of a new squad in San Francisco.

Nail Yakupov scored his teams only two goals in the KHL and also scored the winner in the shootout against former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky that went 30 shooters.

Still very early in the season to start taking a look at the top penalty leaders, always one of my favorite categories.  However I did notice through video that former NHL and AHL dipstick Ryan Hollweg has a crisp 91 penalty minutes in seven game in the Czech league.  Though it is his first season in Europe it has nothing to do with the lockout.  As far as the five leagues I am covering, Alexander Radulov appears to have an early lead with 50.  Not even going to get started with this guy.  Classic example of a Russian player with the talent who just didn't feel like competing. 

Probably get a list organized next weekend of leaders before the AHL and ECHL kick off and see how quickly it takes for those guys to catch up even though they will be roughly a month behind.