Slap Shots: Stick check
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published January 20, 2008
Oilers center Shawn Horcoff cites several factors for his emergence as a star: better offseason workouts, a new trainer and twice-a-week sessions with a sports psychologist.
But the key, Horcoff said, might have been a one-day trip last summer to the Easton plant in Tijuana, Mexico, where he and company reps fashioned the perfect stick.
"We went over every detail from my blade to the curvature to the finish," Horcoff said on a conference call. "We sat there until we nailed down something that was right. It was four or five weeks until they came in, but they were exactly to the specifications I wanted."
The result: Horcoff has 21 goals, 47 points and is averaging 22:08 of ice time in 49 games to earn an All-Star berth.
Quite a difference from last season, when Horcoff had 16 points and was minus-22 then watched the Oilers try to sign Michael Nylander as a No. 1 center.
Horcoff, who faces the Lightning on Tuesday, said that failed pursuit did not bother him because, "I know this is a business." Still, he said it makes his success a little sweeter.
"Nothing has been easy for me in my career," Horcoff said. "I've had to work for everything, and I wouldn't take it any other way. That's what makes this even more special for me."
He's not changing sticks, either.
"I go into every game confident the puck is going to feel good on my stick," he said. "They feel right and comfortable. How do you put a price on that?"
A sack of potatoes
We don't condone violence, even in hockey. But if you've never seen Aaron Downey's one-punch knockout of Jesse Boulerice, go to lightning.tampabay.com and click on "One-punch knockout."
Downey, now with the Red Wings but then with the Stars, had just steamrolled Carolina's Aaron Ward in the February 2003 game, prompting Boulerice's challenge.
"I was totally in the moment," Downey recalled to the Detroit News. "It was just one of those things I'd like to thank God for the opportunity.
"That morning when I woke up, the coffee tasted better, my vocabulary was expanded. This is a true story. I was using words I don't normally use, and I could see things better when I was driving down the road. Cars seemed bigger. I had, like, an instant awakening. I felt like time was standing still for me."
Remember?
After leading Canada to the Spengler Cup title, goalie Curtis Joseph, 40, signed a prorated $1.5-million deal with the Flames. This is the same Joseph, who is one win behind Terry Sawchuk's 447 for fourth all-time, the Lightning had a chance to sign prior to 2005-06 for $900,000. Instead, Tampa Bay went with Sean Burke for $3.2-million over two years.
Tribute to a pioneer
Willie O'Ree, who 50 years ago Friday became the league's first black player, was honored by the Bruins on Saturday. His No. 22 sweater and a commissioned portrait will serve as centerpieces for an exhibit at the Sports Museum of New England.
O'Ree, 72, now the director of youth development for the NHL's diversity program, was escorted by two children from the program for a ceremonial puck drop. And the Bruins created on-ice logos behind each net.
"I'm kind of at a loss for words, and I shouldn't be because of all the speaking engagements over the years," said O'Ree, below. "This is a very, very special day for me."
Odds and ends
Talk about weird: The Wild entered Friday having scored 38 goals and allowed 38 in the first, scored 51 and allowed 51 in the second and scored 36 and allowed 36 in the third. After a 4-2 loss to the Ducks, it's 53-53 in the second but 38-39 and 36-37 in the first and third, respectively... The Sabres are 1-6-5 in January and were the last team to win in 2008.
He said it
"Sometimes when he takes a guy's head off when it's5-0 and there's two minutes to go, sometimes you think, 'Oooh, might not be the best time.' But that's Dion. If he sees a guy with his head down, he'll try to kill him, first minute, last minute."
Flames center Craig Conroy in the Edmonton Journal on teammate Dion Phaneuf