Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Edmonton wins big in best-ice voting

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 14, 2000

Did you know ice that is too hard can mess up an NHL game?

We've heard about soft ice. It's chippy and slushy, and easily accepts divots that make passing and shooting the puck a nightmare.

But too hard?

"If it's too hard," Lightning defenseman Andrei Zyuzin said, "the puck is going much faster, so fast that it's really hard to catch up to it. Good ice can't be too hard or too soft. It has to be somewhere in the middle."

So, where is the best ice in the NHL?

In a landslide Al Gore and George W. Bush would envy, Lightning players said Edmonton's Skyreach Centre is the hands-down winner.

"It's dry there, no humidity," left wing Todd Warriner said. "It stays flat, and it feels like you can skate forever. It's no coincidence all those great players came out of there. Optimal training conditions."

The battle for worst ice was more wide ranging. Chicago's United Center was mentioned, as was Florida's National Car Rental Center, New York's Madison Square Garden, Long Island's Nassau Coliseum and Dallas' Reunion Arena.

It's no surprise those venues are either in areas of high humidity or handle a high volume of events.

"Much too soft," Zyuzin said of the United Center ice. "After five minutes, it's all churned up and cut up, and you have big holes, so when you pass the puck, it's jumping all over the place."

Vinny Lecavalier doesn't like the National Car Rental Center.

"Too soft," he said. "It chips away, and you really can't pass the puck."

Goaltender Dan Cloutier said the issue doesn't affect goalies. Then again, "If (the ice is) really slushy, it's not as good for sliding side to side. You get stuck."

How does the Ice Palace rate?

Most players said "it's okay," and that it is better than last season. A $400,000 dehumidifier obviously has helped.

Still, Lecavalier said, "It's very far from Edmonton."

VINNY'S AGENT SEARCH: Lecavalier's father, Yvon, said Monday his son is close to naming a new agent and that Mike Liut is part of the mix.

Yvon said about 20 firms have made presentations since agent Bob Sauve was fired in a disagreement over Sauve's compensation.

Liut is the agent for defenseman Ben Clymer, who plays for the IHL's Detroit Vipers, and Lightning property Fedor Fedorov, who is with Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League.

MIND-SET: Coach Steve Ludzik said his players give the opposition "too much respect."

"It's a product of a lot of things," he continued. "It's a learning thing. For a lot of these guys, it's the first time in some buildings, and I can understand that."

Forward Ryan Johnson said the best way to get into the flow is to make hits.

"It gets you into the game," he said. "We can't let teams show us how we're going to play. We have to dictate to them and say, "You can either stand up and play, or we're going to run over you.' "

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright