Men’s Hockey at Sochi 2014 – Arto Palovaara’s reflections: Nobody died

NOTE: Those of you who are regular visitors to our site will know that we love to bring you wonderful guest writers and those with an excellent memory will remember that Arto was our very first. He has covered the Finnish Liiga for Betsafe, on Get Real Hockey and on his own page The Lion Chronicle. Myself and Chris cannot thank Arto enough for taking the time to write for us again, and we hope you enjoy his intriguing reflections on Sochi 2014. Keep an eye out for more news in the coming weeks, as we look to add to the talented Ice Nation UK team and unlike Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, never disappoint our fantastic readers.

Teemu Selanne ended his Olympic career with a bang, delighting most hockey fans regardless of loyalties. (Image courtesy of zastavki.com)

A week after the Olympics in Sochi I decided to quit writing and watching hockey. It’s a game I’ve loved very much and have been following since I was a child, but everything has to end. That stop came this year. Not a decision that I regret at all, as it feels great to let the game of hockey go.

However, I’m not done quite yet, as I am going to talk a bit about the tournament in Sochi, let us say: reflections.

Detroit Red Wings’ Struggles Continue – Paying the Price of Loyalty?

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Please join us in welcoming aboard the latest addition to our Ice Nation team, Bradley Marsh. Brad is a long-time hockey fan, supporting both his hometown Romford Raiders of the NIHL, and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. He has experience writing reviews for Gamestyle.com, and we are excited to bring Brad into the fold to cover the Red Wings as Ice Nation UK moves forward into a new era of team-specific coverage, in addition to our usual broad view of the sport.  Welcome, Brad!

Red Wing Captain Henrik Zetterberg has missed long periods this season with injury. (Image courtesy of winnipegfreepress.com)

It’s hard to imagine a post-season without Detroit Red Wings in one of the brackets. For over twenty years they have made it and as sure as the grass is green and the sky is blue, there they are. Yet as the 2013-14 regular season draws to a close, there is the very real possibility that the Red Wings will be missing.

Why? What has changed that a team you just assumed would be there, are struggling so badly and are on the outside looking in? Especially after the move to the Eastern Conference, which should have lessened the travel and made things a little easier?

Farewell, Pardubice Prince – And Thank You.

Image courtesy of Oilers Nation.

This is a difficult post for me to write.  Truly.  It may sound over-the-top, dramatic, or even downright silly to many of you, but the trade of Ales Hemsky is a tough pill for me, and many other Oiler fans, to swallow.

This is the end of an era.

Analyzing The Dan Girardi Contract

Image courtesy of Robert Kowal (CC)

On Friday, the New York Rangers announced the re-signing of top-defenseman Dan Girardi to a six year, $33m deal.  This will see Girardi earn an average of $5.5m per season, which on the surface appears to be fair value for a player many regard as one of the most under-rated defenders in the league.

Let’s take a closer look at the player, and see how his play relates to the new contract.