FINLAND: ICE HOCKEY - Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild prepare for the NHL season opener in Helsinki
Record ID:
1526383
FINLAND: ICE HOCKEY - Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild prepare for the NHL season opener in Helsinki
- Title: FINLAND: ICE HOCKEY - Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild prepare for the NHL season opener in Helsinki
- Date: 7th October 2010
- Summary: HELSINKI, FINLAND (OCTOBER 6, 2010) (REUTERS) BAY IN CENTRAL HELSINKI ICE HOCKEY POSTER WIDE OF HARTWALL ARENA TEAM CAROLINA HURRICANES PRACTICING CAROLINA HURRICANE'S HEAD COACH PAUL MAURICE GOALKEEPER TEAM GATHERED IN THE MIDDLE CAROLINA HURRICANE CENTER DRAYSON BOWMAN VARIOUS OF PRACTICE CAROLINE HURRICANES CHANGING ROOM PLAYER UNTYING HIS ICE-SKATES CHANGING ROOM DRAYSON'S HANDS REMOVING TAPE FROM HIS LEG (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAROLINA HURRICANE'S BOWMAN DRAYSON; SAYING: "Obviously they don't want to take away the physical aspect of the game, but when the guys are getting to put into dangerous spots you don't want jeopardize anybody's well being or their career, so I don't think that with what they are doing will take away the physical aspect of the game too much so I don't really mind it." MINNESOTA WILD PRACTICE MINNESOTA WILD HEAD COACH TODD RICHARDS TALKING TO PLAYERS NIKLAS BACKSTROM DURING PRACTICE TEAM CAPTAIN MIKKO KOIVU SPRINTING PRACTICE IN PROGRESS RICHARDS TALKING TO TEAM, WRITING ON BOARD (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD COACH TODD RICHARDS; SAYING: "Expectations are the same as what they were last year. It's to make the playoffs and make a run for the Stanley Cup. We feel that our team is better how we finished last year, so we are optimistic about the season" HURRICANES PLAYERS IN CHANGING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM CAPTAIN MIKKO KOIVU; SAYING: "I feel good, and the team feels good. Everything seems to be on a right track, so we are just waiting to get started and start the season finally." MORE OF PRACTICE
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2010 04:44
- Keywords:
- Location: Finland
- Country: Finland
- Topics: Sport
- Reuters ID: LVADBPTHNKYCZO1GCJH6C7QBBUJO
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild practice ahead of their season opener on European ice in Helsinki.
With the National Hockey League (NHL) league looking to expand its worldwide brand, the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild will kick off the regular season in Helsinki on Thursday (October 7).
On Wednesday (October 6) the two teams were practicing on the ice of the Hartwall Arena in the Finnish capital.
This year a record six teams will be playing their first games of the season in Europe.
The San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets will be waving the NHL flag in Stockholm and the Phoenix Coyotes and Boston Bruins will face off in Prague.
When the new season starts some new rules designed to generate more goals and fewer concussions will be vigorously enforced.
The rule likely to produce the biggest impact is a ban on blindside hits to the head that was developed and fast-tracked after a string of vicious hits last season.
Carolina Hurricane's center Bowman Drayson said he did not mind the rules but guessed the physical aspects of the game would remain in place.
"Obviously they don't want to take away the physical aspect of the game, but when the guys are getting put into dangerous spots you don't want jeopardise anybody's well being or their career, so I don't think that with what they are doing will take away the physical aspect of the game too much so I don't really mind it," he said following his team's practice session.
Minnesota Wild hope for a better season after finishing only fourth in the Northwestern Division and not qualifying for the playoffs.
Their coach Todd Richards was optimistic about the season.
"Expectations are the same as what they were last year. It's to make the playoffs and make a run for the Stanley Cup. We feel that our team is better than how we finished last year, so we are optimistic about the season," he said.
Team captain Mikko Koivu from Finland is getting most of the media attention. He is happy to start the new season in his home country.
"I feel good and the team feels good. Everything seems to be on a right track, so we are just waiting to get started and start the season finally," said Koivu who has been playing in North America since 2004. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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