Welcome to Hockey in Society’s Weekly Links post. This feature highlights articles or blog entries that are related to Hockey in Society’s areas of interest and that may be of interest to the site’s readers. Please check out some of the great writing that is happening in the hockey media and blogosphere!
- The knives are out for Matt Cooke of the Minnesota Wild. Cooke has a history of injurious play and is a highly controversial NHL figure. He has avoided on-ice violent play for some years, but delivered a dangerous knee-on-knee hit to Tyson Barrie of the Colorado Avalanche during a recent playoff game. Eric Duhatschek gives an overview of Cooke’s history and argues that the NHL would be better off without him in the league. [Globe and Mail]
- Meanwhile, an Ottawa Senators blogger defends Cooke’s actions in light of the broader culture surrounding body-checking in hockey. [Silver Seven]
- A radical idea to address the behaviour of players like Cooke and the Bruins’ Milan Lucic: a player’s court, in which player representatives from each team would decide the severity of suspensions for dangerous plays. [2 Minutes for Hockey]
- Patricia Teter has a great interview with former AHL player Kirill Tulupov who recently signed with Frederikshavn White Hawks of the Danish League. Tulupov discusses his experience as a player in Denmark, the local culture and the various fan traditions. [Artful Puck]
- A gay man’s perspective on attending the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, and his hesitancy (but ultimate ability to safely) identify as gay in a heteronormative hockey fan culture. [Puck Buddys]
- The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers are working together to support the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, which is opening in the Bronx. The Center will be the largest ice complex in the world, and, if it follows the lead of the Flyers’ Snider Hockey program, will provide some opportunity for underprivileged children to play the sport. [Color of Hockey]
- Big AHL news, as a number of NHL teams (San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Phoenix Coyotes) plan to bring their farm teams closer to home and creating a western AHL division. [Mayor’s Manor]
- Will the Vancouver Canucks make a similar move, bringing their farm team to Abbotsford, BC, a city recently vacated by the Calgary Flames? [Pass It To Bulis]
- Hockey Night in Canada host Ron Maclean issues an apology after suggesting that French Canadian referees may be biased toward the Montreal Canadiens. [Puck Daddy]
- Finally, the documentary film Red Army, on the Soviet Union’s impressive national program, will debut at the Cannes Film Festival in France this May. The trailer is below. [The Hockey News]
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