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!
- A really interesting article from James Mirtle that looks at the how the high cost of hockey participation is increasingly excluding children from middle class backgrounds from participating [Globe and Mail]
- Three minor hockey coaches in Nova Scotia have been suspended for allegedly using bounties to encourage players to throw large hits during games, as well as for verbally abusive behaviour. [CBC News]
- Toronto Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis weighed in on the ongoing discussion about the role of analytics (AKA advanced stats) in hockey, expressing skepticism at their value but remaining open to using them. [Globe and Mail]
- Chris Johnston reports that, despite ongoing debates around headshots and concussions, the NHL is making strides in more cautiously treating head injuries. [Sportsnet]
- Gary Bettman is keen to resurrect an NHL-controlled World Cup of Hockey, and is uncertain about the future of NHL participation in the Winter Olympics. [Puck Daddy]
- On a similar note, Dmitry Chesnokov has an interesting interview with former Soviet Red Army superstar, and current President of the Russian Hockey Federation, Vladislav Tretiak. The discussion touches on the World Cup vs. Olympics debate as well as the pressure facing the host men’s hockey team at the upcoming Sochi Olympics. [Puck Daddy]
- We recently wrote about the political controversy surrounding the 2014 World Hockey Championships in Belarus. More controversy has arisen, as a hockey official overseeing the construction of a new stadium in Minsk has been charged with embezzlement on the long-delayed project. [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; h/t Puck Daddy for the link]
- The Hockey Hall of Fame held its 2013 induction ceremony on Monday, and Chris Chelios, Gerladine Heaney, Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan, and Fred Shero were enshrined.[Hockey Hall of Fame]
- Heaney becomes the third woman to enter the Hall, and inspired a number of glowing articles over the past few weeks. [ESPNW; NHL.com; Toronto Star]
- Meanwhile, Travis Hughes weighed in on the enshrinement of Fred Shero, the former Philadelphia Flyers coach whose selection took decades to occur. [Broad Street Hockey]
- And Brendan Shanahan was praised by Gary Bettman as having the potential to overshadow his on-ice accomplishments through his work as NHL VP of Player Safety. Said Bettman: “I think his contributions to the game, based on what he’s doing now, will even exceed what he did in the 21 years that he played.” [CBC Sports]
- It is often said that the Montreal Canadiens are a religion in Quebec. Apparently they are also a political institution, as new mayor Denis Coderre weighed in on the performance of David Desharnais and, as a result, drew the ire of Habs’ players and coaches. [CBC Sports]
- CBC personality Don Cherry, who infamously spoke at Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s inauguration in 2010, discussed Ford’s recent troubles. [Toronto Sun]
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