Source: Tend the Farm

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 American Hockey League is implementing rule changes for the 2014-2015 season. Players will now be penalized for playing without a helmet and the overtime format will feature a 3-on-3 component. [Puck Daddy]
• With two teams contracting and fewer players making the move to Russia, Greg Wyshynski looks at the gradual decline of the KHL and what it could mean for the NHL. [Puck Daddy]
•  A look into the history of how the NHL was started. An excellent piece. [Greatest Hockey Legends]
•  Following the Blackhawks signings of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to multi-year contracts, a snapshot of some of the high player salaries in the NHL. [CBC Sports]
• Nashville Predators forward Rich Clune opened up about his battle with alcoholism. [Rich Clune Show]
• Ryo Hashimoto of Sapporo, Japan is attending the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp. Hashimoto is a member of the Japanese National Hockey program, and looks to be one of the first players from there to make it to the NHL. [The Score]

• Travis Hughes has a strong critique of the Philadelphia media’s reaction to Flyers’ captain Claude Giroux’s recent arrest for drunken behaviour. [Broad Street Hockey]
• 210 prospects were selected at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia, with the Florida Panthers taking Aaron Ekblad first overall. A look into what happens to players who go undrafted. [The Hockey Writers]
• Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, is looking to start a union for CHL players. A look into the history of unionizing junior players and the current situation. [Yahoo! Sports Canada]
• An older article, but one that discusses some of the serious dental work that players, including Sidney Crosby, have incurred because of injuries. [Globe and Mail]
• Michael Farber presents the story of Mathieu Pelletier, an avid hockey fan, who was killed in the Lac Megantic accident in July of 2013. [TSN Bardown]
• The frequency and severity of physical and verbal assaults on Canadian amateur referees is driving many officials away from hockey. [CBC]
• And finally, an article looking at how hockey is perceived by new Canadians and the role it plays to foster community building. [The Star]