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The Weekly Links post highlights important or interesting writing from the hockey blogosphere and media. Enjoy!

• If you haven’t read Patrick O’Sullivan’s piece for [The Player’s Tribune] about his experiences as a victim of child abuse, stop what you are doing and read it RIGHT NOW. It is extremely poignant, reflective, and a necessary conversation.  He writes, “It’s so ironic, because the hockey community loves to talk about toughness and courage. In that world, courage is supposed to mean standing in front of a slap shot without flinching, or taking your lumps in a fight. But that’s easy. That’s not real courage. Anybody can do that.”
• Brad Friesen probably has the best job of life.  He is a helicopter pilot who has a brilliant imagination. He recently released a video of Canadian figure skater, Elizabeth Putnam, skating on Widgeon Lake while he hovered around in the chopper. He also befriended Manny Malhotra this past summer and managed to organize the coolest game of shinny on Pitt Lake in British Columbia. [New York Times]
• Dunkin Donuts just signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the NWHL.  It’s always interesting when unhealthy foods sponsor athletic endeavours, but, perhaps more interestingly, the deal includes signage on league goal posts… [Today’s Slapshot]
• Steve Montador’s family has filed a law suit against the NHL for the concussions and other head injuries that Montador received as a player. [Sportsnet]
• Don Cherry talks to the [Globe and Mail] about Rock’em, Sock’em and completely fails to address the negative consequences that impact a significant number of NHL enforcers. He argues that no one talks about the fighters who are doing well, but that’s like saying “Why talk about poverty when we can talk about the ridiculously wealthy.”  Sure, we can talk about those who are doing well post-enforcer life, but those conversations don’t get us anywhere.
• Gary Bettman has decided to turf the executive elimination compensation policy that forced teams, who were hiring a coach or top executive from another team, to surrender a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick. [Sportsnet]
• Check out this podcast with Andrea Barone, a gay hockey referee who talks about his battle with depression and the challenges of coming out in hockey. [OutSports]
• [The Color of Hockey] highlights the long road for Sabres prospects Justin Bailey, Nick Baptiste, and Evan Rodrigues.
• Word on the street is the the NHL is considering re-naming their player awards.  The Hart Trophy could become the Gretzky, the Norris could become the Bobby Orr Award? Hmmmm. [Toronto Sun]
• Expansion talks still have many questions to be answered. [The Globe and Mail] goes over the Who? What? Where? When? And, How? of the process.
• You trivia buffs will be interested to learn that the NWHL just suspended their first player, Molly Engstrom, for a sucker punch to the face of Meghan Duggan.  What is more important though, is the question of the lack of technology that exists at NWHL games and the opportunity to review such incidents. [Puck  Daddy]
• Everyone is talking about Donald Trump these days and hockey is no different. Nazem Kadri weighs in on Trump’s hate speech. [Puck Daddy]
• Will Smith’s movie, Concussion, is out soon and former NHL ref, Paul Stewart is also talking about having his “bell run” while in the NHL. [The Guardian]
• Here’s an exciting development for women’s hockey. The Boston Pride (NWHL) and the Montreal Les Canadiennes (CWHL) will take part in this year’s Winter Classic. [Puck Daddy] Unfortunately, the US Women’s National Team will not be part of the Winter Classic, for questionable reasons… [Puck Daddy]
• Brian Burke sat down with [Puck Daddy] for an interview about women’s hockey and more!
• While, many Canadians and the Prime Minister are welcoming Syrian refugees, some fans at a women’s game in Ottawa had different ideas. Racial slurs and insults, such as “Go home Mohammed” were shouted at a referee on the ice. [CBC News]