John Brophy. Photo from Yahoo Sports.

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

• Ryan Minkoff penned a piece for [The Player’s Tribune] about playing “Overseas and Alone” in Finland.
• George Laraque was an enforcer on the ice and apparently is also one off it. During a charity baseball game, Laraque participated in detaining a man who allegedly tried to walk off with a young girl. [Sportsnet]
• Women’s sports desperately needs the NWHL to succeed. [Women Talk Sports]
• Former hockey legend and coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, John Brophy has passed away at the age of 83. [CBC]
• If you aren’t following the Hockey Night in Punjabi crew on social media these days you are missing out on some epic commentary [WDAE]. Here is a nice compilation piece from [Fox Sports]
• If you are a fan of the Tragically Hip then you probably know that lead singer, Gord Downie, is a big hockey fan. He announced this week that he has terminal brain cancer. [Leafs Nation] [Toronto Star]
• [The Victory Press] penned a piece about Hall of Famer Angela James and sexuality in women’s sports.
• Las Vegas is unchartered territory for major leagues sports but the NHL suddenly has some competition (at least rumoured) from the Oakland Raiders. [The Hockey News]
• Check out an interview with retired Quebec Nordique, Peter Stastny on the success of his son and the state of hockey in Slovakia. [ESPN]