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Formerly known as “Weekly Links,” our round-up of important and interesting pieces from the hockey blogosphere and media will now appear twice a month.

• Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragically Hip, has passed away. The hockey community has remembered his life and legacy, including the many intersections between his artistry and hockey. RIP, Gord. [Sportsnet; TSN; The Hockey Writers; The Hockey News]
• The four-team Mexican Hockey League overhauled their jerseys and logos, integrating traditional imagery and patterns into these contemporary sport symbols. [Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos]
• The 9th biennial Hockey Conference is being hosted at University of Alberta in 2018 – organized by none other than Hockey in Society contributor Cheryl MacDonald! If you are a hockey researcher, you can check out the call for abstracts here. [The Hockey Conference]
• The NHL appears to be taking homophobic slurs more seriously. Although it was ultimately determined that he did not use a slur, Andrew Shaw was recently investigated for on-ice comments directed at an opponent. [ESPN]
• In the midst of acrimonious arena negotiations between the City of Calgary and the Calgary Flames, mayor Naheed Nenshi was reelected. Nenshi’s reelection is a triumph for those opposed to public funding of arenas, and will have implications for the Flames’ long term arena prospects. [National Post; Flames Nation]
• The Flames’ made little secret of their desire for Nenshi to be ousted before the election, hoping for a more new mayor more willing to spend public funds on a new arena. Several Flames’ staff members got in hot water for expressing anti-Nenshi views on Twitter. [CBC News]

• Ken Dryden has released a new book called Game Change that advocates for changes to the sport to reduce the risk of concussions. [The Current; Globe and Mail]
• Meanwhile, NHL teams are loathe to discuss concussions with the media. Why the silence on this crucial issue? [Globe and Mail]
• After raising his fist in protest during the US national anthem, Lighting players J.T. Brown will refrain from this demonstration. However, he intends to be active in a variety of social causes in the Tampa area. [Raw Charge]

• The Washington Capitals’ Braden Holtby is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights. [Washington Blade]
• The Vancouver Canucks donated $5,000 to the Eclipse, a local blind ball hockey club. [NHL.com]
• Karl Subban – father of pro players PK, Malcolm and Jordan Subban – discusses how to support children in sport. [Globe and Mail]
• Few hockey players have been more divisive that retired NHLer Sean Avery. In a new, no-holds-barred memoir, Avery recounts sexual conquests, trash talking, rivalries with players and coaches, and his fashion career. [CBC Sports; TSN]
• The world’s first MBA for Hockey Management is now being offered through a partnership between Athabasca University and the Business of Hockey Institute. [National Post]
• A hockey card collector has achieved his goal of collecting the rookie card for every Indigenous player to ever play in the NHL. [CBC]
• The NHL’s inconsistent treatment of a suspected concussion suffered by L.A. Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick has called into question league’s concussion protocol. [Sportsnet]