Photo from Russian Machine Never Breaks.

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.

• A Stanley Cup monument has been erected in Ottawa, Canada to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the coveted Cup. [CBC]
• Alex Ovechkin posted on his Instagram account that he would be starting a social movement on behalf of Vladimir Putin, called Team Putin. [Fox News] [TSN]
• In other Russian news, there may not be a Russian team at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics because of the politics surrounding the Russian doping scandal. [Edmonton Journal]
• Former NHL’er, Richard Park, talks about his role as the Assistant Director and Assistant Coach for the South Korean Men’s Olympic hockey team and the possibility of South Korea medaling in 2018. [Color of Hockey]
• [Puck Daddy] delves into the complicated project of growing hockey in China, especially women’s hockey.
• Once Sioux Lookout (in Northern Ontario) incorporated a hockey program at school, attendance improved significantly. The catch? No school or homework = no ice time. [CBC]
• The [Ice Garden] announced a podcast dedicated to NWHL action: The Founding 4 Podcast.
• Evgeni Malkin talks about adjusting to life in America and how Sergei Gonchar was a big part of that transition. [Sportsnet]
• Long time NHL official, Kerry Fraser, announced that he has been diagnosed with a rare chronic blood disease. [NHL]
• Erin Morris offers some points for consideration after the New Jersey Devils and newly named Metro Riveters partnership. [Engaging Sports]
• The future of Canadian women’s goaltending, Emerance Maschmeyer, talks about balancing her new role as a coach with everything else going on in her life. [Ice Garden]
• The Montreal Canadiens have been named as one of the organizations involved in the Paradise Papers exposing off-shore tax havens. [CBC News]
• Publicly financed stadiums continue to be a hot-topic these days but the Illitch family will be paying off $200 million in public bonds that were used to finance the new Little Caesar’s Arena. [Detroit Free Press]
• There has been talking surrounding the NFL and marijuana use for pain, and it may be time for the NHL to have the same discussion. [TSN]
• Dave Lozo wants to re-locate all of the Canadian teams south of the border. Hopefully he finds your team somewhere better than my Canucks… [Vice Sports]