Zarley Zalapski. Photo from CBC.

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.

• Ben Lovejoy has agreed to donate his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation after his death to help advance concussion research. He is the first active NHL player to do this. [CBC]
• Six female players from the Russian Olympic squad have been banned for life for their participation in the state-sponsored doping scandal. [New York Times]
• In an attempt to build on the excitement of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL is looking to expand to Seattle, Washington. [CBC] [The Hockey News]
• Former Calgary Flames defence man Zarley Zalapski passed away at the age of 49. [Sportsnet]
• If Brigette Lacquette can secure a spot on the Canadian Women’s Olympic team she will be the first Indigenous woman to play for Team Canada in Pyeongchang. [CBC]
• According to former Flyer Riley Cote at least half of NHL enforcers turn to cannabis to help deal with pain. [Merry Jane]
• Brent Sopel discusses his battle with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and alcoholism. [ESPN]
• British Columbia Hockey has announced that starting next season all Junior B players will be mandated to wear full face protection. [Langley Advance]
• Kevin Bieksa continues to serve Rick Rypien’s legacy by advocating for enhanced understanding of mental illness. [ESPN]
• In similar news, here are two heartbreaking pieces about former NHL’ers. The first is about Minnesota Wild player, Matt Johnson, and his off-ice struggles [TSN]; the second is about a player known only as Stephen and the communications that have taken place between John Branch of [The New York Times] and Stephen’s father about his son’s violent mood swings and headaches.
• Travis Hamonic, who identifies as Metis, is starting a program that treats Indigenous families from the Northern territories of Canada to a VIP visit to Calgary. [Sportsnet]
• What do the Canadiens, Rangers, Leafs, and now Blackhawks have in common? They are all billion-dollar franchises. [Second City Hockey]