Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Photo of the Day: Slovak League Goodness
by Jes
It's been far too long since I featured some Slovak hockey here on Hockey Rants.
So, my Slovak pal Daniel passed on a link to some great shots of a recent tilt between HC Kosice and Dukla Trencin (aka, The Factory).
Here are some of the best ones ...
Miroslav Hala's really cool mask design.
Who in the hell designed those cheerleaders' uniforms? O.O
Ouch! Faceplant! Serves you right for diving!
"Can you believe they make us wear these ugly things?"
Miklik celebrates with his homeboys.
It's been far too long since I featured some Slovak hockey here on Hockey Rants.
So, my Slovak pal Daniel passed on a link to some great shots of a recent tilt between HC Kosice and Dukla Trencin (aka, The Factory).
Here are some of the best ones ...
Miroslav Hala's really cool mask design.
Who in the hell designed those cheerleaders' uniforms? O.OOuch! Faceplant! Serves you right for diving!
"Can you believe they make us wear these ugly things?"Miklik celebrates with his homeboys.
Labels: Dukla Trencin, HC Kosice, photo of the day, Slovak Extraleague, Slovak hockey
Friday, September 07, 2007
OMGZ!! REAL HOCKEY
Our Slovak friends have begun their hockey season today, with their first round of games.
Yep, as always, they are right on the ice before we even get training camps over here.
Ziggy Palffy has one lone assist as Skalica got spanked 4-3 by Zvolen. He's playing on a line with hot prospect Juraj Mikus.
Remember that 20 and younger team they are putting out there? They didn't fare too badly, as they lost 3-1 to a very powerful Kosice squad. It was 2-1 until an empty netter sealed the deal.
w00t!!! I want hockey, dammit!
Yep, as always, they are right on the ice before we even get training camps over here.
Ziggy Palffy has one lone assist as Skalica got spanked 4-3 by Zvolen. He's playing on a line with hot prospect Juraj Mikus.
Remember that 20 and younger team they are putting out there? They didn't fare too badly, as they lost 3-1 to a very powerful Kosice squad. It was 2-1 until an empty netter sealed the deal.
w00t!!! I want hockey, dammit!
Labels: Slovak Extraleague, Ziggy Palffy
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Arturs Irbe Lives!
by Jes
Not too long ago... well 2001-02, Arturs Irbe's great goaltending helped lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a surprising Stanley Cup Finals birth. The little Latvian, who is more likeable than chocolate ice cream, was almost on top of the world.
Unfortunately, the next two years saw him fall off of a cliff, eventually landing in the ECHL in 2003-04 after putting up a horrid 87.7 SV% in 34 games in 2002-03. Even Dan Cloutier was better than that! (barely...)
The NHLPA bigwig faded into obscurity quite quickly, landing in Austria after the lockout, where he played for Salzburg, and then for Riga, in his home country.
Irbe, now 40, made big waves in Slovakia a few months back when he signed with HK Nitra. Obviously, Irbe is one of the biggest foreign names ever to play in the fledgling Slovak Extraleague.
Doesn't he look so cute? awww...
Well, it's too bad that his skills have continued to deteroriate, as he provided some of the worst goaltending in Slovak history.
My friend Daniel reports:
Yep, in 6 games, Irbe put up a stinking 5.31GAA and 81.35SV%.
Don't expect a comeback any time soon.
Not too long ago... well 2001-02, Arturs Irbe's great goaltending helped lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a surprising Stanley Cup Finals birth. The little Latvian, who is more likeable than chocolate ice cream, was almost on top of the world.
Unfortunately, the next two years saw him fall off of a cliff, eventually landing in the ECHL in 2003-04 after putting up a horrid 87.7 SV% in 34 games in 2002-03. Even Dan Cloutier was better than that! (barely...)
The NHLPA bigwig faded into obscurity quite quickly, landing in Austria after the lockout, where he played for Salzburg, and then for Riga, in his home country.
Irbe, now 40, made big waves in Slovakia a few months back when he signed with HK Nitra. Obviously, Irbe is one of the biggest foreign names ever to play in the fledgling Slovak Extraleague.
Doesn't he look so cute? awww...
Well, it's too bad that his skills have continued to deteroriate, as he provided some of the worst goaltending in Slovak history.
My friend Daniel reports:
Irbe definitely left Nitra yesterday. Arturs was huuuuuugest disappointment of this season. All fans especially Nitra's ones expected elite preformances from him. But if you check his stats you realize the Save Percentage 81.35% compared to (teammates) Konrad 92.44% or Racko 90.3% is real disaster. Nitra needed elite goalie for the playoffs but he wasn't able to fullfil their expectations.
Yep, in 6 games, Irbe put up a stinking 5.31GAA and 81.35SV%.
Don't expect a comeback any time soon.
Labels: Arturs Irbe, Latvian Hockey, Slovak Extraleague
