From THN European correspondent Risto Pakarinen, Eye on Europe focuses on all the top leagues, teams and players from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Switzerland the Czech Republic and all other reaches from the across the pond.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 30, 2010 11:55 AM EDT
Winners are crowned in Sweden, Finland and Germany; Nylander still going; and preparing for the World Championship.
As they say in Sweden, “once is nothing, two times is a habit.” But to win eight out of 16 post-season games, including all four in the final series, in overtime is nothing short of spectacular.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 23, 2010 3:04 PM EDT
Dominik Hasek wins a Czech title at 45; lots of OT in Swedish playoffs; the effect of a MVD-Dynamo merger; and more.
Dominik Hasek has had a nice spring. First, he recently turned 45, and on Thursday his Pardubice team won the Czech Republic championship in a sweep over Vitkovice.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 9, 2010 2:35 PM EDT
A new force emerges in Sweden; Business as usual in Finland; A Finnish great calls it a career; Hasek still dominating; and more.
Like many other hockey leagues, the Swedish Elitserien sees the same clubs in the semifinal spots for a few years – or a decade – until a newcomer enters the fray and the pattern begins again.
by Risto Pakarinen - April 2, 2010 11:45 AM EDT
Frölunda falls short... AIK fined... Lehterä takes MVP... record Elitserien numbers... and the return of Ilves.
The Frölunda Indians were touted as one of the strongest candidates to win the Swedish title, but the team has struggled all through the campaign, finishing the regular season in seventh place, 17 points behind HV71, the regular season winner.
by Risto Pakarinen - March 26, 2010 11:30 AM EDT
Sweden-NHL sign transfer agreement; six NHL clubs after Zuccarello Aasen; Hasek not done; Elitserien fans gone wild; and more.
While the International Ice Hockey Federation and the NHL couldn’t come to terms on a player transfer agreement all the European nations could get behind, some of the countries have struck their own deals with the league.
by Risto Pakarinen - March 19, 2010 2:40 PM EDT
Jacob Markstrom takes home the hardware; Hudler out of World Championship; and more.
What a season it’s been for Jacob Markström. He topped the goaltending statistics in the Swedish Elitserien and this week he was named both the Rookie of the Year – even though he’s playing in his third Elitserien season, he’s still under 20 and therefore eligible – and Goalie of the Year.
by Risto Pakarinen - March 12, 2010 1:55 PM EST
With Mdo out of the playoffs has Forsberg played his last game?; The Champions League dies; and NHL offers on a Norwegian.
Like Patrick Kane in the corner, the deadline for reviving the Champions Hockey League is a constantly moving target. From last summer, to the fall, to November, to the end of the year, to before the Olympics, to during the Olympics, until this week, when the deadline finally died.
by Risto Pakarinen - February 5, 2010 2:15 PM EST
Forsberg unhappy with Olympic sked; HV71 inks another; Friesen's comeback; and can Summanen help Ilves?
With 46 games behind them and only another nine remaining in the regular season, the Swedish Elitserien teams can see the final stretch ahead.
by Risto Pakarinen - January 29, 2010 10:50 AM EST
Hasek still rolling at 45; Euro roster freeze looms; Davidsson staying in Sweden; Battaglia and Nylander back in Jokerit; and more.
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME WHEN I’M 46?
Dominik Hasek, a former Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, Stanley Cup champion and Olympic hero, is still going strong.
by Risto Pakarinen - January 22, 2010 2:40 PM EST
In the latest news from overseas: Sweden gets a new coach; Tampere fans walk out in protest; and more.
Team Sweden coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson will step down after this season with hopes of ending his reign the same way he started it: winning an Olympic gold and a World Championship in the same year.
by Risto Pakarinen - January 15, 2010 2:20 PM EST
Makkonen keeps moving... Sweet Swiss... the CHL back again?... Continental Cup final stage... and an update on Forsberg.
About a year ago, Jussi Makkonen was riding high, moving faster than the speed of sound, scoring goals every which way in the Finnish SM-liiga.
by Risto Pakarinen - January 8, 2010 3:40 PM EST
Finnish champion Jyp returns to form after a sluggish start... two Czechs dominate the Swedish Elite League... and more from across the pond.
What a difference three months can make. In October, reigning Finnish champions, Jyp, were in a downward spiral. Their start – just one win in their first eight games – was the worst for a champion in the past 25 years.
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"We're playing the defending champs and you can tell they're not going to beat themselves. That team, just from them going all the way, you can see it over there. There's no panic…You can tell that's a machine over there and we've got to be at our best."
- San Jose's Scott Gomez on the Los Angeles Kings. Los Angeles leads the series 2-1.
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