KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
11-30-00 At Lowell, Massachusetts, Los Angeles Kings' goalie Stephane Fiset stopped 25 out of 28 shots for the Lowell Lock Monsters in a 3-3 tie against the Norfolk Admirals in AHL action on Wednesday. Fiset, who tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in pre-season action against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Reports out of Lowell indicate that Fiset was fine and played the entire game. "He looked good and is going to be flying back to LA," said Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor. "I talked to him afterward and he said his knee felt good. He went down a few times on some splits and came out OK." Taylor attended the game at Lowell, the Kings' AHL affiliate. If Fiset is pain-free over the next day or two, the only question left is whether or not he plays on Saturday or Sunday, when the Kings host Minnesota and skate at Anaheim, respectively. "That's [Kings' head coach] Andy [Murray's] decision, but it looks like he could play in those games if we needed him," Taylor said.11-29-00 As expected, on Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Kings activated goalie Stephane Fiset from injured reserve and loaned him to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL for conditioning purposes. Fiset is expected to start in the Lock Monsters' game against the Norfolk Admirals at Lowell tonight. Fiset tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on September 22 during a pre-season game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and has been out of the lineup since. In three pre-season games this year, Fiset posted a 2-0-0 record with a 0.74 goals-against average. 
11-28-00 As expected, the Los Angeles Kings announced on Tuesday that they have recalled center Eric Belanger from the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL. They have also re-assigned winger Brad Chartrand to Lowell. Belanger, who started the season with the Kings, was assigned to Lowell on October 23, 2000. In thirteen games at Lowell, he scored eight goals and contributed ten assists for eighteen points. In eight games with the Kings, Belanger scored two goals and had four assists for six points. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings are expected to recall center Eric Belanger from the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL and assign winger Brad Chartrand back to Lowell. Assuming that this transaction takes place prior to their game at the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, look for Belanger to play on the Kings' number two line, replacing winger Jason Blake. Belanger could play on right wing or at center, in which case Steve Reinprecht would probably move to right wing. In any case, it would appear that Jason Blake will be headed back to being a healthy scratch. 11-25-00 On Saturday, Los Angeles Kings' goalie Stephane Fiset flew to Boston to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment with the Lowell Lock Monsters, the Kings' AHL affiliate. Fiset will join the Lock Monsters on Sunday, but won't play until Wednesday. "That is just a precaution to see how he reacts to the workout," Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said. "Steph has been doing very well, but there is no sense rushing the situation." Fiset, who has been out of the lineup for nine weeks with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, will be under the watchful eyes of Kings' Dave Taylor and Kings' goaltending consultant Don Edwards at Lowell. "I'm anxious to play," Fiset said. "I never thought it would take this long." If all goes well on Wednesday, Fiset could make his first appearance of the season with the Kings on Saturday when the Kings host the Minnesota Wild at Staples Center. 11-24-00 The Los Angeles Kings announced that right wing Glen Murray underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday morning at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. Murray, who suffered a torn or strained (there are conflicting reports) right quadriceps muscle on November 18, will be sidelined indefinitely and is listed as week-to-week. He will begin rehabilitation work immediately and is expected to make a full recovery. The last reports had Murray out of the lineup about four weeks. Somehow, it now sounds like it will be longer than that, perhaps a lot longer. A correction: In my report on Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils, I reported that Saturday's game against at Pittsburgh would be televised on Fox Sports Net West. In fact, the game will be televised in the Los Angeles area beginning at 4:30 PM PST on Fox Sports Net West 2 and regionally on ESPN2. Just before their game against the New Jersey Devils (a 6-1 loss) on Thursday evening at Staples Center, the Los Angeles Kings announced that right wing Glen Murray, who suffered a torn right quadricep last Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Friday. Murray, who was one of the biggest reasons the Kings were 5-0-2 in the seven games prior to Saturday's contest, is expected to be out of the lineup for at least four weeks. 11-21-00 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have recalled right wing Brad Chartrand from the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League. In seventeen games with the Lock Monsters, Chartrand, 25, scored seven goals and tallied twelve assists for nineteen points. Last season, Chartrand, who is 5-1, and weighs 191 pounds, played in fifty games and had six goals and six assists for twelve points. 11-20-00 Late Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that right winger Glen Murray suffered a torn right quadriceps during Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Murray suffered the injury late in the first period of the game at Staples Center. An MRI exam revealed the tear, which was just above the right knee. Murray is listed as week-to-week and could be out four weeks. "His grit and work along the boards have been very valuable to the team," Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said. "But we have other players who can step up." The Kings are expected to recall right wing Brad Chartrand from the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL to fill Murray's roster spot. Winger Jason Blake, who has been a healthy scratch in recent weeks, is being asked to step up, as he will move into Murray's spot on the Kings' second line, centered by Steve Reinprecht. "It has been very frustrating for me," Blake said about his lack of playing time. "I worked very hard this summer improving my shot and lower-body strength, but it didn't seem to matter. You don't like to see a guy go down like that, but this is a good chance to show them what I can do." Despite the loss of Murray, the Kings seem to believe that they can continue their hot play of late. "You can't replace a Glen Murray," Reinprecht said. "That is just too much talent and experience to lose. But we have been playing well and we can keep that up." 11-15-00 On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have assigned goalie Marcel Cousineau and left wing Tomas Vlasak to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League. They have also called up goalie Travis Scott from Lowell. Cousineau, who was recalled by the Kings on October 26, did not see action being being sent back to Lowell. In ten games, Vlasak has scored a goal and contributed three assists for the Kings this season. Scott, 25, has appeared in seven games at Lowell, earning a 4-3-0 record with a 3.03 goals against average and a .898 save percentage. Scott, who is 6-2 and weights 185 pounds, was signed by the Kings as a free agent on February 18, 2000. He will wear number 45. Don't expect Scott to get any starts. And unless Storr totally bombs out in a game, I would not expect him to see any action with the Kings at all. 11-13-00 On Monday afternoon, Los Angeles Kings' television play-by-play announced Bob Miller, the "Voice of the Kings" for twenty-eight seasons, was inducted into the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Miller and Edmonton reporter Jim Matheson, the recipient of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award (awarded in recognition of distinguished members of the newspaper profession whose words have brought honor to journalism and to hockey), were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame at a luncheon in their honor in Toronto, Canada. In June, Miller was named the 2000 recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, which was first awarded in 1984. The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award is awarded annually in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their career in hockey broadcasting. In his remarks at the luncheon, Miller expressed his surprise and his pride in receiving the great honor. "I don't think anyone...maybe not even players, ever start their career thinking about the Hall of Fame," Miller told the audience at the luncheon. "And yet when it happens, it is a great feeling of accomplishment." Miller also said that his longevity with the Kings was what he was most proud of in his career as an NHL broadcaster. "In these days when a lot of people are reluctant to make a commitment, what I am most proud of is the longevity I have had with the Kings organization," Miller said. "Twenty-eight years with the same team. And it's that longevity that strikes me as I think about the Hall of Fame. That forever and ever, from this day on, that plaque is going to hang in the Hall of Fame." A tremendous honor for someone who may be the most important person when it comes to cultivating and educating NHL fans and Kings' fans in the Los Angeles area. And I should know...I am one of those fans and I started following the Kings during Bob's first season with the Kings in 1972-73, I've been addicted ever since and Bob Miller is certainly one of the biggest reasons for that. Congratulations, Bob! You deserve it! 11-11-00 On Monday, Los Angeles Kings' television play-by-play announcer Bob Miller, the "Voice of the Kings," will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Miller, the 2000 recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, was selected as the recipient on June 15, 2000, and is now in his 28th season of the Voice of the Kings. The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, which was first awarded in 1984, is awarded in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their career in hockey broadcasting. The inductions ceremonies begin at 4:00 PM PST on Monday. However, there will be no television coverage in the United States. For those of you with satellite dishes, TSN in Canada will be broadcasting the ceremonies live. tsn.ca in Canada, in conjunction with the Hockey Hall of Fame, is also providing a live webcast. You can find the webcast at: http://www.tsn.ca/induction/2000 Way to go Bob! 11-7-00 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have been selected to host the 2002 NHL All-Star Game and All-Star Weekend, February 1-2, 2002. The 2002 NHL All-Star Weekend will include NHL All-Star Friday on Feb. 1. Traditionally, that also includes the NHL Heroes of Hockey Game and the NHL SuperSkills Competition. NHL All-Star Saturday, on Feb. 2, will feature the 52nd NHL All-Star Game in which the top NHL players from North America face-off against the top NHL players from Europe. NHL All-Star FANtasy, the NHL's interactive hockey theme park that provides fans the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, action and excitement of the National Hockey League, will begin prior to All-Star Weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center from Tuesday, January 29 through Saturday, February 2, 2002. "This is an outstanding honor for us and a tribute to our fans," said Kings' President Tim Leiweke. "Our organization has come a long way with our success both on and off the ice, and we are proud to have the opportunity to host NHL All-Star Weekend and the US Figure Skating Championships in the same year, featuring some of the world's greatest athletes just prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City." "Most of all, we are excited about giving our fans an opportunity to participate in this great event," Leiweke added. "As part of our agreement with the NHL, all Kings season ticket holders will be given an opportunity to purchase tickets to the weekend." 2002 will be the second time the Los Angeles area has been the host to the NHL All-Star Game. In 1981, the Kings hosted the 33rd NHL All-Star Game at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. "The entire weekend will offer sports fans a variety of entertainment options," said Kings' Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor, who played in the 1981 All-Star Game along with former Kings, Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer and Mario Lessard. "Our fans will be treated to a tremendous weekend, showcasing the most talented players in North America and throughout the world." A Kings' press release stated that the All-Star events will have a significant economic impact for the City of Los Angeles, estimated at more than $10 million, with more than 5,000 guests expected to travel to Los Angeles for the festivities. 500 domestic and international media are also expected to attend and more than 160 countries will be able to watch the game on television. In addition, more than 500 domestic and international media are expected to attend the 2002 NHL All-Star Weekend, and more than 160 countries worldwide are expected to tune in to the 52nd NHL All-Star Game. "We are delighted that the NHL has chosen Los Angeles, and Staples Center as the site for the 2002 NHL All-Star Game," said Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission President Kathryn S. Schloessman. "We look forward to hosting thousands of visitors who will enjoy the game and all the other attractions Los Angeles has to offer."
