KINGS NOTES...
By Gann Matsuda
12-29-01 On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have activated center Randy Robitaille from injured reserve. Robitaille suffered a separated right shoulder in a game against the Calgary Flames on December 3, and missed twelve games. He is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Kings host the New York Rangers. To make room on the roster, the Kings assigned center Steve Kelly to the Manchester Monarches of the AHL.
12-22-01 On Saturday, USA Hockey announced the remainder of their roster for the 2002 WInter Olympic Games, and Los Angeles Kings' players Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller will represent the United States in Salt Lake City in February. Deadmarsh was named to Team USA for the second time. He first competed in the Olympics in 1998. For Miller, 2002 will be his first Olympic competition. Other Kings representing their countries in the upcoming Olympics are right wing Mikko Eloranta (Finland), and defenseman Mattias Norstrom (Sweden). Right wing Ziggy Palffy is also expected to represent Slovakia, should Team Slovakia advance from the qualifying round. Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky is also a possibility for Team Slovakia.
12-21-01 As expected, the National Hockey League announced on Friday that Los Angeles Kings' center Adam Mair was suspended for ten games without pay for leaving the bench to immediately join into an altercation during Thursday's game at Ottawa. The Kings were also fined $10,000. Mair violated Rule 72, which states that "no player may leave the players' or penalty bench at any time during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation." Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Mair will forfeit $25,085.91. The money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. Mair will be eligible to return to the Kings' lineup on January 15 against Nashville.
12-18-01 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings made a minor depth move to bolster their minor league system when they sent defenseman Brett Hauer to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Rich Brennan. Brennan, 29, was in the Kings' system last season, playing with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL, which was the Kings' AHL affiliate last season. Brennan scored ten goals and added thirty-one assists for forty-one points while racking up 146 penalty minutes for Lowell last season. Brennan, who is 6-2 and weighs 200 pounds, also played in two games for the Kings. In his NHL career, Brennan has appeared in thirty-nine career games with the Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche, scoring two goals and added five assists for seven points. After last season, Brennan signed with the Predators as an unrestricted free agent on August 8, 2001. This year, Brennan scored four goals and eight assists for twelve points in twenty-three games with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' AHL affiliate. He led all Admirals defensemen in scoring, and was recently named captain of the Planet USA all-stars for the AHL All-Star game in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, scheduled for February 14, 2002. Brennan has been assigned to the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' current AHL affiliate. Hauer, 29, scored two goals and added eleven assists for thirteen points in twenty-nine games with the Monarchs this season.
12-15-01 On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that center prospects Mike Cammalleri and Jared Aulin have been selected to represent Canada at the 2002 World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic from December 25 - January 4, 2002. The formal announcement was made earlier on Saturday by the Canadian Hockey Association. The team leaves on Monday for the Czech Republic. Aulin, 19, was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche by the Kings along with Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, Colorado's first-round choice in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft (David Steckel) and Colorado's first-choice in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft for Rob Blake and Steve Reinprecht on February 21, 2001. Aulin currently leads the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) with 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points in 27 games. He is ranked 11th in WHL scoring. Cammalleri, also 19, was the Kings second-round choice (49th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He currently leads the University of Michigan in goals (14) and points (24) in 17 games. Cammalleri was named as an assistant captain for Team Canada, and is one of nine players returning to the Canadian Junior Team after helping them capture a bronze medal at the 2001 World Junior Championships, where he was second in scoring on Team Canada with two goals and four assist for six points in seven games. Other Kings' prospects expected to be named to their national teams for the World Junior Championships are forwards Jens Karlsson and Tim Ericksson (Sweden) and Alexander Frolov (Russia). Winger David Steckel has already been selected to play for the United States.
12-13-01 On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that left wing Mikko Eloranta has been selected to play for the Finnish Olympic Team at the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City, Utah in February. Hannu Aravirta, the Finnish national team coach and the International Ice Hockey Federation made the joint announcement earlier on Thursday. Eloranta, 29, was one of twenty-three players selected for the Finnish Team, which captured the Bronze Medal at the 1998 Games. Eloranta has scored two goals and added three assists for five points this season.
12-10-01 On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have recalled center Adam Mair from the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. Mair has played in 11 games at Manchester, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points, while racking up 38 penalty minutes. Mair suffered a broken eye socket when he was hit by a puck on October 13, and missed 16 games. He will wear jersey number 24.
12-7-01 On Friday, the Los Angeles Kings activated right wing Nelson Emerson from injured reserve. Emerson has missed the last fourteen games due to post-concussion syndrome. He played in five games this season before experiencing recurring symptoms on October 30 against Chicago. Emerson, 34, suffered a concussion during a pre-season game on September 29 against the Colorado Avalanche.
12-5-01 On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that center prospect David Steckel has been named to the United States World Junior Team which will compete at the 2002 World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic from December 25 - January 4, 2002. Steckel, 19,was selected by the Kings in the first round (30th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Steckel, who is 6-5, and weighs 200 pounds, has played in 13 games this season for Ohio State University and has scored 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points. He also represented the United States at the 2001 World Junior Hockey Championship in Moscow where he recorded one assist and six penalty minutes in seven games to help the United States to a fifth-place finish.
12-4-01 On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that they have placed right wings Ziggy Palffy and Randy Robitaille on injured reserve. Palffy, who suffered a fractured rib last Saturday against Nashville, as placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 2. He is expected to be out at least two weeks. Robitaille suffered a separated right shoulder during the third period of Monday's game against the Calgary Flames. The Kings also announced that they have recalled center Steve Kelly from the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. Kelly, 25, played in ten games at Manchester, scoring two goals and adding six assists for eight points.
12-2-01 The news from the Los Angeles Kings about star right wing Ziggy Palffy is not good. On Saturday at Staples Center, Palffy was hit by Nashville Predators' defenseman Cale Hulse in the second period. He slid hard into the left corner boards and suffered what is initially being called a chest contusion. He did not return after the hit. Since Saturday, Palffy has experienced difficulty breathing, is reported to be in a lot of discomfort, and is bedridden. Palffy will undergo an MRI and a CT scan on Monday to determine the extent of his injury. Palffy will not play on Monday when the Kings host the Calgary Flames. Word out of the Kings' practice facility is that Felix Potvin will start against Calgary.
