Puck Podcast

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed centre Antoine Vermette to a five-year contract extension through the 2014-15 season.Tuesday’s announcement from general manager Scott Howson did not disclose the deal’s terms

TORONTO – Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson had minor heart surgery, rookie right-winger Mikhail Stefanovich scored two goals in a scrimmage and returning forward John Mitchell continued to impress at Maple Leafs training camp Tuesday

By Joe Pelletier

TERRACE, B.C. – Hockeyville weekend may not be the biggest event on the NHL calendar, but it may have been the biggest event ever to hit the small town of Terrace, B

TERRACE, B.C. – Sergei Shirokov left his mark on Terrace, B.C.The Vancouver forward scored his second goal of the game just past the midway point of the third period as the Canucks beat the New York Islanders 2-1 in the 2009 Kraft Hockeyville NHL exhibition game

DUNCANVILLE, Texas – A money-losing ice skating venue run by the Dallas Stars is likely to end up in the hands of a youth sports venture bearing the name of Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Knight

VANCOUVER, B.C. – A highly-anticipated hockey video game that features realistic fighting scenarios and black eyes is a useful tool to teach children that brawls are part of the game and in some cases can help you win, says a former NHL captain

VOORHEES, N.J. – Joe Frazier would have been a perfect fit on those old Philadelphia Flyers Broad Street Bullies teams in the 1970s.Tough, intimidating

VANCOUVER, B.C. – After years of deftly handling a stick for the Vancouver Canucks, former captain Trevor Linden has been asked to carry the Olympic torch

BROSSARD, Que. – Asked to describe the new-look Montreal Canadiens defence, blue-liner Josh Gorges said “older and wiser.”The off-season housecleaning by general manager Bob Gainey changed half the six-man defence group, bringing in veterans Hal Gill, Paul Mara and Jaroslav Spacek and letting go of Mike Komisarek, Francis Bouillon, Patrice Brisebois and Mathieu Schneider

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers have signed defenceman Dennis Seidenberg to a one-year deal.Terms of the contract were not disclosed Monday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild have invited forward Petr Sykora to training camp for a tryout.The 32-year-old Sykora has played for 14 seasons and was fourth on the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins last year with 46 points

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Making the NHL is tough enough. Imagine trying to do it after watching all three of your brothers take the leap and thrive once they arrived on the big stage

TERRACE, B.C. – Almost everywhere you go in this northwest B.C. community, the message is clear: Terrace is Hockeyville.The community in the Skeena River Valley was named the winner of the yearly Kraft Hockeyville competition in March, but until this weekend it was just a title

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings returned to the ice Sunday, hoping a renewed emphasis on defence and an infusion of youthful energy will provide another shot at the Stanley Cup that narrowly eluded them last season

VANCOUVER, B.C. – They are two goaltenders at the opposite ends of their careers, fighting for the same job with the Vancouver Canucks.The future lies ahead for Cory Schneider while veteran Andrew Raycroft may be down to his last chance in the NHL as the two battle for the backup position behind Roberto Luongo

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals forward Tomas Fleischmann will miss the start of the regular season with a blood clot in his leg.The team thinks the clot might have formed during Fleischmann’s long flight home to the Czech Republic at the end of last season

CALGARY – Brent Sutter wanted his first messages to the Calgary Flames to be crystal clear.The new head coach spoke to the club’s veterans before they stepped on the ice Sunday about his expectations

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators were anything but sad to take to the ice Sunday without Dany Heatley, the best goal-scorer in their history.It was nothing personal against the disgruntled left-winger, who had his trade request finally granted after a deal was struck Saturday with the San Jose Sharks

BROSSARD, Que. – Jacques Martin has coached over 1,000 games in the NHL, but no level of experience could have prepared him for the challenge he faces in his new job with the Montreal Canadiens