In this super late edition of StickTaps, I talk about a major NHL milestone and hockey stories from Hartford to the Highlands. Enjoy!
- Dawn Braid becomes first full-time female coach in NHL history
Hockey made a huge step forward in gender equality this week when the Arizona Coyotes hired Dawn Braid as the team’s new skating coach. Braid’s hire makes her the first full time female NHL coach in history, but it’s not her first NHL job. Braid has worked with the Maple Leafs, Ducks, Sabres, and Flames in the past and had already worked as a consultant with the Yotes last season. Congrats to Dawn, hopefully this will open the door for more female NHL coach openings down the road.
- Hockey Night in Scotland
Steve “Dangle” Glynn is one of my favourite hockey analysts, and during his summer vacation he found the growing hockey town of Aberdeen, Scotland. The local SNL franchise, the Aberdeen Lynx, have won back to back championships and are building a strong following at home. Dangle took a visit to the team’s home rink during a late night practice and wrote an article on his excursion. It’s a fantastic read, which you can find here. Of course, Dangle is most known for his YouTube channel, where his Toronto Maple Leafs recap videos have scored him over 40,000 subscribers. Steve made sure to record his visit as well, which you can check out below.
- The Whalers legacy in Hartford
The Hartford Whalers may not have played a game since 1997, but the team has left a lasting impact in its’ hometown. ESPN’s Paul Lukas wrote an excellent story on Hartford’s long lost love, and you can check it out here.
- Minnesota Wild honour Prince
After the tragic passing of music icon Prince earlier this year, the Minnesota Wild temporarily changed their team’s goal song last year during the playoffs to his song “Let’s Go Crazy.” Now according to Mike Halford of NBC Sports, the team has decided to use the goal song permanently! This a great way to honour a local legend, and it was a move unanimously agreed upon by season ticket holders. Good call, Wild fans.
- “Ice Guardians” documentary trailer
A trailer for a brand new documentary about pro hockey enforcers called “Ice Guardians” came out, and it looks really good. The film makes its way to theatres later this year, and I can’t wait to see it. Watch the trailer below!
Lach in the Crease 