Begrüssungsthread » Armada handed Sherbrooke its eighth

LOS ANGELES -- Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille squinted into brilliant sunshine Monday as the 18-wheel truck carrying the NHLs portable refrigeration units pulled up to the outfield entrance to Dodger Stadium. In less than two weeks, their Los Angeles Kings and the rival Anaheim Ducks will turn Chavez Ravine into Californias version of a winter wonderland. The NHL is staging its first warm-weather outdoor game on a hockey rink flanked by a beach volleyball court and an below-ground swimming pool in the famed baseball stadiums outfield. The NHLs ice-makers were already at work on a beautiful 79-degree day, and Gretzky cant wait to see the next step in the evolution of a sport that didnt bloom in the California sun until the Great One moved to Los Angeles in 1988. "Im very proud that I was a piece of the group that was sort of responsible for stamping hockey into this area," Gretzky said while standing on the centre field grass. "It was the right group of guys, from Luc (Robitaille) to Marty McSorley to Kelly Hrudey to Tony Granato," Gretzky added. "Each and every guy understood that this was a different market from other markets in the NHL, and these guys always went above and beyond the call of duty to go out and promote the sport and get more and more kids interested." The game will be a landmark for hockey in the American Southwest, which has produced a handful of NHL players and dozens more prospects in the pipeline over the past quarter-century. But the game also heralds the return of the leagues career scoring leader to hockey prominence. Gretzky has mostly stayed out of the public spotlight for five years since leaving the Phoenix Coyotes bench, but he will be a prominent feature during the festivities, thrilling the NHL. Accompanied to Dodger Stadium by his wife, Janet, Gretzky said he is thrilled to see an outdoor game in the city where he played nearly eight NHL seasons. Robitaille, now the Kings president of business operations, said Gretzky is "like our Babe Ruth, and we need him around." "We cant have this game without having Wayne," Robitaille added. "Its so important hes here. Its so important that he be here for that game. Its the day before his birthday, too. Ive got to remember to have a cake." Gretzky, Robitaille and Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau got a detailed look at early preparations for the game, which will be played after the sun goes down on Jan. 25. The NHLs ice crews are putting down the foundation for the rink over the next few days, likely beginning the ice-making process Thursday. They will work entirely at night, gradually building up the ice sheet in colder temperatures while keeping it covered during the day. NHL ice specialist Dan Craig is intrigued by the challenge of a warm-weather game, but confident his crew will deliver a workable surface -- although he wont be getting much sleep over the next two weeks while working through the nights. Gretzky and Robitaille also arent worried. After all, they both remember the Kings outdoor exhibition game in 1991 in Las Vegas, where the biggest hitch was a grasshopper invasion of the ice. "People dont realize its like 65 degrees in a hockey arena," Gretzky said. "Its kind of warm. Its not that cold." Air Max Outlet .Y. -- Defenceman Ryan Murphy had a goal and an assist and Drew MacIntyre made 24 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders 4-2 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. Air Max Sale . Funny, they looked like longtime friends during Pittsburghs 5-1 demolition of Dallas on Tuesday night. 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The Kelowna, B.C. rink made the announcement on their facebook page on Thursday night.SYDNEY, N.S. -- Cameron Darcy scored the winning goal with 11 seconds left on the clock as the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles snapped a four-game slide with a 5-4 win against the visiting Gatineau Olympiques Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Julien Pelletier, Charles-Eric Legare, Raphael Corriveau and Bradley Lalonde also scored for the Screaming Eagles (28-24-4) while Darcy tacked on an assist for a two-point night. Taylor Burke, Vincent Dunn, Alexis Pepin and Martin Reway responded for the Olympiques (34-19-4), who have dropped back-to-back contests. Cape Bretons Zachary Fortin made 36 saves for the win. Anthony Brodeur started in net for Gatineau but was pulled after giving up three goals on 10 shots in 16 minutes. Robert Steeves took the loss, stopping 16-of-18 shots in relief. --- HUSKIES 2 SAGUENEENS 1 CHICOUTIMI, Que. -- Marcus Power broke a 1-1 deadlock at 14:25 of the third period as Rouyn-Noranda slipped past the Sagueneens. Jean-Sebastien Dea opened the scoring for the Huskies (31-19-5) with a power-play goal at 17:59 of the first period. Dominic Beauchemin replied early in the third period for Chicoutimi (25-31-1), which is on a six-game skid. Rouyn-Norandass Guillaume Decelles made 23 saves for the win while Julio Billia earned the games first star for the Sagueneens, turning away 46-of-48 shots in defeat.dddddddddddd --- FOREURS 5 CATARACTES 2 SHAWINIGAN, Que. -- Anthony Richard scored twice and Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist as Val-dOr toppled the Cataractes. Guillaume Gelinas and Julien Gauthier also scored for the Foreurs (36-18-2), who extended their win streak to five games. Shawinigan (15-33-8) got goals from Dylan Labbe and Sebastien Gauthier. Keven Bouchard made 22 saves for Val-dOr while Marvin Cupper stopped 33-of-38 shots for the Cataractes. --- ARMADA 6 PHOENIX 4 BOISBRAIND, Que. -- Nikita Jevpalovs scored three times, including the winner, as the Armada handed Sherbrooke its eighth loss in ia row. Danick Martel had a goal and two assists for Blainville-Boisbriand (36-10-9), which is 8-0-2 in its last 10 contests, and Marc-Olivier Roy and Antoine Dufort-Lapointe each scored once. Daniel Audette had two goals and two assists for the Phoenix (15-34-7) while Jeremy Roy and Matej Beran had the others. Etienne Marcoux stopped 28 shots for the Armada. Maxime Lagace kicked out 26-of-31 shots for Sherbrooke. ' ' '