ScrapbookXVol15

Chapter 601: Scrapbook X

Excerpt from The Denver Post—2/7/03

…all star game, overshadowed by the press conference held earlier in the day. Initially, this was supposed to be a belated interview granted by Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy. After snubbing two previous press conferences, a fine and possible suspension by the NHL disciplinary committee compelled him to make an apology. The proceedings were interrupted by Roy’s Avalanche teammate Peter Forsberg who stunned the reporters gathered by announcing that he had been elected team captain for the Avalanche, therefore replacing franchise captain Joe Sakic.

Roy was equally stunned by this announcement and made his feelings known by physically assaulting Forsberg in front of the cameras. The altercation was quickly subdued but not before serious damage was inflicted upon the egos of both Roy and Forsberg. Between expletives, Roy accused Forsberg of plotting to take the captaincy and Forsberg more than once insinuated that he would make a better captain than Sakic.

When the dust settled, it was revealed that Sakic had at no time been stripped of his captaincy and Forsberg was obviously mistaken in his assumption that he was. Still, the incident only highlighted what members of the press and those close to the team have been suspecting all along about the cause of the lackluster season the Avalanche have fast been slipping into.

Talk around the Avalanche has pointed to a lack of locker room chemistry as the culprit for the Avalanche woes. With the loss of defensive mainstay, Ray Bourque, to retirement two years ago the Avalanche has reverted to the disjointed rift the team was mired in before the trade.

Despite a magnificent trade bringing star center Mike Modano to Denver late last year, the team has still struggled defensively on the penalty kill and in five on five hockey. Goaltending has also been issue with the normally reliable Roy becoming streaky, interrupting short stretches of outstanding hockey with play mediocre for his own legendary standards.

As everyone knows by now, when Roy is not playing well, he is not happy, and when he is not happy, the team rarely is. This was evident in the normally shy and modest Forsberg brazenly announcing a locker room take over. This could either be the result of Peter the Great being victim to a garden variety practical joke, or it could be evidence of a serious mental break down.

With the trade deadline a little over a month away, it will be interesting to watch the trade winds….

Transcript from Extra Shots 9 interview—Pierre Lacroix—2/9/03

Lacroix: I am confident in the resilience of my team. Obviously, Peter, he has been under a lot of stress lately, but this is understandable for all of us. When we are at work, things can go bad, and Peter felt that things were going bad. He felt that he was not contributing as he should, and he should not feel this way. But Peter, eh, he is a tough guy on himself; his focus is on scoring more goals. With the team struggling in the division as they have been, this has been tough for Peter. I do not blame him for…uh…panicking! *laughs* Yes, he panicked.

Interviewer: But, to declare himself captain like that? Interrupting Patrick’s scheduled press conference and trying to usurp Joe Sakic? What does this mean?

Lacroix: Peter, he has nothing but the greatest respect for Joe. He never requested a captaincy, nor did he want one. When he assumed that he had it, well, eh, he did his best to seem in charge and confidence. Of course he would have to confident. And, uh, naturally, Patty, eh, he is defensive of Joe. He is a loyal man, and he is loyal to Joey. But this does not reflect on Patty’s feelings for Peter. It was a tough situation, and as we all know, Patty can get a little overheated in a tough situation.

Interviewer: Uh right, *laughs* we have a lot of evidence of that!

Lacroix: *laughs* Yes! Yes! At least there was no video equipment harmed eh? But, seriously, all we are talking about is the fall out from an elaborate practical joke. Poor Patty, and poor Peter, they were victims of this. It’s, eh, a locker room stunt.

Interviewer: So, does this mean that there will be a hunt for the perpetrators? Maybe a trade in the works?

Lacroix: *smiles* Ah, no, no, no. Not at all. No trade in the works. Actually, this practical joke was so good, I want to find the responsible party, and I want tips! *laughs*

Video Clip/Archives/Avalanche Pre-Game report/Fox Sports Net 2/7/03

John Kelly: And as we know Peter, the Colorado Avalanche need this win.

Peter McNabb: Oh, most certainly John. This is a crucial game. If they lose, then it’s done…well not done…let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, *laughs* obviously there is still a lot of hockey to play for the rest of this year. But we are getting to the point where every point in the standings is essential.

John Kelly: Very true, Peter, very true! And as the viewers probably know, there has also been some off-ice drama the Avs have been trying to overcome.

Peter McNabb: *laughs* Ah, well, it isn’t so bad; it was only the result of some overactive imaginations in the prankster department.

John Kelly: Yes, definitely some creative minds in the mischief department. Still, the Avs have certainly had a lot of strange things happen to them this year. Although, this most recent incident may even be more strange than when Rob Blake threw himself out of that hotel window in Los Angeles trying to catch a bowling ball!

Peter McNabb: *screams* JOHN!

John Kelly: *covers mouth* PETER!

Commercial Cut

Excerpt from Denver Post 2/10/03

….embarrassing revelation when Avalanche play by play man John Kelly inadvertently revealed the reason for Rob Blake’s concussion early in January. Kelly apologized to the team later on….

Excerpt from “All Star Adventure”—published in Arcadia High School Gazette—Sylvia Lancaster—2/13/03

…and the press conference wasn’t the weirdest part! Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin was nice enough to grant me an interview. When I sat down with him, however, he laughed incessantly and kept insisting that I call him “Baron”. Apologies by his Team World teammate, Alexei Kovalev, were only met by irritation from the “Bulin Wall” who kept calling Kovalev, “Your Majesty”. This humble reporter was left wondering if it would have been a safer go to interview the king of St. Vitus goalies, Patrick Roy.

The all star game itself was pretty good. It wasn’t the blistering, scoring snore-fest these meaningless games are known for. The score ended 4-3 with all six goalies playing extremely well. Starting goaltender, Patrick Roy allowed only one goal, a tally by his Colorado Avalanche teammate and sometime sparring partner, Peter Forsberg. Roy reacted in his typical spoiled brat way by taking the puck and shaking his fist into Forsberg’s face. I doubt Peter cared.

The second period got strange when there was a power outage in the arena. It took about five minutes for the lights to come on, but no one seemed concerned, nor was it mentioned in the press. During this period, Team World goalie Nikolai Khabibulin played spectacularly, making seventeen saves for a shut out. Although, I have to add, that in the moments before the lights went out, I thought I saw a puck going across Khabibulin’s goal line that inexplicably…exploded. Really, I’m not kidding but no one else can back me on this so I won’t mention it again…