2012-2013 NHL Lockout continues at Day 62

September 12, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NHLPA executive director Don Fehr (center) flanked by Vancouver Canucks player Manny Malhotra (left) and Winnipeg Jets player Ron Hainsey (right) during a press conference at the 2012 NHLPA summer player meetings at the Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-US PRESSWIRE

As we head into another weekend of the NHL lockout, speculation has been brewing about bringing in a mediator to help solve this stalemate. Both sides have yet to fully agree on letting an outside party come in and assist with the negotiations process. Yesterday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reached out to Don Fehr and suggested that both sides take a two week break a moratorium if you will from last weeks marathon of meetings that still have yet to produce something positive for either side. Many people around the hockey world would assume that Bettman is using this two week so called break as a scare tactic to keep the players locked out. Yesterday, Ducks forward Teemu Selanne indicated that he might end up retiring if the lockout continues. He mentioned that year after year, preparation for a new season is getting tougher and tougher for him. Selanne had this to say about the lockout “Its unfair for the fans to not have hockey.” He is right because the fans are being lockout as well. Meanwhile another NHLer is heading overseas, Boston Bruins Defenseman Johnny Boychuk has signed to play for The Austrian league according to Bleacher Report, a first for the Bruins. Boychuk is the ninth NHLer to play for that league, joining division rival players from the Buffalo Sabres, Tomas Vanek and Tyler Myers. While NHLers continue to head overseas to play while the lockout drags on, many have stayed behind to continue their conditioning efforts in the event that hockey does returns for the 2012-2013 season.

Mar 8, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; San Jose Sharks center Michal Handzus (26) warms up before the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars won 4-3 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

On The San Jose Sharks front, third line center Michal Handzus recently signed a deal to play for his hometown team of HC Banska Bystrica according to teams website. To view this report in English, I recommend using the Google Chrome browser. HC Banska Bystrica falls under the Slovak Extraliga in Slovak. Ryane Clowe has recently signed with The Bulls but has yet to play a single game with the organization. He has in fact been behind the bench in a coaching capacity as another Assistant Coach. It’s only a matter of time when Clowe realizes that he needs to play some games rather than being behind the bench. In other Sharks related news, Worcester sent forward Marek Viedensky and defenseman Mikael Tam to San Jose’s AA ECHL affiliate The San Francisco Bulls. San Francisco made another move when the club traded forward Evan Barlow to The Washington Capitals ECHL affiliate The Reading Royals in exchange for forward Jesse Todd a 6-foot, 2-inch, 190-pound native of Calgary, Alberta. Todd played collegiate hockey for Merrimack College which falls under the Hockey East Division. During his four years at Merrimack, Todd played a total of 138 games with The Warriors and scored 39 goals, 59 assists, and adding 89 penalty minutes to his credit. Todd has played 5 games in the 2011-2012 AHL season with The Montreal Canadians minor league club The Hamilton Bulldogs where he put up 3 assists. After playing a short stent in the AHL, Todd played seven games with The Royals, scoring 1 goal and adding 1 assist. The Bulls are in action tonight as they face off against The Idaho Steelheads, AA affiliate to The Texas Stars of The AHL and Dallas of The NHL. Puck is set to drop at 7:15 at the legendary Cow Palace in Daly City, CA.

Apr 3, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; San Jose Sharks left wing Ryane Clowe (29) sets for the face off against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Sharks defeated the Stars 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Game notes from tonight’s game between The San Francisco Bulls and Idaho Steelheads. The Bulls opened the scoring when recently assigned forward Marek Viedensky connected with a pass from fellow Slovakian Peter Sivak at the 7:57 mark. San Francisco Bulls goaltender Thomas Heemskerk stopped all four shoots by The Steelheads to preserve their lone goal to go into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead. In the middle frame, The Idaho Steelheads scored a pair of goals in a span of 22 seconds of each other. Steelheads defenseman Jeremie Blain tied the game up at 1 a piece on the power play at the 3:07 mark. Next Idaho forward David de Kastrozza put The Steelheads ahead 2-1 at the 3:29 mark. Minutes later, San Francisco Bulls defenseman Sacha Guimond tied it up on the power play with assists coming from Justin Bowers and Dean Ouellet. There will be no more scoring in the middle frame with The Bulls leading in the shoot clock category at 20-13 in the games first two periods. In the third period, The Bulls seemed to find another gear when forward Alex Tuckerman regained the lead at 3-2 at the 5:21 mark with an assist coming from Kris Belan. Over five minutes later, The Bulls would add to their lead at the 10:46 mark, when San Francisco’s resident tough guy Scott Langdon scored to make it a 4-2 Bulls lead with the only assist by Dean Ouellet. Bulls goaltender Thomas Heemskerk had his busiest period of the game stopping all 10 shoots on net by The Steelheads. Overall, The Bulls out shot The Steelheads at 27-23 margin. With tonights win, The San Francisco Bulls are now 4-9-0-2. Following their victory, The Bulls took all three stars of the game, 1st star of the game went to Alex Tuckerman, the 2nd star of the game went to newly assigned Marek Viedensky, and 3rd star of the game went to Kris Belan. San Francisco Bulls are back in action tomorrow night against The Utah Grizzlies at 7:15 at The Cow Palace.

Jan 10, 2012; St. Paul, MN, USA; San Jose Sharks forward Tommy Wingels (57) against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Sharks 5-4 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

In Worcester Sharks news, the team will take on The Connecticut Whale tomorrow night at The DCU Center. Worcester is coming off their third come from behind victory Wednesday night against The Portland Pirates when they scored 3 goals in the third period with a 4-2 win. The Whale will be in action tonight as they face against The Portland Pirates at the classic Civic Center in downtown Hartford. The following players that I have selected from each team to pay close attention to for Saturday nights match up. For The Worcester Sharks, Bracken Kearns, Tim Kennedy, Sebastian Stalberg, and Offensive Defenesman Sena Acolaste. Bracken Kearns in 14 games with Worcester has scored 6 goals, added 6 assists, and 20 penalty minutes. Tim Kennedy with 14 games to his credit with Worcester this season has scored 5 goals, added 7 assists, and 6 PIM’s. Sebastian Stalberg, also with 14 games has scored 5 goals, while added 3 assists, and 6 PIM’s. Finally homegrown talent Sena Acolaste, with 14 games on the season has made contribution on the scoresheet, added 4 goals, 6 assists, and 11 PIM’s. On The Connecticut Whale side, Kris Newbury, Kyle Jean, Brandon Segal, and Chris Kreider. In 12 games this season with Connecticut, Kris Newbury has scored 5 goals, 9 assists, and added 48 PIM’s to his name. Kyle Jean with 13 games on the season with The Whale, has scored 5 goals, 6 assists, and added 13 PIM’s to his credit. Brandon Segal also with 13 games on the season with Connecticut, has scored 5 goals and 4 assists, while putting up 18 PIM’s to his stats. New York Rangers top prospect Chris Kreider has played 12 games of the season with Connecticut who scored 1 goal, 6 assists, and added 35 PIM’s to his AHL career stats. Saturday night game will be one to watch. For those of you who have an AHL Live account, tune in to their website and for those who don’t have an AHL Live account, you can still listen to game by going to WTAG’s website by selecting the listen live link on the top left of the screen.