The Left Wing Lock

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Stefan Liv was one of the 43 people killed in the tragic accident earlier today involving the plane carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team of the KHL. I had the honor of interview Stefan on several occasions as he attended training camp in Traverse City, MI. Below is a reprint of the first piece I ever wrote about him and as I recall it may have been one of my first player interviews. Stefan was always giving with his time and his english was excellent. He was a fun player … Continue Reading

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When Igor Grigorenko was laying in a Russian hospital in 2003 after a horrific car accident, many didn’t think he would survive let alone play hockey again. The 5-foot-10, 203 pound forward had suffered multiple fractures in his left leg as well as a nearly fatal fat embolism which broke off and entered his lungs while he was recuperating. The injuries would be too severe and he would never be the same player again.

The Red Wings, who had drafted the Russian forward 62nd overall in 2001, had been … Continue Reading