Hockey Patrol

35 seasons behind the bench. Countless young players impacted. ❤️🏒

The Toronto hockey community is mourning the loss of longtime coach and volunteer Sandy Ross, who passed away at 66.

Ross spent 35 seasons coaching with Weston Minor Hockey and also served for decades as a leader at Weston Lions Arena.

Even after being diagnosed with cancer in 2012, he continued showing up for young players, mentoring them and giving back to the game he loved.

He wasn’t an NHL star.

But hockey is built on people like Sandy Ross, the coaches who teach kids, open the rink, stay late, and help shape lives long after the final buzzer.

A life in hockey well lived. Rest in peace, Sandy. ❤️

SHOTS FIRED | Simon Nemec isn’t hiding how he feels about the Devils anymore. 👀

After being traded from New Jersey to Calgary, the former No. 2 overall pick made it clear he’s carrying a little extra motivation into his next chapter:

“I want to prove to everyone that New Jersey wasn’t right.”

Nemec never really found the consistent role many expected after being drafted so high, and now he gets a fresh start with the Flames, along with a pretty obvious chip on his shoulder.

For Calgary, this is a bet on upside.

For Nemec, it sounds personal.

Sometimes a change of scenery is all a young player needs. 🔥

Carey Price’s No. 31 won’t be heading to the Bell Centre rafters just yet. 👀

Geoff Molson confirmed the Canadiens are not currently discussing a jersey retirement for Price, saying it’s still too early.

Do you think Montreal should eventually retire No. 31?

Wayne Gretzky just gave Mario Lemieux about as big a compliment as you can give another hockey player. 🐐

“It’s not even close. He was the greatest player I ever Fu*in saw…

He’s the best player I ever played with or played against

He was incredible.. Like without injuries and disease he would’ve broke all my records”

Coming from the man who owns so many of the NHL’s most untouchable records, that says everything.

Gretzky didn’t just call Lemieux great.

He basically said a healthy Mario might have rewritten the entire record book.

That’s one legend putting another on an even higher level. 👏💯

SIGN HIM | Patrik Laine was spotted at the Florida Panthers’ practice facility today 👀

The former Montreal Canadiens forward is still unsigned, so seeing him skate there this close to training camp is naturally going to get people talking.

There’s no indication that Laine has signed with Florida, and players do use different NHL facilities during the offseason.

But if Laine is looking for another NHL opportunity, getting reps in front of the defending champs certainly doesn’t hurt.

At his best, Laine is still a legitimate scoring threat with one of the hardest shots in the league, and a strong showing could be enough to get teams taking a closer look.

Florida would have cap hurdles to work through, so nothing here is simple.

Still, an unsigned Laine skating at the Panthers’ facility today?

That’s worth watching. 👀

GOAT | Alexander Ovechkin had quite the summer back home in Russia. 😳

According to Mash Sport, the Capitals captain piled up 33 traffic violations over four months, totaling roughly 82,000 rubles in fines.

The tickets were tied to his rare Aurus Arsenal minivan and reportedly included speeding, unpaid tolls, parking violations and stopping in unauthorized areas.

Ovechkin paid all but one of the fines, with the remaining ticket worth 4,500 rubles.

A very different kind of stat line for No. 8 this offseason. An Alex Ovechkin summer. 👀

Joe Sakic appears very confident that Cale Makar’s next contract won’t remain a storyline for much longer.

The Avalanche are hoping to get an extension finalized before training camp, with Sakic expecting a deal to be in place before the season officially begins.

And considering Makar’s status as one of the NHL’s elite defencemen, this won’t be just another contract.

His next deal has a real chance to push him to the very top of the NHL’s salary rankings and set a new benchmark for superstar defencemen around the league. 💰👀

Colorado clearly wants to take care of its franchise cornerstone before the season gets underway.

One of the biggest contracts in hockey could be coming very soon.

A college hockey player is still hospitalized after collapsing during an outdoor workout in Arizona’s extreme heat.

The Arizona State player collapsed Thursday morning in Tempe and was rushed to hospital, where he remained as of Sunday.

The conditions are what make this so concerning.

Tempe was under an extreme heat warning, and temperatures were already close to 90°F when first responders were called at 8:31 a.m. The city later climbed well above 100°F.

ASU has not said whether the workout was team-sanctioned, what the player’s diagnosis is, or what heat-safety measures were in place.

Those answers matter, but right now the focus has to be on the player.

Wishing him and his family strength and hoping for good news soon. ❤️

Five years ago today, the hockey world lost Jimmy Hayes. ❤️

On August 23, 2021, “Broadway” passed away at just 31 years old, leaving behind a family, countless friends and a hockey community that still talks about the kind of person he was.

The Dorchester, Massachusetts native lived out the dream. Hayes won an NCAA national championship with Boston College in 2010 before going on to play 334 NHL games with Chicago, Florida, Boston and New Jersey, finishing his career with 54 goals and 109 points.

His best NHL season came with Florida in 2014-15, when he scored 19 goals.

But five years later, his statistics aren’t what people remember most.

Former teammates still talk about his personality, his huge smile, the laughs and the energy he brought everywhere he went. He was the kind of teammate people wanted around long after the game was over.

And away from hockey, he was a husband, a father, a brother and a friend. His younger brother Kevin followed the same path through Boston College and into the NHL, with Jimmy helping pave the way.

Five years have passed, but Jimmy Hayes hasn’t been forgotten.

The stories are still being told. The laughs are still being shared. And his impact on the people who knew and loved him continues to live on.

Always a teammate. Forever a friend. Never forgotten. ❤️

Five years ago today, the hockey world lost Jimmy Hayes. ❤️

On August 23, 2021, “Broadway” passed away at just 31 years old, leaving behind a family, countless friends and a hockey community that still talks about the kind of person he was.

The Dorchester, Massachusetts native lived out the dream. Hayes won an NCAA national championship with Boston College in 2010 before going on to play 334 NHL games with Chicago, Florida, Boston and New Jersey, finishing his career with 54 goals and 109 points.

His best NHL season came with Florida in 2014-15, when he scored 19 goals.

But five years later, his statistics aren’t what people remember most. Former teammates still talk about his personality, his huge smile, the laughs and the energy he brought everywhere he went. He was the kind of teammate people wanted around long after the game was over.

And away from hockey, he was a husband, a father, a brother and a friend. His younger brother Kevin followed the same path through Boston College and into the NHL, with Jimmy helping pave the way.

Five years have passed, but Jimmy Hayes hasn’t been forgotten. The stories are still being told. The laughs are still being shared. And his impact on the people who knew and loved him continues to live on.

Always a teammate. Forever a friend. Never forgotten. ❤️