Locked-out hockey star Scott Gomez has turned down lucrative offers in Europe to play for a pittance in one of the lowest rungs of professional hockey.
The 24-year-old Gomez, who made US$1 million with the New Jersey Devils last season, has signed a US$500-a-week contract with the Alaska Aces of the minor pro ECHL.
With the National Hockey League labor dispute in its sixth week, the world's best players are being forced to look for ice time where ever they can. No new talks are scheduled.
More than 200 NHLers have skated off to Europe to play for clubs in Russia, Sweden, Germany and Finland. Others are playing with college, university and junior teams to try and stay in shape.
But Gomez is the first NHLer to join the violent and brutal ECHL which courts hockey goons and often resembles the Charlestown Chiefs in the Hollywood movie Slapshot. The homepage of the Bakersfield Condors Web site uses a Condor player in a fighting pose as a backdrop.
Gomez, who was the NHL's rookie of the year in 2000, will make his Aces debut today against the San Diego Gulls.
The Gulls have two players, Mark Pederson and Billy Tibbetts, who have played in the NHL but they didn't join the ECHL until well past their NHL prime.
Pederson, a former first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, played 168 games in the NHL, scoring 35 goals. Tibbetts played 82 NHL games, mostly with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Gomez, who attended high school in Alaska, had gone to arbitration with the Devils this summer before the lock-out and came out with a one-year deal which would have been his sixth season with the team.
"Obviously, we're thrilled to have Scott join our club from a talent standpoint, his abilities and accomplishments speak for themselves," said Anchorage head coach Davis Payne.
"But I'm also excited to bring his team-first attitude into our dressing room. He's made it clear to me that he expects to be treated as one of the guys and that his first priority is bringing his hometown a championship as long as the NHL lock-out remains an issue," Payne said.
Gomez joined the Devils a year after being drafted and promptly earned a trip to the NHL All-Star Game and won the Calder Trophy (top rookie).
Last year, Gomez led the Devils in assists en route to winning the Stanley Cup title over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
His 306 points in five years ranks second on the Devils only to Patrick Elias.
Former Ottawa Senators GM Mel Bridgman doesn't see a lot of NHLers following Gomez lead to the ECHL.
"It is a unique situation," said Bridgman, "it will be determined on a one-on-one basis."
‘COMPLETE GAME’: ‘To be honest, I’m not sure about the history, but I’m very happy about what I did today,’ Yamamoto said through a translator after the game Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a World Series game from another era. Sandy Koufax had October outings like this, and so did Orel Hershiser, but those types of performances have vanished in modern baseball. Until this 178cm starter from Japan delivered like the aces of old. Yamamoto threw a four-hitter for his second consecutive complete game, the first in the World Series since 2015, and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday night to tie their best-of-seven matchup at one game apiece. “It’s kind of the throwback,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “When he starts a game, he
US President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, is poised to make her LPGA Tour debut after receiving a sponsor invitation on Tuesday to the Nov. 13 to 16 tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour,” Kai Trump said in a statement posted on the LPGA’s Web site. “This event will be an incredible experience,” she said. “I look forward [to] meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut.” The 18-year-old high-school senior,
REACTION: Less than 24 hours after a 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays’ win ensured that the best-of-seven series is to head back to Toronto for Game 6 tomorrow Vladimir Guerrero Jr on Tuesday blasted a two-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 and tie the MLB World Series at two games apiece. Less than 24 hours after a shattering 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays climbed off the canvas to breathe new life into their hopes of a first MLB title in 32 years. Guerrero’s two-run blast off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani and a superb pitching performance from ace Shane Bieber laid the foundations for a gutsy victory that silenced Dodger Stadium. “I’m always trying to compete
Jannik Sinner on Thursday eased past Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 at the Paris Masters to set up a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton, while reigning champion Alexander Zverev earned a straight-sets win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. A maiden crown in the French capital would return Sinner to No. 1 in the world rankings after current incumbent Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock early exit at the hands of Britain’s Cameron Norrie. The Italian four-time Grand Slam champion is yet to drop a set in the tournament as he hones in on what would be a fifth title of the
RSS