Free Republic

Syracuse Crunch forward Maxim Groshev was suspended 10 games Friday by the American Hockey League for using what the AHL termed “racially insensitive language” toward an opponent. The game in question occurred Saturday against Rochester. Because Groshev already sat out one game, he will be eligible to return to play March 30. He also can appeal the remainder of his suspension after eight games if he takes part in the NHL’s Player Inclusion Coalition and makes what is deemed by AHL President and CEO Scott Howson as sufficient progress in the training program. “The American Hockey League is committed to...

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … Twenty-three down, four to go. A quartet of teams remains in the hunt for the 2006 Calder Cup championship after the division finals concluded on Tuesday night. The Pirates will take on the East Division’s Hershey Bears for the Richard F. Canning Trophy, which is awarded to the Eastern Conference representative in the Calder Cup Finals. The Bears are coming off sweeps of Norfolk and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and are drawing comparisons to the Hershey club that went a perfect 12-0 during the 1988 postseason. The Bears are in the conference finals for the fourth time in the last...

Here is the AHL response to my suggestion that they make a claim for their champion to be awarded the Stanley Cup: Thanks for writing. According to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Stanley Cup is no longer a challenge cup; since 1947, its trustees have had an agreement with the National Hockey League to "determine and amend competition for the Stanley Cup." The agreement is in force as long as the NHL is the world's leading professional hockey league. If the NHL dissolved or terminated, the Cup would revert to the custody of the trustees. The NHL may not...