Kirill Kaprizov
FILE - Eeli Tolvanen (20), of Finland, scores a goal against goalie Lars Haugen (30), of Norway, during the second period of the preliminary round of the men's hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. The 2018 Olympics without NHL talent offered a glimpse of things to come for players who hadn't yet reached the best hockey league in the world. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Olympics in 2018 showed glimpses of future NHL stars

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2023 06:00 AM EST

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 24, 2022 11:17 AM EST
Feb. 25 1940 — The first telecast of an American hockey game is transmitted over station W2XBS in New York. The viewing audience watches the New York...

Russian Olympic Committee goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov, right, celebrates with Nikita Nesterov (89) and Yegor Yakovlev, left, after defeating Sweden in a shootout during a men's semifinal hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Favored Russians back in final at Olympics, now face Finland

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 18, 2022 01:07 PM EST

FILE- Germany players celebrate after receiving their silver medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. Four years after an improbable run to the Olympic final and that ended with a silver medal, Germany is back at the 2022 Beijing Olympics without NHL players looking to duplicate that effort. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Germany back at no-NHL Olympics aiming for another long run

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 06, 2022 04:39 AM EST

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche 1/17/2022

Jan. 20, 2022 02:18 PM EST

FILE - Canada's Owen Power (25) is chased by Czech Republic's Vojtech Jirus (25) during second-period IIHF world junior hockey championship game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada are eyeing several college players to play at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to participate in Beijing. Owen Power could suit up for Canada. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Beijing Olympics will showcase hockey's next generation

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 20, 2022 02:15 PM EST

Finland's Sekari Manninen, right, scores his side's third goal as Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov fails to stop him during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men's hockey

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 12, 2022 01:41 PM EST

FILE - Kunlun Red Star Beijing players look at a scoreboard during the Kontinental Hockey League ice hockey match between Kunlun Red Star Beijing and Amur Khabarovsk in Mytishchi, just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. China will take part in the men’s hockey tournament at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after initial concerns that the team would be embarrassed on home ice against NHL-level competition. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Without the NHL, Russia emerges as favorite for Olympic gold

By James Ellingworth Dec. 23, 2021 01:03 AM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 18, 2021 12:51 PM EST
Feb. 24 1960 — Bill Cleary’s four goals lead the United States to a 9-1 victory over West Germany in the hockey championship round of the...