Sports & Celebrity Newswire

Archive for the ‘Hockey News’ Category

Hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky, is a one of our more popular sports speakers says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. Nicknamed “The Great One”, Gretzky is generally considered the best player in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL), and has been called “the greatest hockey player ever” by many sportswriters, players, and the NHL itself.

Hockey great, Wayne Gretzky, is a popular motivational speaker says booking agent, PFP Talent

If you are looking for a motivational sports speaker for your next event, look no further than former NHL legend, Wayne Gretzky. To hire Wayne Gretzky for a personal appearance, endorsement or as a motivational sports speaker, for Wayne Gretzky speaker and Wayne Gretzky booking agent information, call 1.800.966.1380. ... Read Full Story

NHL Hall of Famer, Mike Bossy, who played for the New York Islanders for his entire career and was part of the Stanley Cup Championship for four years in the early 1980s, is a one of our more popular sports speakers says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency.

Former hockey great, Mike Bossy, is a popular motivational speaker says booking agent, PFP Talent.

If you are looking for a motivational sports speaker for your next event, look no further than former NHL Hall of Famer, Mike Bossy. To hire Mike Bossy as a motivational sports speaker. For Mike Bossy speaker and Mike Bossy booking agent information, call 1.800.966.1380.

... Read Full Story

If you are looking for a motivational sports speaker for your next event, look no further than Olympic hero Mike Eruzione. Mike is best remembered as captain of the 1980 United States “Miracle On Ice” Olympic Hockey Team.

Mike Eruzione is a popular speaker says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

The highlight for Eruzione was scoring the game-winning goal against the heavily favored Soviet Union. That victory against the Soviets advanced the U.S to the finals where they defeated Finland to win the gold medal. ... Read Full Story

I’ve been fortunate to have attended many great sporting events over the years. With the Super Bowl fast approaching, let’s take a look at the Top 10 events which I believe every avid sports fan should see in-person.

10. British Open - For the serious golfer, a trip to St. Andrews is a pilgrimage to where golf began. Many of golf’s greatest moments have occurred at the British Open, including last year’s near-win by Tom Watson.

9. Red Sox vs. Yankees – You can argue about the greatest rivalry in sports, but I don’t think anyone can argue that the Yankees vs. Red Sox is at or near the top. The fans hate each other and the atmosphere is electric, especially late in the season if the games mean something.

8. Army vs. Navy – Maybe this isn’t the BCS title game, but the pageantry surrounded this classic rivalry and the emotions it stirs is something very unique.

7. World Cup – In almost every country except the U.S., soccer is the most popular sport and the World Cup is the culminating event. This summer’s World Cup in South Africa promises to be the most watched event in tv sports history.

6. World Series - The World Series is special given its history. Be lucky enough to catch a game at either Fenway Park or Yankees Stadium and you’ll be treated to a very special experience.

5. Kentucky Derby – Even if you’re not a horse racing fan, the Kentucky Derby is a fun event to attend. It’s a spectacle, from women wearing the big hats to the Mint Juleps (which, by the way, I think taste horrible).

4. Final Four – The NCAA basketball tournament is the best tournament in American sports. And the excitement level reaches a fever-pitch at the Final Four with teams vying for a spot in the Monday finals. And if you’re team happens to be one of the remaining four, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

3. Stanley Cup Game 7 – Even though I’m not much of a hockey fan, I’m hard pressed to find a more exciting sporting event than a game 7 Stanley Cup final. The excitement and intensity level is unrivaled.

2. Super Bowl - Nothing compares to the Super Bowl in terms of the hype. It’s almost become a national holiday with tens of millions of viewers tuning in. Add in all the events and the chance to rub shoulders with greats such as John Elway and Joe Montana, and everyone should attend at least one.

1. Masters – This is my favorite event. You have to pinch yourself the first time you enter the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. It’s more beautiful in person than you can ever see on tv. And there’s nothing like following the leaders through Amen Corner on Sunday.

I know the Winter Olympics aren’t far off when I start receiving inquiries about Olympic speakers. They seem to be especially popular this year because the Olympics will take place in nearby Vancouver, British Columbia. So who are the most popular Winter Olympians? Over the next couple blogs I’ll profile a couple of them – Mike Eruzione, Picabo Street and Dorothy Hamill. First up is Eruzione.

Mike Eruzione, Olympic hero & sports motivational speaker

A graduate of Boston University, Eruzione captained the hockey team his senior year and is among the school’s all-time leading scorers.  Little did he know that what lied ahead would change his life forever.

Entering the 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid, NY, the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team werent’ considered medal favorites. They were a bunch of college players competing against stronger and faster teams from Europe, including the mighty Russians who had NHL-caliber players on their team and had won every gold medal but one since 1956. How good were the Russians? In exhibitions that year, Soviet club teams had gone 5–3–1 against NHL teams and a year earlier, the Soviet national team had routed the NHL All-Stars 6–0 to win the Challenge Cup.

In what became forever known as the “Miracle On Ice”, the U.S. stunned the Russians, 4-3, in the semifinals and went onto to win the gold medal after defeating Finland, 4-2. The win against the Russians is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympics history and was named the Greatest Sports Moment of the Century” by Sports Illustrated.

Eruzione was (and still is) the face of that team. Not only did he serve as captain but he also scored the winning goal against the Russians. Ask anyone about their recollection of that historic event  and you’ll likely either get a rendition of Al Michaels’ memorable call “Do You Believe In Miracles” or a mention of Eruzione.

Eruzione and his team have become American icons. In 2002, Eruzione and his teammates had the honor of lighting the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were also inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Today, Eruzione resides in Massachusetts and serves as Director of Development for Athletics at Boston University. He also stays busy making speaking engagements and personal appearances around the country. His inspirational story of what it takes to be a champion make him one of the sought-after sports speakers in the country.

If you would like to find out how to hire Mike Eruzione for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Mike Eruzione booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for sports stars and celebrities. Call 800.966.1380.

Tiger Woods earns $1B becoming highest paid athlete

Forbes reported last week that Tiger Woods became the first athlete to earn $1 billion in career earnings from endorsements, prize winnings, golf course design and appearance fees. Woods reportedly earns $30 million a year from Nike and receives $10 million per project for his golf design work. He also just won $10 million last week for winning the FedEx Cup title.

The crazy part is that Woods in only 33 years old and has many years of competitive golf, endorsements and golf course design ahead of him. It’s not a stretch to say that he’ll likely make well in excess of $2 billion by the time his career ends. It’s estimated that he has now earned more than NBA great Michael Jordan ($800 million) and retired Formula One driver Michal Shumacher ($700 million). ... Read Full Story

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky announced Thursday he would be stepping down due to the financial turmoil surrounding the team.

As the bankruptcy court battle between Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie and the NHL over the sale of the financially troubled team continues, Gretzky announced on his web site that he was leaving.

“This was a difficult decision that I’ve thought long and hard about,” Gretzky said. “We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected.

“Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don’t fit into their future plans, I approached general manager Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach. Don has worked hard and explored many options. I think he has made an excellent choice, and so now it’s time for me to step aside.”

There was no immediate word on who would be Gretzky’s replacement. Associate coach Ulf Samuelsson had been serving as interim head coach during the preseason, and the team hired former NHL head coach Dave King as an assistant just this week .

If you would like to find out how to hire Wayne Gretzky for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Wayne Gretzky booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for sports speakers, entertainers, athlete appearances and celebrities.

Watching the NHL playoffs got me thinking about Wayne Gretzky and if the Edmonton Oilers might very well be the greatest dynasty in NHL history. Now I’m that not a big hockey fan, but I’m going to make an argument for the Edmonton Oilers from 1983 – 90. I know people will talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs of the 1940s, the Detroit Red Wings and Montréal Canadiens of the 1950s, the Leafs of the 1960s, the Canadiens and New York Islanders of the 1970s, but I still give the Oilers the edge.

These are the teams that are remembered as the greatest to ever play in the NHL, but it was the Oilers that rewrote the NHL record book. The Toronto Maple Leafs of the 1940s may have been good, but they never scored 400 times in a season. The Red Wings had Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, but the Oilers had Wayne Gretzky. The Canadiens won five Cups in a row, but that was during an era when the NHL had just six teams and only three or four legitimate contenders.

Consider these stats…
Stanley Cups: 5
Stanley Cup Finals Record: 20-6
Regular Season Winning %: .648
Regular Season 1st-Place Finishes: 4
Individual Trophy Winners: 19
Individuals Selected To All-Star Teams: 16

Key Team Records:
Most Wins: 57 (1983-84)
Most Points: 119 (1983-84 & 1985-86)
Most Goals: 446 (1983-84 – NHL record)

Key Individual Records:
Most Assists: 163 (Gretzky in 1986-86 – NHL record)
Most Points: 215 (Gretzky in 1986-86 – NHL record

The team had six future Hall of Famers on its roster during all or part of its run of five Stanley Cup titles – Gretzky (center), Mark Messier (center), Grant Fuhr (Goalie), Jari Kurri (Right Wing), Paul Coffey (Defenseman) and Glenn Anderson (Forward) along with another Hall of Famer as coach/general manager, Glen Sather.

The star of the dynasty years was obviously Wayne Gretzky, who’s called “The Great One” and is considered the greatest player in NHL history.

Check out Wayne Gretzky’s  credentials…

• Upon his retirement in 1999, he held 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records and 6 All-Star records.
• Gretzky is the only NHL player to have over 200 points in one season, a feat he accomplished four times
• Upon his retirement, he was immediately inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame, the last player to have the waiting period lifted
• His #99 has been retired by every NHL team. He is one of only two athletes to have earned that honor league-wide, the other being baseball great Jackie Robinson
• In his career, Gretzky captured nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player, ten Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season, five Lady Byng Trophies for sportsmanship and performance, five Lester B. Pearson Awards and two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP.
• Said Bruins coach Terry O’Reilly, “He’s the best. There should be a league rule that he has to be passed around from team to team every year.”
• Today, Gretzky is a minority owner and managing partner of the Phoenix Coyotes. He’s also involved in numerous business ventures and is a popular sports motivational speaker.

If you would like to find out  more information about NHL hockey speakers or how  to hire Wayne Gretzky for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Wayne Gretzky booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top sports booking agent for athletes, entertainers, sports stars and celebrities.