All over the map: you won't see action in NHL arenas soon, but there's still plenty of hockey being played in North America. You just have to know where to find it

Sporting News, The, Nov 1, 2004 by Kara Yorio

There are other players and stories to watch in the OHL. Wild center prospect Patrick O'Sullivan of the Mississauga IceDogs seems to be overcoming the personal problems that led to a turbulent predraft season in 2003 and moving toward reaching his potential. He was a big part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the world juniors and will be a key member of the IceDogs' offense. He has been able to focus on his career despite a disruptive relationship he has with his father.

Flyers fans might want to pay particularly close attention to the OHL. Two of the league's best players--Sault Ste. Marie center Jeff Carter and Kitchener center Michael Richards--were 2003 first-round picks by Philadelphia.

Other leagues--and some NHL ties

The North American Hockey League has teams in Illinois, Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, Alaska and North Dakota and a team from the U.S. national development program. The Santa Fe Roadrunners are owned by a group that includes Kings coach Andy Murray and NHL players Rob Blake and Glen Murray.

The Central Hockey League has teams in Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Stanley Cup champion Brad Lukowich is playing for the Fort Worth Brahmas, and the Stars' Brendan Morrow is finalizing plans to play for the Oklahoma City Blazers.

Tournaments to watch

* World junior (under-20) championships, Grand Forks, N.D., and Thief River Falls, Minn., December 25, 2004-January 4, 2005

* Women's world championship, Linkoping and Norrkoping, Sweden, April 2-9, 2005

* Under-18 world championship, Ceske Budejovice and Plzen, Czech Republic, April 14-24, 2005

* World championship, Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria, April 30-May 15, 2005

* Memorial Cup, London, Ontario, May 21-30, 2005

Players to watch

More than 200 NHL players are playing for club teams in Europe, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation. A look at some of the most familiar names in unfamiliar uniforms:

Austria

Jason Krog (free agent), Villach

Czech Republic

Patrik Elias (Devils), Znojemsti Orli

Milan Hejduk (Avalanche), Pardubice

Jaromir Jagr (Rangers), Kladno

Ziggy Palffy (free agent), Slavia Prague

Tomas Vokoun (Predators), Znojemsti Orli

Finland

Michael Nylander (Rangers), Karpat Oulu

France

Steve Reinprecht (Flames),Mulhouse

Germany

Mike York (Oilers), Iserlohn

Italy

Rico Fata (Penguins), Asiago

Latvia

Sergei Zholtok (Predators), Riga 2000

Poland

Krzysztof Oliwa (Devils), Podhale Nowy Targ

Russia

Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings), Moscow Dynamo

Sergei Gonchar (Bruins), Mettalurg Magnitogorsk

Ilya Kovalchuk (Thrashers), AK Bars Kazan

Garth Snow (free agent), St. Petersburg

Petr Sykora (Mighty Ducks), Mettalurg Magnitogorsk

Slovakia

Pavol Demitra (free agent), Dukla Trencin

Marian Gaborik (Wild), Dukla Trencin

Marian Hossa (Senators), Dukla Trencin

Richard Zednik (Canadiens), Zvolen

Slovenia

Manny Malhotra (Blue Jackets), ZM Olimpija

Sweden

Zdeno Chara (Senators), Farjestad

Peter Forsberg (Avalanche, unsigned), MoDo

Miikka Kiprusoff (Flames), Timra

Mike Knuble (Flyers), Linkoping