About Craig

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Craig has created 134 blog entries.

How a student in the wrong place at the right time led to the re-birth of PC Friars hockey

2023-02-04T17:15:56-05:00November 9th, 2022|

In 1926, the opening of the new RI Auditorium and the state’s first indoor ice surface heralded a bright new era for RI hockey. Until then, hockey in the Ocean State was played on frozen ponds and rivers, subject to the whims of the weather. Now, indoor artificial ice generated an explosion of interest in [...]

Ahead of his time – Remembering Tommy Woodcock, a Rhode Island Hall of Fame Trainer

2022-10-24T12:01:33-04:00October 24th, 2022|

Former Hope High School hockey great Tommy “Woody” Woodcock was the original medical trainer of the NHL’s St Louis Blues. He worked for the club for its first 16 seasons. A 3-time All-Stater at Hope, he came from a highly-accomplished hockey family that included brothers Eddie and Rollie. Tom enjoyed a brief pro career in [...]

The Eastern Olympics: A stepping stone for today’s USA Hockey Development Program

2022-10-06T09:12:00-04:00October 5th, 2022|

In 1965, following what can only be described as an embarrassing showing by the US hockey team at the 1964 Games, New England took what many believe was one of the first real steps in drawing up the successful blueprint we have today for developing the best talent and teams to compete on the world [...]

The Legend of Jerry Zifcak – The Pride of Burrillville Broncos Hockey

2022-10-05T17:13:35-04:00September 13th, 2022|

John Zifcak was the eldest of Phillip and Frances Zifcak's sons. With ten siblings to help take care of, he didn't have a lot of time for sports, but was athletic enough to join the Rhode Island State Police where he had distinguished career, retiring as a Lieutenant specializing in arson investigation and then being [...]

Ed Zifcak: the adventurous but uncertain journey of Burrillville High School’s greatest hockey hero

2022-07-24T17:45:56-04:00July 23rd, 2022|

Four years before the outbreak of World War I, Phillip Zifcak emigrated from the Slovakian region of the teetering Austro-Hungarian Empire. His wife to be, Frances, followed two years later. They met working in a textile mill in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, married, and soon welcomed the first of 13 children. Phillip and Frances moved to neighboring [...]

Little Rhody’s impact on the game of hockey has been and continues to be global

2022-05-23T09:18:22-04:00May 22nd, 2022|

Considering that we are the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island has developed and contributed an incredible number of on- and off-ice talents to the game of hockey. None are more noteworthy than the host of coaches we have developed. The current crop of those head coaches is showcased in the May issue of [...]