Ruggiero No. 98 on the power play
Going back to the ninth edition of The Hockey News' list of the 100 People of Power and Influence (Jan. 8 issue), we spotted a familiar name just before the rankings ran out: Angela Ruggiero, the U.S. women's team captain and former San Fernando Valley hockey product.
At No. 98.
"She made an impression (but didn't win) with Donald Trump on 'The Apprentice' last year, but Ruggiero, 27, is one of the most popular female players in the U.S. has has become the country's face of women's hockey," says the listing for her. "She always makes a defensive stand on the ice and is becoming more outspoken off it."
Among the list's most interesting names and numbers:
=Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is No. 1 (up from 7 last year), supplanting commissioner Gary Bettman.
=The Ducks' Stanley Cup win has boosted GM Brian Burke (at No. 9, up from 25 a year ago), coach Randy Carlyle (at No. 56, up from 78) and defenseman Chris Pronger (No. 30, up from 45).
=Kings' boss Tim Leiweke is at No. 33, up from No. 47 for some reason.
=Film and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer debuts at No. 75, for his influence in how the future of the sport will be televised. He's been working with Kings' VP of business Luc Robitaille, we know, in developing a better gameplan for the sport once HDTV takes hold).
(By the way, the Jan. 29 issue of The Hockey News, a digital version that's available on the website, has the headline: "Hey L.A. Stay Bad ... This Could Be Your Future." The cover includes photos of Steven Stamkos and John Tavares, the projected No. 1 draft picks in '08 and '09)...
So here's the list of THN Top 100, with some familiar (and unfamiliar names):
Rank Name Last Year's ranking (NR if not ranked)
1) Sidney Crosby Penguins C (last year: 7)
2) Gary Bettman NHL Commissioner 1
3) Bill Daly NHL Deputy Commissioner 3
4) Paul Kelly NHLPA Exec Dir NR
5) Colin Campbell NHL VP/Hockey Operations 4
6) Wayne Gretzky Coyotes Managing Partner & coach 5
7) Jeremy Jacobs Bruins Owner 11
8) Ed Snider Flyers Owner 13
9) Brian Burke Ducks GM 25
10) Kevin Lowe Oilers GM 33
11) Lou Lamoriello Devils President, CEO & GM 9
12) Ken Holland Red Wings GM 38
13) Chris Chelios Red Wings D 39
14) Stephen Walkom NHL Dir of Officiating 6
15) Bob Gainey Canadiens GM 12
16) Brendan Shanahan Rangers LW 10
17) Larry Tanenbaum MLSE Chair NR
18) Harley Hotchkiss Flames co-Owner 8
19) Joe Sakic Avalanche C NR
20) Mike Murphy NHL VP/Hockey Operations 36
21) Ian Penny NHLPA General Counsel NR
22) Jim Balsillie RIM co-CEO NR
23) Mark Milliere TSN VP/Production NR
24) Don Cherry "HNIC" analyst 24
25) Rene Fasel IIHF President 26
26) Jim Rutherford Hurricanes President & GM 34
27) Marty Turco Stars G 18
28) John Shannon NHL Senior VP/Broadcasting 23
29) John Collins NHL VP/Marketing NR
30) Chris Pronger Ducks D 45
31) Sean MacLeod NHL VP/Central Registry 71
32) Vincent Lecavalier Lightning C NR
33) Tim Leiweke Kings Governor 47
34) Rocky Wirtz Blackhawks Chair NR
35) Matt O'Toole Reebok-CCM President & CEO 29
36) Bob Nicholson Hockey Canada President 42
37) David Ogrean USA Hockey Exec Dir 43
38) David Branch CHL President 50
39) Dave Andrews AHL President 51
40) Bernie Katz J.H. Cohn Senior Partner 17
41) Sherali Najak "HNIC" Exec Producer NR
42) David Zimmerman NHL Exec VP & General Counsel 28
43) Pat Brisson CAA agent 61
44) Scotty Bowman Red Wings Consultant NR
45) Eric Lindros NHLPA Ombudsman NR
46) Henrik Zetterberg Red Wings LW NR
47) Ilya Kovalchuk Thrashers LW 63
48) Jeff Shell Comcast President NR
49) Lauren Pronger Representing Hockey Wives NR
50) Don Meehan Newport Sports agent 40
51) Patrick Kane Blackhawks RW NR
52) Mario Lemieux Penguins Chair NR
53) Mats Sundin Maple Leafs C NR
54) Roberto Luongo Canucks G NR
55) Gerry Frappier RDS President NR
56) Randy Carlyle Ducks coach 78
57) Ken Hitchcock Blue Jackets coach 94
58) Doug Sellars Fox Sports Producer 32
59) Steve Yzerman Red Wings VP NR
60) Ted Leonsis Capitals Owner NR
61) Martin Brodeur Devils G 14
62) John Davidson Blues President 54
63) George Bodenheimer ESPN President NR
64) Lindy Ruff Sabres coach 37
65) Pierre McGuire TSN analyst 79
66) Bruce Bennett Getty Images Hockey Dir NR
67) Jarmo Kekalainen Blues Dir of Scouting NR
68) Eugene Melnyk Senators Owner NR
69) Alex Ovechkin Capitals LW 15
70) John Tavares Oshawa Generals C NR
71) Horst Lichtner IIHF General Secretary NR
72) Doug Beeforth SportsNet President NR
73) Slava Fetisov Russian Minister of Sport NR
74) Bobby Orr Orr Hockey Group agent NR
75) Jerry Bruckheimer Film & TV Producer NR
76) George Gillett Canadiens Owner NR
77) Jim Johannson USA Hockey Dir of Operations NR
78) Garth Snow Islanders GM NR
79) Patrick Roy Quebec Remparts Owner NR
80) Paul Holmgren Flyers GM NR
81) Mike Modano Stars C NR
82) Peter Forsberg Free Agent C 55
83) Doug Wilson Sharks GM 73
84) Don Baizley TDS agent 58
85) Tom Anastos CCHA Commissioner 68
86) Ted Nolan Islanders coach NR
87) Bob Goodenow Former NHLPA Exec Dir NR
88) Rick Westhead Toronto Star reporter NR
89) Bob McKenzie TSN reporter 76
90) Kevin Allen USA Today reporter 75
91) Dan Craig NHL Ice Technician 83
92) Brett Hull Stars co-GM 89
93) Yvon Pedneault RDS analyst 93
94) Peter Moore EA Worldwide Studios 77
95) Roland Lee NHLPA Associate Counsel 44
96) Bob McCown Toronto's The Fan 590 host NR
97) Melody Davidson Canada women's national team GM NR
98) Angela Ruggiero U.S. women's national team D NR
99) Tony Palma Easton Bell Sports CEO 90
100) Richard Block Independent arbitrator NR