NHL notebook

Thirst for winning Cup never runs dry

Associated Press / May 28, 2010

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Some players spend their entire career chasing the Stanley Cup without ever having the chance to hoist it.

The Flyers’ Chris Pronger and the Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa have found their way back to the finals again — Pronger for the third time in five years with his third different team. The defenseman was on a winner with Anaheim in 2007 after losing the Cup with Edmonton the previous year.

“All you hear about is guys talking about it’s the toughest trophy in pro sports to win. There’s no question it is,’’ Pronger said yesterday after the Flyers arrived in Chicago dressed in matching orange hooded sweat shirts. Game 1 is tomorrow night.

“You have to be prepared for it to understand what it’s going to take. The abuse you’re going to put on your body to play 20, 27, 28 games, if you play four seven-game series.’’

Hossa’s trek is even more rare. He’ll be playing in his third straight championship round with a different team. He lost the last two, first with the Penguins in 2008 and then last year as a member of the Red Wings when they fell to Pittsburgh.

“Definitely want to touch the trophy,’’ said Hossa. “What you learn is that this is a great opportunity. Somebody will say you know it comes once in a lifetime and it comes three times for me. It didn’t work out two times and hopefully the third time will be the one. Just keep hoping and do the best you can.’’

Ex-owner takes plea

Former Oilers owner Peter Pocklington pleaded guilty to perjury in a Southern California bankruptcy fraud case. Pocklington, 68, entered the plea to a single perjury count in US District Court under a deal that allowed him to avoid a possible 10-year prison term for making false statements and oaths in bankruptcy. Pocklington said he took the federal prosecutors’ plea offer to avoid trial. “Unfortunately the jury pool is not a jury of your peers; it’s a jury of some of them unemployed, some of them that aren’t particularly bright,’’ he said . . . The Red Wings signed former Wisconsin defenseman Brendan Smith to a three-year entry-level contract.