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Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at [email protected]. Hi Kerry,Love the column and of course the hair! We here in Orange County obviously have a great admiration for Teemu Selanne and have been fortunate to see him play for the last many years and win a championship. With his impending retirement, do you have any good or funny stories you can share with the fans? We know the kind of player he is and what a nice guy he is off the ice, but few of us know what kind of person he is on the ice. Thanks for doing this column, always a great read. Chris from Laguna Niguel Chris:I can tell you first hand that Teemu Selanne is as nice a guy on the ice as he is off of it. While we didnt always agree (as you might expect) I never heard a curse word or disrespectful comment come out of the mouth of the "Finnish Flash"; either directed at me or anyone else. From the very first game that I saw Teemu as a rookie with the Winnipeg Jets, I knew this guy was a very special talent. The rest of the hockey world would quickly recognize just how skilled Teemu was while on his way to scoring 76 goals and winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the 1992-93 season. (Teemus record remains intact for most goals for a rookie in the NHL.) Teemu always seemed to exude a "boyish" smile when he was on the ice; a signal to me as how much he loved to play the game. I also witnessed acts of kindness that he demonstrated off the ice to arena and parking attendants in the Honda Centre and other NHL cities. An off-ice official of the Calgary Flames once shared with me that Selanne was such a friendly and classy superstar that he could make people around him feel better about themselves; even in their relative insignificance! As nice a guy as Teemu is, I also saw a fierce competitiveness and desire to win. Like all champions he hated losing; but unlike some, Teemu did so with class and grace. The worst I ever got from him at the end of a close loss (when he thought I was less than perfect in my performance) was a saddened look of disappointment and perhaps a slight shake of his head as he exited the ice. If the game was on the line Selanne wanted the puck on his stick. He had pull-away speed and a rifle of a shot that made him a game changer. Teemu always made players around him better because he could finish the play. We recently witnessed Selannes deep national pride as captain of the Finnish Olympic team in Sochi. The 43-year-old played with speed, youthful energy and determination in leading his team to a bronze medal for his home country. I first encountered that Finnish pride in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, an NHL-sponsored event as a prelude to the 98 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. I worked a game in Helsinki (Sweden vs. Finland) where the fan atmosphere was more like a U.S. college football game than a hockey game and was like nothing I had ever experienced before. An hour prior to game time fans jammed into the arena end zone, many with their shirt off and face and body painted in Finnish blue. They chanted and sang unceasingly. It also appeared that they consumed a considerable amount of alcohol. Drums were beaten and horns blew. The crowd never sat down in the end zone seats. Instead they stood throughout the whole game shoulder to shoulder and cheered for Teemu Selanne and their other heroes. They were a happy crowd; very loud but not boisterous or unruly. They were having fun watching the game they loved and went wild when Finland won the game. Back in the Officials dressing room I had showered and dressed as the party continued inside the arena. The dressing room door opened and a guy I thought to be Teemu Selanne said, "Hey Kerry do you have any beer in your room?" I thought it to be very unusual but invited Teemu in and told him to help himself. He sat down and we were having a great visit over a few beers when finally Teemu admitted that he really wasnt Teemu Selanne at all but his twin brother Paavo! Paavo Selanne was a real character and said that his brother Teemu told him there is always beer in the refs room. The next time I saw Teemu and told him of the case of mistaken identity his smile changed to a belly laugh over the joke his brother played on us. They are a fun-loving family. Congratulations to Teemu and his family on a tremendous NHL and international career. There is no doubt he will eventually enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. It couldnt happen to a more deserving candidate and nicer guy. When that day happens maybe I will be lucky enough to sit down and enjoy a beer with Teemu and his twin brother Paavo in celebration of this great players career. Ernie Banks Jersey . Yup, he definitely needed this one. Craig homered twice and had three RBIs Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Craig went 4 for 5 and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who salvaged the final game of a three-game set in hopes of staying within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central. Hector Rondon Jersey . A lawmaker is hoping the buzz from California Chromes run for the Triple Crown might build support for a bill that would place the U. http://www.cubsteamproshop.com/. The 28-year-old from Rochester, Alta., was selected by the Redblacks from the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft. Joe Maddon Jersey .com) - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to get another win on this homestand Thursday night when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Bradley Center. Jon Lester Jersey .com) - Scott Parel carded a 5-under 65 on Thursday and he grabbed a 1-stroke lead after one round of the season-opening Panama Claro Championship.Kyle Edmunds impressive recent form continued with a 6-3 5-7 6-4 win over Federico Delbonis at the Shanghai Masters. The British No 2 became a top 50 player for the first time in his career when Mondays latest world rankings confirmed him at 48th in the standings, and he celebrated with a three-set win over a player ranked just two places above him.Edmund was beaten by Andy Murray in the China Open quarter-finals last week and despite a demanding schedule he was back in action with a strong start in Shanghai, taking just over two hours to see off Delbonis. The 21-year-old held his own serve before breaking Delbonis at the first time of asking to lead 2-0 and continue where he left off in Beijing.Edmund battled back from 15-30 down to consolidate his break before Delbonis finally got on the board in the first game of the opening set.Leading 5-2 Edmund saw four set points go begging on the Delbonis serve before wrapping up the opening set in 35 minutes with an untroubled game on his own serve. Federico Delbonis improved to take the second set An improved Delbonis stayed with Edmund in the second set, both men strong behind their own serve and break point openings were few and far between as the pair headed towards an inevitable tie-break.But in the 12th game Delbonis struck for a crucial breakthrough on the only break point of the set, striking at 30-40 to level the match.An undaunted and invigorated Edmund broke to love in the opening game of the decider and a more aggressive approach paid dividends as he heeld onto his advantage with little trouble until serving for the set.ddddddddddddWith Delbonis going for broke and forging a 0-30 lead, Edmund kept his cool to reel off four successive points and book a first career meeting with US Open champion Wawrinka. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡￡6.99. No contract. Alexander Zverev is another of the rising stars to continue his impressive late season form, the German teenager easing past John Isner 6-4 6-2 to set up a meeting with Marin Cilic.Last years beaten finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eased into the last 32.The Frenchman was beaten in by Novak Djokovic last year, winning just six games along the way, but he returned to winning ways in his first outing since the knee injury suffered at the US Open by beating Germanys Florian MayerIn the days other action Steve Johnson set up a second round clash with Andy Murray, the American came through 6-4 6-3 against Slovakias Martin Klizan.Elsewhere, Benoit Paire beat Portugals Joao Sousa 6-3 5-7 6-1, Taylor Fritz was too strong for Frances Stephane Robert while Viktor Troicki will play Rafael Nadal after beating Lukas Rosol 6-2 6-4.You can follow all the action from the Shanghai Masters on Sky Sports this week, Tuesdays action gets underway at 6am on Sky Sports 2. 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