Mike Robinson was killed on a golfing trip to the U.S. (Photo: Postmedia)

Mike Robinson, a former Ontario Hockey League player who grew up in suburban Toronto, was in a small Wisconsin town on a golf trip. A new father, he had just made his first hole-in-one and was reportedly celebrating with a small group of friends until around midnight.  

A bartender at Falls Tap, in Sheboygan Falls, about an hour north of Milwaukee, would tell a local television news station Robinson and his group were kind. They also needed a ride back to their hotel, and local media reports suggest the group struggled to find an Uber. 

At 12:08 a.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 24, the Sheboygan Falls Police Department answered an emergency call to find Robinson suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. 

"His brother-in-law held him in his arms,” Robinson’s aunt, Lydia Cirivello, told local media. "Held tried to bring him back." 

Local media outlets, citing a criminal complaint, reported the group was trying to get back to its hotel after leaving the local pub. The group reportedly asked a food delivery driver for a drive, but the interaction ended in a disagreement over the size of the cash payment.  

According to reports, the group walked away after deciding the driver was asking for too much money. The car allegedly circled back, and the group reported hearing at least one loud pop, like a firecracker.  

The car sped off as Robinson lay dying on the ground.  

Luis E. Cruz Burgos, 35, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide. A report by the local Fox network station said Cruz Burgos initially told police he never spoke with the group, but that he later admitted to discussing the possibility of a ride — allegedly telling police the group called “him stupid and one of them flipped him off.” 

Robinson grew up in Stouffville, Ont., and spent parts of two seasons as a winger with the Niagara IceDogs. He spent five years playing with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology before moving onto a brief professional career, with stops in Orlando, Fla. (ECHL) and Hannover (Germany). 

"My sister's wedding is now going to be my brother's funeral," Robinson’s brother, Jacob, told local media. "My brother was taken unexpectedly from us and I just want justice." 

The family has established a GoFundMe, and the link is here.

Will the U.S. collegiate system eventually overtake major junior hockey as the lead source of NHL talent? It’s a question the Associated Press asked this week, and Steve Metcalf, commissioner of Hockey East, seems to think the NCAA now has the inside edge. 

“Currently the NHL is made up of about one-third of players that come directly from college. That number is going to grow to two-thirds in no time at all,” Metcalf tells the U.S.-based wire service. “And I haven’t been able to find anyone that doesn’t think that’s the track we’re on.” 

Since the NCAA changed its rules to grant eligibility to major junior players last year, many of the games brightest prospects have moved south, including Medicine Hat Tigers star Gavin McKenna, who has enrolled at Penn State University.  

The AP cites one report suggesting more than 320 major junior players have committed to playing in the NCAA.  

“It’s a crazy world — I’m glad I’m kind of out of that now,” Colorado Avalanche forward Cale Makar tells the AP. “It seems like a gong show.” 

You can read the full story right here. 

Pictured: Unexploded arena glass. (Photo: Dan Janisse, The Windsor Star)

Fans were banging on the glass behind the visiting team bench during a game in Windsor on Sept. 20, celebrating as the hometown Spitfires scored another goal in a game against the mighty London Knights.  

Suddenly, a pane of glass gave way, falling in a shower of shards across the back of head coach Dale Hunter.  

“I was just as alarmed as everyone else when they saw the glass break as it did and land on the coach,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens tells the Windsor Star. “You can see the prospect of someone getting seriously injured as a result of that happening. 

“I look forward to receiving the report on what happened, why the glass failed, and what we’re going to do to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” 

A city spokesperson tells the Star one fan suffered minor injuries.  

“The league has asked us to look into it and once we get some more information, we will share it,” Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler tells the Star. “You don’t want to see it happen, but I don’t know enough about glass and what’s used in it, but you’re looking to keep coaches, players and fans safe.” 

You can read the whole story right here.

This is about as high as the defending Memorial Cup champions have been flying to start the season. (Photo: Mike Hensen, The London Free Press)

On June 1, the London Knights beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 to seal the third Memorial Cup title in franchise history. That roster featured the tournament MVP (Easton Cowan) as well as the top goaltender (Austin Elliott). 

Four months later, the Knights find themselves in last place.  

London has lost four straight games to start the new season — two in overtime (to Owen Sound and Erie) and two in regulation (against Windsor and Brampton). 

Note: This will likely not draw sympathy from fans across the OHL, where the Knights are increasingly viewed as a big-market bully. But that also makes the slow start even more remarkable.  

“They’re not going to score 300-plus goals like they did last year," Ryan Pyette writes in the London Free Press. “But no one thought it would be this meagre. London has seven goals, total, in four games and three of those belong to Jared Woolley. The Kings prospect is supposed to be a primary shut-down defenceman — not the go-to sniper.” 

Pyette offers a detailed diagnosis of the problem, and you can read it right here.

(Photo: Dan Janisse, The Windsor Star)

Visors are incredible, invaluable pieces of hockey equipment. Their presence protects the wearer from all kinds of injuries — from flying pucks to high sticks and, in some cases, skate blades. 

Their only failing, at least in the case of Sudbury Wolves forward Jan Chovan, is that they don't protect you from bad smells. 

Imagine how badly the palm of Conor Walton's glove smells here, in the middle of a regular season game in Windsor. 

No visor can protect you from that kind of smell.