On his travels for ESPN America, Aaron Murphy had the pleasure of working with a huge NY Rangers fan, a long-time SportsCenter host,  an accomplished author and a true American broadcast icon.

LINDA COHN is considered a pioneer for women sportscasters. She has graced television sets for over 18 years as one of the first full-time female sports anchors.

Linda has been  a constant mainstay on ESPN’s SportsCenter since July of 1992. Today you can see her regularly on SportsCenter and check out her book “Cohn-Head” at: www.lindacohn.net

After their NHL Premiere assignment together in Stockholm, Sweden, Murph recently caught up with Linda for a follow-up chat.

Murph On Ice – Great to talk to you again Linda, thanks for taking the time from Bristol to join me here on ESPN America!

Linda Cohn – My pleasure Murph, thanks for taking the time to chat with me!

MOI- Linda, when we worked together in Sweden I found out just how much you enjoy the NHL and the Rangers! What are your top three Ranger moments of all time?

LC- Sweden was a fun collaboration Murph! Number one moment: Rangers winning the Stanley Cup in 1994! Number two: Stephane Matteau’s double overtime goal against the Devils in Game 7 of the Eastern conference final in 1994. And last but not least, number three: There are about a million tied for this spot … but I’ll go with the return of Eddie Giacomin to the Garden on the night after he was sold to Detroit for just $40,000.

Linda and Murph discuss the Rangers and strategy for the NHL Premiere in Stockholm.

He was my first favorite goalie and a big reason why I became a goalie. That was the one and only time I ever saw the New York hometown fans cheer for the opposing team and every save Eddie made … Ranger fans actually booed the Rangers when they scored on Eddie! The final was 6-3 for Detroit back in 1975.

MOI – The Rangers are having a pretty good campaign thus far, how crazy would New York be if this current group could go far into the playoffs and maybe even the Stanley Cup?

LC- Crazy would just be one of the ways to describe it if this edition of the Rangers go far in the playoffs and win the Cup. While there is a long way to go, this team has shown it has pieces it did not have before. Good leadership in Ryan Callahan, experience and skill in Brad Richards and role players who can all make a name for themselves on any given night. If it happens and the Rangers go far, NYC will be ready as always to celebrate!

MOI – You’ve had some pretty cool moments working in television, what’s your favorite interview or guest from the past few years on SC?

LC- Favorite guest as of late … No question there – when I got to interview Henrik Lundqvist following the Ranger games in Stockholm. I didn’t want it to end and I even made him laugh with my goalie expertise! (laughs)

Linda joins the media scrum to chat with Henrik Lundqvist at the Globe Arena.

MOI – That was a fun moment! Do you ever get nervous or ‘star-struck’ when you meet sporting celebrities? Any individual in particular?

LC – Hey, I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t get a little nervous meeting some sporting celebrities! I’d have to say the time I met Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan on the very same night at the very same party! I not only got over my nerves, but it was such a wonderful experience I had to write about it in “Cohn-Head”.

MOI- When you are dealing with athletes from all the different leagues (NBA, MLB, NFL), what do you think is the main difference that sets hockey players apart?

LC – No question, hockey players are the nicest, most humble and most media friendly. Why? Because they haven’t been pampered since birth.  They’ve always had to carry their own bags, play the game at all hours of the night or morning … and have even lived away from home to play the game they love, and it certainly shows.

MOI – Your trip to Sweden for the NHL Premiere was your first trip to Europe I believe, can we hope to see you on this side of the pond again – maybe for the NHL Premiere next season?!

LC – Loved my first trip to Europe. Murph … seeing the Rangers open their season in Stockholm was special. How many people do you know who’s primary reason to go to Europe was to see the Rangers! I think my next trip overseas will be a little more well rounded though!

MOI- You’ve attended some big events in your career, what are your three most memorable sports stadiums/venues in North America and why?

Linda emulates her hero Mark Messier and gets her hands on THE Cup.

LC – Top three sports venues? Madison Square Garden – I love the place, followed closely by the old Montreal Forum, and finally the Glendale Stadium in Arizona where I saw my Giants pull off the most improbable upset, beating the unbeaten Patriots in Superbowl 42. That building will always be special because of that!

MOI – And finally, tell us you’re top three athletes of all-time and why?

LC – The number one athlete all time for me is Mark Messier, because nobody willed a team to win a Stanley Cup like he did with the Rangers in 1994.  He also did it in Edmonton with and without Gretzky.

Number two would be Michael Jordan for obvious reasons!

Number three is a tie between all those pro athletes who were told they were too small, too weak, too slow or simply not good enough to make it to the big time. It’s one of the reasons why I love sports so much … The opportunity athletes have to prove people wrong.

MOI – Well said. Thanks again Linda, this has been a pleasure! Enjoy the rest of the NHL season.

LC – No problem Murph, anytime! Stay in touch.

You can follow Linda on Twitter @LindaCohn

You can follow Murph on Twitter @MurphOnIce

AARON MURPHY picks his top games to watch on ESPN America this weekend ranging from baseball to college and professional football. Murph also has details of potential schedule changes around the MLB playoffs.

For the latest MLB playoff games on TV, click here for the schedules.

For the latest Football action on TV, click here for the schedules.

To follow Aaron on Twitter, go to @MurphOnIce or @ESPNAmerica

Aaron Murphy reflects on a tragic NHL offseason, interviews Barry Melrose, and covers the current NHL rights situation on ESPN America.

As a fan of any sport, we only want a few things from our chosen favorite’s off-season. We want expediency. We want our team to improve, we want things to be smooth and without drama. We need to have the feeling that the next season is coming and that things will be back to normal soon in our sporting lives.

This is every summer for me. I wish that hockey was back, I dream about it, as I get anxious for the physicality and speed which makes up the most exciting game on the planet. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy baseball, and love the summer, but hockey is what fuels my sporting passion.

This summer started upbeat. It seemed that the offseason would be full of fantastic stories from the Boston Bruins and their Stanley Cup parties. They ran up a $150,000 bar bill at a casino back in June and we just knew they would enjoy the dog days of summer, and provide us with some off-ice entertainment.

There were of course a few questions we all wanted answered too! How was Sid, and would he play again? Would the Leafs make some big moves to break the playoff slump? Would greats like Lidstrom and Selanne come back for one more year? Fun questions, things that tickled our off-season hockey brains. Nothing serious, just things at the back of our collective hockey heads.

But all these nagging questions and fun thoughts to pass the summer were nothing compared to the events that would crop up and sink our spirits throughout the summer of 2011. The worst summer of all for the hockey community.

We actually had a glimpse of what was to come. It was to foreshadow a long period of sadness and grief for everyone around hockey.

RIP: Derek Boogaard (1982-2011)

A sad reminder of the frailty of life. The frailty of people no matter how tough they may be. May 13th will long be remembered as a shocking and sad date. It was the date that a larger than life player was lost to us forever.

Derek Boogaard the ‘Boogy Man’ was as big and as tough as they come in a hockey player. At 6’7 and 265 pounds, there weren’t many larger on the ice than Derek. Boogaard had a tough year in New York battling concussion and maybe his inner demons. Many surrounding the giant knew of his addictive personality and his past troubles. Despite these warning signs, no one could have predicted his death on May 13th after a night of drinking and drug taking.

His death was ruled ‘accidental overdose’ with the cocktail of booze and pills he had consumed before returning to his Minneapolis apartment that night. It was a huge blow. Derek had just returned from rehab, and seemed in high spirits to get back to his career and be healthy after the concussions and issues he battled last season. His death seemed pointless and unfair. It was indeed a wake-up call that life is precious, and we should always be on the lookout for friends and family who may have similar problems to the ones Boogaard bravely fought.

The hockey world mourned Boogaard. Life went on though. The NHL playoffs got more interesting, and the on-ice battles and triumphs helped us all move forward from the May tragedy.

In an eerie bit of coincidence, the Canucks were to be vanquished in seven hard fought games against Boston. They lost this fight without one of their toughest battlers.

Rick Rypien was a tough guy. He wasn’t as big as Boogaard, but at only 5’11 and 180 pounds Rypien packed a punch. He was missed by his teammates against the much more physical Bruins without a doubt in that final series.

RIP: Rick Rypien (1984-2011)

Rypien was not with the Canucks to fight their battles because of his own demons. He was on leave from the club to deal with ‘personal issues’ away from hockey. The Canucks had granted him that time. He had in fact been on a similar break a few years ago (2008-09), again in the midst of a hockey season. His ‘personal issues’ were well known to his employers and teammates alike. Rypien had been dealing with a life-long struggle with depression.

It’s one of those taboos in the professional sports world. These men are larger than life heroes who are tough as nails right? They surely have no emotional problems or personal issues right? Well the whole system couldn’t be more wrong. Rypien’s death on August 15th was ruled a suicide, after a shocked family member discovered his body in his Alberta home. Despite the warning signs, despite the past history, no one could help Rypien. He had ended his life and his battle with a force none of us could possibly understand. He was no coward, we know that. But he was sick with a disease that is not supposed to prey on professional sportsmen in our macho psyche. He lost a battle off the ice that no one could help him win.

The hockey world again mourned the loss of one of our own. We thought that surely this was it for the tragedy this offseason. We thought it couldn’t get worse. We were wrong.

There was no one in hockey more liked than Wade Belak. Despite his years as a tough guy in the NHL, even the guys he fought liked him! Wade’s smile and self-deprecating humor were legendary. He had just retired as a player, but had many opportunities lined up. He had a wonderful wife and family. It appeared that Wade had so much going for him. Wade was another behemoth, at 6’5 and 230 pounds, there surely was nothing he was afraid of or couldn’t handle.

Then on August 31st our beliefs and our faith were once again destroyed.

Belak was found dead in a condominium he was staying at in downtown Toronto. He had been there preparing to appear on a Canadian Television show Battle of the Blades. The police said the cause of death was not ‘suspicious’ and the case was treated as a suicide. After the death had made the news, the truth started to come out. Belak had hidden his depression for years. Only those close to him knew about it. Unlike Rypien who had a more public battle, Belak had hidden his affliction with a big smile and a fantastic wit and sense of humor. How bad were his inner problems that all the success and love in the world could not stop him from wanting out? It was a sucker punch of epic magnitude. A death that shook us all and continued the horrible trend of hockey’s darkest summer. The loss of Belak proved that we could not possibly understand his disease. It was something that was immeasurable and left us all empty.

For all the sadness we had poured out for Boogaard, Rypien and Belak, we could never have been prepared for September 7th.

I was waiting for a flight in Lisbon, Portugal. I had been at an affiliate meeting for ESPN America. It had been a successful few days, and I was looking forward to getting on my flight back to London. I received a text from a hockey colleague in Toronto. The words on my phone will stay with me a long time “KHL team killed in plane crash, what are you hearing?” I wasn’t hearing anything. I was in shock. About to board a plane myself, and pretty much punch drunk from the summer’s earlier tragedies, this one took my breath away. I was a zombie. I did not tell my colleagues of the news. I didn’t want to speak of a plane crash as we were about to board one. It was surreal and I felt empty and confused about all the horrible news that had transpired since May.

The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team was taken that day. Every one of them has perished. It is not a hockey tragedy. It was a world tragedy. They were on their way to a game in Minsk and the start of the KHL season. Excited about the start of a new campaign, and full of hope with new Head Coach Brad McCrimmon at the helm. McCrimmon was a fantastic NHL player and was an assistant coach in Detroit. He wanted to be a head coach and took his opportunity in Russia. It’s unbelievable.

Other former NHL players on the plane that fateful day were – Ruslan Salei, Pavol Demitra, Karel Rachunek, Karlis Skrastins, Josef Vasicek, Alexander Yasyunov, Alex Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev. All gone far too soon. All pursuing their love of playing hockey. If there is kind sentiment for their families it is indeed that fact – they died being what they loved – hockey players.

We all mourn in our own way. We all feel for the families of all those lost this dark summer. We pray that we will not have another period like this in hockey or otherwise. It has been a cruel summer.

In search of answers and maybe even some wisdom to make sense of it all, I spoke with my ESPN NHL colleague Barry Melrose about all the summer’s tragic news. His wise words summed up a lot for me.

“For those of us that love hockey, the start of this NHL season can’t come fast enough. I don’t think the hockey world has ever had a summer like this past one,” Barry told me. “Every bit of news was bad and every story was worse than the last one ending with the terrible plane crash in Russia. We need good news, good games, good stories and good thoughts.”

“The great game of hockey will help in most of these areas and our great athletes will do the rest,” Barry continued. “Make sure we don’t forget the stories of this summer, but from now on let’s focus on all the great things this time of year has to give us.”

Amen Barry … I think we can all agree with that.

And finally …

Many of you hockey fans have emailed us and posted on Facebook / Twitter asking about the status of NHL on the channel. Unfortunately, I don’t have a definitive answer, but I have asked the ESPN America management team on behalf of our viewers, readers and social media community. At the moment, I was told, that while negotiations continue the company is only able to say the following:

“We are still in discussions with the NHL’s rights holders about rights in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and remain interested in continuing our coverage of the league if the right opportunity exists. We still have a valued relationship with the NHL and remain fans of the sport. We’ll share more information as it develops.”

Personally, I know that ESPN America does truly have a lot of hockey fans. The people I asked genuinely understand your questions and concerns, but don’t have an answer at the moment. So I’ll keep asking and share more if anything changes.

This has been “Murph on Ice” for ESPN America

Aaron Murphy has been covering the NHL for ESPN America for five years. He also covers other sports and special events for ESPNAmerica.com. Murph is also the host of the ESPN America Podcast, which is produced monthly and covers all sports you can see live on the network.

You can follow Aaron Murphy on Twitter @MurphOnIce

It’s been a busy time for sports here at ESPN! ESPN America’s Aaron Murphy, Dennis Moloney and Patrick Sturgeon wrap-up the Stanley Cup, NBA Final, and look over the top stories in MLB! Murph has a guest on the phone from Boston, and a special announcement about the MLB All-Star game in Arizona. Have a listen to the ESPN America podcast here:

Don’t forget that you can follow along all summer for all your sports news and info on Facebook and twitter.

Well NHL fans – what a ride this 2010-2011 hockey season has been for us all! From my time in Prague way back in October covering the Coyotes and Bruins, to the All-Star Game in Raleigh in January, and of course being in Boston for Games three and four last week – this has been a phenomenal journey.

Murph had a feeling back in Prague speaking to Tim Thomas that the goalie was ready for a great year.

I had a weird feeling back in Prague that Tim Thomas and the Bruins had some plans up their collective Black and Gold sleeves – but I had no idea of how grand those plans were!

Tim Thomas had a season for the ages. This guy has had to scrape and fight for his job, and ultimately respect from NHL fans and media alike. Will this Conn Smythe effort finally bring him into the talk of the greats in our game?! Thomas will surely win the Vezina trophy in Las Vegas next week, and no one can take away this playoff run. His 798 saves in the playoffs this season is the best total in history – enough said! Oh I guess his numbers were ok too – a .940 SV%, and a 1.98 GAA with four shutouts – superhuman.

I remember at the All-Star game that Bruins captain Zdeno Chara seemed restless when asked about his team and the issues they had against the Flyers in the last playoff run. He had a steely look – a look that said he had unfinished business and that he would attain his goal. It’s funny looking back now how focused and business-like both Chara and Thomas were. I guess Chara’s resolve paid off in this run – his plus-16 led all players. He was physical night in and night out, and a pillar of strength for Boston on the penalty-kill…he was a true leader – the definition of a Captain.

Zdeno Chara was all business in Raleigh at the All-Star game in January.

The Canucks had a great run – make no doubt about it. Beating the Blackhawks in seven in the opening round and showing great character after blowing a three game lead to advance. The Predators played hard against them, but they found a way to win, and the Sharks went all out. Ryan Kesler was on fire against the Preds and the Sedins got it going against San Jose. They seemed to be able to find a hero throughout to get the job done. Kevin Bieksa’s big goal will be remembered amongst Vancouver fans for years to come. The shame here is that there had to be a let-down for someone in this final. Canada’s Stanley Cup drought continues – going back to 1993.

The B’s are the first team in NHL history to win three game seven’s in one playoff run. They went the distance with bitter rivals Montreal, Tampa Bay, and of course again in the final. They swept the Flyers in round two to avenge the crushing defealt Philly handed them last season. You could say that the loss in round two of the 2010 playoffs – blowing a three game lead to lose at home in seven to the Flyers, was a galvanizing moment for the Beantowners. They knew they were better than that…they knew they had to make up for it.

The acquisitions at the trade deadline of Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly were also shrewd moves by Boston General Manager Peter Chiarelli. Both played huge parts in this incredible story – proving that depth – not big names wins championships.

The fans I encountered in Boston last week were hungry for a Bruins’ result. They had tasted glory with the Patriots, the Celtics and of course their beloved Red Sox all in the past seven years. I spoke with plenty of NHL fans who were calling it ‘the Bruins time.’ Well it has arrived – with a 4-0 Game seven gem. They have taken their place in Boston sports folklore. They have attained the top prize.

“You’ve been waiting a long time, but you got it,” Tim Thomas said to the fans, “You wanted it, you got it. We’re bringing it home.”

For the Canucks this could be their galvanizing moment. Falling just short of their goal must be beyond tough – but they know how good they can be. Losing Aaron Rome and Mason Raymond was hard on their lineup. Roberto Luongo’s struggles in Boston also a blow. But that team is a great team. That team – if they can re-group and come back strong and focused next season – could once again be Stanley Cup Contenders. We just have to hope that the riots in Vancouver in the aftermath of the loss Wednesday can soon be forgotten.

Murph's NHL journey ended on the Ice in Boston for the Stanley Cup Final.

Bruins ‘grey beard’ Mark Recchi will leave the game on top as he announced his retirement after the win at age 43. Recchi is a testament to hard work and mental focus. While his younger counterparts on the Canucks – the Sedin brothers – struggled statistically in the series, Recchi had seven points in the seven games. ‘Rex’ as he is called by his teammates, leaves the NHL with three Stanley Cups (Penguins, Canes and now Bruins).

Well it’s been a pleasure to cover the NHL and some key events for ESPN America this year! Murph On Ice will be back next season bringing you along again for another great NHL run. Also follow us all summer long as we bring you all the hockey news and info during the offseason.

Well the Stanley Cup playoffs were an incredible ride on ESPN America! MLB takes center stage now, and our coverage brings you all the way through the World Series! You can follow along with all the baseball news and info on Facebook and twitter.

Murph was given a Bruins T-shirt by his colleagues here in the ESPN America office after his correct predictions of Bruins in 7, and Tim Thomas for the Conn Smythe. Check out his Stanley Cup Final Wrap-up from what was an incredible series between the Bruins and Canucks:

Well the Stanley Cup playoffs were an incredible ride on ESPN America! MLB takes center stage now, and our coverage brings you all the way through the World Series! You can follow along with all the baseball news and info on Facebook and twitter.

Click here for a Photo Gallery of Murph’s visit to Beantown.

Murph On Ice sets up the Stanley Cup Final Game 7 between Boston and Vancouver. The home-team has won every game so far, and the team scoring first has won all 6 games! What will happen in Game 7 tonight? Check out what time you can see the game Live tonight on ESPN America:

This is the 16th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Final history! Enjoy all the fast-paced action tonight Live from Vancouver! You can also check out all the Murph On Ice reaction and info the rest of the way on Facebook and twitter. ESPN America – your home for the NHL in Europe.

Click here for a Photo Gallery of Murph’s visit to Beantown.

ESPNBoston.com’s James Murphy joins Murph On Ice rink-side at the TD Garden to wrap-up Game 4 of the Stanley Cup between the Canucks and Bruins:

The Stanley Cup is not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough trophy to win, and there are many obstacles on the path to glory. Teammates get hurt, others go into slumps, goalies get hot, coaches get frustrated, and generally nothing goes according to plan!

The Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins have provided all the above drama and more through four games of this years edition of the Holy Grail. Just when you thought the Canucks and Roberto Luongo were unbeatable through two, the Bruins come out and thump them cleanly 8-1 in game three. Just when you thought the Canucks would rebound and get back to the form that saw them win the first two games, they come out in game four and lay a goose egg.

ESPN's Steve Levy, Murph and Barry Melrose take in Game 4 in the press box at the TD Garden.

We have ourselves a series hockey fans – make no doubt about it! We know it in the media, the fans know it, and the players on both sides certainly know it.

“We’re playing for a pretty big trophy here,” Shawn Thornton stated after tonight’s game, “there better be some emotion, and we did the job here at home and have to keep it going now in Vancouver Friday.”

The Bruins were missing star winger Nathan Horton in game four with a severe concussion suffered in game three. The fans here in Boston chanted his name all night in recognition of how much he will be missed.

“It gave me goose bumps on the bench,” rookie Tyler Seguin said, “hearing the crowd chant for Nathan, we just had to go out there and get this win tonight for him and the fans.”

The Bruins did indeed need a win tonight. They returned to Boston trailing the Canucks 2-0, and knew that both home games would need to be wins to get them back in the most important series of their lives.

“Our goal was to win the two games here in Boston,” Dennis Seidenberg said, “it feels good to accomplish that, but we know it will be tough going back to Vancouver. We have a gameplan that we need to execute and we can be successful out there.”

The Canucks were hoping to gain a split here in Beantown and go home leading the series 3-1, but instead find themselves tied with the Bruins. In two games here they were outscored 12-1.

“We’ve lost two big games here,” Henrik Sedin said in the Canucks dressing room, “but it’s 2-2 and we’re going home so we have to be positive and not think about the opportunities we lost here in Boston, we just need to win the next one.”

It has to be said that the atmosphere was electric here at the TD Garden for the two games I was fortunate enough to cover. The fans were loud and appreciative of the efforts throughout by the Bruins. The series now shifts back to the West Coast and the Canucks hope to stop the bleeding with a win at home Friday. The home team has won all four games thus far, so for their part the Bruins will be hoping to break that trend.

Don’t miss a moment of the action through the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final. Game five is Friday late-night at 01:00 UK/02:00 CET Live on ESPN America. No doubt whatever happens the rest of the way will probably surprise and shock us – and keep us on the edge of our seats! Well sadly that wraps my time here at the Stanley Cup Final -what a ride! Back to beautiful London now, but a fond farewell from Boston and the Bruins and Canucks series.

The rest of the Stanley Cup Final will be Live on the network, and you can also check out all the Murph On Ice reaction and info the rest of the way on Facebook and twitter. ESPN America – your home for the NHL in Europe.

Click here for a Photo Gallery of Murph’s visit to Beantown.

ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside joins Murph On Ice to preview Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between Vancouver and Boston. The Canucks lead the series 2-1, can Boston even up the series tonight at the TD Garden? Check out their video interview to get their thoughts for tonight’s matchup:

Game Four is Live on ESPN America tonight late-night 01:00 UK/02:00 CET. Also keep following along here with my Stanley Cup Journal as I bring you along for a behind the scenes ride in Boston with the Bruins and Canucks! Also check out my posts on Facebook and twitter.

Well NHL fans you asked for it – so here it is! Barry Melrose – the Coach – joins Murph On Ice to answer your questions from Facebook. Who’s question did Barry pick from the list today? Click on the video to find out and get your question answered!