Shaved Ice – August 3

MiHockey’s Stefan Kubus here with you to celebrate another Friday.

Quick hits

Four out of the famous “Russian Five” – Igor Larionov, Slava Fetisov, Sergei Fedorov, and Vladimir Konstantinov – have committed to playing in the Alumni Showdown during the SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival at Comerica Park this coming December. Paging Slava Kozlov?

A recent report from his agent suggests Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler (Livonia) is likely out until December, recovering from shoulder surgery.

Jacob Trouba (Rochester) told NHL.com he’s certainly looking forward to playing with Jon Merrill (Brighton) again, but on the University of Michigan blue line this time.

Highlight reel

Enjoy reliving some of the best highlights from members of the “Russian Five” with this impressive montage.

Outside the Mitten

Nearly a year after the horrific plane crash that saw the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL hockey team pass away – including former Red Wings’ Ruslan Salei and Brad McCrimmon – the team has returned for the 2012-13 season.

In addition to the Red Wings bulking up the Alumni Showdown rosters, the Toronto Maple Leafs have made some additions of their own.

The New York Islanders inked Griffin Reinhart, their fourth-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level deal.

Check it out

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s Andy Gray, take a look at a November 1973 picture of the Howe brothers and family sitting down at the dinner table.

Next up

Have a great weekend, hopefully filled with some sort of hockey!