While trawling the web for news other than the latest on the Coyotes' auction (see below), I spotted this piece on the iihf.com website, where I normally go to get news anyway. The site is a mine of information, not just NHL and other professional leagues around the world but also the minor nations and, especially, women's ice hockey.

The piece I was referring to is about a minor nation, in the women's world, making a strong raid into the elite. Slovakia has always been in or on the edge of the men's elite ever since they became independent. Now it's time for the ladies. They will be taking part in next year's Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver after playing at the division 2 level only 2 years ago. It all started just last September when Slovakia won the pre-qualification tournament, earning them a place in the Final Olympic Qualifications where, as the lowest seeds in the tournament, they booked their ticket to the Olympics proper! Just for the heck of it, the Slovakian ladies went on to win a place in the 2011 Women's World Championships.

Staying with women's ice hockey, the Hockey Canada Cup was taken by the women of the USA after winning the final against their archrivals, Canada. Third place was taken by Finland after sending the Swedes home in fourth place after a close 1-0 match.

The latest in the Coyotes saga south of the border is that studies conducted for the NHL, who themselves became a bidder for the club, show that the cost of relocation to Hamilton, Ontario, would be between $101 and $195 million. The man who wants to move the Coyotes, James Balsillie, has a study himself that puts the cost to between $11.2 million and $12.9 million! The auction takes place this Thursday, will it be the final auction? I don't dare to guess!

All the best.