Now that the Canucks are on the downward slope of the coaster, cruising past a few of the top teams in the league and looking at a bona fide winning streak, they need to remember the fans who supported them in getting there with a League-record 247 sellouts and the faithful purchase of a succession of horrifyingly ugly jerseys and fan paraphernalia. All of the money spent on these tickets, jerseys, and ball caps goes to support the exorbitant player salaries that players continue to demand (even journeymen like Alexandre Burrows – $2M?) even amidst what could be one of the greatest economic declines of the past 130 years.

Fortunately, there is a simple, no-cost way to send some of the love back to the fans who carry their home teams so far.  A trend is  slowly sweeping the hockey world that I think needs to take hold in Vancouver — a city that has not won a cup in the modern NHL and for nearly a century, and in particular a city that suffered through a terrible mid-season slump that even now threatens to cast the team out of cup contention with one of the highest pay rosters in the league.  This would also be a wonderful addition to other teams in the NHL.

When I was playing in Europe a few years ago it was tradition for the home to to salute the fans after the game.  Some would rather elaborately go back to the dressing room, don different warmup jerseys or remove their team jerseys, and return with their kids families to the ice to perform a “dance” of sorts for the fans… others would line up arm-in-arm and “sweep” the ice.  More simply, some just gathered at centre ice and lifted their sticks in a simple salute to their loyal supporters, most of whom are not anxious to leave the stadium early at the end of the game (some photos of the ERC Ingolstadt Panthers, which feature local boy Doug Ast, are below).

The result is a greater sense of cameraderie and family, but there is a deeper message here:  one of mutual respect, appreciation, and shared exhileration.  I realize that the lifestyle of a professional hockey player is difficult and challenging:  friends who’ve done the job are drained and spent for most of the regular season given the hectic travel and playing schedules.  As those of us who pay fortunes to play the sport appreciate, though, anyone who gets paid to do something so special as play hockey is priviledged.  It is vital to the health of the sport (and the long-term sustainance of those lofty salaries) that players feed the system that supports them.

Minor league teams like the Evansville Icemen have taken to saluting their fans now… a great way to support fans and teach young players respect for the institution of hockey.

And since a couple of seasons ago, the NY Rangers have paid tribute to their fans after each game with a simple salute.  You’ve got to admit, it just feels a little bit good to see this.  If players complain that certain arenas are a little quiet around the NHL, especially when compared to smaller but far more boisterous European arenas, perhaps it’s because the players never return the support and acknowledgement that fans give to them? Is it harder to hate a player who’s slumping when you’ve seen him skate out onto the ice with his new baby in his arms?  Do you feel as a fan like you’re more of a part of the big hockey family when there’s greater interaction with them in this manner?  The answer to all of these is “why wouldn’t you?”

So really, is it such a difficult thing to give the fans a little salute after the game before heading to the bike?  The Washington Capitals’ Ted Leonsis is a particularly enlightened and accessible owner … perhaps he’s a guy who could exhibit some leadership here?  Come on, players… let’s show the fans that the respect is mutual.

Today, it was revealed unto me that Miss Virginia, Tara Wheeler, is in fact a goalie.  Yes.  I repeat.  There was a one in fifty chance that the winner of the Miss America pageant held this weekend would be a goalie.  Just think — they only narrowly averted having someone with an actual ability win the pageant!

Frankly, I don’t know how she does it.  I gave up wearing my tiara on the ice years ago, and now for special occasions (such as when it’s well below freezing, nighttime, and I am on a backyard rink somewhere in Kelowna) I wear a toque.

Also today I became buddies with Alexander Ovechkin.  On twitter.  Which is almost as good as being his fake friend on Facebook or MySpace.  A couple of years ago your humble author ran into Caps’ owner Ted Leonsis in San Francisco and I cheerfully asked whether he could release Ovi to spare with my summer league team.  He said that he and Ovi were a package deal and he thought I should ask the Sedins.  They could use the practice, we agreed, but I didn’t think they’d enjoy being on our second line.

I know there is a really creative way in which I could combine these three stories, however it is late and I have things to do, people.

DULLES, Va. — AOL Time Warner Inc.’s America Online Inc. (NYSE:AOL – News) unit streamlined its management structure in hopes of increasing accountability at the online giant, while setting clearer priorities and clarifying its organization roles.

ADVERTISEMENT The changes, which had been expected, would eliminate the president and chief operating officer posts, while giving recently appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Jon Miller a more direct role in overseeing America Online’s key units.

In addition, the maligned Business Affairs division will be disbanded, with employees reassigned to the business units they support. The group, which arranged long-term sponsorships and marketing partnerships with advertisers, has come under criticism for the way it crafted deals, some of which are under investigation by the government regulators looking at how the booked revenue was recorded.

The company said a month ago that America Online may have improperly recognized $49 million of revenue over six quarters and is combing through its books for any other possible errors.

Mr. Miller has his hands full, with America Online reeling from plunging advertising revenue, slowing subscriber growth and probes into its accounting practices by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department.

Mr. Miller, who last month became the third CEO of the Internet unit this year, will take a more direct role in the America Online brand, interactive marketing and broadband units.

“AOL must maintain its leadership position among dial-up subscribers, enhance our broadband business and reinvigorate our relationship with marketers,” he said in a prepared statement. “To do this, we will fully leverage our programming and product expertise, along with the superior technology behind our unmatched member experience, to create exciting, relevant and distinctive new products and content that will change the way both dial-up and high-speed consumers think about AOL.”

As part of the restructuring, current America Online COO J. Michael Kelly will become chairman and CEO of America Online International, will oversee the company’s AOL Anywhere products — which focus on wireless access to America Online — and report to Mr. Miller.

“Mike Kelly’s appointment signals the priority I’ve placed on our international and AOL Anywhere businesses,” Mr. Miller said.

Chief Financial Officer Joseph Ripp will become vice chairman and other corporate and operating functions, including AOL’s network infrastructure and technology operations. Current Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis will head newly created councils overseeing brand, product and technology strategy.

The two will also join Mr. Miller, James de Castro, interactive services president and the person who oversees the America Online Internet service, and Don Logan, chairman of AOL Time Warner’s media and communications group, in a new senior strategy group.

Mr. Ripp, America Online’s CFO since the company’s acquisiton of Time Warner Inc. in early 2001, will keep that role until a replacement is named. Mr. Kelly became America Online’s chief operating officer in November.

Mr. Miller also said that America Online President Ray Oglethorpe recently told the company he would retire after serving as a senior adviser during an undisclosed transition period, and that Vice Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer Jan Brandt will step down from those posts and take on a new part-time role as a senior adviser.

-Maria P. Vallejo; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400 and Kevin Kingsbury; Dow Jones Newswires; 609-520-4367

———–