Europeans go fast in NHL draft
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from June 1999.
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For the first time, Europeans were chosen with the first four picks Saturday. And for only the third time, a European was taken first.
``There is more scouting being done in European countries," New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello said.
The top pick was Patrik Stefan, a powerful forward from the Czech Republic selected by the Atlanta Thrashers.
The Thrashers hope he can, eventually, provide offense they couldn't get when they chose 26 players in Friday's expansion draft. even the biggest upset of the day. That came courtesy of Switzerland's Lorenzo Manta, a qualifier ranked No. 196, who ousted 1996 champ and No. 5 seed Richard Krajicek 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) 4-6, 4-6, 6-4 on Court 2, the so-called ``Graveyard of Champions."
Five-time and defending champion Pete Sampras had the day off, but he surely applauded Krajicek's loss. The big Dutchman has four consecutive wins against Sampras and is the only player to beat him at Wimbledon since 1992. But it won't happen this year. Manta sent a pair of backhand returns whistling down the line in the final game to finish off Krajicek, who lost despite serving 23 aces. Manta, a 24-year-old a doubles player for Switzerland's Davis Cup team, came to Wimbledon with a career singles record of 0-11 in Grand Slam, ATP Tour and Davis Cup events.
Three-time champion Boris Becker, eager to delay his farewell to Wimbledon as long as possible, notched another Centre Court victory by beating Australian 18-year-old Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). But Becker may face a tougher challenge in the
