Canes Close To Signing Cam Ward (for Lock monsters)

[guinevere]

LOWELL Tom Rowe standing before a podium at a Lowell Lock Monster press conference is nothing unusual.

After all, Rowe was the team's executive vice president and chief operating officer when the franchise began in 1998 and for most of the Lock Monsters' six seasons, he has been the face of the organization.

But yesterday Rowe was being introduced, not doing the introducing.

Jim Rutherford, the president/general manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, announced during a press conference at City Hall that Rowe has been named Lowell's new head coach/general manager.

For the past three seasons, Rowe served as Lowell's assistant coach under Ron Smith, who recently retired.

"For me it's a tremendous day," said Rowe, a Lynn native who became the first American hockey player to score 30 goals in a season when he collected 31 for the Washington Capitals during the 1978-79 campaign.

I'm truly excited about it," he said. "I learned a tremendous amount from Ron Smith. I couldn't have had a better mentor than Ron. He was a tremendous teacher for me. Nobody in the league will outwork us. We're going to be an offensive, exciting team to watch. A lot of coaches forget we're in the entertainment business."
Rutherford said he was also close to announcing more good news for Lowell fans. He said Carolina is close to signing top goaltending prospect Cam Ward, the Hurricanes' top choice from the 2002 draft. Ward was recently named the MVP of the Western Hockey League. He posted a 101-40-15 record for Red Deer the last three seasons.

"It's something for the fans of Lowell to be excited about," Rutherford said. "I think he's going to be a great number one goaltender in the NHL."

But, if an agreement can be reached, Rutherford said Ward will start next season in Lowell.

"I think Cam Ward is as good a prospect outside the (NHL) as you can get," Rutherford said. "He's on track for here. We don't like to rush goalies."

[guinevere]

LOWELL Tom Rowe standing before a podium at a Lowell Lock Monster press conference is nothing unusual.

After all, Rowe was the team's executive vice president and chief operating officer when the franchise began in 1998 and for most of the Lock Monsters' six seasons, he has been the face of the organization.

But yesterday Rowe was being introduced, not doing the introducing.

Jim Rutherford, the president/general manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, announced during a press conference at City Hall that Rowe has been named Lowell's new head coach/general manager.

For the past three seasons, Rowe served as Lowell's assistant coach under Ron Smith, who recently retired.

"For me it's a tremendous day," said Rowe, a Lynn native who became the first American hockey player to score 30 goals in a season when he collected 31 for the Washington Capitals during the 1978-79 campaign.

I'm truly excited about it," he said. "I learned a tremendous amount from Ron Smith. I couldn't have had a better mentor than Ron. He was a tremendous teacher for me. Nobody in the league will outwork us. We're going to be an offensive, exciting team to watch. A lot of coaches forget we're in the entertainment business."
Rutherford said he was also close to announcing more good news for Lowell fans. He said Carolina is close to signing top goaltending prospect Cam Ward, the Hurricanes' top choice from the 2002 draft. Ward was recently named the MVP of the Western Hockey League. He posted a 101-40-15 record for Red Deer the last three seasons.

"It's something for the fans of Lowell to be excited about," Rutherford said. "I think he's going to be a great number one goaltender in the NHL."

But, if an agreement can be reached, Rutherford said Ward will start next season in Lowell.

"I think Cam Ward is as good a prospect outside the (NHL) as you can get," Rutherford said. "He's on track for here. We don't like to rush goalies."

[Stormbringer]

:spin:

[Stormbringer]

:spin:

[nccanes]

Guin, go on with yo bad goalie lovin' self! :D

Thanks for posting it!

[nccanes]

Guin, go on with yo bad goalie lovin' self! :D

Thanks for posting it!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Yay!! :spin:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Yay!! :spin:

[guinevere]

Guin, go on with yo bad goalie lovin' self! :D

Thanks for posting it!

It would have to be a goalie to break me out of my nonposting stupor, huh.... :D

[guinevere]

Guin, go on with yo bad goalie lovin' self! :D

Thanks for posting it!

It would have to be a goalie to break me out of my nonposting stupor, huh.... :D

[talkingcanes]

Ward's clock ticking
Canes working to sign prospect

By LUKE DECOCK, Staff Writer


While Cam Ward tries to find space for two new trophies, the Carolina Hurricanes have less than three weeks to sign their top goaltending prospect before he goes back into the draft.
Ward, the 2004 player and goalie of the year in the Western Hockey League, was the Canes' first-round pick in 2002. After a surprise preseason appearance in a Carolina uniform in September, Ward carried a young, unheralded Red Deer Rebels team to the WHL semifinals.

Now, after three full years of junior hockey in Red Deer, it's time for Ward, 20, to turn pro. Canes general manager Jim Rutherford and Ward's agent, Herb Pinder, are trying to agree on a contract before the June 1 deadline.

"I think we're all confident something will get done," Ward said from Sherwood Park, Alberta. "Obviously I'm excited to have the opportunity to be with Carolina. That's where I want to be. This kind of stuff is out of your own hands. You hope for best but you take it as it comes."

Rutherford said the two sides were far enough along in negotiations that he didn't expect it to come down to the deadline.

"We haven't gotten it done yet, but we're certainly in the ballpark of being close," Rutherford said. "I would suspect it will get done here in the next week or so."

Based on his play since he was drafted, Ward may be Carolina's top prospect, with defenseman Danny Richmond the other contender. Both had tremendous training camps last season -- earning Richmond a prolonged stay after rookie camp and Ward the unexpected start against the Atlanta Thrashers.

If signed, Ward would play for one of the Hurricanes' minor-league affiliates, either Lowell (AHL) or Florida (ECHL). Rutherford told fans in Lowell last week that he expects Ward to be the No. 1 goalie for the Lock Monsters -- a possibility even if there is a lockout at the NHL level.

Signing a pro contract would cap a dream season for Ward. While he already had one goalie award to his credit, he never imagined being named MVP after going 31-16-8 with a 2.05 goals-against average.

"It's a huge honor to get recognized like that," Ward said, "but at same time any goaltender will tell you you can't do it without your teammates."

The Canes are debating whether to sign two other players. Left wing Shay Stephenson was a seventh-round pick last year who had four so-so seasons in Red Deer but an outstanding playoff campaign. Goalie Craig Kowalski was an eighth-round pick in 2000 and is Northern Michigan's career record-holder in nearly every category.

They have another year to sign Stephenson -- originally an Edmonton Oilers draft pick in 2001 -- but he is out of junior eligibility, limiting his playing options if he isn't signed.

Rutherford said two players from Ward's draft class won't be signed: third-rounder Jesse Lane, who quit hockey for a time last year when the Canes didn't sign him after rookie camp; and seventh-rounder Adam Taylor, a center for Kootenay of the WHL. Lane will become a free agent, while Taylor goes back into the draft

[talkingcanes]

Ward's clock ticking
Canes working to sign prospect

By LUKE DECOCK, Staff Writer


While Cam Ward tries to find space for two new trophies, the Carolina Hurricanes have less than three weeks to sign their top goaltending prospect before he goes back into the draft.
Ward, the 2004 player and goalie of the year in the Western Hockey League, was the Canes' first-round pick in 2002. After a surprise preseason appearance in a Carolina uniform in September, Ward carried a young, unheralded Red Deer Rebels team to the WHL semifinals.

Now, after three full years of junior hockey in Red Deer, it's time for Ward, 20, to turn pro. Canes general manager Jim Rutherford and Ward's agent, Herb Pinder, are trying to agree on a contract before the June 1 deadline.

"I think we're all confident something will get done," Ward said from Sherwood Park, Alberta. "Obviously I'm excited to have the opportunity to be with Carolina. That's where I want to be. This kind of stuff is out of your own hands. You hope for best but you take it as it comes."

Rutherford said the two sides were far enough along in negotiations that he didn't expect it to come down to the deadline.

"We haven't gotten it done yet, but we're certainly in the ballpark of being close," Rutherford said. "I would suspect it will get done here in the next week or so."

Based on his play since he was drafted, Ward may be Carolina's top prospect, with defenseman Danny Richmond the other contender. Both had tremendous training camps last season -- earning Richmond a prolonged stay after rookie camp and Ward the unexpected start against the Atlanta Thrashers.

If signed, Ward would play for one of the Hurricanes' minor-league affiliates, either Lowell (AHL) or Florida (ECHL). Rutherford told fans in Lowell last week that he expects Ward to be the No. 1 goalie for the Lock Monsters -- a possibility even if there is a lockout at the NHL level.

Signing a pro contract would cap a dream season for Ward. While he already had one goalie award to his credit, he never imagined being named MVP after going 31-16-8 with a 2.05 goals-against average.

"It's a huge honor to get recognized like that," Ward said, "but at same time any goaltender will tell you you can't do it without your teammates."

The Canes are debating whether to sign two other players. Left wing Shay Stephenson was a seventh-round pick last year who had four so-so seasons in Red Deer but an outstanding playoff campaign. Goalie Craig Kowalski was an eighth-round pick in 2000 and is Northern Michigan's career record-holder in nearly every category.

They have another year to sign Stephenson -- originally an Edmonton Oilers draft pick in 2001 -- but he is out of junior eligibility, limiting his playing options if he isn't signed.

Rutherford said two players from Ward's draft class won't be signed: third-rounder Jesse Lane, who quit hockey for a time last year when the Canes didn't sign him after rookie camp; and seventh-rounder Adam Taylor, a center for Kootenay of the WHL. Lane will become a free agent, while Taylor goes back into the draft

[Mona]

Cam was pretty awesome in camp... and it sounds like he had a great year.. I hope we can sign him...

My co-worker was asking my opinion about him this morning...

[Mona]

Cam was pretty awesome in camp... and it sounds like he had a great year.. I hope we can sign him...

My co-worker was asking my opinion about him this morning...

[Turbulence]

This guy is our goalie of the future...and it would be a disaster to see him not signed and go back to the draft.
That being said, I'm glad we're so close. He should have a great career in this organization!

[Turbulence]

This guy is our goalie of the future...and it would be a disaster to see him not signed and go back to the draft.
That being said, I'm glad we're so close. He should have a great career in this organization!

[nccanes]

Maybe if there is no NHL season, we can take a road trip to Norfolk (or wherever the closest AHL opponent is).

[nccanes]

Maybe if there is no NHL season, we can take a road trip to Norfolk (or wherever the closest AHL opponent is).