Brad Lukovich signs with Fort Worth Brahmas

[run-that-way]

So, this guy goes from 1.3 M a year to $10,000 a year. Anybody else hear the interview with him this morning on NPR with Renee Montagne? it was actually very interesting - he came off as very, very classy. He seemed to be truly in it for the love of the game and very humble. He didn't act like Mr. HotShot Stanley Cup Winner slummin' it in the minors - he simply said he wanted to keep playing, keep up his skills and contribute to the team. Very impressive if you ask me. You can listen to it here.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4052269

So, you think many more players will bail and play in the minors? What does this mean for the fate of the young guys trying to develop and make it?

Ami

[run-that-way]

So, this guy goes from 1.3 M a year to $10,000 a year. Anybody else hear the interview with him this morning on NPR with Renee Montagne? it was actually very interesting - he came off as very, very classy. He seemed to be truly in it for the love of the game and very humble. He didn't act like Mr. HotShot Stanley Cup Winner slummin' it in the minors - he simply said he wanted to keep playing, keep up his skills and contribute to the team. Very impressive if you ask me. You can listen to it here.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4052269

So, you think many more players will bail and play in the minors? What does this mean for the fate of the young guys trying to develop and make it?

Ami

[nccanes]

I read about this recently and someone here at work (who knows nothing about hockey) tried to relay the NPR story today, forgetting his name and the team's name, etc.

Anyway, I'm impressed that he chose to play in the CHL rather than going over to Europe. With the excitement (albeit after the no NHL disappointment) that we all have about seeing the Staal, Ward, Ruutu, et al, in Norfolk, imagine what it will be like for the AHL regular fanbase to get to see NHLers.

I'm not sure how good for Brad the CHL will be, but it will be great for their fans.

I don't think there will be many more like this. I'm sure the AHL teams with NHL affiliations aren't going to (or can't) sign players with NHL contracts, but I don't profess to understand all the dos and don'ts about where NHL players can sign.

Wouldn't it be a kick if O'Neill or Cole agreed to play for FireAntz or the PeeDee Pride!?

[nccanes]

I read about this recently and someone here at work (who knows nothing about hockey) tried to relay the NPR story today, forgetting his name and the team's name, etc.

Anyway, I'm impressed that he chose to play in the CHL rather than going over to Europe. With the excitement (albeit after the no NHL disappointment) that we all have about seeing the Staal, Ward, Ruutu, et al, in Norfolk, imagine what it will be like for the AHL regular fanbase to get to see NHLers.

I'm not sure how good for Brad the CHL will be, but it will be great for their fans.

I don't think there will be many more like this. I'm sure the AHL teams with NHL affiliations aren't going to (or can't) sign players with NHL contracts, but I don't profess to understand all the dos and don'ts about where NHL players can sign.

Wouldn't it be a kick if O'Neill or Cole agreed to play for FireAntz or the PeeDee Pride!?

[raleighcanesfan]

Would love to see it and it would ease my feelings toward what I now see as 'money-grubbing' players. I agree with the above comments though, we probably won't see it. Being the pessimist, I hear agents telling these guys that would do it, "Do you want to injure yourself for an AHL team?" The agents are just as bad in this situation, I believe.

[raleighcanesfan]

Would love to see it and it would ease my feelings toward what I now see as 'money-grubbing' players. I agree with the above comments though, we probably won't see it. Being the pessimist, I hear agents telling these guys that would do it, "Do you want to injure yourself for an AHL team?" The agents are just as bad in this situation, I believe.

[SoCalcaniac]

I'm impressed that he chose to play in the CHL rather than going over to Europe. With the excitement (albeit after the no NHL disappointment) that we all have about seeing the Staal, Ward, Ruutu, et al, in Norfolk, imagine what it will be like for the AHL regular fanbase to get to see NHLers.

I think all of these Minor Clubs fans will be beside themselves when this all starts to go down.... they're hockey fans, so obviously they follow the game, but what a boon for them to get a group of NHLers in their home building as opposed to getting a kid who was sent down or a someone who is rehabbing or whatever. I'm happy for them. You gotta be happy for someone.

As for Lukowich, I totally commend him. I've watched a few Lightning pre-game shows and he's usually 'the guy' kinda like KA is for us, that talks to their media team, and he truly seems like a guy who marches to his own beat. I admire those like that. Obviously he still has that appreciation for all that he has and how fortunate he is to be an NHLer.

Wouldn't it be a kick if O'Neill or Cole agreed to play for FireAntz or the PeeDee Pride!?

It would be a major kick, but I just can't see it..... not to say they wouldn't attempt to do it, I dunno.......... just can't see it. Brindy maybe (??) only because I think he 'has to play' hockey. Just thinkin' out loud.

Yeah I think there are all kinds of rules for NHLers playing in the minors, although I read in one of the DET papers that Chelios was planning to sign with the AHL team in Chicago (??) but haven't heard anything since (about 2 weeks ago) so, I'm thinking this'll be one of those one shot type things.

[SoCalcaniac]

I'm impressed that he chose to play in the CHL rather than going over to Europe. With the excitement (albeit after the no NHL disappointment) that we all have about seeing the Staal, Ward, Ruutu, et al, in Norfolk, imagine what it will be like for the AHL regular fanbase to get to see NHLers.

I think all of these Minor Clubs fans will be beside themselves when this all starts to go down.... they're hockey fans, so obviously they follow the game, but what a boon for them to get a group of NHLers in their home building as opposed to getting a kid who was sent down or a someone who is rehabbing or whatever. I'm happy for them. You gotta be happy for someone.

As for Lukowich, I totally commend him. I've watched a few Lightning pre-game shows and he's usually 'the guy' kinda like KA is for us, that talks to their media team, and he truly seems like a guy who marches to his own beat. I admire those like that. Obviously he still has that appreciation for all that he has and how fortunate he is to be an NHLer.

Wouldn't it be a kick if O'Neill or Cole agreed to play for FireAntz or the PeeDee Pride!?

It would be a major kick, but I just can't see it..... not to say they wouldn't attempt to do it, I dunno.......... just can't see it. Brindy maybe (??) only because I think he 'has to play' hockey. Just thinkin' out loud.

Yeah I think there are all kinds of rules for NHLers playing in the minors, although I read in one of the DET papers that Chelios was planning to sign with the AHL team in Chicago (??) but haven't heard anything since (about 2 weeks ago) so, I'm thinking this'll be one of those one shot type things.

[Mona]

Wouldn't it be a kick if O'Neill or Cole agreed to play for FireAntz or the PeeDee Pride!?

I wondered the same thing myself.. and if they did, I would have a whole new respect for them.

[Mona]

Wouldn't it be a kick if O'Neill or Cole agreed to play for FireAntz or the PeeDee Pride!?

I wondered the same thing myself.. and if they did, I would have a whole new respect for them.

[NHLCanes]

I'd love to see any of the Canes sign with the Fireantz (or even Pee Dee for that matter). I'd have a whole new respect for them too. I'm a season ticket holder in Fayetteville, so I'll be there regardless, but it would certainly give Fayetteville and the SPHL some welcome attention. Former Cane Dave Karpa spent some time working out with the Fireantz last season until he was signed in the AHL.

I think it's great Lukowich's is going to Fort Worth - to me, it shows just how much he wants to play hockey. He's not as likely to take up a development spot in the CHL as he would if he went to an ECHL team.

[NHLCanes]

I'd love to see any of the Canes sign with the Fireantz (or even Pee Dee for that matter). I'd have a whole new respect for them too. I'm a season ticket holder in Fayetteville, so I'll be there regardless, but it would certainly give Fayetteville and the SPHL some welcome attention. Former Cane Dave Karpa spent some time working out with the Fireantz last season until he was signed in the AHL.

I think it's great Lukowich's is going to Fort Worth - to me, it shows just how much he wants to play hockey. He's not as likely to take up a development spot in the CHL as he would if he went to an ECHL team.

[puck_it]

well E and nhlcanes, i dont know about the rules structure in the league for the Fire Antz... there may be some restriciton... plus its not fair to the players on the teams in that league... they are in that league for a reson, its their skill level... sure some one like Cole or Brindy or O would tear it up but just doesnt seem right to me

[puck_it]

well E and nhlcanes, i dont know about the rules structure in the league for the Fire Antz... there may be some restriciton... plus its not fair to the players on the teams in that league... they are in that league for a reson, its their skill level... sure some one like Cole or Brindy or O would tear it up but just doesnt seem right to me

[Mona]

its not fair to the players on the teams in that league...

I was just talking to a co-worker about this E and he said the exact same thing. But you know the guys on the FireAntz team would love that opportunity. :) I have a feeling the FireAntz games will contain a lot of red. What are their colors by the way? Do they have a mascot?

[Mona]

its not fair to the players on the teams in that league...

I was just talking to a co-worker about this E and he said the exact same thing. But you know the guys on the FireAntz team would love that opportunity. :) I have a feeling the FireAntz games will contain a lot of red. What are their colors by the way? Do they have a mascot?

[nccanes]

well E and nhlcanes, i dont know about the rules structure in the league for the Fire Antz... there may be some restriciton... plus its not fair to the players on the teams in that league... they are in that league for a reson, its their skill level... sure some one like Cole or Brindy or O would tear it up but just doesnt seem right to me

Hasn't stopped the Euro leagues from employing 170+ players from the NHL. What about those players displaced?

Sh*t rolls downhill.

[nccanes]

well E and nhlcanes, i dont know about the rules structure in the league for the Fire Antz... there may be some restriciton... plus its not fair to the players on the teams in that league... they are in that league for a reson, its their skill level... sure some one like Cole or Brindy or O would tear it up but just doesnt seem right to me

Hasn't stopped the Euro leagues from employing 170+ players from the NHL. What about those players displaced?

Sh*t rolls downhill.

[NHLCanes]

Last year the Antz jerseys were white and black, and they have the yellow and red flames at the bottom and on the sleeves. I guess you could say the colors are white, black, yellow (or gold or whatever that color is) and red. The Antz have two mascots Anthony (who is an ant) and Slapshot (who is a bear with a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson on crack). Slapshot skates, Anthony doesn't, but he usually gets "exterminated" between the 2nd and 3rd periods anyway (you just have to be there :p ). You do see a fairly large amount of Canes colors and jerseys in the crowd - up until the end of last year, I didn't own an Antz jersey so I often wore a Canes jersey myself.

Also, this year the team is allowed 2 more players than they had last year (up 18 from 16) and 3 of those can be vets (I think around 210 games played gets you vet status, but i'm not sure of the exact number).
I don't think there's any danger of a whole team full of Canes, but a couple of them could really help these guys develop. The guys we get in Fayetteville are usually un-drafted, and they have to bust their butts if they want to get noticed. Last season, the booster club took the team to Raleigh for a game against Tampa Bay and they really seemed to look at it as an opportunity to learn from watching the NHL players. I don't think too many of them would be upset about having a couple on their team.

[NHLCanes]

Last year the Antz jerseys were white and black, and they have the yellow and red flames at the bottom and on the sleeves. I guess you could say the colors are white, black, yellow (or gold or whatever that color is) and red. The Antz have two mascots Anthony (who is an ant) and Slapshot (who is a bear with a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson on crack). Slapshot skates, Anthony doesn't, but he usually gets "exterminated" between the 2nd and 3rd periods anyway (you just have to be there :p ). You do see a fairly large amount of Canes colors and jerseys in the crowd - up until the end of last year, I didn't own an Antz jersey so I often wore a Canes jersey myself.

Also, this year the team is allowed 2 more players than they had last year (up 18 from 16) and 3 of those can be vets (I think around 210 games played gets you vet status, but i'm not sure of the exact number).
I don't think there's any danger of a whole team full of Canes, but a couple of them could really help these guys develop. The guys we get in Fayetteville are usually un-drafted, and they have to bust their butts if they want to get noticed. Last season, the booster club took the team to Raleigh for a game against Tampa Bay and they really seemed to look at it as an opportunity to learn from watching the NHL players. I don't think too many of them would be upset about having a couple on their team.

[Shell]

Thanks for the info!! This really cracked me up:
Slapshot (who is a bear with a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson on crack).

[Shell]

Thanks for the info!! This really cracked me up:
Slapshot (who is a bear with a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson on crack).

[NHLCanes]

Thanks for the info!! This really cracked me up:
Slapshot (who is a bear with a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson on crack).

Alas, I can't take credit for coming up with that, only for repeating it to anyone who will listen.. :p

Here's our beloved slapshot:

http://www.fireantzhockey.com/User/images/MWR2.jpg

There's more pictures of the mascot as well as last year's team at:
http://www.fireantzhockey.com/community.shtml

[NHLCanes]

Thanks for the info!! This really cracked me up:
Slapshot (who is a bear with a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson on crack).

Alas, I can't take credit for coming up with that, only for repeating it to anyone who will listen.. :p

Here's our beloved slapshot:

http://www.fireantzhockey.com/User/images/MWR2.jpg

There's more pictures of the mascot as well as last year's team at:
http://www.fireantzhockey.com/community.shtml

[Mona]

^^thank you for the info.. and when I saw Slapshot... I laughed out loud literally.. :laugh:

[Mona]

^^thank you for the info.. and when I saw Slapshot... I laughed out loud literally.. :laugh: