Storr signs with Springfield Falcons

[nccanes]

Falcons add NHL goalie
Thursday, September 30, 2004
By FRAN SYPEK
fsypek@repub.com


SPRINGFIELD - Training camp opened for the Springfield Falcons yesterday and as the players reported for their physicals, they were joined by an NHL veteran who could hold the key to their season.

Goaltender Jamie Storr was signed to an American Hockey League contract yesterday and he'll be on the ice today at the Springfield Civic Center when the Falcons hold their first on-ice session.

"Jamie Storr brings us a goaltender with a great deal of NHL experience which will be an important factor to the team's success on the ice this season," said Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon.

The Falcons' goaltender should be a strength with Storr teaming with AHL rookie Brian Eklund. Last season, Eklund played in the East Coast Hockey League for the Pensacola IcePilots. The previous season, he joined the Falcons late in the season and beat the Worcester IceCats, 2-1 for his only AHL decision.

Storr, who played nine seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, ranks high on many of the NHL franchise's all-time lists. The native of Brampton, Ontario, registered the second-best goals against average (2.52) in Kings' history during his tenure with the club. He ranks fourth all-time with Los Angeles in wins (85) and second in shutouts (16).

The 6-foot-2, 192-pound netminder signed with Carolina prior to last season and split the campaign between the Hurricanes and their AHL affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters.

Storr was selected in the first round with the seventh overall choice in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the Kings' highest-drafted goaltender in team history. He was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team for both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons.

During the 1998-99 campaign, Storr recorded a 2.40 GAA, the best by a Kings' goalie since 1974-75 (Gary Edwards).

Limited to 19 games during the 2001-02 season due to injury, Storr posted a 9-4-3 record, 1.90 GAA, and .922 save percentage. In 219 career NHL games, Storr has registered a record of 85-86-23, 2.54 GAA, and .908 save percentage.

During Storr's junior career, he was named the Ontario Hockey League's Goaltender of the Year for 1993-94 and backstopped Team Canada to gold medals at the World Junior Championships in 1994 and 1995.

Unlike previous training camps, the Falcons will have their full complement of players today and they will be split into two groups for the on-ice sessions. Because of the NHL lockout, coach Dirk Graham won't need to wonder about late cuts from the parent Tampa Bay Lightning.

"We have everyone here," Landon said. "But I'd still rather see the NHL playing."

Besides Storr and Eklund, reporting for camp are Jeremy Van Hoof, Terry Virtue, Darren Rumble, Marc Busenberg, Jarrod Skalde, Craig Darby, Shane Willis, Mike Egener, Darren Reid, Gerard Dicaire, Steve McLaren, Ryan Craig, Adam Henrich, Dennis Packard, Doug O'Brien, Nikita Alexeev, Nick Tarnasky, Jean-Francois Soucy, Paul Ranger, Andreas Holmqvist, Andre Deveaux, Guillaume Lavallee, Evgeni Artukhin, Harlan Pratt, Kevin Reiter, David Bowman, Mitch Fritz, Trevor Segstro and Justin Kelly.

Graham and assistant coach Phil Russell will be busy the next few days forming line combinations and defensive pairings. The team plays its first preseason game Monday against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Shelton, Conn.

[nccanes]

Falcons add NHL goalie
Thursday, September 30, 2004
By FRAN SYPEK
fsypek@repub.com


SPRINGFIELD - Training camp opened for the Springfield Falcons yesterday and as the players reported for their physicals, they were joined by an NHL veteran who could hold the key to their season.

Goaltender Jamie Storr was signed to an American Hockey League contract yesterday and he'll be on the ice today at the Springfield Civic Center when the Falcons hold their first on-ice session.

"Jamie Storr brings us a goaltender with a great deal of NHL experience which will be an important factor to the team's success on the ice this season," said Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon.

The Falcons' goaltender should be a strength with Storr teaming with AHL rookie Brian Eklund. Last season, Eklund played in the East Coast Hockey League for the Pensacola IcePilots. The previous season, he joined the Falcons late in the season and beat the Worcester IceCats, 2-1 for his only AHL decision.

Storr, who played nine seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, ranks high on many of the NHL franchise's all-time lists. The native of Brampton, Ontario, registered the second-best goals against average (2.52) in Kings' history during his tenure with the club. He ranks fourth all-time with Los Angeles in wins (85) and second in shutouts (16).

The 6-foot-2, 192-pound netminder signed with Carolina prior to last season and split the campaign between the Hurricanes and their AHL affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters.

Storr was selected in the first round with the seventh overall choice in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the Kings' highest-drafted goaltender in team history. He was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team for both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons.

During the 1998-99 campaign, Storr recorded a 2.40 GAA, the best by a Kings' goalie since 1974-75 (Gary Edwards).

Limited to 19 games during the 2001-02 season due to injury, Storr posted a 9-4-3 record, 1.90 GAA, and .922 save percentage. In 219 career NHL games, Storr has registered a record of 85-86-23, 2.54 GAA, and .908 save percentage.

During Storr's junior career, he was named the Ontario Hockey League's Goaltender of the Year for 1993-94 and backstopped Team Canada to gold medals at the World Junior Championships in 1994 and 1995.

Unlike previous training camps, the Falcons will have their full complement of players today and they will be split into two groups for the on-ice sessions. Because of the NHL lockout, coach Dirk Graham won't need to wonder about late cuts from the parent Tampa Bay Lightning.

"We have everyone here," Landon said. "But I'd still rather see the NHL playing."

Besides Storr and Eklund, reporting for camp are Jeremy Van Hoof, Terry Virtue, Darren Rumble, Marc Busenberg, Jarrod Skalde, Craig Darby, Shane Willis, Mike Egener, Darren Reid, Gerard Dicaire, Steve McLaren, Ryan Craig, Adam Henrich, Dennis Packard, Doug O'Brien, Nikita Alexeev, Nick Tarnasky, Jean-Francois Soucy, Paul Ranger, Andreas Holmqvist, Andre Deveaux, Guillaume Lavallee, Evgeni Artukhin, Harlan Pratt, Kevin Reiter, David Bowman, Mitch Fritz, Trevor Segstro and Justin Kelly.

Graham and assistant coach Phil Russell will be busy the next few days forming line combinations and defensive pairings. The team plays its first preseason game Monday against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Shelton, Conn.

[Captain Slack]

I thought he'd signed to play in Germany this year?

[Captain Slack]

I thought he'd signed to play in Germany this year?

[nccanes]

That was the rumor, but I've been reading over the last month on the Lightning boards that they were pursuing him for Springfield and the team he was rumored to have signed with did not list him on the roster.

There are some big Falcons posters there that seemed to know he'd already found residence in Springfield, so I guess it's not too surprising.

The Lightning did an unusual thing and didn't assign their players to Springfield (like Willis), they waited until the CBA expired and then just signed a bunch to AHL contracts that automatically expire if the CBA is resolved. I wonder if that was a way to avoid putting anyone on waivers (not that we've read of anyone getting claimed off them).

[nccanes]

That was the rumor, but I've been reading over the last month on the Lightning boards that they were pursuing him for Springfield and the team he was rumored to have signed with did not list him on the roster.

There are some big Falcons posters there that seemed to know he'd already found residence in Springfield, so I guess it's not too surprising.

The Lightning did an unusual thing and didn't assign their players to Springfield (like Willis), they waited until the CBA expired and then just signed a bunch to AHL contracts that automatically expire if the CBA is resolved. I wonder if that was a way to avoid putting anyone on waivers (not that we've read of anyone getting claimed off them).

[nccanes]

Goaltender happy to be with Falcons
Friday, October 08, 2004
By FRAN SYPEK
fsypek@repub.com


SPRINGFIELD - He has seen the bright lights of L.A., been banished to the desert in Phoenix and given up by two NHL organizations.


He'll quote legends like John Wooden and Jimmy Connors.


If attitude and character mean anything, then Jamie Storr should get another chance at stopping pucks for an NHL team.


Whether that team be his current employer, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, or some other NHL team - if there is an NHL in which to play - remains to be seen. For now, Storr is happy to be playing hockey for the Springfield Falcons.


"I feel much stronger, physically and mentally now than when I was 18," Storr said. "This is an opportunity and if I don't make it, I'll have no one to blame but myself."


Storr is one of several veterans brought in by the parent Lightning who have had success.


"I've studied under a lot of great coaches and being in L.A., John Wooden (UCLA basketball) was one of them. He always said one of the biggest things is not to look past your next game. One of of his famous quotes was 'I don't expect to win every game, just the next one,' so that's the attitude we'll take with this team.


"We'll just take what we can control," he added. "We have high expectations for ourselves and no team that's ever won anything expected to just get by."


One thing Storr knows not to worry about is pressure.


"We're professional athletes and we're paid to deal with pressure," he said. "I feel like a kid again and that my career is just starting.


Storr enjoys playing for new Falcons coach Dirk Graham.


"Dirk's got the best of both worlds - he has not only been an elite NHL player, but now he's got the chance to be part of an elite NHL organization and that's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Storr said. "I'm excited to be part of this team and playing for a guy like Dirk Graham."


It's been 10 years since Storr was touted as one of the best NHL goaltending prospects ever, after the Kings chose him seventh overall in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. His 85 NHL victories are the fourth most by a Kings goalie.


Like most young goalies, Storr struggled to find his consistency. He was shuffled between L.A. and Phoenix (IHL) for his first three seasons and after spending five years in the NHL, the Kings let him become a free agent last season.


He didn't have a job until late in training camp when he was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes after former Falcon goalie Patrick DesRochers failed to earn the backup job to Kevin Weekes. Storr didn't win a game playing for a bad Hurricanes team and ended up with the Lowell Lock Monsters.


He nearly signed this season to play for Mannheim in the German Elite League when the Lightning offered him a contract.


"We did our homework," general manager Jay Feaster said. "We sent (goaltender coach) Jeff Reese to talk to him and we know we're getting both a quality player and quality person."


It's a win-win situation for both the Lightning and Falcons. The Falcons get a veteran goalie with 219 games of NHL experience and the Lightning knows it now has depth as such a crucial position if anything happens to Nikolai Khabibulin or John Grahame.


"Jimmy Connors once said 'the thing about experience is once you get it, you're too old to do anything with it,' " Storr said.


Now Storr can joke about being a prospect at 28.


"Realistically, you're always a prospect and no matter where you go, somebody always calls you 'kid,' " he said. "I remember Kelly Hrudey playing at 35 years old and I just hope to be walking when I'm 35."

[nccanes]

Goaltender happy to be with Falcons
Friday, October 08, 2004
By FRAN SYPEK
fsypek@repub.com


SPRINGFIELD - He has seen the bright lights of L.A., been banished to the desert in Phoenix and given up by two NHL organizations.


He'll quote legends like John Wooden and Jimmy Connors.


If attitude and character mean anything, then Jamie Storr should get another chance at stopping pucks for an NHL team.


Whether that team be his current employer, the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, or some other NHL team - if there is an NHL in which to play - remains to be seen. For now, Storr is happy to be playing hockey for the Springfield Falcons.


"I feel much stronger, physically and mentally now than when I was 18," Storr said. "This is an opportunity and if I don't make it, I'll have no one to blame but myself."


Storr is one of several veterans brought in by the parent Lightning who have had success.


"I've studied under a lot of great coaches and being in L.A., John Wooden (UCLA basketball) was one of them. He always said one of the biggest things is not to look past your next game. One of of his famous quotes was 'I don't expect to win every game, just the next one,' so that's the attitude we'll take with this team.


"We'll just take what we can control," he added. "We have high expectations for ourselves and no team that's ever won anything expected to just get by."


One thing Storr knows not to worry about is pressure.


"We're professional athletes and we're paid to deal with pressure," he said. "I feel like a kid again and that my career is just starting.


Storr enjoys playing for new Falcons coach Dirk Graham.


"Dirk's got the best of both worlds - he has not only been an elite NHL player, but now he's got the chance to be part of an elite NHL organization and that's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Storr said. "I'm excited to be part of this team and playing for a guy like Dirk Graham."


It's been 10 years since Storr was touted as one of the best NHL goaltending prospects ever, after the Kings chose him seventh overall in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. His 85 NHL victories are the fourth most by a Kings goalie.


Like most young goalies, Storr struggled to find his consistency. He was shuffled between L.A. and Phoenix (IHL) for his first three seasons and after spending five years in the NHL, the Kings let him become a free agent last season.


He didn't have a job until late in training camp when he was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes after former Falcon goalie Patrick DesRochers failed to earn the backup job to Kevin Weekes. Storr didn't win a game playing for a bad Hurricanes team and ended up with the Lowell Lock Monsters.


He nearly signed this season to play for Mannheim in the German Elite League when the Lightning offered him a contract.


"We did our homework," general manager Jay Feaster said. "We sent (goaltender coach) Jeff Reese to talk to him and we know we're getting both a quality player and quality person."


It's a win-win situation for both the Lightning and Falcons. The Falcons get a veteran goalie with 219 games of NHL experience and the Lightning knows it now has depth as such a crucial position if anything happens to Nikolai Khabibulin or John Grahame.


"Jimmy Connors once said 'the thing about experience is once you get it, you're too old to do anything with it,' " Storr said.


Now Storr can joke about being a prospect at 28.


"Realistically, you're always a prospect and no matter where you go, somebody always calls you 'kid,' " he said. "I remember Kelly Hrudey playing at 35 years old and I just hope to be walking when I'm 35."