RecZone Renovation and Training Camp Plans (article)

[nccanes]

From the N&O:

Canes to renovate facilities
Practice rink upgrade to allow more preseason work in Raleigh
By LUKE DECOCK, Staff Writer

While most of the Carolina Hurricanes' attention is focused on the June 21-22 NHL Draft, with the Canes set to pick second overall, preparations for next season are beginning.

The Canes released their preseason schedule Monday, and as early as Wednesday could begin construction of a new dressing-room complex at the RecZone, the Raleigh practice rink where they plan to hold most of their scaled-down training camp this fall.

The first preseason game will be Sept. 19 at Florida. The home opener will be at the RBC Center on Sept. 25 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Carolina will face the Atlanta Thrashers three times but Florida only once.

Unlike years past, when the Canes have invited a large number of players for workouts at the RBC Center before spending more than a week in Florida, this season the Canes plan to invite only about 35 players to camp and to hold most of the camp at the RecZone.

The Canes plan to be in Raleigh for a week after opening with physicals Sept. 11, then spend less than a week practicing at TECO Arena in Estero, Fla., a facility that is part of the Canes' corporate umbrella. They will play three games in Florida, stop in Atlanta for a morning game on Sept. 23, then play three of their final four preseason games at the RBC Center.

The decision to invite fewer players to camp was one of the changes prompted by the Canes' miserable, last-place season. Spending more time training in Raleigh will be made possible by the renovations at the RecZone. If it goes well, this could be the last time the Canes spend any of camp in Florida.

The Canes have operated in tight quarters at the RecZone the past two seasons, using a converted dance studio as a dressing room and training area and padding in bathrobes and slippers through fans in the lobby to use the showers.

The renovation, expected to cost more than $300,000, will give the club 5,000 more square feet of space in a configuration similar to their complex at the RBC Center, with a new weight room, equipment area and offices.

Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said he expects the project to be finished in time for pre-training camp workouts in August.

"It's not as big as our facilities at the RBC Center, but it's just as functional," Rutherford said.

In return for turning the space over to the Hurricanes, RecZone owner John Biedermann said the team has committed to the rink for the next 12 years.

"They've got their 5,000 square feet," Biedermann said. "That got them happy, and it got me a contract."

Biedermann said he is still planning to add a second ice sheet to the RecZone. Originally, the Canes' training complex was scheduled to be part of that expansion, but it will now take place within the RecZone's existing walls.

The Canes also plan to send 18 to 20 prospects to a rookie tournament in Ottawa during the first week of September.

Unlike the rookie tournament the Canes have attended in Kitchener, Ontario, second-year players will also be eligible to participate in Ottawa, where Carolina's prospects will compete against those of the Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

Carolina assistant general manager Jason Karmanos said details are not completed.


Staff writer Luke DeCock can be reached at 829-8947 or ldecock@newsobserver.com



PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Sept. 19 at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 vs. Atlanta Thrashers at Estero, Fla., 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Tampa Bay Lightning, 6 p.m.

Sept. 23 at Atlanta Thrashers, 10:30 a.m.

Sept. 25 vs Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. Atlanta Thrashers, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.

[Shell]

The Canes have operated in tight quarters at the RecZone the past two seasons, using a converted dance studio as a dressing room and training area and padding in bathrobes and slippers through fans in the lobby to use the showers.

I sure will miss that!! I love Ronnie in a bathrobe LOL

[Turbulence]

So does that mean fan-interaction will be decreased/autographs not as easily accessable? Not a good move if so...it may be easier for the players but as a pro sports team in a not-traditionally-hockey market you need all of the player-fan interaction that you can get...
But maybe I'm wrong in that this interaction will decrease...

[nccanes]

So does that mean fan-interaction will be decreased/autographs not as easily accessable? Not a good move if so...it may be easier for the players but as a pro sports team in a not-traditionally-hockey market you need all of the player-fan interaction that you can get...
But maybe I'm wrong in that this interaction will decrease...

I think what it changes is that they will have the fan interaction at their discretion. Sure, that may result in less interaction, but I think the team deserves a bit of privacy when they are merely trying to get to the showers. ;)

So I guess the answer is "we'll see".

[nccanes]

I sure will miss that!! I love Ronnie in a bathrobe LOL

LOL Shell. That was a very jarring sight for me for some reason! ;) :eek2:

[Stormbringer]

So I guess the answer is "we'll see".

Eggs-actly my feelings regarding this matter...though it helps that I got a ton of autographs at the RecZone at the March 28th practice (Which, besides seeing the Canes up close for the last time that season, was my prime reason for attending due to my concern over the rumors about what this article cites). Just because you can't get autographs as freely doesn't necessarily mean the fan-interaction will be down. As long as the Canes keep up stuff like the Caniac Carnival, Skate With the Canes, especially letting fans attend practices (I may have asked this before, but aren't the Canes one of the very few teams to allow that, if not the only one?) etc., fan interaction should be fine. But as Eileen said, we'll see.

[Guyute]

especially letting fans attend practices (I may have asked this before, but aren't the Canes one of the very few teams to allow that, if not the only one?)

nope.
I can't say what percentage of the league holds open practices on a consistent basis... but I spent most of my youth watching the Flyguys practice in Vorhees, NJ.

[Stormbringer]

especially letting fans attend practices (I may have asked this before, but aren't the Canes one of the very few teams to allow that, if not the only one?)

nope.
I can't say what percentage of the league holds open practices on a consistent basis... but I spent most of my youth watching the Flyguys practice in Vorhees, NJ.

Okey dokey...I thought I heard somewhere that at least one team, the Red Wings, didn't allow open practices. But it's been a long time since I've heard that, any confirmation Wing fans (like FischerFan)?

[Kat]

I spend a bit of time over at the RecZone... they have already done a lot of the renovations, actually. If any of you have been there, what they have done is take the old bar/party room area and are converting it into the Canes locker room and shower. What used to be the pro shop has become the bar area, and they reduced the bathroom areas and made some of the space over there into the rental skate area and pro shop.

So basically, the Canes will be able to come out of the double doors where the bar used to be (next to the bleachers), and go right into the rink. I would imagine that they will put up some sort of rope barrier there that will prevent people from going into that goal end.

From what I hear, the second sheet is still pretty far into the future. I wish they would build it, though... more time for hockey. As it is, the C league there has 16 teams and they don't really accept any new players.

-Kat

[Jeff O Rocks]

I know they need their privacy and I respect them for that ..but I hope we can at least get a gander every now and then!! ;)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Here's my thoughts on this: They will be holding most (or all) of camp at the RecZone from now on!! That means you don't have to buy plane tickets to go see some of camp....assuming it will be somewhat open to the public. This brings the guys back into town sooner! I'm excited!!

As far as the fan interaction at the RecZone I'm guessing that Eileen is right....they will have more of a choice as to whether or not they face the throngs in the lobby. They won't have to come trotting through there to get to the showers, and they can always sneak out the back door. But they could have snuck out the back door every practice this year but not many did. I think there will still be the oppurtunity for autographs in the lobby on their way out. Of course, that is all just speculation.

[nccanes]

Okey dokey...I thought I heard somewhere that at least one team, the Red Wings, didn't allow open practices. But it's been a long time since I've heard that, any confirmation Wing fans (like FischerFan)?

I have no real idea, but I imagine the teams that have HUGE fan followings, like Detroit and Toronto, where tickets to games are difficult to come by and very expensive, that open practices could become unmanageable due to the size. I recall reading about the Leafs having an open practice shortly after Tom Barrasso was traded and there were something like 7,000 people there!

In any event, if the Wings and/or the Leafs were the only ones - that leaves 27 other teams that may have similar policies to the Canes concerning open practices. I am aware that both the Lightning and Thrashers have regular open practices. I think in some case the main Arena sets policy for open practices (or not). Due to security concerns (like Phillips arena being connected to CNN center), closing practices might be easier/less expensive, than having the level of security that would be required.

And adding to that, it was obvious from AP photos that the Sens have open practices, even into the playoffs.

Edited to add: Thanks for the "visual" Kat. Seems to make sense!

[Jeff O Rocks]

throngs in the lobby

was that a mistype?? did you mean thongs?????????? :D ...sorry...I am bad...I will take myself back to the Ladies Only Thread!! :p ;)

...and in all seriousness, I will be glad to have them back sooner too with no camp in Florida..but they will probably miss playing in the sun a little while longer in August!! :roll: I wish they were back HOME TODAY!! :sad:

[Canesluver]

I'm glad the team's getting better digs. It has to have been a little humiliating to have to walk past strangers (even though they're fans) in your bathrobe. Kinda like going out to the outhouse, or something. Just because we're a "small market," doesn't mean we have to think like one. The guys deserve a better facility.

And I agree w/SHC. I don't think the new arrangement will deter any of the guys that enjoy fan interaction. It's just the way things are -- some guys like to mingle and give autographs -- some don't.

It's nice to read about a 12-year commitment to the RecZone, too.
:)

[hyena]

i'll just echo what everybody else said. sure, it's great for us to have the guys running back and forth in their robes and such a few times each practice, but they really shouldn't have to put up with that. i think that the ones that signed before will still hang around and sign. i really can't see them totally snubbing all of us just because now they can.

it *will* be nice having them in town sooner. :spin:

[rons#1fan]

I'll put my two cents in and agree...I think it's good that they have their privacy and let's face it, there were some things I would have liked to have missed...i.e. Ronnie in his robe with white socks :crazy: ...yup, visions of my dad flashed into my head :eek2:

[caniac369]

throngs in the lobby

was that a mistype?? did you mean thongs??????????

Exactly what I was thinking... are we thinking about any certain player, eh Mona??? ;)

[Jeff O Rocks]

throngs in the lobby

was that a mistype?? did you mean thongs??????????

Exactly what I was thinking... are we thinking about any certain player, eh Mona??? ;)

I am totally innocent!! Whatever do you mean Erin??? :evil: :p ;)

[caniac369]

:angel: :angel: :angel: