Off-Season General Articles

[CanesChic]

Didn't know where else to put this..but some news on KAds role on the new NHLPA interim executive committee...


5-man committee takes Linden's spot
NHL players union makes it interim set-up
Thursday, July 13, 2006

The Associated Press

WHISTLER, British Columbia -- The NHL Players' Association elected a five-member interim executive committee yesterday but decided against picking a replacement for outgoing president Trevor Linden.

Two European executive committee members also will be elected early next month at meetings in Stockholm, Sweden.

Linden, the union president since 1998, announced Tuesday that he would not seek re-election. The Vancouver forward became frustrated by internal squabbling that involved 30 percent of the NHL's 700-plus players.

He said a group led by Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios and retired player Trent Klatt was still trying to oust executive director Ted Saskin, who took over for Bob Goodenow shortly after the lockout ended last year.

The decision to pick an interim board was a move designed to follow the union's constitution and appease members who questioned the way things were done in the past.

An interim president will be elected in early August from the seven executive committee members.

"I'm never satisfied," Chelios said. "But this is positive. It's a step in the right direction. Only time will tell what's going to happen. We want closure.

"I love the fact that we're going to start from scratch."

The 50 players in attendance had a late-night meeting Tuesday, and members of the dissenting group had their chance to express concerns over Saskin's hiring. The session dragged on into yesterday morning.

"It was a good discussion," Linden said. "I think it was a big step to getting on the right track. For the guys in that room, they feel like they can sense closure."

A vote on whether the new committee will become permanent will be later this year once all 30 NHL teams select player representatives. The player reps will vote to ratify the committee.

The new members include, Kevyn Adams of the Carolina Hurricanes, Alyn McCauley of the Los Angeles Kings, Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators, Mathieu Schneider of the Detroit Red Wings and Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars.

"What we've concluded made the most sense, and this is what all the guys here decided made the most sense, so that's why we are doing it that way," Saskin said yesterday, the final day of the annual meeting.

In the past, the union president and executive committee were elected at the summer meeting. Some players had been concerned that the election occurred without proper input from all the player representatives and didn't follow the union constitution.

Former player Stu Grimson, the NHLPA associate counsel, formed a committee to revise and update the union's constitution.

"We want to learn from the past, continue to grow as an association and to move in a better direction," Adams said. "I think this is a good situation with the guys where we can work together and start to really make this game great."

Linden and Saskin were key participants in brokering the new collective bargaining agreement that ended the season-long lockout.

Saskin, the union's chief negotiator, was promoted from his position as senior director last July after a conference call vote by player reps and executive committee members after Goodenow stepped down.

Goodenow resigned just one week after the union overwhelmingly approved to end a 301-day lockout by agreeing to a deal that went against everything he stood for -- including accepting a salary cap and linking it to league revenues.

Goodenow was originally expected to address Tuesday's meeting but declined when he learned Saskin would attend.

"What I was most encouraged about was the overwhelming consensus from the membership that we need to move forward in a productive fashion, and we've taken steps in that direction," Saskin said. "I'd love to have 700 guys on my side but that's not realistic at times."

[Zamboni]

Congratulations to Kevyn.

It certainly is an honor to be elected, and he seems to have the right combination of communication skills and motivation to do a great job. I just hope that the apparent bickering doesn't get him down, but he's so upbeat that it probably won't.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I think Kevyn would make a great president! You have to respect him and he just seems to me like he would be good at negotiating compromise. Except maybe with Cole. :evil:;)

[Cool Hand Luke]

I couldn't think of a better candidate. At least he is grounded and in touch with fans and really cares about issues. Hope he makes it.

[KaniacFever]

If I could vote, I would vote for him. There isn't a better person for the job atleast IMO.

[SoCalcaniac]

I didn't want a thread for this- and I don't see the old one that kinda talked about this- so this is as good a place as any. Regarding the Jersey's don't belong on the statues dude in today's paper- I'm sorry, but is this guy for real?

Jersey-tearing man defends statues' dignity

Eric Bishop, Staff Writer

Davis Jones had fire in his eyes Monday when he accused the N.C. Historical Commission of sitting back while sewn-on Carolina Hurricanes jerseys defiled state monuments.
Jones -- who broke the law by tearing jerseys down from Union Square statues dressed up for the Canes' playoff run -- blasted the Historical Commission for its silence about the jerseys during the 2002 playoffs and again this year.

"Do you think Andrew Jackson, sitting majestically on his horse while wearing a Hurricanes jersey was awe-inspiring and thought provoking?" Jones said to the commission. "No, it was a distraction and derailed the purpose of the monument to both educate and honor."
When Jones, 49, took the matter into his own hands on May 24, Capitol police stopped him and issued a citation for injuring the personal property of the state. The remaining jerseys were taken down soon afterward by Hurricanes staff.
The charges against Jones were dropped Friday after the Hurricanes, the actual owner of the jerseys, chose not to pursue the case, said State Capitol Police Chief Scott Hunter.
Canes spokesman Howard Sadel said the team would probably choose not to adorn the statues with jerseys in the future.
"For me, the bigger concern is someone on state property wielding a box cutter with an obvious hairline temper," Sadel said. :lol:
Jones, a Raleigh resident who said he likes the Hurricanes, made no apologies for his actions.
"I considered it not only a responsibility, but a duty to go down there and take those jerseys off."
Despite officials' statutory obligation to obtain approval from the Historical Commission before altering memorials owned by the state, the commission was not contacted in 2002 or this year, said Joe Newberry, public information officer for the Department of Cultural Resources.
Jones said N.C. Administration secretary Britt Cobb gave the Canes permission to put up the jerseys without getting authorization from the commission. He chalked it up to a "miscommunication" between between his agency and the Department of Cultural Resources, which oversees the Historical Commission. Cobb didn't return phone calls Monday.
Members of the commission wouldn't comment on their responsibility for the statues' regalia, but chairman Jerry Cashion said he was taking steps to ensure that it didn't happen again.
"I share the outrage over the desecration of the monuments," he said. :crazy:
Not everyone took the jerseys so seriously. "I thought it was a great way to enjoy the winning streak," said Terri Morris, 50, as she ate lunch on a bench next the statue of Charles Aycock. "I came up and took a picture."

[Caniac]

These people have so little going on in their lives that have to get upset about something like this.

Go read a book.

[CajunCaniac]

If anything, the jerseys made people take MORE notice of the statues. I don't work downtown, but I doubt I would even bother to look at the statues as I walked by. But if old Andy had a Canes sweater on, you bet I'd go up and take a closer look.

[Serendipity]

If anything, the jerseys made people take MORE notice of the statues. I don't work downtown, but I doubt I would even bother to look at the statues as I walked by.

Bingo! I work downtown, right across from those statues and never look at them. I can't recall ever seeing any school groups or "tourists" scrutinize them.

I don't understand why this is still a story. This guy's 15 minute hissy fit was up ages ago. The media will hang on to anything. I wonder how many other Historical Commission meetings they've covered?

[sparkyzsportz]

I noticed he is just now opening his big floppy mouth after the charges were dropped on Friday .... LOSER! And where was he 3 years ago with our first run for The Cup? .... LOSER!!

[c-girl]

The real question is this: Has he scheduled that corncobremovalfromhistailectomy yet?

[talkingcanes]

I don't understand why this is still a story. This guy's 15 minute hissy fit was up ages ago. The media will hang on to anything. I wonder how many other Historical Commission meetings they've covered?

because it is the dog days of summer and this "news" takes no effort. of course if they took everything out of the paper and off TV news that wasn't really news, it would be a pamphlet and a commercial length broadcast. this guy has the right to his opinion bizarre as it is, but I'm with the person who was more concerned over the anger and box cutter. jerseys or no jerseys, who cares? the Canes won the Cup and this guy gets his 15 minutes. I'll take the memories from the Cup and he can frame his press clippings.

[nccanes]

I loved Sadel's nice dig at him about wielding a boxcutter, lol.

Chaps me that this guy can break the law and come out as a headline (the story's been picked up on the wire) and it casts a negative light on the Canes and/or their host city, when it had nothing to do with either.

I don't blame them for saying they won't bother in the future.

[EpiK-KA14]

[Jersey article]
I actually sent an e-mail to Jerry Cashion (the commission chair who said he was taking steps to prevent it from happening again. His address is jccashion@aol.com.

Here's what I sent:

Dear Mr. Cashion,

I just wanted to express to you my utter disappointment at your position regarding placing the Carolina Hurricanes hockey jerseys on the statues in downtown Raleigh.

How is it possible you were not aware of the civic pride this team has brought to the entire community? Pride and togetherness that was made possible by the actions and efforts of the men we so honored by creating permanent likenesses of them. I have read your argument and that of Mr. Jones and found them laughable. I am willing to bet those statues got more attention during the short period of time when they were adorned with the jerseys than they had the rest of the year. How could you have ANY problem drawing attention to these men, especially during Memorial weekend day? A time of the year we are supposed to celebrate their accomplishments. What better way to do that than to show pride in our community!

You seem to be living in the past, instead of the present made possible by those from the past we have chosen to so honor. Please reconsider your position.

Sincerely,
Mona from the LetsGoCanes.com site

(OK, so I signed my real name to the letter, but everything else was legit! :D)

[puck_it]

why do you feel the need to quote the largest posts and not trim them down

[EpiK-KA14]

why do you feel the need to quote the largest posts and not trim them down

My first post in almost a month and yet again you find a reason to complain about something I did instead of talking about the topic at hand.

What a surprise.

(PS: Not that it makes the slightest bit of difference to you, but I quoted the post so people would know which of the articles in this thread I was referencing.)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

The real question is this: Has he scheduled that corncobremovalfromhistailectomy yet?

Perhaps we should start a collection drive to help cover his medical costs.

[EpiK-KA14]

Perhaps we should start a collection drive to help cover his medical costs.

Why would we want to help him? Unless of course it's to ADD a second corn cob...

[puck_it]

(PS: Not that it makes the slightest bit of difference to you, but I quoted the post so people would know which of the articles in this thread I was referencing.)

oh, you mean the only one about the jerseys. yeah, thanks for clarifying.

[CanesChic]

A little blurb about Kevyn:

http://post-journal.com/articles.asp?articleID=5177


Yes, I know. It's like being desperate for anything, any news, any little bit isn't it?

[apolinar]

Jamestown Savings bank, located in Jamestown, NY, home of lucille ball.

[SoCalcaniac]

This probably deserves it's own thread, but this is a good spot I guess!

The Canes sure are getting lots of attention!

(on a side note, when we were in Columbus for the WC of Hockey Team USA training camp, they sold lotto tickets in the team store-lol)


N.C. lottery wants Carolina Hurricanes tickets

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina lottery players may soon get a shot to win with the Stanley Cup champions.
The N.C. Education Lottery Commission agreed Thursday to let executive director Tom Shaheen go forward with a contract with MDI, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corp., to produce scratch-off tickets with the Carolina Hurricanes logo on them.
MDI has the exclusive rights to the National Hockey League and its team logos, lottery spokeswoman Alice Garland said. The tickets, which would offer team merchandise as prizes, could be in place before the new season starts this fall, she said.
Commission members, meeting by teleconference, were OK with the plan even though GTECH Holdings Corp. already runs North Carolina's instant-ticket and lotto-style games and Scientific Games was at the center of controversy over how the lottery was passed in the General Assembly. Three people employed by Scientific Games were charged in May with illegally lobbying lawmakers.
The commission also agreed to keep GTECH as its game vendors even after the company is bought by Italian lottery operator Lottomatica for $4.8 billion in cash in January. The commission hired a consultant and issued a 14-page report that reviewed financial and other information before making the decision, Garland said.
The commission also said it hoped to decide by next week who would win the contract to make draw machines and the balls for the nightly pick-'em drawings that will begin later this year.

[ONeillsNo1Fan]

Oh now that would be awesome.

[SoCalcaniac]

I realize I'm often in my own flaky little socal world, (see I'm building up to my goof) but it's not occurred to me to check in on CH.com much these days - don't ask why, no clue there :lol: anyhoo- Sundheim put in a blog entry, with some cool tid-bits pls excuse if you've already read all this! ;) :

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/custom/rad8ED80.asp


MEDIA ALERTS: I'm not exactly sure when it will be in the magazine, but Sports Illustrated hockey writer Michael Farber is in Thunder Bay with a photographer right now, working on a story about the sod farm that is growing hockey players. Eric Staal and his brothers and parents will sit down with Michael for a second day of interviews today, and I would guess the story will be in one of the next two issues of Sports Illustrated.
Erik Cole did a photo shoot and sit-down interview with Wake Living magazine a couple weeks back, and the issue of the free publication with Colesy on the cover will hit newsstands around Wake County in the fall. The article will also be in the magazine Fifteen501, which is available throughout the Triangle outside of Wake County. If you don't live around here, I believe you will be able to see the magazines online at wakeliving.com (http://www.wakeliving.com/) and Fifteen501.com (http://www.fifteen501.com/).

[nccanes]

Long article from Oswego's paper

http://www.pall-times.com/articles/2006/08/08/sports/sports1.txt

What was his first reaction to hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head?

“It was a lot lighter than I thought it was going to be. When it got handed off to me, I braced myself for something pretty heavy. But it wasn't as heavy as I thought it was going to be,” Cole said. “It's almost like a blur, it happened so fast. I think I kissed it first, then threw it up over my head.”

Interestingly, Cole said he felt more emotion seeing his teammates hoist the Cup than when he did it himself.

“You don't even realize what you're feeling when you're doing it. But when you're watching the other guys on your team, that's when I think the emotion hits you more. You don't look at your own situation the way someone else does.”

Cole mentioned Rod Brind'Amour as an example. “I don't think he appreciates what he's done as much as I do.”

[Zamboni]

^That's a really nice article. It's easy for me to forget that his rookie season here was our first run at the cup. Erik just never seemed like a rookie to me.

[livinthedream]

I thought this was kinda funny. In Sunday's Q/Opinion section of the N&O, the discussion topic was of all things, "Is the Triangle Dull? What would brighten it up?" Reading the whole section you really got a perspective on how goofy and uptight folks are around here, but one of the lead articles referenced the infamous downtown statue debacle.


A lively city would stand up to 'No-It-Alls' who are quick to frown-down public art

Scott Huler, Special to the News & Observer
You want a recipe for a dull town? Try this.
Somebody -- say, the Hurricanes -- does something bright, funny, interesting: They celebrate their thrilling run for the Stanley Cup by placing -- with written permission, mind you -- hockey jerseys on statues near the Capitol. Then somebody else -- say, some guy named Davis Jones -- flips his wig and goes after the jerseys with a knife. He doesn't make a complaint; he doesn't circulate a petition; he doesn't make a phone call. He just takes out a weapon and attacks.

Final result? First, the chairman of the state Historical Commission, Jerry Cashion, inconceivably supports the attacker ("I share the outrage over the desecration of the monuments." Um, excuse me, but hockey jerseys? Desecration?). Worse, the entire city of Raleigh scuttles backward, saying, "Shhh! Don't anybody do anything that might get somebody to flip his wig!" The Hurricanes reasonably elected not to press charges (no point in dragging this out; good for them). Just the same, they said they were unlikely to do anything similarly bright again.
Our loss. Dullness 1, excitement 0, end of the first period.
.........[article continues]


[Gets out bullhorn]...Citizens of the Triangle. Here's an idea. Get off your a$$e$ and come to a freakin hockey game.

[nccanes]

I didn't realize Ivan Lendl was involved with the Whalers.

Interesting that he and his family still follow the team - apparently his daughter is a big Canes fan and they were in Buffalo during the ECF.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1155382991946&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

You seem to have fond memories of Toronto.

I have been here many, many times. I came ... when Carolina was playing Game 3 (of the NHL Eastern Conference final) in Buffalo. I took my 13-year-old, who is a big Hurricane fan, and we went to Rochester. We played a practice round for a junior golf qualifier (and) from there we drove to Buffalo to watch the game, which we lost. It was painful leaving that stadium with everyone chanting, "Let's go, Buffalo!" Then we drove here, stayed at the hotel and went to the Hockey Hall of Fame the next morning. Actually, we stayed at the Four Seasons, where I used to stay when I played and a friend of mine, a Czech fellow, was the manager at the time. I just emailed him then and I said: We stayed at the Four Seasons. It's as good as ever — oh, and by the way, it's 27 years ago we met there.

[StormShaman]

I didn't realize Ivan Lendl was involved with the Whalers.


Oh yes. During the Richard Gordon ownership era, Lendl was one of several people (including Roger Staubach) who formed Gordon's "advisory committee". None of them knew hockey at all, but for some reason the equally hockey-clueless owner of the Whalers thought that they were perfect to advise him on how to run his team into the ground.

[SoCalcaniac]

Didn't want to start a thread on this- but for all you Hockey News Subscribers...... just got the "season preview' edition (the glossy) in the mail today, and we have another Caniac Celeb in our midst (well two that I know personally, perhaps more!) SHC and Mr. SHC adorn Page 82, along with a great crowd shot of caniacs at the 1st parade at the RBCC. It's a great shot of the crowd and nice photo of Mr & Mrs.....;)

Mr. Socal, who's still in a fog from meds and recovering from surgery, immediately recognized them & shot right out of the chaise when he saw them- he says "so many people we know are celebs now- first Canesluver and her XM gigs, then puck_it and the tailgate crew on NHL.com & now the SHC's in THN!" :lol:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

LMAO

Mr SHC brought the mail in as we were on our way out the door to dinner. I had to check out the article and as soon as I spotted us I screamed "Holy sh*t!!" and scared the crap out of the Mr. We'd both had about 2 hours sleep, worked all day and high-tailed it straight to the arena....not much beauty sleep the night before....figures that would be our national media debut. :lol:

CL is there in the frame as well and Mr CL must be just out of it. Thanks to them we had a great spot!

[Caniac]

How come all those pre-games I hung out with Guyute, Shell and CL, you never came around? Huh? Huhhuhhuh?

:beatup:

I must smell.

:(

[Canesluver]

LMAO

Mr SHC brought the mail in as we were on our way out the door to dinner. I had to check out the article and as soon as I spotted us I screamed "Holy sh*t!!" and scared the crap out of the Mr. We'd both had about 2 hours sleep, worked all day and high-tailed it straight to the arena....not much beauty sleep the night before....figures that would be our national media debut. :lol:

CL is there in the frame as well and Mr CL must be just out of it. Thanks to them we had a great spot!

Oh, cool! I finally subscribed about 4 or 6 weeks ago. I wish it would start coming soon!

[CANESFREAKinDET]

^ SUCH a good article! :spin:

[livinthedream]

Couple of articles in today's N&O, won't repeat them completely, here are the links:

General article about defending the Cup:
http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/477232.html

Article about coordinating schedules between Wolfpack and Canes at RBC, sharing three dates this year:
http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/477015.html

Excerpt, also includes commentary on Red Wings, TBL, and Lessons from 2002:

No guarantees for Canes' title defense
History fickle for Cup champions
Luke DeCock, Staff Writer
The plans have been made, the contracts signed and the haggling finished. With training camp little more than a month away, the new edition of the Carolina Hurricanes that will defend the Stanley Cup title has taken all-but-final shape.

Six players whose names will be engraved on the Cup are gone, five as free agents and one by trade. There are three new arrivals.

Is that too much turnover? Not enough? In August, it's easy to be optimistic and hard to be certain.

Of the past 20 teams to win the Stanley Cup, only one has missed the playoffs the next season, while a quarter have gone back to the finals and half have made it at least to the conference finals -- halfway to a repeat.

But history also shows that over the past decade, the teams with the least turnover tend to have the best odds at winning again. Only the 1998 Detroit Red Wings have done it.

But teams that lose five or fewer players have consistently returned to at least the conference finals and finished in the NHL's top five the next season.

None of the teams that lost more than five players finished higher than sixth overall the next season, although the Dallas Stars did return to the 2000 Cup finals.

Five appears to be some sort of cutoff, and the Hurricanes straddle that number. While they lost six players, two were late-season rentals -- Doug Weight and Mark Recchi -- who weren't part of the team's core.

Exit Weight, Recchi, Martin Gerber, Aaron Ward, Matt Cullen and Josef Vasicek. Enter Scott Walker, Trevor Letowski and John Grahame.

"We think the guys that we added are along the lines of what brought success for us," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "Both Letowski and Walker have really good character. We know John Grahame and based on what we know about him we think he will fit into our team."

Did the Hurricanes make the right moves? Time will tell. But history also tells there's no sure formula for success when it comes to defending a title in the NHL.

[CaniacKikiBB13]

I saw this on ch.com - Senate approved a resolution commending the 'Canes:
http://dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=843&Month=6&Year=2006

And the House version:
http://price.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=45795

Pretty cool...:D

[nccanes]

Didn't want to start a thread on this- but for all you Hockey News Subscribers...... just got the "season preview' edition (the glossy) in the mail today, and we have another Caniac Celeb in our midst (well two that I know personally, perhaps more!) SHC and Mr. SHC adorn Page 82, along with a great crowd shot of caniacs at the 1st parade at the RBCC. It's a great shot of the crowd and nice photo of Mr & Mrs.....;)



Okay - either I'm getting old or there are 2 versions. I was at the Cary B&N (due to soccer carpool duties) and I swear I leafed thru every damn page in that issue and found no parade photos. I thought I recalled a 80-something page mentioned, but that was smack dab in the middle of player stats. Am I missing something? This was the more "magazine-like" edition glossier pages?

Of course, I didn't buy it - by the time my page-by-page inspection (and I even looked thru the Sporting News hockey preview in case I got the publication wrong) I was running late for pick-up and didn't have time to stand in line to buy them. So I don't have them with me.

help?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

It's THN the 2006-2007 Yearbook. Big pic of Lundquist, smaller ones of Brodeur, DiPietro and Sean Avery on the cover. It's a shot of the crowd from the perspective of the stage in front of the RBC. And it's on page 82. That's where the 4 page team reports (each team gets 2 pages of text and 2 of charts) are and page 81 and 84 are the player stats charts for Calgary and us. Did you maybe just see those charts and assume that whole section was all charts?

[nccanes]

Okay - maybe this is something else. The edition I saw had a big old Sidney face (faux shield and all) on the cover. It's similar to what you describe, with sections on each team (I want to say 2 pages) and then just an alphabetical list of all players with their mug shot and recent stats.

I swear I paged thru the entire g-damned thing - but definitely the 80s.

My guess is that is said "preview" rather than yearbook. It was more glossy than the regular editions, but still pretty floppy, lol.

Aha! I think it was the Fantasy Guide:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/malibustu/PBK06_Cover_US.jpg

Not the Yearbook:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/malibustu/COVERNy1.jpg

Glad I didn't get it just thinking I wasn't finding it, lol.

[caneshockeychick]

I don't have a scanner here at work but my 2006-2007 Yearbook has Rod Brind'Amour as the "Big Guy" in the middle w/smaller pics of Avery and Lecavalier.

And I see SHC and CL on pg 82 ;)

[SoCalcaniac]

I don't have a scanner here at work but my 2006-2007 Yearbook has Rod Brind'Amour as the "Big Guy" in the middle w/smaller pics of Avery and Lecavalier.

And I see SHC and CL on pg 82 ;)


Yeah, because there are like 20 versions of the "yearbook cover" that THN puts together- including a "Canadian cover"-- it's really friggin annoying cause why wouldn't we get Rod on OUR cover (as Mr. Socal whined out loud while still woozy on percocet lol) since the Canes are our team? And no offense to King Henrik, he's cute and all, but I'm not interested in him being on the cover of my yearbook. years past, they'd have someone from the Flyers on the cover, or some other Northeast somebody but never one that showcased a Southeast team, well at least not mailed to a Southeast zip code. Very irritating. /rant over (sorry)

E-sorry I caused confusion! I forgot to mention the hip new thing - the 'ol 'fantasy guide' - used to be you just had the dang yearbook now there's all this extra stuff....... ;)

CHC- glad you got the "right" cover down there!

[caneshockeychick]

I'll try to scan my copy tonight at home.

[Teaching 4's]

As a teacher... I enjoy reading Carolina Parent Magazine (Free, Got this one at Borders, when I picked up my Wake Living(Great Cole article) The Carolina Parent Magazine has Great Child Development Stuff inside... But this months Editor's Notes were all about the Canes, and how they have Model Behavior, and how they are wonderful Parents, and Role Models for our children... (Especially at Beginning and End of Article)
Check it out.. I thought it was a really nice Pat on the Back for our Team.
Enjoy...!!!

www.carolinaparent.com (go to editorials)
__________________________________________________ _______________

Editor's Note
Model Behavior

August 01, 2006 - For 10 months this year, we watched as Rod Brind'Amour, Bret Hedican and Glen Wesley raced up and down the ice, slammed bodies into the boards and endured bone-crunching hits. We cheered as Cory Stillman and Kevyn Adams scored goals and served penalties. And we held our breath as Erik Cole skated to the net for one exciting penalty shot after another.

After such dramatic displays of speed and skill and strategy, you'd think it would be difficult to imagine those same players — fathers all — cruising the aisles at OfficeMax, stocking up on school supplies for their kids. Or helping them with homework. Or picking up the family's dry cleaning.

You'd think. But you'd be wrong.

It's surprisingly easy to imagine them in these everyday situations because all of the players, those with children and those without, appear to be genuinely nice men. They play hard, but they play fair. They're dedicated professionals who understand and respect the influence they have as role models for our community and, especially, for our children.

Skeptics might think the Carolina Hurricanes' marketing machine is working overtime, spinning tales of community service and familial devotion; others may point to the organization's leadership, assuming that the powers-that-be are keeping the players in line. But I give credit to the players themselves — even though I don't know any of them personally. Over the years, they've had plenty of chances to embarrass themselves, their teammates and their fans. (Goodness knows, countless professional athletes do.) But time and time again our players have made us proud to be Canes fans — during losing seasons and triumphant ones.

In parenting circles, it's impossible to overestimate the power of a positive role model. Rarely can parents rely on celebrities or sports figures to provide children with appropriate guidance; more often the responsibility falls squarely on their own shoulders. Want to make sure your kids don't cut class? Show them how much you value their education by staying involved and paying attention. (And read Lisa Hoffman's article, "Is Your Kid in School Today?" on page XX of this issue.) Need your child to eat more vegetables? Fill your own fork first. (And read Robin Whitsell's article, "The Food Funnel," on page XX.) Hoping to end your tween's disrespectful backtalk? Stop and listen to how you talk to the people in your life. (And read Loriann Oberlin's article, "Curbing Balktalk," on page XX.)

The opportunities to teach children by example are endless, as are opportunities for each of us to learn from the amazing individuals around us — even the ones we don't know.

This month in Carolina Parent magazine, we remind parents that they are their children's most influential examples. But we also celebrate two very special kinds of parental role models. Have a box of tissues at the ready when you read Carol McGarrahan's emotional article about pediatric organ donation on page 61. In it, we're introduced to three heroic families whose lives were changed irrevocably by a life-saving organ donation. No less touching is Robin Whitsell's article on page XX that explores the enormous sacrifices made by North Carolina's military families. Both articles feature parents who have made — and continue to make — difficult choices in the name of what they think is right for themselves, for their children and for people they've never met.

As I posed for this photo with the Stanley Cup last month, I couldn't help but think about how lucky we are to have been a part of such an awesome Stanley Cup victory. For many of us, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But we're even luckier still to have watched the Hurricanes play with integrity and enthusiasm. Young or old, we'll learn more from their example of good sportsmanship than we will from touching the Cup. Although, it must be said, that part feels pretty good, too.

Cathy Ashby

Editor

[apolinar]

are you kidding me? You have a better cover?

[livinthedream]

Wardo's back in town.........


Ward sheds summer skin, backup status
Luke DeCock, Staff Writer

Cam Ward made his way back to Raleigh on Wednesday, the conclusion of a wild summer for the 22-year-old Carolina Hurricanes goalie. Winning the Stanley Cup was only the beginning.

After being awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP, his post-victory tour has taken him from Raleigh to Vancouver to New York to Raleigh to Edmonton to Durham to Edmonton to Los Angeles to Edmonton to Hawaii and finally back to Edmonton -- a two-month odyssey that included a center-stage victory lap at the NHL Award Ceremony, appearances on VH1, NBC and the ESPYs and, somewhere in the middle of all that, his wedding and honeymoon.

"It's obviously been very busy with the schedule I've had," Ward said. "That being said, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Winning the Stanley Cup, my wedding -- it has resulted in the best summer of my life. It's a time I've cherished."

Just this week, he spent his day with the Stanley Cup in the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park, his hometown. Once that was over, so was his summer.

It was one Ward won't soon forget, but he has no choice. The new season looms, full of new responsibilities and pressure. Ward has a tremendous load on his shoulders with Martin Gerber gone and the No. 1 goalie job his, but all the extracurricular activities cut into his training time in an already shortened summer.

"At the beginning I was a little bit concerned," Ward said. "It was overwhelming. At the same time, I had to hold myself accountable and get myself in shape for camp."

Ward and his new wife Cody will take a few days to set up housekeeping before he joins his teammates at the RecZone for pre-camp practices. He'll be coming into camp not as a rookie looking to secure his spot on the team, but as the de facto starter after his playoff performance.

After playing only 28 games last year -- he played almost as many, 23, during the playoffs -- Ward will be expected to play perhaps twice that this time around.

"To tell you the truth, nothing has really changed in my mind-set," Ward said. "I want to come into camp in good shape and try to earn that No. 1 spot. We signed another great goaltender in John Grahame. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to meet him."

[livinthedream]

^^^T4, thanks for the great post from Carolina Parent, couldn't agree more at how fortunate we are that our team has such genuinely nice guys and such positive role models.

[caneshockeychick]

Nasty storms down here last night, power kept going on and off, so, no scanning from me. Its that time of year here where everyday at 5 we get these things. Ugh!!

As soon as I can, I'll post my Yearbook cover.

[Captain Slack]

'Canes Ward's whirlwind summer

Canadian Press

8/24/2006 1:56:49 PM

(CP) - Cam Ward's whirlwind summer finally took him back to Raleigh, N.C., this week where on Thursday he and his newlywed Cody were closing out the sale on their new home.

What a summer it's been for the native of Sherwood Park, Alta. From the second he left the ice with the Conn Smythe trophy as NHL playoff MVP in the wake of Carolina's Game 7 win over Edmonton on June 19, the 22-year-old Ward hasn't had a second to catch his breath.

From catching a private movie screening with celebs such as Tom Hanks to meeting Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers - and getting married in the midst of it all - he's been all over the place.

"It's been a very busy summer but at the same time I wouldn't trade it in for anything," Ward said Thursday from Raleigh. "Beginning with the Stanley Cup and topping it off with my wedding, it resulted in the best year of my life."

His travels took him to New York June 29-30, where he and Hurricanes star centre Eric Staal did an FHM Magazine photo shoot and made TV appearances on VH1 and ESPN.

"And we actually got invited by (star Hollywood producer) Jerry Bruckheimer himself to go see a private screening of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 before it came out," Ward said excitedly. "That was really cool. Tom Hanks was sitting a couple of rows ahead of us and Regis Philbin was nearby, too. So we were on Cloud 9."

Then came the ESPYs, ESPN's annual sports awards gala, July 16 in Los Angeles.

"That was just awesome," said Ward. "I ended up taking my wife's brother, who's a big sports fan. It was pretty neat to go to really the pinnacle of sports awards shows where all the big-time sports celebrities are."

There, Ward caught up again with actor Cuba Gooding Jr.

"He's a big hockey fan. He was there for Game 7 and actually celebrated with us after the game," Ward said. "But I obviously met some NFL and NBA stars like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. It was a big thrill for myself to talk to Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis from the champion Steelers."

Ward had to introduce himself to all these star athletes. But once he told them he was the goalie on the Stanley Cup champions, they all clicked in.

"When you do say that they know what you're talking about. But until you say that, they just think you're another fan," he said with a laugh.

The highlight, no doubt, was his July 22 marriage to Cody. The ceremony was in his native Sherwood Park while the reception shifted to Edmonton. The Stanley Cup wasn't on hand but another trophy certainly was.

"The Conn Smythe was right beside the head table," Ward recalled fondly. "That was great. It was the first time that I had seen it with my name actually on it. So was pretty neat."

It was a big hit with his guests, too.

"I look at the pictures now from the wedding and I see a lot of people posing with the Conn Smythe," he said laughing.

A 10-day honeymoon in Hawaii then followed. Somehow through all of it, he's kept in pretty good shape.

"As busy as I've been, I have to hold myself accountable and get myself in the gym because really, that comes first," said Ward. "That's my job, it's my responsibility to be in shape despite the limited free time I've had."

He's obviously a celebrity back home, where on Monday he took the Stanley Cup to Sherwood Park Arena and shared it with kids who likely have now forgiven him for breaking their hearts by beating their Oilers.

But despite the dream-like summer and his elevated status both at home and around the NHL, the calm and collected Ward insists he won't let it affect him.

"To tell you the truth, I'm the same person today that I was before the Stanley Cup," he said. "Nothing has changed with my mindset."

He started last season as the backup to Martin Gerber before taking over in the first round of the playoffs against Montreal. He went on to become the first rookie goalie since Philadelphia's Ron Hextall in 1987 to win the Conn Smythe and the first rookie netminder to capture the Cup since Montreal's Patrick Roy in 1986.

Now he enters camp next month as the clear-cut No. 1 goalie ahead of newcomer John Grahame, but you wouldn't know it form listening to Ward.

"I'm going to come into camp and try to earn the No. 1 spot because by no means will it be handed to me," said Ward. "I have to earn it. And I don't want to get the attitude that it is going to be handed to me. I still have to work for it."

I love Cam! I really do. :)

[CaniacKikiBB13]

Someone showed me this one today - it was in a Knightdale newspaper...

http://www.easternwakenews.com/news/story/2992281p-9419117c.html


Hurricanes trainer savors Cup of ice

By DON FULLER, MANAGING EDITOR


KNIGHTDALE — Staying cool under pressure meant aptly named Pete Friesen putting ice on that miracle on ice.

The Carolina Hurricanes head trainer/conditioning coach dealt with minor injuries, major out-of-action cases and nine members of a 20-man roster who underwent surgery at some point or other during their Stanley Cup capture.

If the stress ever frazzled his nerves, it didn’t faze Friesen while reliving the 2005-06 campaign as Knightdale Chamber of Commerce “Eye Opener Breakfast” guest speaker Aug. 4 at The Sports Page restaurant. Because the same crisis-handler who tended bumps, bruises, muscle tears, concussions and broken bones concentrated strictly on keeping his audience in stitches.

“I’m usually presenting in front of hockey people,” he explained early in the lighthearted address. “About four weeks after the season is over, my language usually cleans up enough for me to go back out in public.”

Never a skating fanatic himself, the Canada native and current Planter’s Walk resident navigated the slippery footing underneath his profession. In fact, his first step shattered any future mystery. “Hey, we’re coming back to defend,” Friesen vowed. “We want to win the championship again.”

Admittedly ready to “talk about anything,” his emphasis centered around last season’s crowning achievement.

“I know one staff guy who’s been in the National Hockey League for 35 years, and this was his first title,” Friesen said. “There’s players like Doug Weight who’ve enjoyed long careers but never experienced a conference finals — much less a Stanley Cup finals. Then he got his chance.”
Knightdale itself will gain closer contact with the trophy Sept. 10, when Friesen takes his turn as ceremonial “Keeper of the Cup” for a day.

“I’m gonna go to Starbucks and drink a little bit of my favorite beverage out of it,” Friesen said, smiling. “I’ll also have family coming down (from Canada) to touch it. ... I think my kids will use it in a street hockey game in the neighborhood. And whatever else my wife wants to do with it, we’ll do.”

Lord Stanley’s prize might also anchor the scenery of a 5K charity run through town, if the chamber and Friesen can redirect the event from preliminary plans to have it at the RBC Center.

That date with destiny sure seemed worth the hassle for Friesen, who will have his name inscribed on a ring for more than 70 years before the ring is removed and immortalized in the NHL Hall of Fame. “I’m proud to be a part of it, if you can’t tell,” he said. “Next to the Tour de France, I think it’s the hardest thing to win in sports.”

He mentioned eight preseason contests, 82 regular-season games, a maximum of playoff bouts and one endless war of athletic attrition to reach the idol.

“We managed to own the third period in a lot of games, a lot of games,” Friesen said. “I’d like to take some credit for us being in super shape, but I think the real reason was discipline.”

He cited the leadership of Coach Peter Laviolette, who prescribed shorter shifts for fresher legs and brought to the unit a family feel. “He’s the best,” said Friesen, adding the chief’s speech prior to Game 7 still gives him “goose bumps.”

The nail-biting conclusion to an up-and-down series appeared in particular jeopardy following an Edmonton rout in Game 6. “There was a Titanic thing happening. You could see water coming on board,” Friesen said, elaborating with a tale about how the team flight from Canada was delayed by an administrative error. The Oilers marched by them in the airport and left the Hurricanes standing dumbfounded. “Everything seemed to be going Edmonton’s way.”

Then the group landed at RDU, where more than 1,000 supporters re-energized them. “It was Father’s Day, and the Caniacs were there. And that’s always exciting,” Friesen recalled. “It was like, ‘Wow.’ We still have people who love us. Let’s do this.”
Carolina controlled the puck from the first face-off in that last match. They claimed a 3-1 conquer.

“Let me tell you, there’s nothing like having your son standing beside you as you hoist the Cup,” Friesen said. “Like the commercial says: Priceless.”
His personal value increased as the internal problems mounted along the run to No. 1. What outsiders termed “redneck hockey” was performed at a breakneck pace.

Insert Friesen’s expertise — and respect for his patients — here.
He dealt with the busted jaw of Matt Cullen. “If he were cut, he’d bleed red, white and blue,” Friesen noted. “He’s a patriot.” Having his mandibles wired shut eventually cost the guy a roster spot on the United States Olympic team.

For Friesen, that emotional ache hurt most. The neck fracture suffered by Erik Cole was painful to watch. And so were the repeated puck attacks absorbed by defenseman Glen Wesley, whose toe was stubbed by a 100-mph blast and whose leg was next pelted at the same velocity. “And that guy has the good sense to stay in front of goal and continue blocking shots,” Friesen said. “Me, I think that’s a goalkeeper’s job. But, hey, I’m not the coach.”

He mentioned the “blown-out shoulder” incurred by Weight, who eventually took a painkilling shot just to be able to rejoice with his teammates and point the Cup toward the ceiling as a salute to the fans.

“Isn’t that inspiring?” Friesen asked. “Oh, these guys are paid a lot of money, but they should be. They put their bodies on the line and, physically, they won’t be very comfortable later in life.”
He admires the men behind the masks just as much, since they wear 50 pounds of equipment and sweat the details in what amounts to 80-degree heat at skin level. He specifically applauded rookie hole-coverer Cam Ward, the MVP of the final series.

“He’s so humble, he doesn’t even look at the crowd after he’s announced,” Friesen said. “Most guys like that, their heads just swell. But not him, and not most of the guys around him. We believe they’ll be the heart and soul of our franchise for years. And they’re exactly the kind of guys you want to share a foxhole with.”

Likewise, his behind-the-scenes efforts provide a protective fortress for any further overachieving under fire.

[caneshockeychick]

Ok...I said I'd post it...Here's what I got in the mail the other day :D

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j187/caneshockeychick/RBATHNYB.jpg

[Staalgurl4ever]

I didn't know that Brind'Amour was on a yearbook cover. I got the one with Lundqvist on it.

[caneshockeychick]

^Yeah, I'm not sure why. Maybe I'm more Southern than Y'all being down here in Florida:laugh:

[SoCalcaniac]

Ok...I said I'd post it...Here's what I got in the mail the other day :D

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j187/caneshockeychick/RBATHNYB.jpg

Thanks CHC. And thanks Hockey News for always managing to screw things up with these blasted covers. :(

On another note- Kiki- thanks for posting that Freisen article from the Knightdale paper... great stuff!

We've all been posting things that "just hit us" in the other thread and Pete's comments totally hit me with a major flashback:


The nail-biting conclusion to an up-and-down series appeared in particular jeopardy following an Edmonton rout in Game 6. “There was a Titanic thing happening. You could see water coming on board,” Friesen said, elaborating with a tale about how the team flight from Canada was delayed by an administrative error. The Oilers marched by them in the airport and left the Hurricanes standing dumbfounded. “Everything seemed to be going Edmonton’s way.”

Then the group landed at RDU, where more than 1,000 supporters re-energized them. “It was Father’s Day, and the Caniacs were there. And that’s always exciting,” Friesen recalled. “It was like, ‘Wow.’ We still have people who love us. Let’s do this.”



I remember standing out in that crowd , kinda dejected, trying to shake myself, kinda wondering how the guys would be once they got off the plane- and I'm laughing right now remembering when the EDM plane landed all the way on the other side there and people booing lol- and then our plane landed and the boys came off and I totally remember Pete- he's usually one of the first off the plane, and he had this smile/sigh of relief thing going on. It was the first time I was up on the chain link fence, instead of my usual standing in the background looking from a distance,and yakking;it was his face, Ray Whitney in those jeans (lol kidding) along with a couple other faces when they saw the fans, that reassured me that we'd win the thing. It was an odd thing, but I can see it so clearly in my head.

Oh rats, we're supposed to be wrapping up this trip down memory lane and focusing on the new season right? :lol:

[Canesluver]

rookie hole-coverer

That's what I called my first pair of panties... way back when. :eek2:

[SoCalcaniac]

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Ned Barnett can make my mood go sour. I should've stopped reading this when he made the error of all errors in the first paragraph. What a friggin baffoon. And I know this is like beatin' a dead horse, but someone enlighten me again as to why he writes about the Canes at all? :rolleyes: Another peeve- why is it in every article this clown writes, he makes sure to let us all know that we'll "never be a hockey town like Toronto, DET, MTL" etc?


Ward here to stay, but not to play
Ned Barnett, Staff Writer
RALEIGH - Aaron Ward, a big contributor to the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup, was traded to the New York Rangers two months ago. But he's having trouble getting from traded away to gone away.
At 10 a.m. most weekdays a handful of Hurricanes skate at their regular practice facility, the RecZone. Most mornings Ward skates with them -- a popular teammate turned lone Ranger. He doesn't wear the Canes colors, and he can't enter their locker room. But he still feels part of the team.

"I can't say that this transition is as easy as I thought it was going to be," said Ward, 33. He joined the Hurricanes in 2001 and was part of the team's two runs to the Stanley Cup finals.
This isn't the first time Ward has had to part company with teammates bonded by winning it all. Before joining the Hurricanes in 2001, he spent seven seasons with Detroit and was part of the Red Wings' back-to-back championship teams in 1997 and 1998.
In Detroit, he left well after the Cup euphoria passed. This time he's leaving while the Cup is still being passed around.
"It incites a little bit of a different emotion after you win the Cup and so quickly move on," he said.
Matt Cullen, another Cane also dealt to the Rangers, sent Ward a joking text message from New York last week.
"He said he heard I was playing in Carolina and I needed to remember what team I'm playing for," Ward said. :( (he moved on quick eh?)
Carolina's Erik Cole also joked about giving Ward a shove. He noted that Ward showed up at the RecZone too late for the backskating drills and jumped right into the game of pond hockey.
"We were kind of wondering where he was for the backskating part of today's session," Cole said Thursday. "We're going to have make a new rule that you have to be in the backskating if you want to participate in the fun."
His teammates, both former and current, can needle him all they want, but Ward's not leaving. The defenseman is looking forward to playing in New York, where he has a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Rangers, but he's keeping his home in Cary. In the offseason, he will be there with his wife, Kelly, and their two children.
It's not just his Hurricanes pals that keep him here. It's the draw of the region that he and other hockey players find hard to give up.
Also on the ice at the RecZone was Bates Battaglia, another former Cane who never left. Now he's with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he spends his offseason skating with Hurricanes and running his Raleigh bar -- "Lucky B's Around The Corner" -- just off of south Glenwood Avenue.
Future Hall of Famer Ron Francis played the last years of his career in Raleigh except for a brief stint in Toronto. Now he's raising his family here. Glen Wesley, a Hurricane who is nearing retirement, is likely to stay after he's done. Canes coach Peter Laviolette, a hockey nomad, says life in Raleigh has been so appealing for him and his family that it's easy to resist offers to coach elsewhere.
But none of them are bigger Triangle boosters than Ward, a native of Windsor, Ontario.
"It didn't just grow on us. It became part of our beings. We love North Carolina," Ward said of his family. "If you start making a list of the things you want out of life, I think this whole area contains all the criteria."
It's more than amenities that the Wards find appealing. It's the people, a mix of native Southerners and northern transplants like themselves. They've found it easy to meet neighbors and make friends.
"When you start to plant your roots here, it's really hard to change your mind," Ward said. "When your wife and family all feel the same way, it's got to tell you something."
That's a far different assessment from a hockey player than some "hockey towns" get. Chris Pronger barely had his skates off after the Stanley Cup finals before he demanded a trade out of Edmonton, saying his wife didn't like living there.
The Triangle may never have the hockey atmosphere and history of an Edmonton, Detroit, Montreal or Toronto, but Ward thinks it may develop into a place where players live out the Canes slogan: "Here to play, here to stay."
"We started something great here," Ward said of the Canes. "There are more and more guys deciding the Raleigh area is the place where they want to live."
For at least the next two years, Ward will have to play elsewhere. He's ready to go to New York, but he's not ready to leave the Triangle. "As much as I know that I'm there, I still have a connection [here]," he said. "Even though I'm not gone, I miss it."
Columnist Ned Barnett can be reached at 829-4555 or nbarnett@newsobserver.com. (nbarnett@newsobserver.com)

[nccanes]

Yeah - I can't believe an error like that is a) made in the first place or b) not caught by whatever editing process they have.

Aside from that - I loved the sentiment in the article. You can hear Aaron saying those things and I hope his thoughts on the triangle never change. It's nice for him to be so honest about how difficult the change will be.

I honestly hope he's up in the broadcast booth with JF at some point. The perfect job for him in a place he obviously loves.

[Cool Hand Luke]

I thought I might have been the only "picky" person who was a bit peeved about the mistake. The overall tone of the article was fine, but someone should explain to Barnett the difference between signing a free agent and trading a player. The thought that this hack excuse of a sportswriter actually gets paid for what he does is mind-boggling. It's obvious how little he really follows the facts behind the team with glaring stupid mistakes like this being made. It's not his first, I'm sure it won't be his last.

[c-girl]

So did anybody e-mail him about his mistake?

[SoCalcaniac]

So did anybody e-mail him about his mistake?

Yes, I did. Too glaring a mistake not to let that go by ;)

I did love the overall sentiment as well, it just took me oh, about a half an hour to 'get over' that friggin error and appreciate what a great booster for the Triangle that Aaron is. Yep, I tend to get bent easily....:lol:

[puck_it]

Yep, I tend to get bent easily....:lol:

....

it's so hard to refrain from commenting. but i guess i just did.

[CaniacKikiBB13]

Found this on CH.com about Laviolette speaking at the Raleigh Police Academy Graduation....the article's mainly about the graduation itself, but it did have a little write-up about each of the guest speakers' speechs...here's Lavi's:



Hurricanes Head Coach


The Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach Peter Laviolette was the main speaker at the event. Laviolette thanked the police department for their help over the years with the Hurricanes and even joked that people would not believe the phone calls and e-mails that he had received sometimes as a head coach.


He said the department though always made sure his family was safe and thanked him for their help.


Before he began the main part of this speech, Laviolette told a funny story about superstitions in the NHL as the Hurricanes were playing against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup. After an Oilers fan threw a piece of beef onto the ice, the Hurricanes lost that game. As a result, Laviolette said he instructed one of his players to grab the beef whenever someone threw it on the ice, even during the national anthem if necessary.


Sure enough, he said, someone threw a piece of meat on the ice and then his player grabbed it and put it in a bag. However, he was not prepared for a second piece of meat -- someone had thrown a filet onto the ice a few minutes later.


Laviolette said that he had the player grab the second piece of meat and "that's how we won the Stanley Cup," he joked.


He also joked that there were similarities between hockey players and police officers -- they both wear uniforms, they both have "rookies", and when they both do something wrong it ends up in the newspapers.


In the serious part of the speech, Laviolette said that there were three tenets that the Hurricanes followed which could apply to being a police officer as well.


Laviolette said one should be "accountable to themselves" and that days will have highs and lows, but it is important to go out and do your best every time. Secondly, Laviolette said one should be "accountable to the team", which he said was considered family, at least at the Carolina Hurricanes. And finally, Laviolette said that one should be accountable to the community.


Laviolette said that the Hurricanes' motto of "Whatever It Takes" meant that team players were willing to sacrifice for their fellow players and for the good of the team.


At the Hurricanes, Laviolette also said that he asked his players not to go out and achieve for themselves, but for the man behind them, saying "it's not about me but the man in front of me."

http://www.raleighchronicle.com/2006090101.html

[Teaching 4's]

:) My boss always throws away the Cary Magazine when it comes to work, and today I caught it just before she tossed it. Glad I did, there are 2 nice articles about the Hurricanes. One is about Glen Wesley...(Page 52 Titled: Faith, Friends and Family,) and the other about Canes assistant coach Kevin McCarthy (Page 54 Titled:The Southern Hockey Life).
You can also read more about the interview with Kevin McCarthy on their website.
http://www.carymagazine.com/cary/issue/kevin_mccarthy.html

Enjoy....

[SoCalcaniac]

T4's thanks for sharing! I usually pick up Cary Mag at the gym and I guess I've not been paying attention ;) great read.....

Another article to share with everyone, if you've not already seen it on CH.com; it's about Kevin Estrada- I was really impressed by this kid last year at camp he's got speed to burn, he was a real long shot to make the team last year, and I remember his first day, and seeing his eyes widening during that first day of camp- looking clearly in awe of the situation and looking even younger than Staal did his first day of training camp- I remember chuckling to myself and then telling hub, "look at that kid, he's just a baby- and he even has freckles!" :lol: anyway, it's a real good read, and totally shows this kid learned alot last year, and wants to impress this year- good for him.

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/custom/radF9541.asp

[nccanes]

And Kevin's got that rosy cheeked thing going - ala AWard. I hope he has a great camp and successful year in Albany.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What's hilarious about him looking younger than Staal is.....he's 24. :laugh:

[CANESFREAKinDET]

I'm late...but those covers must be regional or something?? EW...I was wondering why the HECk I got a Nick Lidstrom cover when the Wings majorly crashed and burned in the playoffs. I was thinking, why the heck would they choose a WING? I didn't enjoy the cover to say the least. :lol: EW.:evil:

[livinthedream]

From Today's N&O:
http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/483754.html


Canes lace up, prepare for camp
Most players hit the ice early
Luke DeCock, Staff Writer


RALEIGH - With training camp only a week away, the boys are back in town.

As summer gives way to fall, the Carolina Hurricanes' offseason skating sessions have gained critical mass. A hefty group of 20 took the ice Thursday at the RecZone in preparation for the impending season and the Canes' defense of their Stanley Cup title.

Aside from the injured -- Bret Hedican, Cory Stillman, Frantisek Kaberle -- only a handful of NHL regulars weren't on the ice.

"I was excited to see a lot of the guys back in town, that's for sure," said Hurricanes forward Erik Cole, who was among the first group to start skating at the Hodges Street practice rink three weeks ago. "You're not positive when guys are going to show up. Everyone gives 'approximate' dates when they're coming back into town. It's good to see everyone, and it's got that feeling that it's here, it's right around the corner."

The last time most of these guys were together, they were riding around downtown Raleigh with the Stanley Cup. Afterward, they scattered across the continent and around the world, hosting their days with the Cup among friends and family but not teammates, with the notable exception of Cup groupie Mike Commodore, who followed the Cup to multiple spots on a tour of his own. :lol:

For many, this is the first time they've seen these faces since they became so familiar last season, and that brings plenty of good memories with it. But there isn't much time to reminisce.

Training camp opens officially with physicals on Sept. 14, followed by the first practice sessions the next day. The season opens Oct. 4 with the banner-raising at the RBC Center before a game against the Buffalo Sabres.

"It doesn't seem like long ago we were just celebrating," said goalie Cam Ward, finally settled after a crazy summer with his new wife in a new house only a few miles from the arena.

The shine of celebrity hasn't worn off. A Discovery Channel crew was at the RecZone filming an episode of "Dangerous Jobs" about the life of an NHL goalie, with Conn Smythe winner Ward offering a few tips.

Across the ice, John Grahame was in the other net, newly arrived from the Tampa Bay Lightning to serve as Ward's partner in goal this season. Newcomers Scott Walker and Derrick Walser skated as well, as did former/current Hurricanes Shane Willis, Jesse Boulerice and David Tanabe, all three back with the team this season.

"There were a lot of guys even last year that showed up the day before training camp," Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley said. "It's showing a commitment that guys want to be here early, that guys want to come in and be prepared for training camp.

"We know teams are going to be ready for us. We're going to have a bull's-eye on our jersey, and teams are going to be out to get us. In saying that, we're doing everything we can to be prepared, starting now."

In the dressing room, Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising," the team's theme song from the playoffs, played on the stereo. Between that and all the familiar faces, the message was clear: It's almost time to face the music.

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

[CANESFREAKinDET]

:laugh: Cup groupie...I like that. LOL

[guinevere]

I honestly hope he's up in the broadcast booth with JF at some point. The perfect job for him in a place he obviously loves.

Maybe like in the postseason when the Rangers are eliminated and we're ......won't say it.

I know I'm late but had to say it. :-)

[goalie33]

This isn't an article per se, but Cam did a signing at a shop I've ordered quite a bit of stuff from, and he seemed to have a great time. One of the employees said he stayed WAY past when he was supposed to leave and talked shop with everybody.

http://www.dukes1hockey.com/Pages/CamWard.html

[SoCalcaniac]

G-33, woa, that's awesome! thanks for sharing..... looks like from the pics and that little write up, that everyone including Cam had a blast.

On a side note, I chuckle that Cam has returned to his sheared head with the 5 o'clock shadow look- after a looooong post season, I truly forgot that this is 'Cam's look' lol- the look he had when he first came to camp what 3 seasons ago- and was off to the side chatting up Weekes and looking all of 12, then again when we saw him in Lowell, during the lockout, and then last year when I commented to hub, 'when is that kid going to look 'old'?' LMAO. So if my counting is correct, he's looking just a tad over 15 years old. :lol: The part that has me chuckling, is that "Our Cam" is now a married man.

Oh, they grow up so fast..................;)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

And I see the man-slides survived the summer. :lol:

Yeah, that's one honking wedding band, huh? Sticks out like a sore thumb in those pictures. I think Cody wants to make sure everyone sees it! ;)

[Teaching 4's]

Great Pics... Does this really look like he's even old enough to play in the NHL?!?! Love it... I agree his wedding ring sure stood out. Way to go Cam the kids looked pretty excited to see him!!!
http://www.dukes1hockey.com/Images/Misc/NHL/CamWard/15.jpg

[CanesChic]

He reminds me of those kids that come around ringing your bell asking for you to buy a subscription to the newspaper to support their field trip. :D

Thanks for sharing the link - that was great!

[puck_it]

that pic of him with the mask on.... brings back lots of warm up memories

[CanesChic]

From FoxSports. Sorry, but I am personally superstitious, so I had to block out the predictions at the end. The word x-d out rhymes with "thirst".

Cup repeat will be tough for Hurricanes
Robert Picarello / Special to FOXSports.com

If Peter Laviolette and the Carolina Hurricanes thought winning the organization's first Stanley Cup last year was a tough task, wait until they try to repeat as champions this coming season.

No club since the 1998 Detroit Red Wings has gone on to win the Cup in back-to-back years. The other 29 teams will be looking to dethrone the 'Canes, who won a franchise-best 52 games last season.
One thing Laviolette won't have to worry about is offense. The Hurricanes proved last year that they are a force to be reckoned with. During the regular season, Carolina averaged almost 3 1/2 goals per game (3.49), lighting the lamp 294 times, which was good enough for third in the entire league. Like last season, teams will once again have a hard time matching up against the 'Canes high-powered offense, which boasted one 40-goal scorer, four players with at least 30 goals, seven with at least 20, and 11 in double digits.

The club was led by Eric Staal, who had a breakout season in 2005-06, netting 45 goals and 55 assists for 100 points, sixth-best in the NHL. Justin Williams and Cory Stillman also provided a nightly boost on offense, each contributing 76 points to the 'Canes' cause.

One player who will provide a boost this season is Erik Cole. Before breaking his neck thanks to a vicious blow by Penguins defender Brooks Orpik, Cole was coming up big for Carolina last season. The 27-year old winger potted 30 goals in 60 games, with eight game-winners.

Captain Rod Brind'Amour will once again give this team boosts both on and off the ice. The 36-year old showed last year that he had plenty of hockey left in him, finishing third on the team in scoring during the regular season and in the playoffs (tied with Williams). Veterans like Ray Whitney and free-agent signee Scott Walker will also be asked to chip in some timely goals. Another free agent who should show up on the scoresheet often is Trevor Letowksi, who the club also inked to a free-agent deal over the summer. Letowksi had 10 goals in 81 games for Columbus last season.

Like last year, the strength of the 'Canes defense will be quickness, especially with last season's hits leader, Aaron Ward, moving on to play for the Rangers. More often than not, blueliners like Frantisek Kaberle, Bret Hedican and Oleg Tverdovsky will be asked to get the play going the other way as quickly as possible, as opposed to using their bodies on the opposition. The physical play on defense will come from Mike Commodore, Niclas Wallin, and 37-year-old Glen Wesley. The trio of defenders combined to stop the opposition in its tracks 241 times last year.

Another Carolina player who will be asked to stone the opposition on a regular basis this season is goalie Cam Ward. Courtesy of his show-stopping performance last year in the playoffs, the 22-year-old comes into camp as the team's No. 1 netminder. Last year's starter, Martin Gerber, packed up and signed on with Ottawa. To make up for the loss of Gerber, the Hurricanes signed former Tampa Bay puck-stopper John Grahame, who won 29 of the 57 games he appeared in last season for the Lightning.


One to watch
The 2006-07 season should be Andrew Ladd's coming-out party. The 20-year old winger showed glimpses last season of what he's capable of doing when given the chance. Carolina's first-round pick in 2004 (fourth overall) appeared in 29 games last year for the 'Canes, netting 11 points off six goals and five assists.

The future power forward also chipped in the postseason from the moment he was penciled into the lineup. In his first-ever NHL playoff game on April 24 against Montreal, Ladd assisted on Matt Cullen's second goal of the postseason in a 6-5 double-overtime loss to the Canadiens. But the youngster wasn't done there, as he would pick up two goals and two more assists during Carolina's championship run.

In the Stanley Cup Finals against the Oilers, Ladd showed the entire hockey world that he came ready to play, registering an assist on a Ray Whitney goal in a 5-4 Game 1 victory and potting the game-winning goal in Game 2 against Edmonton.

But this kid doesn't just turn heads by chipping in offensively, Ladd also gets everyone's attention by using his solid 6-foot-2, 201-pound frame to pound the opposition. In limited regular-season action, the rugged rookie always made his presence known, averaging more than a hit per game for Carolina.

Like all the good players do Ladd turned his game up a notch in the postseason, registering 41 hits in 17 playoff games, which was the fifth most on the club. All the Sabres knew Ladd was in the lineup on May 28, when Buffalo faced off against Carolina in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Raleigh. In less than nine minutes of ice time, the rookie forward recorded eight hits in the 'Canes 4-3 overtime win.

Look for more games like that from Ladd and for him to also improve on his defensive play this coming season. Ladd should also get a chance to use his skills and size on the power play. Last year, the young lad had three power-play goals during the regular season.


Additions
Shane Willis (FA, RW, Tampa)
David Tanabe (FA, D, Boston)
Scott Walker (T, RW, Nashville)
Trevor Letowski (FA, RW, CBJ)
Mike Angelidis (FA, LW)
Jesse Boulerice (FA, F, St. Louis)
Pat Dwyer (FA, RW, Atlanta)
Tim Conboy (FA, D, San Jose)
Scott Kelman (FA, C)
John Grahame (FA, G, Tampa)

Subtractions
Martin Gerber (FA, G, Ottawa)
Mark Recchi (FA, F, Pittsburgh)
Matt Cullen (FA, F, Rangers)
Aaron Ward (FA, D, Rangers)
Doug Weight (FA, F, St. Louis)
Josef Vasicek (T, F, Nashville)


2006 draft picks
Jamie McBain (D, RD 2, 63rd pick)
Harrison Reed (RW, RD 3, 93rd pick)
Bobby Hughes (C, RD 4, 123rd pick)
Stefan Chaput, (C, RD 5, 153rd pick)
Nick Dodge (RW, RD 6, 183rd pick)
Justin Krueger, (D, RD 7, 213th pick)

Outlook
The Hurricanes will have a hard time repeating as champs this coming year, but not only because the opposition will be gunning for them every night. Believe it or not, Carolina's biggest question mark this coming season will be in goal. While Ward proved he could withstand the postseason pressure by winning the Conn Smythe, the youngster will have to prove he can withstand the regular season grind.

Last year, Ward only played in 28 games during the regular season, as compared to Gerber's 60 games. While Gerber fizzled in the playoffs, his 38 wins broke the franchise record for most wins in a season and was the fourth-most by an NHL goaltender. If Ward falters, this team could go down the tubes with him. Don't get me wrong, Grahame is a solid guy to have behind Ward, but he is not the guy who's going to bring you to the Promised Land.

The 'Canes will also be in trouble if Cole doesn't return to form. The gutsy forward gave his team a boost by coming back during the finals last year, but he failed to produce any points in the two games against Edmonton.

Another important factor will be how this team replaces Stillman's production in the lineup until he comes back from shoulder surgery in November. Stillman was the team's second leading scorer in both the regular season (tied with Williams) and the playoffs last year.

Look for Ward to prove he's the real deal and Cole to show just how much better this team is when he's in the lineup. Walker, Ladd and Letowksi will also fit in nicely.


Where they'll finish
Division: XXXXX
Conference: XXXXXX

[livinthedream]

Couple of good Canes articles in this month's issue of Cary Magazine. One is with Glen Wesley on his day with the cup at Camp Lejeune and with his church. The other is with Kevin McCarthy, talks about living here and the success of hockey in the South. Glen's article isn't online, some of McCarthy's is. If anyone wants the full articles, PM me or reply and I'll try to scan into a PDF file and attach (too long to retype).

http://www.carymagazine.com/cary/issue/kevin_mccarthy.html

Also, if you don't already have the championship DVD (I know most do), you can register online for a chance to win a copy signed by Wes.

LTD

[CanesChic]

Maybe I just never ever go to the team websites - is it typical for a player to um, wear another jersey on the team website a year later??

http://www.anaheimducks.com/team/bio.php?id=76

[SoCalcaniac]

LOL CC, usually they photoshop the pic from the former club, at least that's what I've seen most times- maybe the Ducks staff wasa little busy with getting the Prongers settled in Irvine? ;):lol:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Then what were they doing all last year? We didn't have any problem getting pics of CAds up by now. :lol:

[CanesChic]

Ha ha..it's just proof they all want to be us.

And you know what? Not only did we get CAds in his picture...we got his name on THE CUP!

[Cool Hand Luke]

LOL CC, usually they photoshop the pic from the former club, at least that's what I've seen most times- maybe the Ducks staff wasa little busy with getting the Prongers settled in Irvine? ;):lol:

Yep, gotta keep Mrs. Pronger happy...... *L*

sorry, couldn't help myself.

[CanesChic]

*sigh* and here I keep thinking I will run into her at Gucci. I figure she will be the one frantically pulling Canadian dollar bills out of her purse trying to get rid of them.

[nccanes]

Cute!

http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=90686&SecID=2

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What's the town of Morrisville got against Cole? ;)

[nccanes]

This is a cool/candid article about Game 7 and Weight's perspective not getting to play.

Weight found it tough to watch Game 7 win
But he was glad to help Hurricanes celebrate victory
BY NORM SANDERS
News-Democrat
Hockey players spend most of their lives working toward a Stanley Cup title, which made Doug Weight's experience last spring a little tougher to endure.

After helping lead the Carolina Hurricanes to the brink of a championship, Weight was unable to play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals against Edmonton because of a shoulder injury.

"I tried in the morning and I knew I couldn't do it," said Weight, traded to Carolina by the St. Louis Blues last January. "I didn't watch the game, I just sat around in my equipment and walked around the (dressing) room.

"Some of the guys that weren't playing were in the other room and I could hear the crowd. It was just electric in that building throughout the playoffs."

After the Hurricanes scored a late empty-net goal to clinch a win over the Oilers, Weight got ready for the party.

"With five minutes left, I threw some water on my hair, dirtied myself up, put my tape on the way I wear it and marred the white tape up on my stick," he said. "I got on the bench for the last minute and I was standing there like I played; I think I beat everybody to the goalie."

Earlier that night, Weight took a cortisone shot for his injured shoulder so he would be able to lift the Stanley Cup over his head.

He wasn't about to miss out on the NHL's time-honored rite of celebration.

"I wanted to put it up, and some guys said they were going to help me, but at the moment I said 'I've got to do it myself,"' Weight said. "It's something I'd worked for my whole life, and I got it up."

Weight returned to the Blues this summer, signing a free-agent deal.

Blues coach Mike Kitchen said Weight's long journey that culminated with winning the Stanley Cup is invaluable.

"Going through that experience he went through last year, with the trade and going through the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup, he's going to be a better player for it," Kitchen said. "You have to make that run and experience that, facing that grind and getting yourself prepared to play. It can only make you a better player."

Weight and many other Blues players have been skating on their own at St. Louis Mills preparing for the opening of training camp on Friday.

Weight returned to the Blues, signing a two-year deal worth $7 million. Other additions were defenseman Jay McKee, wingers Bill Guerin and Martin Rucinsky and goaltender Manny Legace.

"I wasn't going to come back to a situation like it was last year," said Weight, who liked the team's other free-agent signings and what he was hearing from new Blues President John Davidson. "It was tough on the players, it was tough on the fans --and it wasn't going to get better if they didn't have something (with ownership) going in the right direction.

"We've put ourselves in a great position."

Contact reporter Norm Sanders at nsanders@

[SoCalcaniac]

E- I love that article. Pretty candid and answers that dying curiosity that I think I blathered on to you when I wondered out loud what the players who weren't dressed were doing that whole time. :lol:

This made me chuckle, and kinda broke my heart, cause you can just read that he really wanted to be a part of that ending celebration and nothing would get in his way:


"With five minutes left, I threw some water on my hair, dirtied myself up, put my tape on the way I wear it and marred the white tape up on my stick," he said. "I got on the bench for the last minute and I was standing there like I played;


I've alreadys said it a gazillion times, but one more time now that he's truly and officially no longer a Cane since camp is now upon us, I will really miss Doug Weight, not cause of his candor and ability to communicate beyond hockey player speak, but cause he's a dang good guy.

[c-girl]

I always liked Weight too. At the parade in downtown Raleigh, my friend Judy and I got a great position. First row right on the street. We were literally just a couple of feet away from all the guys as they rode down the street. Weight's car stopped right in front of us. He looked over at us and Judy took one step closer, stopped, threw up her thumb and said "You da man, Dougie!" I cracked up because Judy just isn't demonstrative that way. At first, Weight looked a little surprised but then a huge grin split his face and he said "Thank you so much." It looked like it made his day to be personally acknowledged that way.

He seemed to like it so much with the Canes. I was hoping he would stay.

[SoCalcaniac]

Even though today is physicals day, I'll make this the last of the 'off season' articles so we don't have to start another thread- and I can't find the original JJ thread. We've got our answer from Jack Johnson, attempt #4, from today's N&O :

Johnson rebuffs requests
Canes' prospect staying in school
Luke DeCock, Staff Writer
Whatever questions the Carolina Hurricanes face on defense, Jack Johnson still isn't the answer.
The Hurricanes' top prospect's father, also named Jack, said Wednesday that the Michigan defenseman has no interest in leaving school, even with a roster spot open to him after Frantisek Kaberle's potentially season-ending shoulder surgery.
"He's enrolled in classes, and he's going to play at Michigan this season," the elder Johnson said. "There's no way this kid is going to walk out on his team at the 11th hour. I understand Carolina's position, and he does, too, but he made the commitment to Michigan, he values the Michigan education tremendously and he's looked forward all his life to this.
"Sure, he wants to be an NHL player, but he also wants to take this one step at a time."
The Hurricanes are making yet another attempt to persuade the 19-year-old sophomore, one of the top two defensive prospects in the NHL, to turn pro on the eve of training camp. Coach Peter Laviolette attempted to contact Johnson on Wednesday to present his recruiting pitch.
As additional insurance, the Hurricanes invited veteran defenseman Jason Woolley to camp Wednesday. Woolley, 37, has played in 718 games over 14 NHL seasons, including 53 games last season for the Detroit Red Wings. The offensive-minded blueliner, who has averaged 35 points per season over his career, was a college teammate of Rod Brind'Amour's at Michigan State.
"With the fact that Frankie is out for most of the season, there's an opening for a skilled defenseman who can play the power play," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "It opens up an opportunity for a couple guys we have under contract who are already on the team, but it also opens the door for a skilled guy like Jason."
Woolley joins Cale Hulse, 32, in camp on a tryout basis. The team will gather for physicals this morning in Cary and take the ice for the first time Friday at the RecZone in Raleigh.
The Canes took Johnson with the third overall pick in the 2005 draft and made three previous attempts to sign him -- last August, before his freshman season at Michigan; in January, after Johnson played for the United States at the World Junior Championships; and this past spring, after Michigan's season ended in March.
At the draft in June, rumors were rampant that the Hurricanes were willing to part with Johnson as part of a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That deal would have reunited Johnson with his friend and prep-school teammate Sidney Crosby.
It also would have brought Jordan Staal, Eric's younger brother and the No. 2 pick in the draft, to Carolina amid concerns over Johnson's decision to return to Michigan when he had the option to join a Stanley Cup contender for the playoffs.
The trade never materialized, the Penguins took Jordan Staal second overall and the Hurricanes retained Johnson's rights until after he graduates from Michigan in 2009, although most players of his caliber don't stick around beyond their sophomore seasons. "Yes, the door is open [then]," his father said. "We do want to put to rest different things we've heard, read or anything like that about him not wanting to be a Hurricane. That's absolutely not true. He's proud to be drafted by them and looks forward to being a Hurricane someday -- at the right time."

[Cool Hand Luke]

Is it just me or does it bother anyone else that Jack's father seems to do his talking for him? I don't ever remember seeing a quote from Jack directly. Is Jack in Michigan for Jack, or for his father?

Anyway, here is a quote from ex-Cane Aaron Ward that has New Yorkers happy.




If new defenseman Aaron Ward plays with half as much confidence as he speaks, the Rangers will be fortified on the blueline.

File this away in your memory bank: When I was interviewing Ward on Tuesday for a segment on SportsDesk, I asked him why he chose New York over several suitors. His answer should make Ranger fans sit up and take notice.

“This team is going to win the Stanley Cup,” Ward said.

Recent history alone dictates that Ward can tell the difference between a legitimate Cup contender and a team of empty promises. He has won three Cups – two alongside Brendan Shanahan in Detroit and last year in Carolina. Maybe that’s why Weekes, a former ‘Canes teammate, calls him “Ward of the Rings.”

And if you’re wondering about Ward’s character, consider this: He spent his “day with the Stanley Cup” this summer at a Michigan children’s hospital


Funny Weekes calls him "Ward of the Rings". *L* Let's hope Aaron is dead wrong about the Cup this year!

Here is the rest of the article.

http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_news.jsp?articleID=v0000msgn20060912T22582 8291&newsgroup=ap.sportsml.columnist.article&sports=ice-hockey&team=Rangers&league=nhl

[nccanes]

I wondered about that too CHL, but I guess I don't have anything to compare that to (trying to give them the benefit of the doubt). The final comment from Dad was exactly what we want to hear, but I guess we'll have to wait to see how it all plays out. It's not like he could admit to saying he'd prefer to play elsewhere, even if it were true.

The article is interesting because Luke obviously got the quotes from Dad, but its unclear if Laviolette actually got thru to JJ himself. I don't know if that's bad reporting from Luke (the unclear part) or if the Canes weren't talking or if they are still waiting to hear back from JJ.

Oh the intrigue...

[Canesluver]

OOps - (I think I commented in the wrong thread!)

[SoCalcaniac]

Is Jack in Michigan for Jack, or for his father?


Oh what a wise dude you are CHL....;) I said the same thing to myself when I muttered "crap" under my breath after reading the article before I walked out to the car this morning.

I promised myself I'd leave all the snarky sarcastic comments on the JJ situation out of these discussions, but I found it funny this morning, the 620AM guys had Forslund on with them- he was in Cary at the doc's offices on hand for the guys coming in for physicals. Anyway, they asked JF about his take on this whole JJ thing, Forslund prefaced it with 'well this is try #4 and I don't know JJ....' but went on to say, he was a bit puzzled and if it were his boy, he'd be "packing the U-haul and taking him to Raleigh myself" :lol: Which I think we are all of that mindset as well.

They went on to ask Forslund if he thought, that JR would continue to shop JJ because of the perceived lack of interest in coming here. Forslund didn't hesitate and said "he has to look at everything- so yeah, he probably will" . Just after I finished listening to Johnny, I get an IM here at work from a colleague on the floor above me, with the N&O article on JJ attached, in his IM was a terse statement: "Marc Staal would have accepted the contract and offer to come join the team- no question. " And I had just seen a piece on MSG Network the other night with the Rangers VP Don Maloney glowing about Marc Staal this, Marc Staal that, and their assistant coach Perry Pearn talking about "Marc Staal reminds me of Wade Redden who I coached in OTT" Oy- my head hurts. Kinda like it did when we were all sitting there at the draft party at the Ale House and they announced the JJ pick. lol.

As the world turns. CHL, thanks for that MSG article on AWard. Confirmed that he's now the enemy. :)

[CanesChic]

Confirmed that he's now the enemy. :)

*sticks fingers in ears* LA LA, I'm not listening! LA LA I'm not listening! ;)

[Cool Hand Luke]

Sorry, I posted that in the wrong section. I guess part of it hasn't sunk in yet he's no longer a Cane..*L*

Mods, feel free to move it, I lost my chance to edit. Thanks.

[livinthedream]

Guess it's not off season anymore, so feel free to move to a different thread if appropriate. 'Canes are back on the front page of the N&O. First article describes some of the upswing of interest in the area due to last year's success, goes into a little more detail about season ticket sales. Excerpts here but you can see full article on line, along with a picture of Cam and he's wearing yes, his man slides:

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/486499.html


Stanley Cup's glow grows

Lorenzo Perez, Staff Writer

In the afterglow of the Carolina Hurricanes' hockey championship, fans' excitement never faded as the team filled its brief summer with victory toasts, a sprinkling of public appearances and road trips with the Stanley Cup. With the team back in training camp preparing to defend its title, club officials hope playoff-run hockey converts will stick around awhile.

"Right after we won, we expected the enthusiasm to be there, but now it's just continued through the summer," said Carolina forward Kevyn Adams, who visited Morrisville Town Hall on Monday with teammate Erik Cole and assistant coach Jeff Daniels to pick up an honorary key to the town. "Now, people are excited for us to get started up again. It hasn't died down at all."

Various summer signs indicated unprecedented enthusiasm for the team and its sport:
* According to the N.C. Department of Transportation, there were 2,157 license plates with the Hurricanes' logo on the road in August. The previous August, there were 1,219.
* For three straight weeks this summer, youth hockey camps organized by the Hurricanes were sold out at Raleigh's RecZone rink.
* About 1,000 runners showed up Sunday to see the Stanley Cup and run around the RBC Center -- the Hurricanes' home arena -- in a charity 5K race organized by team trainer Pete Friesen.
* The fall session of "Hurricanes University," a Hockey 101 primer for new fans, filled its 40 spots in less than three days. Last year's fall edition never did sell out.
.........

In terms of ticket sales, the championship excitement does not match that of another nontraditional hockey market. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2004 Stanley Cup. After the lockout, the reigning champions last year ranked second in the league in average attendance (20,509), while the Hurricanes ranked 21st (15,596). President and general manager Jim Rutherford said the team is expected to average in the 15,000 range again, though his team's ticket base is at its highest since the Hurricanes moved to North Carolina from Hartford, Conn., in 1997.

Rutherford would not release specific ticket numbers Thursday but confirmed that the team had a season-ticket base equivalent of more than 11,000 when taking into account partial season-ticket plans. That represents a 60 percent increase from last year, and in terms of full season tickets -- packages that include all 41 home games -- Rutherford said the team was "around 8,000."
.........

One result of the Canes' popularity is that anonymity is no longer an option for players such as Glen Wesley.
"I don't think it matters now where you go now," the veteran defenseman said. "I've also noticed a lot of flags on cars, license plates, all those types of things. ... It's great to see from a traditional football/basketball market. That's something we've worked hard for."


And under the category of one step forward, one step back, an unhappy article about non-STH fans being locked out of Opening Night:

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/486270.html


Ticket arrangements leave some fans cold
Luke Decock, Staff Writer

Daniel Holmes spent a cold night in a Carter-Finley Stadium parking lot last spring camping out for tickets to a Carolina Hurricanes playoff game. He planned to do the same tonight, hoping to buy tickets to the Hurricanes' Oct. 4 opener and Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony when tickets go on sale Saturday.

But the only way to get tickets for that night is to buy a season-ticket plan -- a minimum of $528 for a 24-game package -- which Holmes, who works at Sam's Club, said is too much for him.

"It looks like they could have set aside a portion of the tickets to be released to people that can't afford that," he said. "To me, it sends the message that they won the Stanley Cup and they figured they could do whatever they could do."

To encourage fans to buy ticket packages and reward its biggest customers, the team allowed each ticket account to buy four additional tickets to opening night. That ensured a sellout but locked out casual fans.

"Just a few years ago, we were concerned whether we could sell out the opening game," Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford said. "Now we're at the point where the interest is that much greater. We tried to take care of our season-ticket holders, and because of that, the tickets don't get to the general public, and that's unfortunate."

Sam Fowler, a student, may attend only one game this season, but he was hoping it would be the opener. They're kind of shutting a section of fans out," Fowler said.


LTD

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Sorry, but I have absolutely no sympathy whatsoever for a person who says he might attend one game this year but can't get the opener. Sucks to be him, but that's how pro sports work. STHs are what keep the team going and they will be taken care of first.

People need to check themselves if they were really thinking tickets would be easy to get forever. This team was either going to be successful and start selling out pretty regularly, or they weren't going to be here for long. They take care of those who buy packages first, and there weren't even enough tickets to take care of all of them.

[livinthedream]

What gets me is you write a nice, positive article about all the momentum that the team has gained, the local enthusiasm, the player's getting the recognition they deserve in the community, then you get to the end of the article and they just have to throw in the downer. Yeah, it's not too much a stretch to assume it's going to be harder to get tickets this year, especially for marquee events. Price of success.

[Zamboni]

Sam Fowler, a student, may attend only one game this season, but he was hoping it would be the opener. They're kind of shutting a section of fans out," Fowler said.


I'm with you that this quote is totally lame. I will shed a thousand tears for this guy (not.)

[puck_it]

http://www.nhl.com/features/insider/casulli091806.html

[Zamboni]

^It's always nice to see the Canes and Caniacs front and center on nhl.com!

Also good to know that most of the guys were looking good despite Pete's "Training Camp of Doom." :laugh: