Flyers at Hurricanes live streaming video feed

Let's all hope its worth your time to watch:

Go Canes.

Flags at Half Mast...

AMBER ALERT:


Have you seen me? Missing are several hundred Canes car flags. They are about 18 inches tall, red, and have a Canes logo and the letters "STH" printed on the front. Last seen snapping off cars within a couple of miles of the RBC Center along Wade Avenue, I-40, and Edwards Mill Road. If seen, please contact the North Carolina Division of Transportation; roadside cleanup department.

Holy bad promotion Batman! Can you say "debacle"? It seems that the free 'season ticket holder' car flags are defective. So defective, in fact, that they were snapping off at alarming rates in traffic and carpeting the roadways surrounding the Big ATM after the game on Thursday. In fact, the problem is so bad, I got this e-mail today:


Dear East,

We regret to inform you that due to an unfortunate manufacturing error, the distribution of Season Ticket Holder car flags is being temporarily suspended. Our staff is currently in conversations with the manufacturer, and we will be in contact with you again soon to provide additional information regarding the distribution of corrected products.

We apologize for this inconvenience, and hope you will feel free to call 1-866-NHL-CANES (1-866-645-2263) with questions. Thank you for your support!
Go 'Canes!!

P.J. Avetta Manager of Sales & Client ServicesCarolina Hurricanes


And just whey you thought our promotions department couldn't f*ck things up any worse. Well, they went and bought cheap, defective flags from China or something and it looks like it's gonna bite them in the ass. Of course, this shouldn't really surprise anyone. You don't have to look any farther than Corvo, Eaves or Ruutu to see that this team's management has a history of making deals for damaged merchandise. Of course, it's actually kind of fitting that our flags are like our forwards, in that they are breaking before the season even begins.

Luckily, I still have my STH flag vouchers. I'm not even gonna redeem them now. I'm gonna just duct tape one of those little suckers to my car antenna and be done with it. At least I know that with the duct tape, it'll stay put longer than those piece of crap defective flags did.

And you've got to love this line in the above e-mail:

"...due to an unfortunate manufacturing error..."

Translation: "...due to our buying the cheapest product the Red Chi-nee would sell us..."

And then, there's this gem:

"Our staff is currently in conversations with the manufacturer..."

Translation: "Operator, get me the number for the Kunming Lead-Based Infant Toys and Cut Rate American Chotchke Company, and make it snappy!"

Boy oh boy. What a cluster...

Canes @ Flyers, Flyers @ Canes

First of a home & home today with the farewell game to the Philadelphia Spectrum. Not sure who the Flyers plan on icing for this game, but it probably won't match the number of minor-leaguers that the Canes are playing. You see stuff like this and wonder just how successful of a year Carolina can have when two games in, these are the injured:

Corvo, Wallin, Whitney, Brind’Amour, Williams, Samsonov, Babchuk, Gleason, and Ruutu

a big WTF there. Is it possible for them to fake injuries so that they don't have to play the vets in the pre-season?

Even though Brindy is hurt, I'm wondering if he was invited to participate in any the of Flyers festivities today. He played a butt-load of games at the old Spectrum and it would be a fitting tribute to at least show him on the jumbo-tron waving from the press box. Or maybe instead of a wave, he could do some push-ups.

Live streaming video of tonight's Canes @ Caps game

Use this link and it should start playing automatically or just watch it here:

Canes in mid-season form already?

Mid-season as in December through January of last season where they couldn't score a goal or put up a consistent nightly effort? Well, no.

But the pre-season opener last night against the Caps certainly reminded me of that horrible stretch. Can't hold the puck, can't play D.. can shoot the puck on net all night but never generate any solid chances...

Thank goodness that one didn't count. A few notes:

-Pitkanen (if he can stay healthy) is going to have a tremendous year for Carolina. He was a beast pretty much all night.

-Corvo paired with Pitkanen working the points on the power play is rather lethal if they're in the offensive zone. However, having two offensive-minded defenseman during a potential short-handed breakaway (especially Corvo) may not be the best idea. Carolina allowed way too many shorties last year.

-Petruzalek had a great 1st period. If he buries all of his chances, we're talking about a whole different outcome.

-on Bowman & Sutter - meh. Poor B-Sutt couldn't win a face-off to save his life but otherwise showed decent awareness around the puck. Bowman is fast and he will be a sniper, he just looked flat like the rest of the team last night.

-Nic Wallin. Dude. Did you get hammered before the game or something? Get a clue.

-Ward. Mmm, yeah he was already in mid-season form. Allowing 2 goals on the first 3 shots. The first you couldn't really fault him for. The 2nd was mostly Joe Corvo's fault - but he's gonna have to learn to handle those breakaway chances playing this Hurricane style of hockey where that door is occasionally left open.

-Justin Peters - Hey guy, you're supposed to have your butt facing the net - not vice-versa as you were when you gave up your first goal.

-Jeff O'Neill & LaCouture - not real impressive. O'Neill was playing just OK, I barely even noticed LaCouture.

It was outstanding to be at the RBC Center. It was outstanding to tailgate. It was outstanding to finally meet some of my blogger co-horts, David Lee of RBH fame & Beth from the Sliding Pokiecheck. Not such an outstanding game to watch as a Canes fan, but that's what the pre-season is all about. Get out the kinks and move on.

Find out early how Ward will play this year

Cool little flash game up at CH.com where you can compete against others in a slapshot competition, complete with commentary from Johnny Sideburns himself.

Triangle radio loses a good Caniac

A few weeks ago 850 the Buzz decided to go "in a different direction" and fired long-time anchor Chris Clark. CC was the host of the Hurricanes post-game show called "The Aftermath" where he would always field calls from folks leaving the games. He always did a great job with these and wasn't afraid to call it like he saw it.

Chris and I were part of the reason why Chad LaRose and his nickname of "the Chuck Norris of Hockey" came to fruition as I would call in raving about Rosey's play that night. I'm pretty sure Mr. Clark grew to expect a call from "Dave, leaving the game" during the show.

Best wishes to Chris and I hope he lands a new, hockey-friendly job in sports radio somewhere out there.

A convincing video: the Canes will be good this year

Hi all, I'll be back in full effect next week. Consider this my last chance to get things done before hockey takes over!

Sergei Samsonov is gonna score 89 goals this year:

Bank it.

Justin Williams just can't catch a break

What a shame, what a shame. The following day after everyone finds out about Brindy's ongoing knee drama - the news wire hits this afternoon that Justin Williams has ruptured his Achilles' tendon and is out for most of the season (4-6 months). He only got to play through December last season and came back for a March 'o8 return only to be sidelined again by a back injury.

You know he's been busting at the seams all summer to get back onto the ice. You can't help but feel sorry for him as he's had two ACL surgeries and now this major setback. I'm sorta curious as to how this happened. All I've heard is that it happened "off-ice". What exactly do you do to rip your Achilles tendon?

With a top winger going down - people are debating who should move up. I'll be all for Ryan Bayda / Wade Brookbank dressed at home with perhaps a Tim Conboy dressed as the seventh D on the road. Jeff O'Neill certainly can see his Carolina return more probable now. Get well soon, J-Will.

Did Brind'amour hurt himself in the Friesen 5K Run?

This probably will end up as nothing, but I can' help but wonder: Did Rod Brind'amour injure himself before or during the 5K run on Sunday at the RBC?

If you watch this YouTube clip, you will see a struggling Brindy coming across the finish line around the 2:40 mark:

To boot, he ended up missing informal practices at the RecZone the following day. Some folks who were able to make it to the run saw him head into the RBC Center with an obvious limp following his finish. Seriously doubt that it's anything serious, but what a blow this would be.

Rutherford to Staal: Me love you long time

A "surprise" press conference has been announced this morning in reference to a "major player announcement". E Staal is about to get paid, son. Will update later this PM.

UPDATE -- Make that 7 years, $57.75 Mil. Daaaaaaaaaamn that's a good chunk of change!

Had enough season previews yet?

Seeing the previews everywhere gets a bit old but when done right - it's downright entertaining. The best laugh I've had all day was reading Rudy Kelly's Kings preview at The Pensblog. There will be more to come, but here's Jennifer Hammer's Hurricanes preview that she did for her site and for MYFO as well Greg Wyshynski's "yearbook" preview. There will be another 'Canes preview popping up somewhere soon from yours truly.

08-09 Canes College Night Schedule released

The dates are up at carolinahurricanes.com/college for the coming season's College Nights. If you are a club team player or manager and are interested in scheduling your club for an intermission shootout for any of these games, contact Paul Strand with the Hurricanes: pauls@carolinahurricanes.com

John Grahame loses Avangard Omsk debut

Johnny Grahame didn't get off to a great start with his new Russian club, falling 4-2. Oh well Crackers, at least you didn't get a penalty for "attack an opponent not holding the hockey". Jaromir Jagr was even on the +/- column. No word on whether or not he's still Mr. Personality in the post-game interviews.

Google translation of KHL game stats. Ak Bars 4, Avangard Omsk 2.

Irony at it's finest: Babchuk leaves Avangard Omsk to join the Hurricanes near the same day in July where John Grahame leaves the 'Canes to join the Hawks in the KHL. Здравствуйте (which apparently is "Hello" in Russian) and goooooodbye Grahame.

COI Season preview: The Citadel Bulldogs Hockey team

What follows is the first of what I hope to see several more of here, a team interview with the college teams. Other squads have any interweb access and want their own post here? Send some hellos to CarolinaOnIce@gmail.com.

Things should be pretty clear for the BRHC's coming season after the Annual Fall Meeting this coming weekend in Williamsburg, VA. Earlier this summer the Colonial Collegiate Hockey League ponied up with the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference. Essentially, the new BRHC is this frickin' big:

and stretches nearly the entire Southeast which should be a good thing for members of NC and SC's teams (East Carolina who is back after an independent season, ASU, The Citadel, UNC-W, UNC-Charlotte and NCSU's Division III team) as they play in broader areas and more rinks with the chance to bring in futher alumni support. They're gonna need the gas money, folks.

And because every single college kid has a Facebook account apparently, be sure to join the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference Group to keep up to date around the league this coming year.

Here's a few questions with the very clean-shaven men from the Citadel team:

Alex GRIMES

(Title: Captain. Position: Forward. Year: Senior. Company: Golf)

COI: Your biggest game of the season this year will be...

It depends on how the season goes. Most likely it will be a playoff game.

COI: Optimism = good. What does the future hold for Bulldogs hockey?

We have high hopes for the team. Our coach is dedicated to bringing in good quality players, and ensuring that the Citadel becomes one of the best teams in the South. The team has been around since 2001, and I expect it to be around for a lot longer.

Justin MENOR

(Title: Team President. Position: Forward. Year: Junior. Company: Alpha)

I went to the Citadel to become a better person and a better leader/team player. I started playing hockey when I was 10 and wanted to play rather than watching hockey games.

COI: Has the team ever done anything with the fellow Charleston team the SC Stingrays of the ECHL?

No.

COI: You should try contacting the team management at their home page.


Alexander WINTON

(Title: Assistant Captain. Position: Forward. Year: Sophomore. Company: Papa)

COI: What have been the highest and lowest points in your career as a Bulldog?

Highest: Going to the Naval Academy with 8 players and still gaining a lot of respect. Lowest: Losing 6 games in a row.

COI: Very cool and ouch. What do you think the future holds for Bulldogs hockey?

An ever expanding team and schedule...and the Citadel's greatest all-star of all time (me) pretty much dominating Grimes in life.

Marc EMOND

(Title: Assistant Captain. Position: Goalie. Year: Senior. Company: Palmetto Battery)

I ended up going to the Citadel because I was looking for a military school and it came down to Norwich and the Citadel. The Citadel was 15 minutes from the beach in the city while Norwich was in the middle of the woods with nothing around it. It was an easy choice. I started playing hockey when I was about 3 years old at public skating. My dad would bribe me with pizza to skate from one end of the ice to the other.

COI: Mmmm. Pizzzaaaa (stops to wipe drool for a sec). So VMI is the chief rivalry with both schools being military colleges?

We played them last year and it was a rough couple of games. It was really cool though because even though we both were at each others throats on the ice, after the game we were all pretty chill.

COI: How active are the coaches, staff and current players in recruiting?

Our coach has been awesome in terms of recruiting. We have two things against us, we are playing a northern sport in a southern state and also we are a military school so there are only a certain number of people who would even consider coming here. Our coach has been able to overcome these obstacles and still be able to draw in players.

COI: The team website is quite sharp and is regularly updated. What else do you do / what are you doing for promotion? How do Charleston area residents and Citadel students find out about the games?

We use such things as Facebook and word of mouth.

COI: We're a bit late to the whole Facebook party. A little off-topic here but still of interest…can you explain the Citadel tradition of weddings? (I had an old friend tell me something about the exit of the bride and groom under the crossed swords and the smacking of her behind by the best man with his blade...)

It’s about welcoming her to the Citadel family.

COI: Okay then! Good luck to the Bulldogs on the coming season.

More team features to come, ya'll.