Bust out your snuggies, there's a snowball's chance in hell tonight (Canes @ Sharks)

Even Bomani Jones knows that the Canes don't stand a chance even if all the Sharks players showed up wasted to the game tonight. But who knows, stranger things have happened. Join in the fun with me over at Canes Country's game thread comments section. The super-cool SBNation comments make it like a live blog so if you're staying up tonight, stop by and join in. Or at least stop by to look at our comments as we constantly curse when Leighton gives up a goal tonight.

ps - By the way, how do people on the west coast stay up so late all the time? I've been exhausted this week! Whew! (joking. I'm sometimes an idiot, but not that bad. At least not today.)

pps - Good to know that the boys @ 850 the Buzz have a Blow-up sex doll Eric Staal bobblehead in the studio with them.

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.

850 The Buzz & My Boy Jimmy answer everything

As this post is being typed, I'm listening to the lengthy interview of Jim Rutherford today by Adam Gold & Joe Ovies on 850 the Buzz. Must say that it is rather outstanding, as they ask the Canes' GM all the burning off-season questions:

The Return of Captain Hot Topic and his ability to play left, right or center if needed. All signs have pointed towards O'Neill looking sharp in Camp Brind'amour.

The health of Matt Cullen and his dome-piece / skating / "feeling great. 100%".

David Tanabe is expected to come to training camp. If the team could legally buy him out they would have, so the only thing JR can do - is expect Avi to show up to camp in three weeks. Check out D-Lee's coverage on the Tanabe situation over this summer, he's been following it closely.

Rutherford on Brandon Sutter - "he's got a chance to make the team" - COI Translation: Sutter will be a Carolina Hurricane this year, you can bet your first born on it.

AG & Joe Ovies do it respectively as always, but certainly didn't hold much back for this interview. Towards the end of the clip, the conversation shifts to the fact that since the championship 2006 season - it's been two dissapointing, playoff-free years in a row.

Listen to the rest over at 850's site. It's certainly a good listen.

Is it just me, or does Jim Rutherford sound like the years have taken its toll on him? Listen, I'm a huge JR fan and there is a reason he's the longest tenured NHL GM. Perhaps it is just this YouTube clip that makes me think he's still a strapping young lad.

Bomani Jones hates your hockey

Thanks to Bomani for his permission.

You gotta be kidding me: Canes to bring back Jeff O'Neill?

(photo: 850 the Buzz)

Luke posted a lengthy blog entry tonight which was great to see in this dead time of hockey and sports in general. For the Caniacs deprived, almost any news is good news right now. Almost that is, until you see a headline like this:

O'Neill back in Canes' plans - maybe

The team is interested in talking contract with the one and only Jeff O'Neill.

I'll admit that I had to make sure my contacts hadn't fallen out upon first reading that. Out of all the free agent possibilities for the Hurricanes to be talking to - they're back in cahoots with the Diva himself? Sure, he was one of the team's all-time leading scorers - but it's no longer 2001 and there are reasons why he wasn't playing in the NHL last season.

My boy, Jimmy mentioned that if he were to join the organization - it would be as a depth center. Is this a sign of how confident the team is regarding the health of Matt Cullen? They're so concerned that Cully hasn't/won't recover from his two concussions last year that Jeff O'Neill playing out of position would be an effective emergency alternative?

I can't wait to read what the Acid Queen has to say about this.

Use the 3rd jersey to make the playoffs, or something

I can remember working in a sub shop in college. Working as the part-time night manager, we always got the job done but if we knew that the store owner would be coming by, everyone would make sure the place was running good. Nobody wants to deal with an aggravated owner on their case.

So naturally, it's good to hear that Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos is coming down to keep a closer eye on his investment (eye, ha! you see what I did there?). Turns out business owners don't like it too much when they are losing money.

A third jersey has been rumored to be produced for Carolina for years, but according to multiple unofficial sources - it's finally going to happen this summer. I'll admit that its pretty slick and I'd probably buy one.

If every Caniac that already shells out a fraction of their household salary to support the team through season tickets buys one of the new jerseys - might that allow Pete to approach making a profit next year? Oh wait, they tried that this season with a league wide jersey re-design. (More about that in a future post on how I got a new-old jersey last year.)

Why doesn't the NHL adopt a "throwback game" at least once a year where ALL teams can wear their old school digs? Those powder blue Penguins jerseys with Malkin & Crosby have to be some of the best selling pieces of hockey merch. They cover the stands in the Mellon from what I've seen on media coverage of the Pens playoffs. (Playoffs. Pete, just make that the priority buddy... don't care what colors the team has to wear - just do it in Raleigh.)

Chris at 850 the Buzz is right, wouldn't it be neato to see the Canes skating around in the W for one night against an Atlanta Flames team?

This kid ^ looks like my brother's childhood pics, seriously.

Make it an old school night. Everyone goes retro.

Coming clean about the Chuck Norris of Hockey

OK, so the fine folks at 850 the Buzz revealed to Chad LaRose that he is referred to as "The Chuck Norris of Hockey" in what has become a cult following among Caniacs. Though I did not coin the term, I feel the time is no better than to let my faithful readers know that I'm the Dave that calls in to the aftermath while leaving games to brag about Rosey (pre-broken leg, of course).

Is Chad the toughest dude in the NHL? No. Does it matter? Certainly not. He earned that moniker by his scrappy, never-say-die attitude that he carries on the ice. Fans of other teams will certainly disagree. But isn't it nice to have a character like Rosey in the locker room to bring much needed comic relief, all the while being the yip-dog that he is? He's not much of a fighter but you won't see him backing down from anyone. Gotta love the heart in the kid.

Keep in mind, he is a true Hurricane system guy. He was one of the all time leading scorers in Peter Karmanos' Plymouth Whaler squad. Yet he goes undrafted, comes up to Raleigh after a year in Lowell (split with FLA Everblades) and gels perfectly into the team's fourth line w/ the Adamses.

God bless you young man. Welcome back. "I'll show you 'out for the season'!!!"

College Hockey: What will it take?

Not any time soon, but one these years college hockey in the Carolinas will come to the forefront. While various schools have recently founded teams, some have had them for decades.
Think of the possibilities. This is last year's winning goal in Minnesota's game vs. N. Dakota.

Could we see a big time tournament in a renovated Dorton Arena featuring NCSU, Duke, UNC, ECU, App, UNCW? Who thinks that wouldn't be outstanding entertainment?


Bubba interviewed David Glenn on the subject and suggests that we won't be seeing Division I hockey in our area in anytime soon. Heres your money quote:

With the exception of Boston College, I think hockey in the ACC has
along, long way to go before it’s close to being sponsored on the Division I
level. The current climate of college sports is that most schools are more likely
to drop a varsity sport than to add a new one, so I’ll be very surprised if you
see a hockey explosion in the ACC. It’s great that so many people are having fun
with ice hockey atthe club level, but I think that’s where it will stay for
the foreseeable future. There are just too many complications with budgets and
facilities right now. - David Glenn of 850 the Buzz, as told to Canes Country

Who knows when/if the NCAA and sports fans in NC/SC will embrace the spirit and passion that these guys display. If nothing else, I hope that people are becoming educated about the game in general via the Hurricanes but also are noticing that their area colleges' club hockey teams are growing in popularity.

Oh, and Craig? Buhbye Now

It wasn't working out with Craig Adams anymore as he became the first of several moves promised to happen. The Chicago Blackhawks traded with the Canes today for "future considerations". So, what number would you like to wear, Future? Go and tell the seamstress how to spell that 2nd word correctly and you're in the lineup tonight.

Being the 3rd longest tenured Hurricane, you can't help but look back on the good things he did with the team.

The highlight for moi?

December 6, 2005

Kevyn Adams scores a natty hat trick, which at the time was shocking enough. Craig gets the primary helper on all three goals in a 6-2 rout of the Anaheim Ducks. When "The Adams Family" line can do that kind of damage - a team is hitting on all cylinders.

His energy will be missed, but reuniting the Adams family in Chicago might be great for the both of their respective careers. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.

College Night Shootout - NCSU vs. UNC

It's really a great thing that the organ-eye-zation invites local college clubs to do shootouts on the promotional college nights. I've said it before and will say it again - there are countless numbers of potential supporters that would never even know X school has an ice hockey team. Whether alumni, casual fan or you share the love of hockey - the exposure provided by these is an outstanding way to fill you in.



This took place during last season, but perhaps seeing the Wolfpack win this can soothe the pain of watching NCSU score 13 points in the first half at the Dean Dome on Saturday. Ouch.

Next Canes' college night - Tuesday January 22 vs. NY Islanders. Be there.

Catching A Buzz

Next week, Herr Wuff will be joining the Penalty Killer & Bubba of Canes Country at the 850 The Buzz studios to have a meeting of the minds on Canes blogging. I've been back and forth with Joe Ovies for a long time now about having a "blog-moot" but more recently - he made the call. We're not sure if it will be broadcast on the air yet - but it will most certainly be in a live streaming format through their Buzz blog (the best sports radio blog).

Stay tuned...

Storm Squad Send-off

Long time Canes fly-girls cheerleaders Holly Wilver and Kristen Scates are retiring from the Storm Squad, according to the official site videos. Thanks for the encouragement, community contributions and for giving the fans something nice to look at when the games weren't so great to watch.

Holly sang the "Star Spangled Banner" before many of the Hurricanes games over her time in Raleigh.

What could possibly await a Storm Squad alum? Melissa ended up with a pretty cool gig... (can you come back? Please?!)