Nathan Gerbe Wins 2015-2016 CHBC Fan Favorite Award Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club Raises $300 for the Kids N’ Community Foundation
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Vol. 16, No. 2 The official newsletter of the Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club Apr 2016 Nathan Gerbe Wins 2015-2016 CHBC Fan Favorite Award Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club Raises $300 for the Kids N’ Community Foundation Left to right: Sandi Watts, John Gallagher, Nathan Gerbe, Cathie McCorkle, Janet Doolittle, and Marla Viens present the CHBC Fan Favorite plaques. Cathie McCorkle presents Nathan Gerbe with his individual plaque for the 2015-16 Fan Favorite Award. The booster club will donate $300 in his honor to the Carolina Hurricanes Kids N’ Community Foundation as a result of funds raised from fan voting. Be sure to vote for your favorite player in 2016-17. What’s inside President’s Message Stanley Cup 10th Anniversary 2 5 3 From the Cheapseats 6 Summer Events 4 Member News 7 5 Questions with Eddie Lack Next CHBC Meeting: Wednesday, May 4th at Backyard Bistro Officers & Directors President’s Message / John Gallagher 2015-16 Comes to a Close John Gallagher President [email protected] Marla Viens Vice President Sandi Watts Treasurer Chris Clark Secretary Larry Conrad At-Large Member Cathie McCorkle At-Large Member John and Isabelle Gallagher with the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff Patrick Noonan MVP), the Prince of Wales Trophy (Eastern Conference Champion) and At-Large Member the Frank J Selke Trophy (best defensive forward), It has been a challenging 2015-16 season with many highs and some lows. The Scott Smith Canes have been in the hunt for much of the year, but unfortunately our team At-Large Member falls short of the playoffs in 2016. The Canes have shown significant improvement over seasons past with Bill Peters/Ron Francis Plan. Website Coordinator Mark Hall Standings over past 2 seasons th Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club 2014-15 30-41-11 71 pts 14 place in the Eastern Conference th P. O. Box 20776 2015-16 35-31-16 86 pts 10 place in the Eastern Conference Raleigh, N. C. 27619 www.hurricanesboosters.org Goal Differential: 2014-15 Goals For: 188; Goals Against: 226; Difference: -38 2015-16 Goals For: 198; Goals Against: 226; Difference: -28 For the latest CHBC news, Some great moments to celebrate include the leaps forward by our young follow us: defensemen and the 10th anniversary celebration of the 2006 Stanley Cup win that included an unforgettable Alumni game. I hope all of you had a chance to partake in some of the festivities. @CHBCHurricanes Our membership is on the rise and we have a new board for the 2016-17 season. Welcome in Scott Smith and Larry Conrad. Thanks to outgoing board members Taylor Stacey and Donna Jo Stephenson for their service this year. hurricanesboosters The year is not over yet! The booster club has a couple activities to close out the year on a high note including a May meeting and a couple of baseball games. Our Fan Favorite for the 2015-16 season is Nathan Gerbe. This season’s award is a little unique since our frontrunner for all of this season was traded. More Send newsletter submissions to: details about that on pages 1 and 6. [email protected] Let’s GO CANES! And that’s hockey to me…. Newsletter deadline: Tuesday, July 5th for the John Gallagher, President Summer 2016 issue Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club e-mail: [email protected] Page 2 • Hurricane Warning • April 2016 From the Cheapseats / John Gallagher Trade of Eric Staal Signals New Direction for Canes Canes Build for Future by Trading Staal, Versteeg, and Liles in Trade Deadline Deals Hurricanes Captain Eric Staal traded to the NY Rangers on Feb 28, 2016 Versteeg traded to the LA Kings TRADE DEADLINE 2016: With the several pending unrestricted free agents on the roster, General Manager Ron Francis continued with the long-term vision of creating a perennial playoff contender by making some tough decisions including parting ways with team captain Eric Staal, proven winner Kris Versteeg, and the resurgent John-Michael Liles. Also in the mix was Charlotte Checkers goaltender Drew MacIntyre. In return, the Canes received three prospects (Aleksi Saarela, Valentin Zykov, Anthony Camara, and Dennis Robertson) and five draft picks (2016 2nd round pick, 2016 3rd round pick, 2016 5th round pick (conditional), 2017 2nd round pick, and 2017 5th round pick). Why were these moves necessary when it seemed the Canes were in the hunt for their first playoff berth since 2009? One word: Flexibility. The Canes are freeing up money/cap space and stockpiling current and future draft picks. In a salary cap world, leveraging these assets is the key to long-term success. This offseason the Canes will have 13 picks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft including two first round picks, two second round picks, and three third round picks. Along with a young defensive corps that is ahead of the game in their development, these acquired assets will provide the team a much different look in the coming years. While the fan frustration with Eric Staal as captain may have been evident, Eric Staal’s body of work with the Carolina Hurricanes is the stuff of legends including his 100-point season in the 2005-2006 Stanley Cup year and his timely performances in the 2009 NHL playoffs that provided the Canes with their third Conference Final berth. Fan photo tribute to Eric Staal. He provided the Canes with a stable, marketable presence for many years. He was an All-Star MVP in 2008 and served as host and captain in the 2011 NHL All- Star Game here in Raleigh. In that same 2010-11 season the Canes missed the playoffs by two points. He served as the voice of a team that has struggled to stay competitive without complaint. He never asked for a trade. He was his own worst critic in front of the media and his loyalty to the franchise that drafted him was without question. Eric received a tremendous ovation in his return to PNC Arena for the first time in a Rangers uniform this past March 31st. He also wrote a thank you note to the fans in the Players’ Tribune. #ThankYouEric Page 3 Hurricane Warning April 2016 Member News Boosters in Commercials; Harris Teeter Subs; Canes Corner New CHBC member Bob Koncius with Victor Rask at the debut of the “Rasky Business” signature sub at Harris Teeter. The making of the Justin Faulk/Moe's queso commercial. Rex Minneman, Booster Club Member (wearing red hat), responded to a tweet for extras in the queso commercial. Noah Hanifin with CHBC Secretary Chris Clark after Canes Corner at Backyard Bistro. Molly Emmett, Brian Emmett, Hurricanes TV Play by Play man John Forslund , Patrick Chris Terry signs autographs at the debut of Noonan, and the “Terry Italiano” signature sub at Janet Doolittle Harris Teeter on January 19, 2016 - Photo by Marla Viens Page 4 Hurricane Warning April 2016 10th Anniversary Stanley Cup Champions Canes Honor 2006 Stanley Cup Champions Red Carpet Arrivals (Pictured Left to Right): Craig Adams, Niclas Wallin, Erik Cole, and Chad Larose greet fans at the beginning of the 10th Anniversary celebration commemorating the 2006 Stanley Cup Champions. Red Carpet Photos by Mark Hall Wade Minter, Canes in-game announcer, scored a highlight goal in the alumni game and proceeded to call it himself, an alumni game first! Vintage 2006 jersey on display. An event of grand proportions took place the weekend of February 12th-14th as the Canes celebrated the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Hurricanes team. On hand for the celebration was Craig Adams, Kevyn Adams, Rod Brind’amour, Erik Cole, Mike Commodore, Bret Hedican, Andrew Hutchinson, Chad Larose, Eric Staal, Niclas Wallin, Aaron Ward, Cam Ward, Doug Weight, Glen Wesley, and Mike Commodore in his Ray Whitney. Autograph sessions, memorabilia, and trophies on display over the famous robe hoists Lord course of two home games. Highlights of the weekend included a red carpet Stanley’s Cup! entrance on Friday, Stanley Cup ceremony on Saturday, and the annual Alumni game on Sunday. Page 5 Hurricane Warning April 2016 Summer Events 2016 Baseball Ticket Order Form Join the Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club this offseason at a couple of local baseball games! Name:___________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City:________________________ State:_____ Zip Code:__________ Saturday, April 30th 5pm – Carolina Mudcats vs Lynchburg (Star Wars Weekend!) I would like ____ Tickets @ $12 each Sunday, May 22nd 5pm – Durham Bulls – vs Rochester Red Wings I would like ____ Tickets @ $12 each Return with payment by Friday, April 22nd to: Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club P. O. Box 37726 Raleigh, North Carolina 27627 FAN FAVORITE AWARD PART 2: John-Michael Liles While Nathan Gerbe officially won the 2015-16 Fan Favorite Award, John- Michael Liles was in the lead for the booster club’s fan favorite award at the time when he was traded to the Boston Bruins on February 29. By rule, Liles is no longer eligible to be voted in as the 2015- 16 Carolina John-Michael Liles in game action prior to Hurricanes Booster the February 29 trade. Right: photo of Club fan favorite. CHBC Fan Favorite plaque sent to Boston. However, the booster club decided to provide a second honorary plaque to give to John-Michael Liles since he has had the lead in the fan favorite race since the beginning of the season. Page 6 Hurricane Warning April 2016 Eddie Lack Five Questions with Eddie Lack Lack Was Guest Speaker at the October 2015 CHBC Meeting How did you get into tacos? “It’s a Swedish tradition we have taco Fridays back home. My Dad and I started a tradition when I was 4 or 5 years old and it carried over.” Who are some of your favorite hockey players? “I loved Peter Forsberg growing up.