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Hurricanewarning

Hurricanewarning

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Vol. 5, No. 3 The official newsletter of the Booster Club December 2001 Rookie Cole making early mark with Canes It didn’t take long to make his mark with the Hurricanes’ third line the first few weeks of the the Carolina Hurricanes. season, but a recent promotion saw him spend time on A scant 28 seconds into his National Hockey the top line, centered by . He played at a League debut, the 23-year-old rookie earned his first -a-game pace in the latter half of November and point – the fastest by a rookie in franchise history – with was also leading the team in hits – seeing more ice time an assist on Sandis Ozolinsh’s in the Hurricanes’ than experienced veterans and Jeff 3-2 win against the New York Daniels combined. Rangers on opening night Oct. Cole has gotten a of 5th. compliments for his gritty play, but Cole wasn’t fazed – or too perhaps none better than the one impressed – with his start. issued recently by head coach Paul “Everybody back home in Maurice. New York was calling me, saying, “Erik Cole,” he said, “has ‘Wow, you got an assist in the earned the right to have a bad first 20-some seconds,’ or game.” whatever,” he told CHBC Cole grew up in Oswego, N. members at the October general Y., and began playing hockey at membership meeting, laughing at age 5. He joined his high school the memory. “I took a and it team at age 16, and during his hit the goalie in the chest! If I had junior season, he played for both

made a nice pass between Cole driving the net against Washington his high school team and a minor somebody’s legs or something league team across the Canadian like that…now that would have been different.” border in a small city in – some two and a half Heck, what matters to Cole is just to be in the NHL. hours away. In fact, while getting the point was great, Cole said “I was traveling four nights a week up there,” Cole perhaps a bigger career thrill came a week after the said. “Many afternoons I’ve have practice at high school Rangers game, when assistant coach Randy from 3 to 5 in the afternoon, then my father would pick Ladouceur told him it was time to find a more me up and we’d drive up for a game. I’d sleep the whole permanent place to live. At the time, Cole was living in a way. My dad would stop at a Subway and get me a sub, Raleigh hotel, waiting to see whether his place on the and I’d eat that. We’d have a game, then we’d drive roster was secure. back and I’d get home, do homework, and then half to Today, he’s not only found a home, but a regular get up and go to school in the morning. That whole year spot in the lineup. The left wing had a regular shift on Continued on page 8

What’s inside

President’s Message / Susan Stacy Book Review: ‘Forever Whalers’ 2 5 3 Cheap Seats, CanePoll 7 Three Musketeers invade

4 Your Turn: Favorite hockey websites 9 CHBC calendar Happy Holidays from the Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club! Officers & Directors President’s Message / SUSAN STACY

Susan Stacy President (919) 577-1739 Have a safe and happy holiday season [email protected] I would like to begin this month by wishing everyone a safe and happy Lisa Wall Holiday season. It’s hard to believe that this year is coming to a close. Vice President This month at the November membership meeting, we drew the names for (919) 682-1130 our Limousine ride winner as well as the October and November member of the [email protected] month. I would like to congratulate Holly Cathcart on being our Limousine ride winner and Lee Ann Horner and Brent Stephens for being our members of the Kate Stewart month! Each month we will be drawing a members name and they will be Recording Secretary (919) 846-9587 chosen for the member of the month. The more activities you attend, the more [email protected] times your name will be entered into these drawings. Our next general membership meeting will be held on December 11, 2001 Larry Conrad at 6:30 p.m. at the ESA in the Varsity room. Please make sure to have your Corresponding Secretary booster club id badge. This month we have the pleasure of having Ken Lehner (919) 782-6065 from the Carolina Hurricanes Organization as a guest speaker. He will be telling [email protected] us about the marketing of the team and will be showing videos during the meeting. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Chris Sharples The all-star voting has begun. Please make sure that you fill out as many Treasurer (919) 781-7550 (w) ballots as you can while you are at the arena. We will be having a ballot marking (919) 676-4874 (h) party again this year. Please watch your email for the date and location. Our [email protected] tentative date is December 10, 2001. The location is TBD. The booster clubs goal this year is to turn in at least 15,000 ballots!! Dawn Coe The NHLBCC for 2002 is approaching on August 9-11, 2002. This year it [email protected] will be held in New Jersey. If you are interested in attending the booster club Kendra Willis convention this year, the first deposit is due on February 1st of 2002. This is a Shawn Williams wonderful opportunity to travel to another hockey city and meet other booster [email protected] clubs! There are many activities planned throughout the week! Prices differ Patrick Drollinger based on the rooms: $475 for a single occupancy, $340 for a double, $290 for a [email protected] Board Members triple and $270 for a quad. If you are interested in attending, please email me at [email protected] and we will have more information posted on our website. Committee Chairmen The convention package will be sent to us in December and we will have more Internet: Wendy Thomas information to share! We would love to have a group in attendance at this event. Membership: Open It’s a lot of fun for all! Newsletter: Bill Horner I wanted to update everyone on the status of the Ron Francis Raffle. As of Social: Rod Stacy November 30th, we have raised a total of $547.00 for the Kids N Community Audit: Chris Sharples Foundation. If you haven’t bought your tickets, time is running out. We will be Garden: Loreice Jernigan drawing the winner on December 21st. Stop by the booster club booth and get ACTion Fund: Open Youth Hockey: Lisa Wall your tickets!!! Fund-raising: Kathy Anderson Sunshine: Stacy Freeze Publicity: Jim Howaniec Monthly Booster Club Meetings Telephone: Elizabeth Bigley Volunteer: Donna Scanlon UPCOMING MEETINGS: Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club th P. O. Box 20776 Monday, January 14 , 2002 Raleigh, N. C. 27619 th hurricanesboosters.org Monday, February 11 , 2002 th Tuesday, March 12 , 2002 Send newsletter submissions to: th [email protected] Thursday, April 4 , 2002

Newsletter deadline: The locations of most of these meetings are to be determined. Some may be December 31st for held at the ESA. Watch future newsletters and your e-mail for details. the January edition

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 2 From the Cheap Seats / John Gallagher ‘South-least’ Division joke getting a little old

My Battle with Sherbet: Here only is Mr. Irbe stellar in goal, but he two years on the board and why I is some free advice. When making is also great to his fans. All the remain active in the club today. Be party punch, get the frozen sherbet Hurricanes players give the fans sure and hug your president today. out at least one hour prior to making some time, but I have seen Arturs Check the CHBC calendar for the punch. I struggled with a rock- Irbe go out of his way to sign more great events throughout the hard canister of the stuff while autographs for fans. He always says year. making punch for my daughter’s 4th a kind word to those waiting to see And that’s Hockey to me… birthday party. Luckily, there were no him after games no matter the LET’S GO ‘CANES! serious injuries to be reported. outcome. He deserves our gratitude The opinions and views expressed in this Speaking of which… not only for his play, but his extra article are not representative of the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club or the Carolina effort and awareness to the people Hurricanes Booster Club. This article is Isabelle turns 4!: Isabelle around him. Thanks Archie! designed for entertainment purposes only. turned 4 on November 24. She has just about completely turned her Around the Southeast: The attention from hockey to Barbie. She Hockey News once again labels the CanePoll still loves taking the shot on division, “the South-least!” Is it just Sundays. Boy do they grow up fast. me or is that joke getting old? Sure, On to hockey! the Capitals and Florida are having a tough go of it and the Thrashers and ‘O’-lymics? State of the ‘Canes: The Lightning have not yet reached a Will Jeff O’Neill be Hurricanes are sitting on the competitive level. I’m so glad our Southeast throne at the moment. division gives writers a chance to named to the Canadian However, having played more games overuse a cliché, but when is enough Olympic team? than any other NHL team as of going to be enough? Last time I November 18, the Hurricanes can ill checked the Eastern Conference, the afford to sit pretty. December’s home Southeast was the only division schedule provides ample opportunity where three of its five teams existed to accumulate points in the winter fewer than 10 years. Hopefully, this run. Home games against struggling will be my only rant for the year. clubs such as Florida, Buffalo, Thanks for reading. Washington, and Atlanta should chalk up at least six points. On the Yikes!: suffered road against the Rangers and Flyers his second concussion in eight might prove tough, but this team is months thanks to San Jose’s Bryan capable of beating those teams. The Marchment. Lucky for Shane and rest of the road schedule includes ‘Canes fans everywhere, a quick Florida, , Buffalo, and recovery resulted in a key road goal Tampa Bay. December should give in Ottawa to salvage a point for the us reason to be cheery this Holiday franchise. Willis will keep talkin’. season. All I want for Christmas is Hurricanes Playoff tickets. Thanks Kudos: This month’s Kudos Santa… goes out to our CHBC President, Susan Stacy. Her hard work and N&O: I commend Luke DeCock dedication has kept our club rolling. YES NO and the N&O sports team for a great She was the driving force that started hockey section so far this season. I the Members Rewards points and 12 votes 7 votes look forward to reading the Sports lowering the single member dues by section quite a bit these days. $3 this year. She has also been a Editor’s Note: almost all of the “no” votes said O’Neill’s exclusion from good friend. Susan was the first booster I formally met at my first ’s team would be a Arturs Irbe: I want to say a few mistake and that he should be words about one of the greatest CHBC meeting in March of 1999. named. goalies in Hurricanes history. Not She is one of the reasons I served

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 3 Your Turn What’s your favorite hockey website – and why?

My favorite hockey web site is way to keep up with teams. carolinahurricanes.com. It has all the information I Nicole Foster need about my favorite hockey team. Patsy Elliott My favorite Hockey website is SlamSports (www.canoe.ca/Hockey/home.html). They have the Carolinahurricanes.com, of course…to keep up to most in-depth hockey coverage going. It doesn't do date on our favorite team. the best job with the stories on American teams, but if Paula Padgett you are a stat junkie, this is the best on the net. Steve Wells Carolinahurricanes.com. 'Nuff said! Karen Harper I like the discussion board sites the best since they offer a chance to discuss the Canes, the NHL and My answer: carolinahurricanes.com, because it is hockey in general with a wide variety of people… My the official Canes website and it as some good favorites are The Box (www.ncpen.com) information and great pictures on the site (even from and the Hurricanes Board at FanHome.com. The me) and very beautiful Canes wallpaper. Penalty Box board is a lively discussion among Daniel & Wendy van Buynder mostly Raleigh-based Canes fans. There are some regulars who have followed the team faithfully since My favorite hockey website is the Hurricanes’ site, of the days of the , and they add a course! Great pictures and articles. depth of historical knowledge of the franchise that Cheryl Robinson adds great flavor to the discussions. The FanHome boards are Canadian-based, but there are a good My favorite site is the Carolina Hurricanes site number of active Canes followers on our board. because I love the Canes and can't get enough of a Jeff Harrod good thing. Mary Lou Pierce My favorite hockey website is NHLPA.com. It's my favorite because it gives you all the stats and scores, NHL.com - No info is more definitive or reliable for all as well as interviews with the players. The section the NHL Teams! called "Parent's Scrapbook" is great because you get John Gallagher to get a parent's perspective and great photos of the players growing up. I use NHL.com for the stats and I like The Sporting Christina Balsour News (www.tsn.com) for rumors and general news. Lisa Wall My favorite hockey web site is mine (www.patrickwgarrett.com/pgsports.htm) because NHL.com. It doesn't get any better than that. there's a picture of me with Lord Stanley's cup there! Larry Parker Seriously? I'd have to pick the NHL.com for scores, game recaps and statistics, or site My favorite hockey website is NHL.com. It has so (www.thn.com) for coverage of other news from the many cool features and is updated minute to minute. hockey world. My favorite local Canes site is They don't seem to have a negative bias in reporting www.caniac.net by fellow CHBC’er Barry Shafer. like our friends at ESPN. It's a great site! Patrick Garrett Dawn Sweder Faceoff.com. They have stats on all players on all of NHL.com, because they have the super stats, where the teams. You can look up a Cane and find out how you can see the playing time of Nic Wallin. Also they did in the minors, juniors and even high school. carolinahurricanes.com to see what is happening at They update scores for games in progress every the ESA. minute. Patrick Drollinger David Alston

My favorite hockey web site is headlinehockey.com. The Headline Hockey News is interesting but I go to It has daily headlines as ESPN-Hockey for score and game updates. well as team headlines by dates. It is an awesome Barry Ostrow

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 4 Book Review / Pat Garrett Forever Whalers Forever Whalers (From Abrahamsson to Zuke: an Encyclopedia of Hockey's Icemen) by Jack Lautier, Glacier Publishing, Southington, Conn. Who scored goals for our side . Every Hurricanes Pronger, Bobby Holik, in the last-ever Hartford Whalers fan needs to understand the point of and were all game? view of the franchise's former fans, "our guys." Also, there's a nice And which other Hall of Fame and this book helps you feel their biography of Coach Mo. Prior to #9 once wore a pain. If only everybody in reading this book, I didn't know that Whalers uniform? the Raleigh area could he had been a defensive star of the If you're interested understand how special it until suffering the Whalers/Canes is to have an NHL eye injury that ended his player franchise history and franchise and how much it career. trivia, you need a copy hurts to lose it! There's also much on on Kevin of "Forever Whalers" Over half of the book Dineen and his dad, former by Jack Lautier. This is made up of an Wing , who was one of photo-filled book encyclopedia of every the team's first coaches. The serves as an historical player ever to play in a section on is great, as reference of the pre- Whalers uniform – from is the one on Francis. And the NC years of the Christer Abrahamsson to newspaper articles include one on Whalers/Canes franchise. It . For each player there's the time that a 1978 blizzard features player biographies, year- a biography which varies in length dumped so much snow on the by-year team and player statistics, depending on the player's Hartford area that its weight caused draft statistics, and over twenty significance (most players' bios are the roof of the Hartford Civic Center articles gleaned from the Hartford a few paragraphs, but Ron Francis to collapse. press. and Gordie Howe deservedly get As I said before, this book is an This book is, to my knowledge, well over two pages each). absolute must for the true fan of the one of only a handful of books on You'll get to see Jack Carlson, Whalers/Hurricanes franchise. I've the Whalers (and of them all, three best known as one of the Hanson never seen it in any area others are by the same author) and Brothers from the movie "Slapshot!" bookstores, but it can be ordered the only one which seeks to be a And Canes fans will love seeing from the publisher (mail me for the Whalers reference. It's a perfect photos of Francis as a shy-looking address). "coffee table/bathroom" sort of book 18-year old, Randy Ladoceur and By the way, the last Hartford full of facts and trivia that will settle as Whalers players in Whalers game was a 2-1 victory many arguments between you and the 1980s, and an old photo of over the in your Caniac friends. Marek Malik with shoulder-length which Glenn Wesley and Kevin For 25 years from 1972 until hair. Many other current and Dineen scored for the Whalers and 1997, the franchise played 1,975 recently-departed Canes are got the only goal for regular season and 123 playoff featured, including , the Lightning. games in both , where they Glenn Wesley, Jeff Daniels, and And the other Hall of Fame #9 began as the Whalers former area favorites such as Kent who played nine games for the of the WHA, and in Manderville, , Paul Whalers in 1979 was where they played their last game Ranheim, and . (however, when he was a Whaler as the NHL's Hartford Whalers One of the most striking he wore #16 because #9 was before moving to the Triangle and features of this book is that upon retired for Gordie Howe). becoming the Canes. Many die- thumbing through the player hard Hartford fans remain very bitter biographies section and reading of Pat Garrett played youth hockey and over losing their beloved Whalers all the former Whalers, one gets a attended every Roanoke Valley Rebels and the author appears to be great appreciation of the talent our game in Roanoke, Va., in the 1970s. among them. team traded away who are now He’s followed hockey for more than 30 years and the Hurricanes since their The book has a very "anti- stars elsewhere in the NHL. Marc move to Greensboro, and is a current Karmanos" flavor to it and includes Bergevin, , Shane season ticket holder. He writes book many Hartford-area newspaper Churla, Sylvain Cote, Hnat reviews and features for Hurricane articles detailing the team's move to Dominichelli, , Chris Warning.

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 5 Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club News

Upcoming home games Member of the Month awards

Florida Panthers, Dec. 12th, 7 p.m. for October, November , Dec. 18th, 7 p.m. , Dec. 21st, 7 p.m. Congratulations to Brent Stephens on being the Maple Leafs, Dec. 26th, 7 p.m. CHBC's November Member of the Month. Brent has been a , Jan. 2nd, 7 p.m. Booster Club member since July 2001. He found out about , Jan. 5th, 7 p.m. th the club from one our Board Members, Dawn Coe. He has , Jan. 6 , 5 p.m. been a hockey fan, in varying degrees, all his life. He was born in Detroit (watched the Red Wings), grew up in Texas (got the Stars when he was there) and went to college in Colorado (when the Avalanche were at the top of their game), but now he is here as a true Hurricanes fan! The Supporters Congratulations to Brent again. For being the November Member of the Month, he received an autographed Jeff Please submit complete address to: O’Neill game-used blade. [email protected] or call (919) 676-4874. Congratulations to Lee Ann Horner for being the One member reward point will be awarded for CHBC’s October Member of the Month. Lee Ann joined the each verified name submitted. Booster Club in February 2000 and has been a season-ticket- holder with her husband, Bill, for the last four years. She Dunkin Donuts didn’t become a hockey fan – and really wasn’t a sports fan – 1801 Capital Blvd. until attending her first hockey game in 1998. She and her family have been on two “road trips” with the Hurricanes – to Eagles Cleaners New Jersey/New York in 1999 and Toronto/Ottawa in 2000. 900 Spring Forest Road

Her favorite player is Sami Kapanen and she can often be Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant seen wearing one of Sami’s game-worn jerseys to games. 3905 Western Blvd. Congratulations to Lee Ann. For being the October Member of the Month, she received an autographed Rod Cactus Flower Restaurant Brind’Amour game-used blade. 5300 Edwards Mills Rd.

Vincents Pizza of NY 3911 Capital Blvd., Raleigh Christmas Top 10 John Gallagher on the Top 10 ways Atlanta Bread Co. to make this year a Hockey Christmas 7400 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh

10) Replace the traditional Christmas Tree with a series of Applebees 7471 Six Forks Road, Raleigh well-glued hockey sticks! 9) Instead of chestnuts, roast pucks (keep a clothespin Optometric Eye Care Center handy…burning rubber does not leave a Christmas-like odor) 720 S. E. Maynard Road, Cary 8) Place a jingle bell on your Zamboni 7) Replace the living room floor with a sheet of ice and… Optometric Eye Care Center 6) Check Santa into the wall and steal the milk and cookies. 229 Crossroads Blvd., Cary 5) Pay off a premier NHL and buy your favorite hockey player a goal! Ruby Tuesdays 4) Try to re-gift an old skate as a nutcracker. If you have 131 Crossroads Blvd., Cary good marketing skills, someone might even pay you money for such a gift. O’Charleys Restaurant 3) Toss hats at your Christmas tree after opening three gifts. Fayetteville Road, Garner

2) Rather than singing Christmas Carols, go tailgate at the ESA on Christmas Eve. Harris Teeter (Regional Office) 1) Give the gift that keeps on giving: Carolina Hurricanes Creedmoor Road, Raleigh hockey tix!

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 6 Road Trip / by Dawn Coe

Three Musketeers invade Atlanta

Atlanta, home of Braves 73rd floor! I survived the trip to the about a three-block hike and the , the World of Coca-Cola, top, but I think I got my first gray weather was great. The practice and the CNN Center – or more hair! was short, but fun as we got to sit in importantly, for those of us in the We all enjoyed a drink in the the front row and take lots of hockey world, the Atlanta lounge and watched the sunset over pictures. The guys seemed to be in Thrashers. the city. While relaxing there, we all very good spirits and it was an all- At the early hour of 8 a.m. on realized how oblivious we are to the around fun atmosphere. October 12, Stacy Freeze, Kate sports world outside hockey. Not As we were leaving the stands, Stewart and I met at the two miles from us, the Braves were we ran into Shane Willis who was Raleigh/Durham International battling for the division very pleasant. Then, on the way out airport to board our Airtran flight to championship and we didn’t realize of the arena, we ended up in front of Atlanta. The trip was planned the this until we saw the fireworks over Joe Vasicek and again, Josh weekend after the NHL released the the ballpark. Oops! Oh well. We Holden. We all said “Hi!” and then I 2001-2002 schedule and although it decided to head out for a late dinner said, “We’re just running into you all was originally meant to be a and to check out the city. over the place today. I guess we’re foursome, it ended up as just us, Centennial Olympic Park is your personal stalkers for the the Three Musketeers. We boarded beautiful at night and any hockey weekend.” Josh laughed and said, the plane for our flight and were arena looks good when you know “You girls are trouble.” To which my settling in when the came your team will be playing there the response was “You’ve only been over the intercom and said, “Can next day. We headed back to the here a week and you know that whomever has the manual please hotel and tried to go to sleep. We already?!” pass it up here so I can figure out weren’t very successful, but that’s a He and Joe laughed and then how to fly this thing?” whole other article. headed out the door to the team At first, the entire plane was Saturday morning we awoke bus. Wow, what a morning we had! quiet, but then a wave of laughter and got ready to head over to the Stacey, Kate, and I spent the erupted. The pilot must have known arena. Tripp Tracy had arranged for afternoon sightseeing and then that we were all a little nervous us to watch the Canes pre-game went back to the hotel to get ready about flying. The flight to Atlanta skate at 11:30 a.m. and we were for the game. As we headed for was uneventful, thank goodness, jazzed. I’d like to thank Tripp and Phillips Arena it became extremely and we landed at Hartsfield Atlanta Brian Tatum for arranging that for windy and we joked that a hurricane International Airport safe and us. Thanks guys!! Now, there is was coming. This was opening night sound. A short MARTA ride and we nothing like walking out of the hotel for the Atlanta Thrashers, so arrived at our hotel, the Westin elevator and practically running into everyone received a Ray Ferraro Peachtree Plaza. Josef Vasicek! It happened when bobble head on their way into the What a beautiful place, even we headed down for breakfast and arena. We went to the Thrashers with all the construction! We we were all so surprised that none store and then made our way dropped our bags and crossed the of us said a word. We just smiled around the concourse to our seats. street to have lunch at the Hard and kept on walking. I blame it on Stacey did a good job ordering our Rock Café. This was Stacy’s and the shock factor. We got into the tickets! We were in Section 116, off my first real road trip, so we were line at Starbucks and realized that the blue line, a couple of rows pretty wired about the next day’s we were standing behind Josh behind the Canes bench. Great festivities. After our late lunch Holden. A little less shell shocked seats! There were a lot of opening (yummy!) we went back to the hotel this time, I said “Good morning, festivities, including a dedication to to change and check out the Josh!” At which point Josh jumped the September 11th victims and then famous Sundial restaurant and and then said “Morning ladies! I’m the game was on. lounge. The Sundial rotates 360 still half asleep.” I don’t think he was And what a game it was! The degrees around the top of the expecting to hear his name said by Canes came out ready to play and Westin and gives you a full view of an unfamiliar female voice in the scored early in the first period. We the city of Atlanta. As we boarded hotel lobby. Oops again! Anyway, all jumped up to cheer when we the glass-enclosed elevator, I we enjoyed our breakfast watching realized that we were the only ones started to get a little nervous. I hate all the players file through the lobby standing in our section! Our mood heights and this thing rocketed us, to their waiting bus and then we on the outside of the building, to the headed to Phillips Arena. It’s only (Continued on next page)

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 7 Carolina Hurricanes Booster Club News

Rookie Cole making early mark with Canes Three Musketeers

(continued from page 1) “I thought I’d be OK,” he said of invade Atlanta his first NHL camp, “but nothing was kind of a blur.” compares to getting in room with (continued from page 7) But the intense focus on guys like (Hurricanes captain) Ron hockey helped his vision for the Francis. It was hard to be was tempered when the future become clearer. He moved to comfortable. I was very quiet – I Thrashers scored only a few

Des Moines, Iowa, for his senior didn’t want to say the wrong thing, minutes later. The game seemed year of high so I kept to myself. I was scared to to fly by and before we knew it, it school, living death. And it showed. I ended up in was the end of the third period with a local Cincinnati.” and we had won 5-2! Go Canes! family so he Instead of seeing it as a By the way, I missed my could play for demotion, Cole determined to boy Jeff’s goal while waiting in the United improve as a player. He says now the concession lines, which are States Hockey that last year, his first full year in the worse then any I’ve seen at the League’s Des minors, “turned out to be the best ESA! Moines Buccaneers. thing for me. After much celebration, we Cole scored 64 points (30 “It was what I needed,” he said. headed back to the hotel. We goals, 34 assists) in 48 games. That “I needed the whole year to decided to stay in, so we turned earned him the team’s Landmark understand what it was like, what it on the local news. Let’s just say Trophy as Most Popular Player, the takes to play at this level.” that the sports writers in Atlanta team’s Rookie of the Year honors In this year’s camp, Cole was don’t like us much. The quote and a spot on the USHL’s All-Star still quiet, but unlike last year, his was “The Thrashers are 10-0-1 team. confidence grew. against the Hurricanes, so the It also got the attention of the “I still felt very fortunate to be Hurricanes can just go home.” coaches at , a here every day,” he said. “I’d come We all laughed hysterically at smaller school close to Oswego to the rink, and my equipment would that. known for its powerful hockey still be here. I was still on the On Sunday we checked out program. schedule to go to the ice. It was Coke World and Underground In three seasons there, Cole tough – you wanted to get some Atlanta and then headed to the averaged a point a game. But by kind of positive feedback, anything airport for our flight home. We the end of his junior season, several to kick-start you and give you more were all exhausted but happily of Clarkson’s top players left to confidence.” reminisced about all the great pursue pro careers. Cole, who had That came when the final cuts adventures we had just had. I been selected by the Hurricanes in would definitely recommend st were made and Cole found himself the 1998 NHL Entry Draft (71 pick on the Hurricanes’ pre-season taking a road trip. It’s a lot of fun overall), felt the time was right to roster. Now the only question was and a great way to support the turn pro. He left school immediately whether he would make the team or team when they are out of town. after Clarkson’s hockey season spend another year in the minors. GO CANES!!! ended and was added to the roster After an 11 a.m. matinee game at of the , the Atlanta on September 26, the Canes’ International Hockey Hurricanes coaches told the League farm team. He played the prospects still with the team to be at UPCOMING COOL BARS TOURS final nine games of the season and the arena at 8:30 the next morning. Dec. 10 vs. Rangers saw action in seven playoff games, Cole and the rest wondered if they’d getting his first taste of professional 7 p.m. all be send to the minors. Seasoned Ticket hockey. “Then they call Byron (Ritchie) 3211 Shannon, Durham Cole spent all of last year in and me in,” he said, “and said, 493-7797 Cincinnati after not making the ‘You’re staying.’” Hurricanes’ roster during training Cole hopes it’s a long stay. February 26 vs. Maple Leafs camp. He had a strong season at “I certainly wouldn’t want to 7:30 p.m. Cincinnati – 23 goals and 20 assists change a thing because I’m here,” Ram's Head Grille in 69 games – but didn’t get called 102-A Colonnades Way, Cary he said. “I just hope I get better as 851-7080 up to play for the Hurricanes. the year goes on.”

Hurricane Warning  December 2001  Page 8 Canes’ Calendar DECEMBER 2001 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Canes vs. Canes vs. @ Panthers Capitals Sabres 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 @ Rangers CHBC Canes vs. @ Sabres MEETING Storm Shelter Panthers 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 @ Penguins Canes vs. Canes vs. @ Flyers Senators Thrashers 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Canes vs. @ Lightning Maple Leafs 30 31 @ Capitals @ Sabres

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