Merci...Kiitos...Spasibo...Thank You

Well that's it folks. Put a fork in it. The fat lady has sung. The 2009-2010 season is over. But if you're looking for a bitter rant about how the team did me wrong or if you're hoping to read a woeful list of "what ifs" you've come to the wrong place. What you'll find over the next few paragraphs is my attempt at saying thank you to a team I'm proud to call my team.

To the Rats:
Thank you for coming to Raleigh and never missing a beat. Thank you for showing us that "young" doesn't necessarily mean "mistakes". Thank you for stepping into your roles without asking questions or demanding more. But thank you for earning more. Thank you for offering us a glimpse into the future of this team.

To the coaches:
Thank you for not quitting on this team. Thank you for holding them accountable for their actions. Thank you for expecting more from them than complacency and a draft pick. Thank you for pushing them to put a competitive product on the ice night in and night out. Thank you for giving the kids a chance and thank you for recognizing what they had to offer.

To the team:
Thank you for refusing to quit. Thank you for fighting even when lesser teams would have given up. Thank you for staying committed and sticking together. Thank you for not airing dirty laundry to the press or throwing each other under the bus. Thank you for supporting each other through both good and bad times. Thank you for battling injuries, fatigue and disappointment to compete every game. Thank you for giving us such amazing moments. Thank you for giving us a season of firsts: first games, first wins and first goals. Thank you for giving us a reason to throw hats on the ice. Thank you for inspiring us during the Olympics. Thank you for giving us goals that made us sit back and say "wow". Thank you for giving us saves that brought us to our feet in reverence. Thank you for bringing home wins against some of the top teams in the league and never once believing that Goliath ever had any more right to win than David. We're proud of you. Enjoy your offseason. Heal and rest your bodies, minds and spirits so you can come back ready to conquer the NHL.

In the meantime, we'll wait. We'll anxiously anticipate the day we get to pull our jerseys out of the closet. We'll look forward to tailgating for hours in the parking lot. We'll be working on our Finnish and trying to figure out the time difference between Raleigh, NC and Helsinki, Finland. We will watch the draft lottery with every bit of intensity as we would a playoff game. We'll scour the internet and the papers to find any bit of news we can. We'll be waiting to cheer you on for another 82 games. We'll be here.

Combating Hockey Ignorance One Letter To The Editor At A Time

For those of you who don't know, I go to school in Clemson, SC which despite it's many wonderful qualities, is not exactly a hotbed of hockey activity. So imagine my surprise (and joy) when I found an article about the US men's Olympic team in the March 5th issue of The Tiger (our campus newspaper).

My initial thoughts were along these lines: Finally! Some recognition for the team in a very nontraditional market! Then I read the article (which is linked here). At this point, I was really irritated, borderline angry actually. Here was someone who probably spent as much studying the game as I do studying nuclear physics blasting a group of athletes because they were professionals!

Now my thoughts went something like this: Alright Mr. Writer, prepare to feel some hockey girl wrath. I wrote my very first ever letter to the editor (copied below) telling the author, and his superiors, just what I thought about his theory, his fact checking skills and the 2010 men's Olympic silver medalists.

I was horribly disappointed in your article “Inspiration in favor of domination”, largely due to the fact that the writer selectively chose the facts he included.

First, the NHL doesn’t allow players to “start fist fights or purposely injure someone on the other team” without consequences. Every fighter is given a 5 minute major and possibly up to an additional 12 minutes in penalties. Whether that’s an appropriate punishment is up for debate, but the fact of the matter is there are punishments and to claim otherwise is a lie. Additionally, players who intentionally injure others are penalized through fines and suspensions. The adequacy of these consequences can be debated, but that doesn’t negate the fact that they exist.

Second, every team uses professional hockey players at the Olympics. NHL players could be found on every Olympic hockey roster. This is not a case of the United States sending “dream teams” to beat up on wide-eyed amateur athletes from other countries. To imply otherwise was intentionally glossing over the facts to make a point. In addition, your claim that every player on the US team made over $1 million is yet another example of poor (or nonexistent) fact checking on your part; Jonathon Quick makes $770,000.

In conclusion, professional athletes are just as proud of their nationality as amateur athletes are. They’ve worked just as hard. They are no less deserving of being able to represent their country simply because they collect a paycheck. To answer your question about whether the US team’s success qualifies as an upset, most hockey pundits picked the US as a long shot to come in fourth let alone second. That is an upset. For them to beat Canada’s All-Star team (only 5 of their 23 players have never been selected to play in an All-Star Game as opposed to 18 of 23 Americans) whose collective salary is more than 50% higher than that of the Americans is an upset. Hate the NHL if you want. Hope for amateur players to be used in the future if that’s what you wish. But to claim the 2010 silver medalists don’t deserve the nation’s pride or respect because they are professionals is doing a disservice to the 23 men who played their hearts out for their country.

A few weeks went by and I didn't hear anything so I naturally assumed my letter had been discarded with the probably 20 or so other letters they get a week. But The Tiger had one more surprise in store for yours truly when I found my letter in this week's edition of the paper! Excuse me while I do a little happy dance!!! Woo hoo! I'm published!!!!

Now I don't harbor any delusions that my letter to the editor will make any difference to the author the next time he writes an article. I don't think for a second that the editor will sit him down and tell him to fact check every now and then. But I do have a hope that other people will come away from this with a little more hockey knowledge and a greater appreciation of what 23 men accomplished during a few cold February weeks in Vancouver.

Getting To Know...Alexandre Picard!

Our second installment of "Getting To Know..." features one Alexandre Picard who came to Raleigh in exchange for the Hurricanes' version of Ol' Blue Eyes prior to the Olympic break. The 24 (almost 25) year old from Quebec was drafted by Philadelphia in 2003 and helped the Philadelphia Phantoms win the Calder Cup in 2005 (along with Creepie...err Joni Pitkanen) before his rookie season in 2006. Picard has bounced around the NHL quite a bit with stops in Tampa Bay and Ottawa before finding a home (at least temporarily) in Carolina.

Born in Gatineau, Picard has a younger brother and learned to love the game while watching his father coach on the weekends. He's also a bit of a mama's boy, at least when it comes to food, citing his mother's lasagna as his favorite meal.

Some random facts about our newest David Tanabe look-a-like:
*His best trait is patience and he values honesty in other people. Don't worry Alex-we're nothing but honest in Carolina.
*He never goes on the road without a good book.
*His first job was a soccer referee and he wanted to be a hockey player or sports journalist when he was little.
*He'd like to learn how to play the guitar and travel through Europe at some point.
*His worst subject in school? Math. Best subject? French.
*He was quote "probably nervous as hell" during his first date.

Picard has never been an offensive dynamo (his career high in goals is 1), but his 15 points and 11 assists put him at third and tied for second respectively among Sens' d-men before being traded in March. But he brings a young body that MoRonRowe can mold into the kind of player they want on the blueline.

So welcome to Raleigh Alex! Try the BBQ, check out a college basketball game (just don't pick a favorite), stay away from Tripp and never, ever watch game footage of A.Ward unless it's for laughs.

Getting To Know...Brian Pothier!

After the trade deadline, the Hurricanes have a few new faces rocking the red and black which means it's time to introduce our newest feature-"Getting To Know..."- where we will learn a little bit more about some of the newest members of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Our first spotlight falls on 32 year old defenseman Brian Pothier (who clearly knows his audience here at the Siren-yes I know, it's a little much and I did get it from the Scarlet Caps website, but somehow it seemed better than a picture of him with the Capitals' logo on his chest). Brian was born in the good ol' US of A (seems fitting he should replace another US born d-man of similar age eh?) and started his career in Atlanta after signing as an undrafted free agent in 1999. But if he thought that signing a contract meant the rough times were over, Pothier was sadly mistaken.

After a vicious hit from Milan Lucic in early 2008, Pothier would learn firsthand just how fragile health is and the temporary nature of a career in the NHL. The d-man's fourth concussion sidelined him for 14 agonizing months during which time he struggled both on and off the ice with dizziness and vertigo. In what must have been a mixture of relief and confusion, Pothier was eventually diagnosed as having an astigmatism that was causing the majority of his symptoms previously attributed to post concussion syndrome. After being fit for a new pair of glasses in, you guessed it, North Cackalacky, Pothier began his dramatic comeback with an eye on a return to the NHL.

"It was, he said, like a 'light bulb turned on, and I was good to go. I'm a full-blown dad again. I'm functioning great. It's just been a great progression on and off the ice. On the ice and then at home as a dad, a husband and a family guy, too.'"

In March of 2009, Pothier got just that. He re-entered the Capitals' lineup and earned a roster spot for the team's playoff run. He played 41 games for the Capitals and put up a respectable 11 points and was an impressive +12 from the blueline prior to being traded to Raleigh. His no nonsense attitude to press interviews may be a treat for those of us who are tired of the same old sports cliches. But his biggest contribution to the Hurricanes, or any team for that matter, may be the added perspective that one gets from struggling against and eventually overcoming adversity.

So I'd like to be the first (well probably like the 400th) person to welcome Brian Pothier to Raleigh! Hopefully his time here is filled with much success and lots of Stanley Cups! Hey a girl can dream can't she? I heard that we still weren't out of this thing entirely...

It's a hockey miracle!!!!

Suddenly the Canadian powerhouse is just a big old pile of rubble. The rag tag bunch of second tier NHL players from the ol' US of A beat the hometown favorites in a 5-3 game that held more emotion, passion and power than any regular season NHL game (and a lot of playoff games) I've ever seen.

But they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why don't we let the pictures do the talking?

Tee hee. In all seriousness, I almost feel bad for Brodeur. Note I said almost which means a donut joke is not out of the question, but I want to be considered a gracious winner so I will resist.

It's ok Eric. Most of America can't believe it either. :) Although I will go ahead and give you props on your goal and trying to make it easier for America by taking out some of your own teammates. Dude...focus and I don't mean on duck hunting.

No words are necessary. None.

My oh my. That place sure did empty oot quickly eh?

Ok so I couldn't resist the donut joke. I'm sorry. I'm weak...very much like a certain team's...oh never mind, that's almost as easy as scoring on Canada. Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

Congratulations goes out to all the members of Team USA for giving us one heck of an Olympic memory. USA!! USA!! USA!!

Cullen's Now A Senator

The Hurricanes announced today yet another Cup holdover is saying "hasta la vista" to Raleigh. Matt Cullen was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Picard and a 2nd round draft pick (perhaps another example of JR's pimp hand holding strong). Unlike Wallin (and Ray Whitney), Cullen didn't have that pesky NTC so there's not telling if he's ok with the move, although quotes like this (courtesy of the N&O) make me think it wasn't his first choice:

"We have a home here and love it, and obviously have some great friends and great memories here," he said. "Certainly this is the place where I really like playing, but we'll just have to see how it plays out."

But, one thing is certain, his fans and teammates will undoubtedly miss Ol' Blue Eyes.

Cullen always went about his business quietly, but he's had significant succes in his 2 stints with the 'Canes, putting up 181 points in 266 games played. He's a defensively sound forward who played in all positions and was trusted by his coaches immensely.

His career with the Hurricanes has given us some great moments. We witnessed his first career hattrick. We watched Scott Walker get in trouble for defending his little fuzzy face not once, but twice. We learned that he likes to hang out in hot tubs with other guys, that Ray Whitney peed himself during the anthem and that Scotty walks around naked too often for his liking (yeah clearly Matty has a bit of a sharing problem). We've even gotten to see his unique playoff facial hair choices. But above all else, we've been lucky enough to watch Matt Cullen battle back from injury to become a significant part of franchise history.

So best of luck to you Matt and may Ottawa be all you want it to be. Know that you will be greatly missed and always welcome in Raleigh!

Thanks For The Memories

As you may have read/heard/seen written in the sky, Niclas Wallin was traded to the San Jose Sharks today in a move that, while not entirely shocking, is still sad for those of us who remember some of the Secret Weapon's best moments.

An original draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2000, Wallin has been a staple on the blueline in Raleigh putting up 69 points in 517 games played. But when it comes to Wallin, perhaps the quality of points is more important than the quantity. No one will ever forget Wallin's playoff OT heroics (3 goals is a franchise record!) against Montreal and New Jersey which led to him being dubbed "the Secret Weapon" by Caniac faithful.


But again, there is more to Wallin than meets the eye, especially in terms of what he brings to his team. He is the ultimate team guy who always puts the group above the individual, even if it means taking some good natured ribbing in the process as was the case with his goal against...well against the Hurricanes:

"In fact, former coach Peter Laviolette used Wallin’s gaffe on a highlight reel of bloopers to loosen up the team before the playoffs. 'We did a voice-over saying what a great move by Wallin to make the game close,' Forslund said. 'He took it all in stride -- he’s been a terrific Hurricane.'"

That he has John. That he has.

Wallin is just one of those all-around good guys. He's not flashy, but he has created moments that will live in Hurricanes' lore forever. He does his job, but doesn't need his coaches to babysit him. He's a man of few words, but is always quick with a joke (or an invitation to wrestle) to lighten the mood in a sometimes very tense locker room. He is a leader, but doesn't ask for any recognition. He's a hockey player who knows how to arrange his priorities (winning a game 7 the night before doesn't mean he can't take his son to hockey practice the next morning). He's the kind of guy that will bring a PR intern a pizza in a hotel lobby and then sit and eat with him. He is a man that loves his job and takes nothing for granted.

"I love to come to the rink, and whether you win or lose this is something that not many people get a chance to do and you’ve got to enjoy that. All the history and all the overtime Secret Weapon stuff, I will look back when I’m done playing."

His teammates adore him (especially his "brother from another mother"), his coaches trust him and his fans will always remember him. Thank you Nic for everything you've given to this organization. You will be missed and never be forgotten. Best of luck wherever life takes you.