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Rock and Roll Fantasy: Canes Country Fantasy Hockey Kicks Off

The coveted Canes Country Fantasy Hockey Trophy. (Also known as the Pavel Brendl Award)

The coveted Canes Country Fantasy Hockey Trophy. (Also known as the Pavel Brendl Award)

It's that time of year again.  Last year's disappointments or victories matter not because everyone starts with a clean slate.  It's time to put on your GM hat, draft a team, and talk trash with the best of them.  The Canes Country fantasy hockey leagues are now open.

Last year we had five leagues with over 70 teams participating, including a Rookie League.  I renamed that Rookie League to "Rookie League 2" for this season, but we will start another rookie league if new players want to give it a try this year.  Or perhaps the ladies of CC would like to start a "ladies only" league?

Invitations have been sent to last year's players.  If you did not receive an invitation and want one, please contact me.  For those of you who did not play last year and want to join in this season, send me an email at canescountry@gmail.com and we will find a spot for you.  The winner of each league will get a trophy to memorialize their accomplishment.

(Each of the leagues are currently rotisserie leagues.  If you prefer a head-to-head league, let me know because others have requested one and if there is enough interest we will have one of those as well). 

Last Year's Winners:

Canes Country Rookie League:  Garfield

Canes Country Invitation (West):  Pittsburgh Caniac

Canes Country Invitation (East):  Raleigh River Rats

Canes Country Challenge:  Cory

Canes Country A League:  Raleigh Alers

(kudos to second place team, Lasers Go Pew Pew who missed being champion by half a point)

 

Section 320:  Bug's Buggerers

(Section 320 is managed by C-Leaguer, but trophy provided for that winner as well for old time sake)

 

Congratulations to last season's champions and good luck to everyone this season!

(Last year's champs, please email me your home address so I can send you your trophy.)

1 comment |

Hurricanes, FSC To Broadcast 65 Games, All In HD

The Carolina Hurricanes and Fox Sports announced the broadcast schedule for the 2010-11 season, and all 65 of the games will be in high definition. Here's the release from the Hurricanes:

‘CANES, FOX SPORTS CAROLINAS ANNOUNCE 2010-11 TV SCHEDULE

All 65 games on regional sports network to be televised in high definition

RALEIGH, NC – The National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, and the team’s broadcast partner FOX Sports Carolinas, today announced FOX Sports Carolinas’ 65-game television package for the 2010-11 NHL season. The 2010-11 season will mark the first time all Hurricanes games on FOX Sports Carolinas will be televised in high definition.

FOX Sports Carolinas’ coverage of live Hurricanes games in 2010-11 will include 35 of the team’s 41 road games and 30 match-ups at the RBC Center throughout the 82-game regular season. As always, John Forslund will handle the play-by-play duties while former professional goaltender Tripp Tracy will provide analysis.

The network’s coverage will kick off with the Hurricanes’ first game in North America on Oct. 14 at Ottawa, and will continue with each of the team’s seven remaining games in October. Following eight televised games in November, FOX Sports Carolinas will cover 10 of the Hurricanes’ 12 games in December.

As the calendar turns to 2011, 41 of Carolina’s final 46 regular-season games will be televised, including 19 of 20 road games and 30 of 32 games following NHL All-Star Weeekend. FOX Sports Carolinas’ coverage of the 2010-11 Hurricanes schedule concludes with telecasts of each of the team’s final 12 games.

The full television broadcast schedule can be downloaded here.

20 comments |

SB Nation's "Expansion Draft", Part 2: Carolina's Protected List

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, the gurus of SB Nation have decided to perform a mock expansion draft.  The two expansion cities are signed, sealed, and set to go along with the franchise names.   (Apparently, most folk who voted are traditionalists as the "new" teams will be the Winnipeg Jets and the Quebec City Nordiques.)

The general managers of each of the clubs were introduced to the public on Tuesday and Gabe Desjardins will be making the draft selections for the Jets while James Mirtle will be building the new and hopefully improved Nordiques.

The next step in this process is for the current NHL teams to submit protected player lists.  The good news for the Canes is that several of their players do not need protecting.  According to the league mandated rules, any players who have less than 49 games of NHL experience are automatically exempt from the process.   This would include Zach Boychuk, Jamie McBain, Zac Dalpe, Drayson Bowman, Jerome Samson, and several other prospects who hope to make the roster this fall.   

But hard choices still need to be made.

Poll
If a choice has to be made to protect Anton Babchuk or Brett Carson from an expansion draft, which one would you protect?

  297 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

53 comments |

Carolina's Minor Penalties Up In 2009-10

The Carolina Hurricanes have been tops in the league for three consecutive years at drawing penalties, but for the first time since the lockout the team was called for more penalties than they were able to draw last season. 

The Canes had 332 powerplay chances last season which was number one in the NHL.  On the other side of the ledger, the team was called for 343 minor penalties, 15th most in the league.   During their successful 2008-09 campaign, the Canes were only called for 322 minors, the second lowest number in the NHL.

After the first ten games of the season, the Hurricanes were leading the league with the most penalties, (which might help to explain their poor start).  We analyzed those penalties here, but the team did improve on that stat as the year went on and as personnel changed. 

The specifics after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

8 comments |

Charlotte Checkers Home Opener And Canes Country Night, Details Emerging

The Charlotte Checkers full season schedule was released on Wednesday and the opponent for their home opener finally became known to the public.  The home team will be facing the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on October 15. 

Checkers staff members have been very gracious about working with us and have offered Canes Country readers group pricing for that special night, the first ever home game of AHL hockey in Charlotte.  People who purchase their tickets with the Canes Country group have a choice of paying $15 for lower level seating, (probably section 115) or $10 for upper level, (section 116).  (see chart here.)

The Checkers have also offered to handle the ordering, money collection, and distribution of the tickets for us.  (We'll have details about how to order your tickets and other information later this week.)

Last month we ran a survey asking how many people might be interested in attending the game and we received a very good response, (between 250 to over 300).  Included in the survey, we asked about bus transportation and it appeared that there was enough interest for at least one bus, possibly two.  We are still working on that and will also have more details for those interested, during the week.  

Team officials were also hoping to get hotel discounts for people who wanted to spend the night, but there is a major NASCAR race in Charlotte on Saturday night and it turns out the hotels they were working with were not interested in giving out discounts for Friday.  Make your own hotel reservations ASAP if you plan to spend the night.

Once again, stay tuned for more details about how to order tickets this week.

28 comments |

SB Nation's "Expansion Draft"

Photo

More photos » Jacques Boissinot - AP

A couple of the gurus within our great hockey network of blogs were hypothesizing what it might be like if the NHL held an expansion draft.  Who would current teams protect?  Who would be drafted?  What would the lineups be like after the draft and would those two new teams be competitve at all?

Of course, you need to have actual expansion teams in order to have a parallel draft, so it was decided to run the whole way with this.  Choose expansion cities, give the teams a name, protect players, and then hold the draft.

This thing took off a bit faster than I expected and the expansion cities have already been selected, (Winnipeg and Quebec City), but the voting is now open for the team names.  If the concept interests you, go to SB Nation Hockey for more information.  

Toward the middle of the week, we at Canes Country will be discussing which players the Carolina Hurricanes will be protecting.

After the jump, check out the "league's protection rules".

Continue reading this post »

307 comments |

Jim Rutherford speaks with the boys at XM NHL Home Ice and Boomer picks the Canes to make the playoffs. (Although they might pick everyone but the Rangers to make the playoffs)

Check out all the details at the following link.

XM NHL Home Ice Hurricanes Preview

6 days ago Bob_tiny Bob Wage 17 comments

Zac Dalpe: Gunning For A Spot In The NHL

Zac Dalpe at one of the Carolina Hurricanes informal skate sessions this week.  (photo by LTD)

Zac Dalpe at one of the Carolina Hurricanes informal skate sessions this week. (photo by LTD)

Rookie Zac Dalpe knows it won't be easy.  He knows it will be a battle each and every day.  But he's willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to make the Carolina Hurricanes.

It's no secret that the Canes have a couple of open slots available this coming season and there are plenty of talented players competing to claim one of those positions.  Dalpe is certainly in the mix.

The youngster was able to move directly from Ohio State to Albany last season and had immediate success.   He scored 6 goals and had an assist in his first 9 games, then had another 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 playoff games.  When I asked him what attributed to his quick success, he graciously gave his coach and teammates the credit.

"Being a young guy stepping in, it can be kind of intimidating at first, but the coach had a lot of confidence in me and he put me in a good spot.  I also give a lot of credit to the guys I played with.  I'm just thankful for the chance."

Continue reading this post »

18 comments  |  1 recs |

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Carolina Hurricanes Roster

# Pos. DOB W H
Brett Carson 27 D 11/29/1985 210 6-4
Erik Cole 26 LW 11/6/1978 205 6-2
Joe Corvo 77 D 6/20/1977 204 6-0
Patrick Dwyer 39 RW 6/22/1983 175 5-11
Tim Gleason 6 D 1/29/1983 217 6-0
Jussi Jokinen 36 LW 4/1/1983 198 5-11
Tom Kostopoulos 29 RW 1/24/1979 200 6-0
Chad LaRose 59 LW 3/27/1982 181 5-10
Manny Legace 34 G 2/4/1973 200 5-10
Alexandre Picard 45 D 7/5/1985 215 6-3
Joni Pitkanen 25 D 9/19/1983 210 6-3
Brian Pothier 5 D 4/15/1977 204 6-0
Tuomo Ruutu 15 LW 2/16/1983 200 6-0
Sergei Samsonov 14 LW 10/27/1978 188 5-8
Bobby Sanguinetti 0 D 2/29/1988 190 6-3
Eric Staal 12 C 10/29/1984 205 6-4
Brandon Sutter 16 C 2/14/1989 183 6-3
Cam Ward 30 G 2/29/1984 200 6-1

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