Back in Black - Laviolette Will Return

by Bob Wage on May 17, 2008 12:25 AM EDT

Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford confirmed earlier today that coach Peter Laviolette will indeed return behind the bench next season for Carolina. Rutherford seemed a bit surprised by all the speculation about the coach's future.

"This became a bigger issue than it needed to be, JR was quoted as saying. It seems like the general manager could have had something to do with that, but maybe he didn't read the papers or the online NHL news services which were speculating about Lavi's future.

With Quenneville and Wilson just getting the ax even after making the playoffs, was the media being over-zealous speculating about Laviolette, especially with Rutherford refusing to give him a vote of confidence for over a month?

Regardless, most fans will be happy with the news.

Rutherford also mentioned that he was still waiting to have meetings with Bret Hedican and Glen Wesley about their possible futures with the club.

In other news, Team Canada will be facing Team Russia for the gold medal in the World Championships in what should be a real barn-burner. Canada got by Sweden 5-4, while the Russians skunked Team Finland 4-0.

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who left comments and sent me emails about my last article concerning ticket prices. I apologize that some of your comments didn't post properly, I need to update this template and will do so, sometime soon during this off-season.

It should go without saying but I'll say it anyway, that article was not an attempt to convince people whether or not to re-up for season tickets. It was meant to be a factual article, based upon the perceptions during the lock-out in relation to the actual price increases, as I described. (Granted, I may have ranted just a bit.)

Obviously, some people are upset about the increases, some not so much. If you are unhappy about the increases and do not let management know, they might assume that people don't mind very much and will continue with more increases in the future. But if people make enough of a stink about it this year, perhaps it will help management to think twice about it before instituting another increase next year? Who knows?

According to Kyle Prairie, people have been much more positive about the increases, than negative.

Just a reminder, I do answer any and all emails. (positive and negative) Just send them to canescountry@gmail.com.

AC DC

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Comments

Great news! Regarding Rutherford’s “this became a bigger issue than it needed to be” – BECAUSE YOU LET IT BECOME SUCH A BIG ISSUE! Talk about avoidance of responsibility!

by Benjamin repenttokyo on May 17, 2008 1:50 AM EDT reply actions

wow. I think this is good news. I think Lavi coming back will hopefully get a “new” team together with the dudes who joined us late this season.

by neaux on May 17, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

“According to Kyle Prairie, people have been much more positive about the increases, than negative.”

This is such BS spin! I have talked to no one that sees an increase, in these times as positive.

Sean

by CaniacSean on May 18, 2008 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

Glad Lavi’s returning. JR WAS the one that let it become a big issue.
Ticket prices have been increasing in all of the cities where I have watched NHL hockey, seemingly faster than I can make money to pay for them. It isn’t just a one year increase issue, it is much bigger than that – it has been an issue for a while. I have been forced to make a choice – play hockey or buy tickets to watch hockey. Both costs are inhibitive.

by marc on May 19, 2008 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

I dont think its that big a deal….yea inflation sucks, but whats not goin up?? Can you imagine the increase in the teams gas bill?? Really the cheapest seats you can get for a panthers game is about $50, and thats a LONG ways from the field. Upper goal zone Canes tickets are actually a good view!! I got day-of tickets last year for like 12.50! My friend in NY can rarely EVER afford Ranger tickets at MSG. I’ve been a diehard Duke fan all my life, get tickets to one of those games! easily $400-$2,000 for an ACC game, and thats PER TICKET!!!. UNC’s really high too. Even my sorry ass Duke Football team is like $25 at the gate!! Thing is, this is not yet a FULL BLOWN hockey town. We have enough fans to fill seats, and the fans are great (coolest thing about being a canes fan is laughing at all the people that just dont get it!), but we dont have people fighting over season tickets, in most towns you gotta wait in line for years for tickets! Nascars high, heck its $50 bucks to sit in the grass at a concert and then you gotta rent a chair!! You get a ticket to anything for less than $50 and it aint that bad a deal!

by Tyler on May 19, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Lets also not forget that the Carolina Panthers BOA Stadium seats 73,000, so imagine how far back the “Upper goal zone” seats are there!

Who ever mentioned a $60 family pack, I dont know the details to that as I havent looked into it, but I hope you can bring a telescope in! 73,000 seats back, I think i’d just pick a nice bar to go to!!

by Tyler on May 19, 2008 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

Tyler-
Yeah, ticket prices going up are just indicative of general inflation. It just sucks that I can’t afford to play AND watch my favorite sport now in a city where it isn’t a “full blown” hockey town. I lived, worked and played hockey in NYC and Buffalo (I won’t count Hartford), which were full blown hockey towns, and was able to buy ten packs of games in Buffalo. In NYC, I coached, worked at rinks & pro shops, and was only able to afford to play & go to games due to not having to “pay to play.” In NC, I can barely afford to play and can only got to games with comp tickets. Hockey as a sport in general is in a strange position as far as other sports when it comes to recreational participants and fans. It is a very expensive sport to play, especially for kids. It is “pay for play,” not including the cost of equipment, ice time, kids growing out of equipment, travel expenses etc – as well as the 3:00 am game times. Running a rink is no small expense either – as I’m sure running an NHL team is expensive as well. Its a tough balancing act, and I just don’t like the fact that I have been priced out of going to NHL games AND playing recreationally.

by marc on May 19, 2008 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

If you live in a winter climate, playing hockey is much cheaper because you can play outside, for free, whenever you want. There are many outdoor rinks within a few blocks radius of my house, and I live in a major city. When I lived in the country, we could even make our own rinks anywhere there was space.

Living in a winter climate sucks tho.

by Benjamin repenttokyo on May 19, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions