Local Talent Kai Kantola Grateful for Opportunity
by Bob Wage on Jul 18, 2009 3:12 PM EDT
Email
Print
Raleigh, NC
Raleigh native Kai Kantola was never selected in the NHL Entry Draft like many prospect services had predicted. He does not have the advantage of NHL lineage, which is prevalent during the draft process. No uncle who used to star in the league, or cousins who work in scouting, helped him to get a foot in the door. Everything that he has accomplished, he has done on his own.
And he's not done yet.
Kantola is trying to make the most of his time in conditioning camp and is grateful for the opportunity. The Canes asked the skater to attend camp as a "collegiate invitee", which is similar to a free agent tryout in that the player has not committed to any NHL organization as of yet. I asked the forward if other NHL teams were courting him as well.
When I played out in Fargo, I got a call from a couple of other NHL teams, but the Carolina Hurricanes have shown the most interest by far.
When asked if he would be returning to Bowling Green for his senior season, the answer was an enthusiastic "yes".
Yep, that's the plan right now. As a matter of fact when I am done here, I plan on going up to Bowling Green and continue my training up there.
As one might expect, Kantola is not sure what the future holds after Bowling Green.
I want to take the next step, wherever that may lead. I know I'm going to play my hardest and do my best this coming season and see where that leads me. I would love to give you a straight answer there, but I'm just going to try to take that next step and do whatever I can.
Hopefully, Kantola knows that the city of Raleigh, as well as hockey fans throughout the south, will be pulling for him as he takes that next step.
For more information, check out a video put out by WRAL's Ken Medlin at this link.
10 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Thanks for the link to LTD’s photos on flickr (in the caption). Those are wonderful to see, especially in the good old RecZone. Well done. The last one of Paradis looking completely exhausted, but in a happy way (have I got that right?) is super. I won’t post it here without your permission, but here’s the link: Paradis July 16
I happenend upon the tweets from the kids at the Wash Caps prospect camp and it’s a whole different mood from Raleigh. They have daily public scrimmage games with the fans cheering, tours of the city, pro baseball games. More of a welcome wagon than boot camp.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 18, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions
Permission granted
Canes Country has permission to use my photos so I’m cool with them being posted here (just don’t use them in avs and sigs or use them elsewhere without getting permission first). If you click on my profile here you’ll see a link to my flickr site and I can be contacted through flickr. I also post them over at LGC and can be contacted via private message there (don’t know if there’s a way to do that via CC/SBNation?).
Regarding Paradis, yep, LOL he caught me taking his picture as he was headed off the ice after Thursday afternoon’s session. Those guys are completely out of gas by the time they wrap up.
This was my first camp (attended Wednesday and Thursday) and I had a blast. It was a privilege to see the prospects up close, and I’ll certainly be more personally involved in learning about their development because of it.
Hoping for big things for fellow NC native Kai Kantola. Seems like a terrific young man and I wish him all the best!
by Jamie Kellner on Jul 18, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks! here ya go:
Paradis, July 16 at the Reczone by fellow CC post-er and hockey photographer LTD
I’ll bet his mom would love this on her desktop!
And yes yes yes, I would so love to see Kai make it to the big ice some day – soon. I’ll be following his progress. (heck, we’ll even get a Kai-fish for the aquarium for good measure!)
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 18, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn’t Kantola look a little like Matt Cullen in that second pic of him? Just a thought.
All in all I hope he makes the most of his chance here with the Canes.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
I can see it.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 19, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 19, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I noticed the same thing; I don’t know if it’s the expressions or his posture/stance, but there are several pictures where I thought he resembles Cullen.
by Jamie Kellner on Jul 19, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Here’s a great write-up on Kai from Luke DeCock this morning. Interesting to hear Ron Francis’ comments.
Because of his roots and style of play, Kantola remained on Francis’ radar screen. With Kantola entering his senior year, Francis recommended the Hurricanes invite him to the camp — giving the Hurricanes a chance to get to know the player and the player a taste of what it will take to get to the next level.
I just liked the energy level and the fight in his game," Francis said. “He was battling, he kept working, he wasn’t afraid to go to the net. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit and talked to him last summer at our hockey school, so I talked to [general manager] Jim [Rutherford] and told him I thought it would be good to bring him into the camp and give him that education process a lot of kids don’t get. Now we’ll see what he can do with it.”
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 19, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Puck Previews: Ducks’ road trip continues; Sens, Panthers in battle of most surprising teams
- Watch the weirdest goal of the year, courtesy of ECHL ref’s rulebook gaffe (VIDEO)
- Jeremy Roenick’s OK with Blackhawks trading Patrick Kane for goalie upgrade
- Puck Headlines: Rick Nash chatter; Jagr turns 40; Ovechkin too much of a rock star?
- NHL Trade Deadline Dream Scenarios: Whom do you want to go where?
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
