Webmasters can include Channel Canada's headlines to their website using this feature. Visitors can also include our headlines to their favorite RSS reader! Click here for more info about RSS.
Recommended
NHL Players Erik Cole, Patrick Lalime and Shane Willis all featured in new series 'Something to prove'
Posted
on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 03:42 PM
Carolina Hurricanes forward Erik Cole is featured Thursday, September 14th in the first of a three-part Sportsnetnews series titled Something to Prove.
Cole elevated his game to new heights last season. The Oswego, New York native had already surpassed his career highs for goals (30) and assists (29) before being checked face first into the boards by Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik. The resulting injury, a compression fracture of one of Cole’s vertebrae, ended his season after 60 games and threatened his career. Now Cole must shake off the doubts he and others may have and prove that he is ready to hit the ice again.
For Lalime last season is one he would rather forget. The former Senators netminder posted his first losing record (4-18) in seven NHL seasons. His poor play with the St. Louis Blues earned him a trip to the minors. Adding insult to injury last season Lalime tore his left ACL in a late-season game with the Blues. Lalime must now prove to the Chicago Blackhawks that they were correct in taking a chance on signing him as a free agent this past off-season.
Some experts say that Shane Willis’ career took a turn for the worst on April 16, 2001 when he was rocked by a Scott Stevens check. That hit came in the opening round of the NHL Playoffs after Willis had put up 20 goals and 44 points in 73 regular season games as a rookie with the Carolina Hurricanes. The hit left Willis with a concussion and a cloudy outlook on a once promising NHL career. Since that Stevens check Willis has posted just 11 goals and 30 points in 92 regular season games with Carolina and Tampa Bay. Can the Edmonton, Alberta native return to his rookie form after an almost three-year NHL hiatus? Willis and the Hurricanes brass think he can.
Printer Friendly Page | Register | Log-in 
