Though pointing out that other than deleting the post from the 'Canes fan thread and not giving us any indication, I am assuming he wanted to leave without much fanfare.
Last edited by Highway to Cap Hell: 06-25-2011 at 02:59 PM.
as I had the chance to tell him earlier, they really couldn't have made a better pick to mod the new Jets board. It's a tough move for both parties (himself and our board) but odd as it sounds it's probably going to be a lot easier to take once they get the divisional structure fixed for 2012-13.
I understand that he was more of a fan of Staal than of the Hurricanes (and that makes perfect sense to me), but why not become a fan of the Sens or the Leafs?
EDIT: Also, thanks for the good times, Guerzy. Your unabashed mockery of State of Hockey was so well done that I considered doing something of a tribute on the Jets board about your pick.
Unfortunately, I don't know who the hell Mark Scheifle is.
So congratulations on your battlefield promotion!!
Ah, didn't see this until now. I'll start off first and foremost by saying my change of allegiance has nothing to do with this board, it's members or the Hurricanes as an organization.
Since the end of May as some may have noticed, I've devoted a lot of my time to the Thrashers board at the time, and now the Winnipeg board. To me, unbeknown to many, as a fan of the game it is of fit. I'll explain why.
My story of how I got here,
From an Eric Staal follower who watched him arrive in the OHL as a 15 year old, as well as a youngen who watched Tie Domi in junior to in which he went on to be a fan favorite in New York, Winnipeg & Toronto. It was exciting to see him in New York with Messier, while many of his antics were admittedly dumb, but as a kid you loved it. When he arrived in Winnipeg the team took to my heart as a fan. Tie was then dealt from Winnipeg to Toronto ('95 season - Pat Burns wanted him), but my allegiance stood firm to the team that took my heart as a youngen, The Jets. Watched the full and final season of the Jets in 95-96, but that was it for me, did not follow Phoenix. Instead, the fan in me went with my childhood hockey hero Tie Domi to Toronto and was a follower until he retired. In the meantime however I formed a bond with a young Eric Staal in junior beginning 2000 (can't believe it's been 11 years already) and have followed his career very closely ever since.
Every now and again a kid comes though junior in which as a fan and person really catches your attention. You watch them, you meet them, a relationship is then formed. One of the best feelings and pros of dedicating ones time to junior hockey (OHL for me). Just one of those things, I suppose. Never formed any personal bond or following to other Peterborough Pete alumni over the years, always keep an eye on them to see how they're doing, but not a strict one. Tie Domi & Eric Staal have stuck to me for whatever reasons, just meant to be I guess.
Tie didn't want to be dealt to Winnipeg, but when he got there he made a name for himself in which most Jets fans will always be fond of. They loved the guy there. The "Teemu/Tie show" was one of the claim to fames he held with Selanne back in the day, even assisted on Teemu's 76th goal as a rookie as many know, which was an awesome memory for me because my favorite player just assisted on the NHL record setting goal by a rookie. Tie was on yearbook covers, calenders, etc. A real face of the team. The Jets always had a place in my heart since then.
I'll still be a very loyal follower to Eric Staal and always keep a steady eye on the Canes, as I have strong roots there to both the player and team, but without any hesitation or denial, I will indeed rehash my fan roots to the Winnipeg team. It only feels right. Put yourself in the position of having your favorite childhood team taken away, then 15 years getting it back. It grabs you, or, has grabbed me.
It's a really odd and tough thing, to be honest with anybody who cares to read any of this. Since the day Eric Staal was drafted by Carolina I have been very, very devoted to the team and emotionally attached, they were my only allegiance to the NHL as a fan. To experience the Stanley Cup win was something I will never, ever, ever forget. To see Eric blossom into a league-wide star from the skinny little 15 year old he was when I first saw and met him, is so special as a fan of the game. To see the Jets leave the NHL as a kid breaks your heart, anyone who has lost a team knows that first hand, and to see them come back 15 years later (and by them I simply mean a team to Winnipeg, not THE organization itself), I suppose has just rekindled me to the city's team I once cheered for as my first true team, my first true real connection to the game.
I'll still make it high priority to come around every so often and talk with you all. It's a lot of fun here. I'll still follow the Canes and Eric Staal with a close eye. To be honest it was such a weird feeling last night watching the Hurricanes draft a young player knowing... 'wait, for the first time in so long, this isn't my team'... a lot of emotions ran through me and i'm honest when I say that.
It's really been an awesome time and experience here with you all since the day I arrived. Since I first began posting here on the Carolina Hurricanes board I have not been able to leave, and this has been the only board I spent and devoted my time to on the net. The fans here have been awesome, knowledgeable, and a lot of fun over the last few years.
It's been a slice everyone, and a lot of fun along the way. And don't worry, every now and again when you kinda just forget about me, I'll whip of a novel and smack ya's all with it.
I wonder if it has occurred to him that he is now cheering for the Thrashers with new wrapping paper.
What would you do and how would you feel if the Canes up and left in 2 years, the team that has been the first to tie you to the NHL as a fan and young kid, then 15 years later a team returned but from a different franchise? Do you think you would feel the fan that once was in you for that team/city in which you once cheered for to rekindle the support and allegiance?
If not, that is fine, I respect that. For me, it has, new wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and all.
Guerzy, best of luck and please drop by from time to time. I have thoroughly enjoyed our discussions over the past few years and view you as a knowledgeable and rational poster on these boards.
And ya, I apologize to make that post so long.. I suppose I just wanted to get it all out there for everyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boom Boom Anton
Guerzy, best of luck and please drop by from time to time. I have thoroughly enjoyed our discussions over the past few years and view you as a knowledgeable and rational poster on these boards.
Keep in touch.
Thanks Boom Boom Anton, I'll definitely keep in touch and drop by here frequently. And same to you on the enjoyment of your posts, always a good read and always looked forward to them. I still will, too.
What would you do and how would you feel if the Canes up and left in 2 years, the team that has been the first to tie you to the NHL as a fan and young kid, then 15 years later a team returned but from a different franchise? Do you think you would feel the fan that once was in you for that team/city in which you once cheered for to rekindle the support and allegiance?
If not, that is fine, I respect that. For me, it has, new wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and all.
I really can't say what I would do, Guerzy. I really can't say. I think if the Hurricanes left Raleigh that would probably be it for me as far as NHL hockey is concerned.... but it's a tough call. I don't resent you for making the choice, but it kind of sticks in my craw that the team you now cheer for used to be one of our division rivals. But hey, that is totally your choice. It's tough to not see you as "one of us", anymore.... but you'll fit in your new team in no time.
I really can't say what I would do, Guerzy. I really can't say. I think if the Hurricanes left Raleigh that would probably be it for me as far as NHL hockey is concerned.... but it's a tough call. I don't resent you for making the choice, but it kind of sticks in my craw that the team you now cheer for used to be one of our division rivals. But hey, that is totally your choice. It's tough to not see you as "one of us", anymore.... but you'll fit in your new team in no time.
Definitely. I suppose maybe its one of those things you have to go through in order to see how it feels, what feels right, etc.
What would you do and how would you feel if the Canes up and left in 2 years, the team that has been the first to tie you to the NHL as a fan and young kid, then 15 years later a team returned but from a different franchise? Do you think you would feel the fan that once was in you for that team/city in which you once cheered for to rekindle the support and allegiance?
If not, that is fine, I respect that. For me, it has, new wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and all.
Haven't the Jets been gone for more years than you ever were a Jet fan (I'm assuming you're under 30)? I would just find it hard to drop the Canes - a team that has one of your favorite non-retired players, a team you've invested 100s, if not 1000s of hours of your time to for over half a decade, a team that you saw win a Cup - in favor of a divisional rival relocating to Winnipeg, a team that has no connection to the old Winnipeg franchise aside from the name. Also, Tie Domi only played 3 seasons for the Jets (one of which was shortened due to a strike). I hate to sound like I'm belittling someone's reason for becoming a fan of another team (because there's no "right" reasons to be a fan of any particular team), but I would just find it hard to do the same in a similar circumstance.
I realize there are other reasons to switch allegiances to Winnipeg though. They'll be easier to follow, they'll have the Jets name and jersey, they'll have a better ownership and FO to add to the good young core Atlanta previously built.
Definitely. I suppose maybe its one of those things you have to go through in order to see how it feels, what feels right, etc.
I know how you feel Guerzy, and if I hadn't been living in Raleigh when the Canes showed (or still been in a city that had no team at all), I'd have been right on board with the Wild when they appeared in Minny. I know what it feels like to follow players and take on a foreign team (even the Devils for awhile) when there was none at home, and did it based on following players from either the North Stars or guys I'd known at UND. Your reasons are righteous, and I'm happy to see the Jets back too.
Your voice of reason and restraint will be missed. Good luck with the undertaking. Cheers!
Last edited by NorthStar4Canes: 06-25-2011 at 05:35 PM.
