WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes

Checkers play prepares Faulk for NHL start

Jan 10, 2013

Now that the NHL collective bargaining agreement has been ratified by the owners it awaits approval from the players.

Carolina Hurricanes players continue to skate on their own to prepare for the upcoming season but there is one player who will make the opening day roster who is already in game shape, Hurricanes’ Justin Faulk.

Though Faulk landed on the NHL All-Rookie team last season he faced a demotion with the organization.

“I don’t like it, I don’t think there is one person that does but it’s the business side of it,” said Faulk. “Hopefully there’s not any more of them.”

In lieu of languishing in the looming lockout, Canes brass shipped him from the Capital City to the Queen City to keep the 20-year-old active. His spidey sense told him it wouldn’t last forever.

“I think there’d be a season the whole time. I’d ask the guys every two weeks and say ‘alright two more weeks, two more weeks’. They’d go ‘yeah good one buddy’,” joked Faulk.

So instead of going half speed, Faulk floored it. In just 31 games with the Charlotte Checkers he racked up 24 points, the second most on the squad.

“For us now he’s an impact player,” said Checkers head coach Jeff Daniels. “I think you can see a big difference between him and other players you see throughout the league."

One hundred thirteen days and one CBA later, the master plan could pay off.

“I think he’ll be a step ahead of a lot of guys and I think from a conditioning standpoint, from a game standpoint, it’ll go a long way,” said Daniels.

“I’m happy that I’ve been skating and am in good shape and what not rather than hanging out at home cause I don’t know how much fun I’d have hanging out for three month, longer. We have way to long of an offseason as it is,” said Faulk. “It’ll be good and I think I’m ready to go.”

“He’s got a bright future and I think the people in Carolina will enjoy watching him over the years,” said Daniels.
 

• Reporter: Jared Fialko
• Web Editor: Erin Summers