This will be announced in tomorrow's paper, but I felt the readers who have helped make this blog so successful should know first: I will no longer be covering the Hurricanes for the N&O; instead, I am becoming a general sports columnist and Chip Alexander will be taking over the beat (and this blog).
Chip, who has covered N.C. State for the N&O and has worked at the paper since 1979, has a long background and solid foundation in hockey. He covered the NHL expansion bids and eventual move of the Hartford Whalers to Raleigh and has been an integral part of the N&O's coverage team for all four of the team's playoff appearances.
In my new role, I will continue to write about the Hurricanes, but from a columnist's perspective, which should broaden and deepen the scope of our coverage of the team.
I'll also have a blog of my own, Talking Points, which you can visit at blogs.newsobserver.com/decock, but thanks for making this blog so successful as well as your continued support.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or 
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best of luck
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 01:03 — johnsmth_smith15i just wish you all the very best in what ever u do. i know what ever u do u'll make it special :)
cheers mate
JOhn ( dedicated servers)
Luke
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 09:52 — Anonymous (not verified)Say it ain't so. It's already been obvious with the Canes coverage when Luke isn't the one writing about them. Now there won't be any point reading articles at all. This paper is going down the tubes quickly. Very bad decision.
I really enjoyed all your
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 13:25 — Anonymous (not verified)I really enjoyed all your work with the Canes Luke, this is very disappointing news! This has been an outstanding blog. Good luck in your new gig.
Hockey lovers lose out
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 11:52 — Dave (not verified)Luke, thanks for your tireless work over the years, your knowledge and love for the sport of hockey, and your willingness to probe tough questions that needed to be asked without being needlessly antagonistic. I have lived in some other areas with very good hockey beat writers, but nobody has topped your Canes coverage. And the timeliness of this blog has been a great resource for Canes fan to supplement the print articles. Although I have nothing against Chip Alexander personally, I have to say that the few attempts I have seen from him in addressing anything related to hockey or the Hurricanes have been rather pitiful (I'm trying to be polite here). This is bad news for hockey lovers who appreciated in-depth coverage of their sport and local team. Job well done, and best of luck in all your future endeavors.
Thanks Luke, Welcome Chip
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 11:51 — JRs_Fault (not verified)Thank you Luke for the fine work you have done over the years. Welcome Chip (forgive those who despise you before you even arrive here... it's just the way some folks think here)... I particularly love the 'New Guy' tag given to someone who has appeared on the sports page here for nearly 30 years... guess many here haven't actually read the N&O (or even Luke's introductory post)
Of course, this like all else, is clearly JR's fault.
Off Season Trade
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 23:59 — AnonymousI will miss your daily and updated blog. I have already placed your new spot in my favorites. I hope this new position is best for you and your future family. Anyone can write in your blog but they can't replace you. I feel as the N&O has traded a fan favorite.
Thanks Luke
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 20:36 — Anonymous (not verified)Your coverage of the Canes was exemplary and I enjoyed reading your articles because the were insightful, well written, and truthful. I hope that you can continue to help cover our beloved Carolina Hurricanes!
Another change
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 19:08 — Bryan (not verified)Luke did a great job with this blog by keeping the 'Canes community informed about late breaking news. I hope that doesn't change.
I'm sad to hear about this
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 15:59 — Anonymous (not verified)I'm sad to hear about this news! you're a big reason why I'm a Canes fan and another big reason why I plan to major/minor in sports journolism. I hope to read more stories from you in the future and hope you stop by and post on this blog often!
and as always... GO CANES
Tip: It helps potential
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 19:42 — Anonymous (not verified)Tip: It helps potential employers if you know how to spell the name of your profession: JournAlism---- you keep a journal.... not a journOl.
I was hoping this new guy at
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 15:43 — Anonymous (not verified)I was hoping this new guy at least knows hockey & loves the Canes, but it seems from his first post that this will be a major stretch for him. It already stinks living in a "non-hockey" market where the news on your team is already sparse, but it's even worse if the only guy covering your team doesn't know the sport.
Road trip?
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 15:08 — George Richards (not verified)I know I'll see you in the Triangle, but I hope you are putting in for a road trip (or both) to South Florida this season Lukas. The fine folks at Quarterdeck are counting on it. Good luck bubba; well deserved promotion.
Good Decision
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 11:55 — toddcaseyI think that this is great I think the new guys actually going to be be able to fill Lukes shoes!
Worst Move
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 11:00 — AD (not verified)Worst move of the offseason.
Say it ain't so!
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 10:13 — fizzbeeSay it ain't so, Luke! This must have come up quickly. Just this past Monday you were saying you had enough topics for the Monday Debate to last into training camp.
I, for one, feel abandoned by the N&O, having their best beat writer torn away from Canes coverage.
Chip, if you're even listening, you'd better get to work because you're filling some very large shoes!
Luke's departure...
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 09:47 — Paul (not verified)Something tells me this is just one more way for McClatchy to save a few bucks.
Chip is a strong sportswriter but he'll have to prove to me that he knows enough about hockey to maintain this paper's 10-year string of excellent hockey writing.
Good luck, Chip.
Good luck to you Luke! I
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 08:50 — Anonymous (not verified)Good luck to you Luke!
I am nervous about this move. To date Luke DeCock has been the only person at the N&O who gave two craps about the Carolina Hurricanes. Yes, other people have covered the team... but anytime it's anyone other than DeCock (or maybe Carlton Tudor) the coverage has been with an "why don't they go back where they came from" attitude.
Luke DeCock, I hope you do well and I hope this move does great things for you and your family.
I just hope the N&O's coverage of the 'Canes doesn't completely go to hell... That would suck!
Tudor?!?!
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 11:55 — JRs_Fault (not verified)Mr. Tudor lost ALL hockey cred with me (not that he had much to begin with) when he suggested that hockey needed to go from 3 periods to 2 in order to increase TV ratings during the playoffs this year:
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1091155.html
As we all know here, low hockey ratings are JR's fault.
It's about Time! Don't let the door...
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 08:25 — CanezRule (not verified)I am throwing a party. For all you supporters, you obviously haven't followed DeCock, aptly named, his weak, pesimistic, negative often uninspiring coverage of our beloved team has irked many in this tight Canes community. Many will celebrate his passing. The only bad thing is he will still be here and not in Kansas somewhere. From the beginning through the 2002 Stanley Cup Run to the 2006 S.C run, DeCock has never given this team much credit. His coverage needn't be bias but when this team overachieved they were not given the proper credit. DeCock instead blew it off as a fluke. DeCock's coverage of this team in the Hockey News, which I subscribed to for many years, is much of the same. So I celebrate and say good riddance! I am sure (silently) the Canes organization will silently celebrate also. DeCock, why don't you find something to write about with just a little passion...in a positive way, much like your announcement here.
Ah, the heady aroma of blind homerism.
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 09:04 — acidqueenOne thing I loved about Luke's coverage is that he wasn't a blind homer. He made clear that he likes hockey and he's a friend of the team--even if that friendship came with a hefty dose of toughlove.
Too bad you couldn't handle that.
Luke knew hockey, did his
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 17:19 — Anonymous (not verified)Luke knew hockey, did his homework, and was passionate about the sport. And he could spell.....
I wish you the best Luke,
Sun, 08/17/2008 - 01:07 — Bad Move (not verified)I wish you the best Luke, but I am not in favor of this move at all.
nooooo
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 21:24 — James_Chip is fine, but no one can beat Mr. Luke DeCock's in-depth coverage of the Canes. Thank you so much for all you've written on this blog, especially in the summer when we've craved hockey news so much since there isn't any to watch. I have to say I felt the same heart-dropping feeling reading the opening sentences of this post as I did when I found out Cole got traded. Because frankly, I never enjoyed reading a sportswriter's articles/blogs as much as yours. Most sportswriters today seem to have no idea or not really care about what they're writing about. We will miss you, best of luck in your new position!
Well, this bites. Chip is cool, but this is Luke's blog
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 19:07 — Keith (not verified)I really enjoy reading Chip's work, but when I think of the Cane's and coverage by the N&O, I think Luke. I don't agree with this change and I hope the coverage does not deminish.
You have some big shoes to
Sat, 08/16/2008 - 18:38 — CaniacforeverYou have some big shoes to fill, Mr. Alexander. Please continue to keep this blog as the first stop for breaking Carolina Hurricanes news and the quality of reporting we've come to expect.
Thanks a lot Luke for your hard work over these past few years and best of luck with the new capacity.