Apparently, here's why Darcy Hordichuk didn't want to sign with Carolina (he signed a two-year deal with Vancouver instead):
"I want to play in the west because there are a lot more tough guys and that's my job every night," he said. "I'm so excited. I look back at my career and some of my best games have come in front of Canadian fans because that's my style. I like to run around and hit guys and anybody who's willing to drop the gloves. I'm the kind of guy who won't back down. I know my role and any chance I get to fight Georges Laraque and some of the bigger guys out there, I like to test myself against those guys."
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 
Comments
Hordichuk
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 20:35 — Anonymous (not verified)This guy is a grade A loser. he was worthless when he was with Atlanta, and it would have been a disgrace to have him in a Canes uniform. Thank goodness he is dumb enough to make the comments he did and he passed on us, we are already a better team without him.
I hope someone forwards the
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:23 — Anonymous (not verified)I hope someone forwards the comments to Laraque and the other tough guys in the West.
He's got a screw loose
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:21 — scomilSounds like he's got a few screws loose if he wants to fight LaRaque. Vancouver better make sure they've got his insurance policy up-to-date.
Anyone Else Notice...
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:15 — buglermcd (not verified)How every single sentence in that quote starts with the words "I" or "I'm"?
This guy would have been a
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:58 — Anonymous (not verified)This guy would have been a detriment to the Canes. When you've got a clown like this sitting in the penalty box most of the time and you're playing with four men it doesn't help the scoring. As someone said, the knuckle-draggers are really not needed. A touch guy perhaps but not a Hordichuk.
What a rock... Part 2
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:31 — penaltykiller74 (not verified)This says it all...
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/41121
If you look at his fight record, the only fights he wins are against guys that never win, and all his others are draws or losses.
And his stats were nothing to look at either:
Games: 45
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Points: 3
+/-: -1
PIM: 60
Now Brookbank:
Games: 32
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Points: 2
+/-: 4
PIM: 76
No brainer there.
What a rock...
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:20 — penaltykiller74 (not verified)I agree, his geography is way off.
If he wanted to "fight" so bad, I'm sure Laraque (Penguins - 4 games), Brashear (Capitals - 8 games), Cote (Flyers - 4 games), Clarkson (Devils - 4 games), Orr (Rangers - 4 games), and Lucic (Bruins - 4 games) would have danced the dance.
28 games there with guys who would GLADLY throw down.
I think it was more that he was afraid Brookbank and Conboy would take his lunch and stuff him in his locker everyday at practice.
LOL
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:29 — Anonymous (not verified)LOL
ha
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:27 — yingleberry (not verified)thats halerious.
who cares. He would have
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 09:53 — Mike (not verified)who cares. He would have been a waste of ice time.
Since when did the Pens move to Western Canada ?
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 09:49 — SubwayScoundrelFirst he talks about the west and then he talks about Canadian fans. So is he just another clueless Canadian talking trash about any team that came into existence in the last 10 years ?(not all Canadians but the ones who think sunbelt teams have 8 fans)
And, to show he may not be the smartest guy on the block or took a few to many to the head, it is my understanding that Pittsburg is in the east and in the US......since that is where Laraque plays ????
Maybe a geography class would be in order......or a concussion test.
Laraque
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:18 — Anonymous (not verified)is UFA, and has been rumored to want to sign with a western team.
Larraque
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:15 — AD (not verified)I am no expert, but wasn't Larraque traded??? Oilers?? Out West???
Nope... UFA - unsigned as of yet
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:39 — penaltykiller74 (not verified)Nope... UFA - unsigned as of yet.
If I were him, I'd sign out west in the Northwest just to whoop Hordichuk for 8 games a year. lol
Its a good thing the post-lockout...
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 09:34 — secret_samadhi...rule changes were designed to showcase the speed and finesse of the game. Forget that their self-imposed and laughable salary cap was supposed to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and parity. Its abundantly clear they haven't learned a thing about making the sport more appealing for a wider audience (hint:TV). Colton Orr's cheap shot on Matt Cullen last December revealed the league's soft place for all the
knuckle-draggers they seemingly were going to put out of work.
This guy's a goon in the truest sense of the word and his spurning of an offer from Carolina will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Good riddance!
Leave the kid alone
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 12:13 — AD (not verified)He didn't want to come here. He wants to fight big guys. He's young.
It's not a sin to not want to become a Hurricane.
If he didn't want to play for us, great, let us know, cause then we don't want you around either.
I agree Completely, what
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 12:09 — Richie7I agree Completely, what else can be said???
Nothing
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 12:57 — Nico37...but I said something anyway ;-)