Oilers get taste of home on the road
It's a busy two days for Erik Cole while he's back in Raleigh, but he found time to create a bit of home for the Oilers in the midst of his homecoming.
In the throes of their longest road trip of the season, Cole invited the entire Oilers team to his house for dinner Friday night.
“We wanted to have the guys over to the house and cater over some food for a team meal at the house,” Cole said. “It’s such a long road trip and this is better than setting something up at a restaurant. We’ve got enough space to entertain the fellas. I figured we’d have ‘em on over and enjoy a night out of the hotel.”
The Oilers started a seven-game, 14-day road trip Thursday night with a loss in Nashville and take on the Canes at the RBC Center on Saturday.
Cole spent Friday morning catching up with friends and family in the Triangle before an afternoon practice at the RBC Center. The Oilers are leaving for Philadelphia immediately after Saturday's game.
About the blogger
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 luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
Comments
Cole's Return
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 14:19 — Anonymous (not verified)With what this guy gave to this team when he was there the canes management should be ashamed of the disrespect they showed him on his return. They arranged as many distractions possible and truly demonstrated a total lack of class. The fans were great, it is your management that has terrible judgement. Cole has never had a bad thing to say about the team, gave pretty close to his walking life to them and they could not suck it up and give him his due! very small. I wish the same to each of them some day.
Once A Cane
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 06:19 — esteban1949Always a cane...Heck, i'd like to see him return one day...maybe finish out his career here...I know I'm just dreamin, but one can hope, but we aint the president or GM are we ?? And the Rats lost last night in a shoot out...hmmm sounds familar don't it ??
Go Canes !!
In all honesty, we know the
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 23:08 — Anonymous (not verified)In all honesty, we know the first thing he is going to do is try and throw a big hit, just like Matt Cullen and Aaron Ward did in their first game back. As far as business goes (which the game, at it's core, is.. a business), he's a member of the Oilers now, and if the game requires a big hit to get an advantage, I'd be willing to bet he would do the same.
I wouldn't mind seeing Staal lay a healthy hit on him, just to let him know that they won't go easy on him just because he used to be one of our own.
I appreciate everything he did for us, and away from the ice, I'd treat him with the utmost respect... but when it comes down to game time, it's time for hockey.
Erik Cole
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 20:38 — Anonymous (not verified)Canes Fans, Let's show Cole how much we appreciate his contribution to the Canes for all of the years he wore the RED & WHITE. A standing ovation when he first comes on the ice would not only tell Erik thank you, but would show our current players that Canes fan never forget one of our own!!!!
I agree. I won't be at the
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 10:22 — Anonymous (not verified)I agree. I won't be at the game but really hope that there'll be a big round of applause for him. And I hope that when his contract runs out after this season that he will at least consider coming back here.
Nice to hear
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 19:14 — scomilI hope Erik will always call this area home. He's always going to be a Hurricane no matter where he is.