Fleury Joins Thunder
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. (CP) - Theo Fleury is going to play hockey for the Horse Lake Thunder. The former NHL star, under suspension since violating substance abuse rules in 2003, will make his debut against the Grande Prairie Athletics in a North Peace Hockey League senior game in the Coca-Cola Center on Thursday night. ''He wants to get back playing hockey and have some fun,'' Thunder coach Glen Watson said Wednesday. Fleury, 36, last appeared in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also played for the Calgary Flames in the city where he now lives, the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Rangers, and for Canada internationally. The native of Russell, Man., had 1,088 points (455-633) in 1,084 career NHL games. Thunder player Todd Holt is Fleury's cousin. During a senior tournament in Lloydminster during the Christmas holidays, Fleury asked if he could join the team. Watson met with him on Tuesday. ''He said, `I won a Stanley Cup, a World Cup, the world junior, but I haven't won an Allan Cup,''' Watson said. ''He was pretty keen. ''It'll be good for him to get back into it.'' Fleury will wear No. 74. Gino Odjick, the former Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens tough guy, plays defence for the Thunder. He's become a gate attraction in the NPHL. Athletics games usually draw 600 to 800 spectators but when the Thunder last played in the 1,600-capacity Coca-Cola Centre in November there was a crowd of 1,300. Also on the Horse Lake roster are Sasha Lakovic, who had a cup of coffee in the NHL with the Flames and the New Jersey Devils, former San Jose Sharks forward Dodie Wood, and Greg Lakovic, who played for the AHL's Saint John Flames. ''Gino's playing for the fun of it and the chance to win an Allan Cup,'' said Watson. ''He's really good with the public and he's been a positive influence on the team.'' Thunder players are not paid salaries. Odjick, who lives in Vancouver and who is of First Nations decent, has worked in the reserve's summer hockey school program, and Watson said Fleury told him he'd be interested in doing the same. ''He's gone through some tough times,'' Watson said of Fleury. ''Maybe he can help some of the kids playing minor hockey who are facing some tough issues in their lives.'' The Thunder are 15-0 in league play. The first round of Allan Cup elimination play begins next Wednesday at Stoney Plain against the Eagles. The best-of-five series will resume Friday at the Horse Lake arena. The only hockey Fleury has played in recent months is informal outings with Calgary Flames alumni teams. The Thunder's home rink holds about 3,000 spectators. ''We've got a pretty good team,'' said Watson. |