NHL

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Taitbackinbizbox

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 01/9/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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Chris Thorburn (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

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Mike Modano (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

2SOME noteworthy items, tidbits, quotes and notes as the NHL gets back to work...

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY: Tuesday morning Josh Ellis, a writer for the Dallas Cowboys website and clearly a baseball fan as well, tweets 'Just six weeks until pitchers and catchers, everybody' -- a reference to the opening of spring training.

Not long after the Cowboys' official Twitter account responded with: 'Similarly in the category of nobody-cares... the NHL is back!'

The Dallas Stars then jumped in with a brilliant retort of their own via their official Twitter account: 'At least our #9 got the job done...' and included a picture of former Stars captain Mike Modano, #9, holding the Stanley Cup above his head.

The shot was exceptionally delivered: Cowboys' QB Tony Romo, under the microscope again for a disappointing season, wears #9.

NO. 9... AGAIN: Here's Jet winger Evander Kane on the prospects of suiting up on a line with centre Olli Jokinen:

"To be honest, I haven't met Olli yet or really seen him play too much," Kane said. "But from what I've heard he's a good player.

"Last year I was pretty much on every single line so we'll see what happens. It'll be nice to have somebody that you can be with and set with the whole year and build some chemistry. It'll have to happen fast."

PULLING UP ROOTS: Chris Thorburn, who was back in Winnipeg and practising on Tuesday, sold his house in Atlanta in November and set up shop in Saginaw, Mich., where he worked out with staff and injured players from his old OHL team.

"It was tough (saying farewell to Atlanta," he said. "My kid was born there and we had a lot of ties there. But at the same time it was time to move on and be closer to family and Michigan brings that. We're excited about the changes."

QUOTABLE: From philly.com and Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov about bearded teammate Scott Hartnell: ""He's like from the movie Cast Away. We need to buy some ball for him so he has best buddy Wilson."

THE LAST WORD: "With what's transpired and how long it took to get to this point I don't think there is any winner," said Jets captain Andrew Ladd. "We've only lost in terms of fan support that we have had and the momentum we gained in the last couple of years and the success that we've had. I don't think anyone is feeling like a winner at this point. Now it's our job to get the game back to where it can be."

-- Tait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 9, 2013 C2

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