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“I think it was more excitement for us this summer,” “No one enters this profession assuming that you’re
Calvert said. “We were ready for something new, and going to stay on the same team for your entire career,”
we both knew we were moving on. I can’t wait to live Whitecloud said. “I’m coming from being a free agent
somewhere else and get back to the west, which is and not even being drafted so I’ll just do what I’ve
probably what I’m most excited about.” always done and just play hockey.”
At the end of the season, everything in the All four have a healthy respect for the men they play
Columbus home went into a rented pod, and it’s against.
stored there. Once a player knows where you’re Calvert, who wishes he could have skated on a line
going to be the next season, the pod is dropped off at with Martin St. Louis, said he played against Pavel
the new address. Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings in division games
Ferland and his fiancee put their Calgary home on early in his career and had to learn to penalty kill
the market and rented a place in Raleigh, N.C. He’s a against him.
free agent after this season and isn’t certain what the “That was a wakeup call,” Calvert said. “You go force
future holds. him, and he wants you to force him. He sucks you in
“I’m not sure what’s going to happen in my situation with it and then it’s on somebody’s stick behind you.
so I don’t really want to go out there and buy a house,” Easily, he was probably the hardest guy to play against
Ferland said. “I was pretty shocked about the trade. I skill-wise. He could break you down with his smarts.”
wasn’t expecting it.” For Ferland, the biggest of the four, he wishes he
If they need any advice, White is the guy to ask. could have skated with Datsyuk, but respects what
Since the 2013-14 season, White has played with the Boston Bruins top defensive duo brings.
eight teams in the NHL and AHL. “When you’re in Boston, you’re trying to get to the
Last season, without any offers coming in, he went front of the net against (Zdeno) Chara and (Adam
to Vancouver on a professional tryout and got McQuaid). You’re not getting to the front of the net
hurt after three weeks. Once he at all,” Ferland said. “And you know if you get to the
healed up, he headed to front of the net, you’re going to get cross-checked to
Boston on get out of
there.”
White said
he would have
loved to have
played with
a tryout for a Jaromir Jagr.
month. He went to San “I want to score man,” White joked. “I’m always
Diego in the AHL for three months, playing with the grunts. I remember a shift against
and ended up in Iowa. Jagr one time when I played in Philly and he had the
“It was a bit of a gong show but you know it’s part of puck on his stick for a full minute. I could go and get
it,” White said. “Your wife knows it’s part of it and you open and hang out for a bit. It was cool getting to play
kind of just keep your options open. Like Mike said, against him. He could score in every era. He was just
you go in there and rent for a year with the best of a freak on the ice.”
intentions and see what happens. It’s tough when you Whitecloud admires defencemen Chris Pronger, Al
start moving around a lot.” McInnis or Scott Neidermeyer, three very different
Ferland admitted it will be a shock and a transition. defenders.
“I don’t really know what to expect,” Ferland said. While all four are looking forward to getting the next
“It’s going to be different. I obviously had a lot of good season going, and the accompanying change it will
friends in Calgary and now I have to go to a brand new bring, one rule remains unbroken in hockey.
team and don’t know anybody. It’s going to take a little White, who has literally scrapped for everything he’s
while to get to know everyone and the city, but at the ever received, said remembering one thing is
end of the day, I’ll have my family and I’ll be playing fundamental to staying in the game.
hockey so I don’t care.” “It’s so competitive and everybody’s so hungry,”
Whitecloud listened quietly while the other three White said. “The 50th contract in the organization,
detailed their moves. He said he knows what he he’s just as hungry as the number one guy. There’s so
signed up for. much competition.”

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