Feature Friday: #59 Chad LaRose
When I was asked if I could step in and write the Feature Friday for this week about Chad LaRose I panicked. I don’t know that much about Chad and was ready to do a night full of agonizing research. Ok. That’s a total lie. I am an unapologetic Chad LaRose fan. My fantasy hockey team is called “Whole Lotta Rosey” for goodness sakes. I guess I can’t pretend that I don’t have enough knowledge to write this one.
Rosey, as he is known by his teammates and the Caniac faithful, is a right-shooting, right-winger hailing from Fraser, MI in the good old US of A. Chad was signed to the Hurricanes as a free agent August 6, 2003 and has never worn the sweater of another NHL team. Did you think I left off Chad’s draft year? I didn’t. Chad was never drafted and has gotten to the big show with nothing but hard work. He honed his skills in the Compuware Hockey program co-founded in the mid-1970’s by Compuware CEO and President and owner of the Carolina Hurricanes Peter Karmanos and has played for the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) and Florida Everblades (ECHL) which are also owned by Karmanos. He has also paid his dues in the USHL and the AHL playing for the former Lowell Lock Montsers (now the Albany Devils).
Listed at 5’10” and 181lbs, twenty-nine-year old LaRose is not a big body or a flashy player. He is a gritty grinder who never takes a shift off and is known for his hustle and energy. His other biggest asset is his mouth. Chad has a bit of a reputation for chirping and getting under guys’ skin. It doesn’t matter if you have the stature of Nathan Gerbe or Zdeno Chara, Mr. LaRose has words for you! (and possibly fists of fury!)
Fast-forward to the 2:40 mark to relive Rosey’s very creative chirping of Sean Avery of the New York Rangers.
Chad LaRose and his value on the ice and on paper are often a lightning rod for criticism, as grinders do not usually find their slots on the first line. But the coaches, not the players, set the lines, and wherever he has been slotted to play he has given his all and contributed. Rosey and Jussi Jokinen are currently tied for second on the squad in points with nine behind sophomore skater Jeff Skinner. LaRose has four goals, two of them on the power play, five helpers and nine points so far. He had his first multi-goal night of the season scoring two in the November 1st match up with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Chad is not the prettiest skater but check out this gutsy breakaway goal he scored against the Habs as he was flying on to the ice!
I am a not a stat girl but here are some more facts for you:
- In 2008 Rosey scored his first NHL hat trick. (It’s a fun video worth watching. )
- Collected points in three straight games this season from starting October 28th with two goals and two helpers.
- Rosey is ranked sixth on the team in goals (16), and he skated in a career-high 82 games in the 2010-11 season.
- On June 29th of this year he signed a two-year, $3.4 million contract identical to the one he agreed to during the 2009 off-season. LaRose will be paid $1.5 million this season and $1.9 million next keeping him a Hurricane through 2012-13.
- LaRose was a member of the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion squad. Winning a Stanley Cup and getting that ring at 23 years old is not too shabby.
Esteemed Hurricanes play by play announcer John Forslund often refers to Rosey as the “Heart and soul of hockey.” Known for his work ethic, unbridled enthusiasm, sense of humor and generally driving Tim Gleason up the wall, I hope the Hurricanes have a whole lotta Rosey for a very long time.
* all stats courtesy of NHL.com
Thank you for reading! Have a favorite Rosey moment you wish to share? Leave us a comment. Head over to our Facebook page at CardiacCane and give us a like! Also, be sure to follow Cardiac Cane writers at: @CardiacCaneFS, @Esbee92 and @caniac176