Theo Fleury

[cmn 0]

Theo made his debut for the Belfast Giants tonight in the UK's ELITE League.

Scored 3, assisted 4 and beat the crap out of two guys twice his size!

He certainly was several classes above the rest of the players out there tonight despite the fact he only arrived yesterday morning and took part in one training session. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in a few weeks when he's fully fit. He'll tear the other teams in this league apart that's for sure!

[hockechamp14 0]

Does he have a full year contract? Does england have the IIHF talent exchange agreement?

Any real reason theo is playing in england?

[cmn 0]

Does he have a full year contract? Does england have the IIHF talent exchange agreement?

Any real reason theo is playing in england?

I think he's only on a one year contract with us.

It all came about after a Calgary businessman made a major investment in the Giants during the summer. This guy was Theo's business partner and friend and basically persuaded him to play over here this season

[shute 4]

well watch as many as you can cause it won't last long till he snapes or goes beer crazy again... :lol:

[QandA 0]

well watch as many as you can cause it won't last long till he snapes or goes beer crazy again... :lol:

Grow up. You think he meant to throw away his whole career cause of an addiction? Maybe if you'd know his past and his childhood, you may view the situation a bit differently.

[shute 4]

did i say something that wasn't true? he's done it in just about every league he's played in. you know he'll do it again and so does everyone else...

[Jim A 4]

Theo wasn't made of NY with his issues..and the stories of him there are sad indeed..the guy has been through a lot. for him to just lace up his skates at times is amazing enough

[#96 0]

You know what, I've been through alot. I know alot of people that have been through alot. And I go to work everyday, I don't do coke or get Sh$tfaced everynight. I really don't get it when people say, "Back off. He's got problems." Everyone has problems. Just cuz he's a sports star doesn't mean he's got a free pass.

Now I'm not trying to be insensitive. But so many "stars" have "problems" and it's, "Ohh poor guy. He really plays hard. Lay off him." What about Joe Schmo who works everyday, only hoping to retire at 65, but gets cancer at 45 and dies. What about him?

I applaude your comments Shutie. Theo's had problems. He's a great player, tons of heart, but doesn't have in him to want to get better. I'm sorry, I just don't feel for people like that.

[fedorov#91 0]

Theo played amazing last night, and he really took care of those guys and he was ready to go again with the Capitals coach lol. Hes a really awesome player and i cant wait to see what he does for us. Oh forgot to mention they won 11-2 :D

[flaming_june 2]

You know what, I've been through alot. I know alot of people that have been through alot. And I go to work everyday, I don't do coke or get Sh$tfaced everynight. I really don't get it when people say, "Back off. He's got problems." Everyone has problems. Just cuz he's a sports star doesn't mean he's got a free pass.

Now I'm not trying to be insensitive. But so many "stars" have "problems" and it's, "Ohh poor guy. He really plays hard. Lay off him." What about Joe Schmo who works everyday, only hoping to retire at 65, but gets cancer at 45 and dies. What about him?

I applaude your comments Shutie. Theo's had problems. He's a great player, tons of heart, but doesn't have in him to want to get better. I'm sorry, I just don't feel for people like that.

you can compare theo to all the sad people in the world, it is all relative. i think we feel for all the people who are suffering, and should look at it case by case, rather than comparing one to another, since you can always say there's an man who is even worse for wear.

[cobrAA 0]

Theo made his debut for the Belfast Giants tonight in the UK's ELITE League.

Scored 3, assisted 4 and beat the crap out of two guys twice his size!

He certainly was several classes above the rest of the players out there tonight despite the fact he only arrived yesterday morning and took part in one training session. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in a few weeks when he's fully fit. He'll tear the other teams in this league apart that's for sure!

i'm sorry just whant to be sure...are you saying he did 7 point on 1 game?? without praticing with the guys???

damn, i'm wondering how much kovalchuk,sakic,lecavalier etc... could do?? at least 10 lol...

[RadioGaGa 162]

Theo made his debut for the Belfast Giants tonight in the UK's ELITE League.

Scored 3, assisted 4 and beat the crap out of two guys twice his size!

He certainly was several classes above the rest of the players out there tonight despite the fact he only arrived yesterday morning and took part in one training session. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in a few weeks when he's fully fit. He'll tear the other teams in this league apart that's for sure!

i'm sorry just whant to be sure...are you saying he did 7 point on 1 game?? without praticing with the guys???

damn, i'm wondering how much kovalchuk,sakic,lecavalier etc... could do?? at least 10 lol...

It would appear that is true:

http://www.belfastgiants.com/

[Neo5370 132]

No offense guys but why the surprise at his success? This is a future HOF'er and has put up really good numbers in the Show.

And this is not a snub against Irish pro hockey, but it's not exactly NHL calibre.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Sometimes you still need the people to play with in order to put up the numbers. I doubt he could go end to end 7 times in a game, he needs to be surrounded with some good hockey players to get'em the puck, which surprised me a bit. I figured he'd score a few, but 7 is alot, in addition I don't think he produced overly well in the "Senior A" loop he was in.

[Stampede 0]

The team they played have been whooped pretty regular this year.

I've no doubt Fleury will be the best player in the UK by a mile.

The Uk ice hockey league is an OK standard, probably UHL or CHL standard I think.

I heard Fleury was only gonna play ten games for PR for this new investor in Belfast to get the crowd back in the place, apparently they were only getting 2,000 in a 10,000 arena.

Not really an ideal place for a recovering alcoholic, Ireland, is it!!!!!!! lol

Let's hope he's still not there on St Pat's day poor guy

[shute 4]

the uk league is NOT CHL standards... when was the last time someone from the UK was called up to an nhl team... when was the last time someone from the UK league was drafted by an nhl team? the uk league is as good as the italy league or in other words a good "beer" league

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Shute - you're an idiot.

I'm sick and tired of seeing your posts. You make absolutely zero sense.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I'd wager alot of the players playing in that league were good NCAA player and players from the OHL. Not my typical beer league. I know a few guys who went that route, everyone needs to make a living. Of the people in the CHL, very few make regional pro leagues and most have put their education aside. Where do you go from there? Even NCAA kids go there, playing hockey for 60K a year is a hell of alot better than doing alot of other things. Ontop you get the "fame" approach, but it's not nearly as bad as here.

[Karly14 21]

the uk league is NOT CHL standards...  when was the last time someone from the UK was called up to an nhl team... when was the last time someone from the UK league was drafted by an nhl team?  the uk league is as good as the italy league or in other words a good "beer" league

Its pretty common for guys who played in the CHL to go overseas and play there, I know personally a couple of guys who've done it, and they were both 1st or 2nd line guys in the O.

Im glad to Theo playing, he's beeen my fav player since I was 8 years old. Ask anybody who's met him, or knows him, they'll all say he's one of the nicest guys around.

[shute 4]

Shute - you're an idiot.

I'm sick and tired of seeing your posts. You make absolutely zero sense.

if your going to call me an idiot then prove it. Like i said how many players who play in that UK league have been drafted and played in the NHL? If it's even 1/4 of what the CHL does then i'll eat my words.

[mack 44]

Maybe he meant the Central Hockey League...now just hit that "logout" button and stay a visitor.

[SR27 0]

I´ve seen Ruff, Craighead and Romaniuk play in the DEL couple years ago. At that time maybe the top 3 british teams would have been able to reach the middle of the standings in the DEL which was considered the Top 5 or 6 league in Europe. Back then those guys were solid 3rd liners at best and now they are what? 5 years older? The british league restricted import players recently I think and since then the level of play went down even more. (The rule sure had its advantages towards national players, though). Anyway I´m saying that viewed as teams and not maybe 2 or 3 individuals per team the level is not compettitive. For import players it´s not the place to go when you are mid 20 or something with ambition or will to get scouted for other (higher payed) European leagues.

[PBRyan 0]

Last season (the lockout one) Scotty Nichol, Eric Cairnes and a couple other current NHLers played over in that league. I think it was like 12 of them total. I talked to one of them a month ago about it and they said each team is allowed ~10-12 "non-British" players (almost all of whom are Canadian players) and the other 6 must be British. Essentially the top two lines and D pairings are always Canadian and "good players" while the third line and D pairings are of lesser talent. Hope that helps.

[fedorov#91 0]

Last season (the lockout one) Scotty Nichol, Eric Cairnes and a couple other current NHLers played over in that league. I think it was like 12 of them total. I talked to one of them a month ago about it and they said each team is allowed ~10-12 "non-British" players (almost all of whom are Canadian players) and the other 6 must be British. Essentially the top two lines and D pairings are always Canadian and "good players" while the third line and D pairings are of lesser talent. Hope that helps.

Nick boyton and Graeme(sp?) belak and others

[Stampede 0]

I did mean the Central hockey league.

Only 2 ever British born and trained players have been drafted. Tony Hand by the Oilers (last overall in their great era) and Colin Shields by the flyers who I think is played ECHL at the minute.

A lot of NHL drafted players have graced these shores post NHL careers even a few have fone the other way e.g. Doug Doull (enforcer i think for the Coyotes) played with Manchester Strom before making the NHL when he returned to the states.

The problem why UK hockey has gone backwards is because teams can only have 11 imports (6 i think of which have to be permit players, which means they have to be European/have played pro in Europe or be able to get a UK passport), hence these guys are commanding more money than they are worth because they are rare. Plus we have a cap of about £200k per team (35 million doesn't sound too bad eh?).

A few years ago salary budgets were 300 to 400k and we had a better standard of players and could "compete" to some extent with other european clubs (beacuse we had speaking english and less of a culture shock on our side). Paul Kruse came straight to the UK when he was done with the Isles.

Shute... have you ever seen UK hockey or Italian league hockey? If you have your opinion is fine, if not ... then you can't call some thing you haven't seen.

Plus the pro's who come here will get prob $30 to 50k and pay very little tax on that, for playing about 50 games (2 a week), the longest bus trip is about 3 hours, and you egt to see some of the world... Better than a UHL, CHL or SPHL ticket on average I would say and you don't have to freeze your nuts off in Russia or have an interpretor for the pre game speech.