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Summer: NHLers relax… or rev up
By Nadia Fezzani & Tom Worgo
The vast majority of NHLers see the off season as a chance
to unwind and escape the physical and mental rigors of an 82-game
season, plus playoffs. To wit: this summer, new Red Wing Derian
Hatcher ran his own boat racing company with older brother Kevin;
Montreal's Joe Juneau used his aeronautic degree to work on
the hydroplane his built himself; Darren McCarty toured Michigan
as the lead singer of a rock band called "Grinder";
and Calgary's Krzysztof Oliwa designs his own clothing line,
"K-O Gear".
However, for some players, the summer months serve as a base
for building a life after hockey, or in Georges Laraque's case,
bettering the community he represents.
LARAQUE CHAMPIONS EDUCATION
"I try to do as much as I can for charity and a lot of
people think I do too much," said the Oilers enforcer,
who works tirelessly for more than six charitable organizations,
including the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program,
the Shaken Baby Syndrom prevention project and the Seats for
Kids program, to which he contributed $62,000 of his own money
to buy half a suite at Edmonton Skyreach Centre so disadvantaged
children can experience NHL hockey. "But I think I don't
do enough."
Children and education to Laraque off-ice priorities. So far,
he has visited 50 schools in Edmonton - be it elementary or
high school, he never refuses a request - encouraging kids to
pursue their studies.
Photo by Nadia Fezzani
"School is the only way you guarantee yourself a future
in life and society today," Laraque said. "A lot of
kids dream to play sports (professionally), but the chances
are so slim. That's why you have to put all of your energy into
school."
Sylvain Cote, meanwhile, put his off-ice energy into something
else during his 19-year NHL career - fishing. The defenseman,
who retired last season, spends most summers on one of his three
boats and counts a 350-pound blue marlin and 150-pound tuna
as two of his most prized catches.
Now Cote is turning that passion into a second career.
After spending $1.2 million on a custom-built 58-foot boat,
Cote founded a charter business, Bill Fishing International.
Based out of Ocean City, Md., he aims to take fishers on day
trips to the Atlantic Ocean.
COTE'S HOBBY BECOMES BUSINESS
"It became such a big hobby and he had such fun, he wanted
to start a business," said Jeff Halpern, Cote's former
Capitals teammate. "He has more enjoyment watching other
people catch a fish and take it home."
Cote, who played 10 years with Washington and also spent time
in Hartford, Chicago, Toronto and Dallas, knows he's lucky.
Many athletes have no idea what to do when they retire. He,
on the other hand, has worked toward starting his business for
a decade.
"I got a 41-foot boat to get my feet wet in the sportfishing
thing back in 1997," he said.
Cote's first big job came in early August, when six people
paid his $1,500 each to take them fishing in the White Marlin
Open, a $2.3-million tournament Cote called the world's biggest
and one he's fished in himself every year since 1997.
In the winter, Cote will be based out of Stuart, Fla., with
the idea of organizing excursions to Mexico, Panama and the
Bahamas. Five years after starting the business, it's clear
his zest for fishing hasn't subsided.
"I love getting up at four or four-thirty in morning and
getting the boat ready, even cleaning and waxing it," said
Cote, who often dons a Hawaiian shirt with a fish design for
his trips. "It's all part of fishing. I love every aspect
of it."
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FUN IN THE SUN
NHL stars have varied interests in the off-season.
Here is a list of some of the more interesting ways players
enjoyed their free time this summer:
Todd Simpson, D, Phx
Whitewater rafting in British Columbia
Derian Hatcher, D, Det
Running own boat racing company with brother Kevin
Krzysztof Oliwa, LW, Cgy
Designing own clothing line, 'K-O Gear'
Joe Juneau, C, Mtl
Piloting airplane he built himself
Darren McCarty, RW, Det
Lead singer for Michigan band 'Grinder'
P.J. Stock, C, Bos
Attending five wedding ceremonies
Jan Bulis, C, Mtl
Motorcycling in Czech Republic
Brad Stuart, D, SJ
Attending Pearl Jam concerts, meeting band
Jason Allison, C, LA
Following major league baseball's San Diego Padres
Jose Theodore, G, Mtl
Playing electric guitar with Quebec singer Eric Lapointe
J-L Grand-Pierre, D, Clb
Motorcycling with teammates for Columbus-area charity
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