OffThePost.org

"Every single ticket for this event was sold out. Why? Because of the Horse Lake Thunder,'' said Fleury.

"Not because of the Thunder Bay Bombers or the Lloydminster whatever they call themselves. It was because Horse Lake was here.''

Actually, the thing was sold-out before Horse Lake qualified, but you never stop a guy when he's rolling.

"The only reason this tournament sold out was because of yours truly right here,'' continued Fleury.

"We all know it and I'm going to say it: Once again Theo Fleury puts hockey on the map when it needs it the most.''

They definitely made it exciting, and the event isn't nearly as compelling without them. But when Thunder Bay's Barry McKinley put it away with a 200-foot empty netter, the place actually rose for a standing ovation.

That fans in Lloydminster cheered for an Ontario team to beat Alberta tells you all you need to know about how the Thunder were received here.

"We went through it all year,'' said Lakovic, who said the bad vibrations contributed to the early penalty parade.

"We knew it was going to happen. When you have that much bad energy going against you, it's going to happen.

''Who knows why that is. It could be racial, it could not be. It could be that they're just against us. We hear it all the time.''

Fleury chalks it up to working man's jealousy.

"Look at the source. A guy that carries a lunch pail to work every day, a frustrated human being. He doesn't want to face his problems head to head, so who's the perfect target? Theo Fleury. He's had success, he's had fame, he's had fortune. Those people have to yell at me to make themselves feel better about themselves. You know what? I'll take the high road.''

Not that high. He did scream at post-game photographers, "You take another (bleeping) picture and I'll kill you.'' But we digress - as, apparently, we've done before.

"You (media) tried to chop us down every chance you could possibly get,'' said Fleury.

"And now you got your story, and it's a hell of a story.''

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2009/09/11/10837741-sun.html

He's close and meeting with Buttman today. What a story this would be.........might be just the motivation the Flames need. Either way if he takes a job in Abbottsford he probably does so knowing that he secures a HOF spot and a place in the organization after playing.

"I don't miss those chances ever," the five-foot-six Fleury declared. "Not in the big moments. Never have, never will."

The Flames should keep his number. You never know when injuries might strike.

This reminds me of why he was trying again to begin with. Uh...how you gonna make money now Theo?