In a perfect world, Lightning defenseman Brad Lukowich said he would be in Brandon this week, lumbering his way through a rugged NHL training camp, getting ready to help the Lightning defend its Stanley Cup.
But with the NHL owners locking out the players, not everything is perfect. So Lukowich decided to make the best of a bad situation. That means bussing around Texas playingminor-league hockey.
Lukowich signed Monday with the Fort Worth Brahmas of the Central Hockey League, a lower-tier independent minor league with 17 teams, most located in Texas.
Forget about the money. Lukowich said he will pay more for insurance than the check he will receive. For Lukowich it's about the love of hockey and staying in shape.
"As players, we have to stay in shape and do whatever it takes until the owners end this lockout," Lukowich said. "Playing in Fort Worth makes perfect sense for me."
Lukowich's wife, Cara, is from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He met her while playing for the Dallas Stars. They still spend the offseason in the home they bought there and he is a 30-minute drive from the 11,000-seat Fort Worth Convention Center where the Brahmas play their home games.
"I have to do what is best for my family and that means being in the best possible condition so that when this lockout ends, I'm ready for an NHL season," Lukowich said. "When the lockout ends, there won't be much of a training camp, so you better be ready."
Getting ready is what got Lukowich the opportunity with the Brahmas. He was working out at the Stars training complex in suburban Dallas with NHL players, including Sergei Zubov, Pierre Turgeon, Lyle Odelein and Richard Matvichuk. That led to a meeting with Brahmas coach Al Sims, formerly coach of the San Jose Sharks. Lukowich is friends and former teammates with Brahmas part-owner Andy Moog, an ex-NHL goalie. Sims told him to think about joining the team. Lukowich said his mind was made up by the time he reached the parking lot.
"It's a first-class organization," Lukowich said. "The ownership treats its players well and we're sort of centralized, so the bus trips won't be bad. It should be fun."
Lukowich will leave the Brahmas and join the Lightning as soon as the lockout ends, but he isn't optimistic it will end soon.
"The players are not going to back down," Lukowich said. "We are not going to accept a salary cap and as soon as the owners realize that, we can start having real negotiations."
