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By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2000
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier has a new agent. The 20-year-old captain has come to terms with Impact Sports of Boca Raton.
Working on Lecavalier's contracts will be firm president Mitch Frankel; Kent Hughes, vice president of the firm's hockey division; and Jeff Deutsch.
"We're thrilled," Hughes said.
"They made a very good presentation," said Lecavalier's father, Yvon. "We have lots of confidence in them."
Impact Sports also represents Cris Carter of the Minnesota Vikings, Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, Bartolo Colon of the Cleveland Indians and Fernando Tatis of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Lecavalier, in the final year of a three-year deal that pays a base salary of $975,000, has searched for an agent since firing family friend Bob Sauve before the season in a dispute over Sauve's fees.
Yvon said more than 20 firms made presentations. Carter called on Impact Sports' behalf.
"We work with a select group of young, talented athletes to assist them in their contracts and assist them in developing their business and charitable affairs," Hughes said.
Impact Sports also had an in. Hughes is from Montreal and has known the Lecavalier family, which lives outside Montreal, for about 10 years. He played summer hockey with Lecavalier's older brother, Phil.
"When you come down to the end and have to choose ... Kent Hughes is a family friend," Yvon said. "They are going to take good care of Vinny's marketing. I think he will be very marketable very soon. He is right now. We need somebody to take care of that."