麻豆社区

Twenty-four-year-old Jordan Lane has no problem with what Sabres' tough guy John Scott did to Maple Leafs' sniper Phil Kessel on Sunday.

In fact, he thought it was awesome.

In a NHL pre-season game between Buffalo and Toronto, the six-foot-eight Scott dropped the gloves with Kessel after a faceoff, sparking a line brawl that has dominated sports talk shows across the country this week.

"That's the kind of stuff I have to do,鈥� Lane said in a sit-down interview with the Star yesterday afternoon. "I have to intimidate players, and be in their faces.

"Writers can write whatever they want,鈥� he added. "Fighting's on the rise again, and the fans love it. It puts people in the seats.鈥�

Last week, the Whitehorse native signed a one-year contract with the Quad City Mallards, an Illinois-based club playing in the 10-team Central Hockey League.

The Mallards are an affiliate of the AHL's Iowa Wild and NHL's Minnesota Wild.

As usual, the six-foot-eight, and (depending on the scale) 240-to-255-pound Lane is expected to play the role of tough guy in his return to pro hockey.

"You have to do more than just scrap now,鈥� Lane said. "You have to be able to play, and I need to do my job defensively. I just want to give myself the best chance possible to play at the highest level possible.鈥�

Lane called the opportunity a "huge stepping stone鈥� for his career.

"We needed a big, physical presence on our team and Jordan can provide that,鈥� Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski explained in a press release.

"Jordan knows what he has to do to help the team. He's going to make the rest of our guys feel like they're three inches taller and he can play in front of the net.鈥�

Lane spent last year playing with the Portage College Voyageurs in Lac La Biche, Alta., scoring two goals and two assists alongside 110 penalty minutes in just 19 games.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, he earned himself a certificate as a natural resources technician.

The hulking left-winger admitted the Mallards initially came calling last season, but he turned down the offer in an effort to continue working on his conditioning and physique.

Lane devoted his life to his fitness, altering his diet and workout routines to put himself in the best shape of his life.

"I've got to be the toughest guy in the league and establish myself as one of the guys that's feared,鈥� he said. "I'm as ready as I've ever been, and now I've got to out and prove it this year.鈥�

Lane is hopeful he will eventually get an opportunity to play in the American Hockey League, where the "toughest guys鈥� play. Once there, anything could happen.

Lane turned pro after five years of junior hockey, suiting up with the Evansville Icemen of the Central Hockey League in 2010/2011.

The following season, he joined the ECHL's Elmira Jackals.

Lane proudly noted he has now played in hockey rinks in every province in Canada, minus Newfoundland and Ontario.

Each summer, Lane returns to Whitehorse to join his parents 鈥� Al Lane and Irene LaPrairie 鈥� and two younger sisters 鈥� Cassandra and Mikaela 鈥� in Copper Ridge.

His days in the Yukon are spent working out at Better Bodies, running his landscaping business Yukon Yardworks, and fishing.

Lane returned to the territory this week after spending six weeks working out under the watch of his agent and other players in Penticton, B.C.

Next week, he will head south to join the Mallards, who open their season at home Saturday, Oct. 19 against the Rapid City Rush.