Cam Atkinson returns to Columbus to sign a one-day contract & officially retire as a Blue Jacket!

Cam Atkinson returns to Columbus to sign a one-day contract & officially retire as a Blue Jacket!

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. For Dave Holmes. Check one, two, check one, two, mic. Check for media. Check one, two, test one, two, test one, two, mic check for media. You good? Check one two. Check one two. Check one two. Morning everybody. Thanks for uh sticking around a little while longer today. Uh we’re going to start uh with some comments by our president of hockey ops and GM Don Wedell. And then I think uh our esteemed guest will have a few comments. then we’ll turn it up uh turn it over for your questions. So with that, we’ll start with Don. Great. Thank you uh for coming out this morning. Obviously, it’s an exciting day for uh Blue Jackets hockey. You know, I didn’t have the privilege to be the general manager of Cam as a player, but I had the agony of playing against him for a lot of years. U I know what kind of player he is and I also know what kind of person he is. Let’s go some, you know, some of the things that I’ll highlight. We all know he had a great career. uh played 10 seasons here with the Blue Jackets. um second in club history in a lot of things with points goals, game-winning goals, shots on goals, leads the Blue Jackets in short-handed goals, hat-ticks, uh represented the Blue Jackets two twice on all-star teams, uh quarter century team. And the amazing thing and I was involved in this process back in the day that he was drafted. You know, he was drafted uh in the sixth round which means that uh a lot of us missed on this player which uh goes a lot of credit. you know, when Cam came out of college, you know, there was a lot of questions about uh size and ability and that and obviously uh the first probably three games of his NHL career, he proved everybody wrong there. Obviously, his family’s all here to support, which is great. His dad told me all the NHL players he coached growing up, 17 in the NHL that you coached. That’s been a great coach. Uh but obviously uh Cam means a lot more to this organization and uh you know I I got here last year and Cam was one of the first names I heard uh more amongst the the community. He’s loved in this community. uh we’re proud that he’s in this community and be a part of it and um so that’s why we’re excited about being able to officially uh have him sign his contract and uh retire a blue jacket. So with that, I will have him I’m not going to let him read it. It’s the richest contract in NHL history, right? It’ll be the least amount paid. Uh, but the official IHL contract and uh we’re going to have I know you can see it somewhat, but we’ll have uh Cam and I will sign it for you guys. Sign my life away. Yep. There you go. You don’t you don’t I don’t let you read it. I wish I could do that with all players. Document is officially signed. So, we’re proud to announce that Cam Atinson is back as a Blue Jacket. With that, I will This is all about Cam, so we’ll turn over to Cam. Thank you, Don. Appreciate that. Um, obviously before we get started, um, I want to take a moment and say that we’re praying for the Felino family right now. Um, Milana is getting her surgery today. So, uh, we love you. Uh, we’re thinking of you and we know you got this, our little princess warrior. All right. They say thing all good things must come to an end. Uh today I’m announcing my retirement from the NHL. Um playing hockey doesn’t last forever, but the friendships and memories I’ve made along the way will. Uh started skating when I was 2 years old and never looked back. I was set on being a professional hockey player uh for as long as I can remember. Uh every every school assignment asking what I wanted to do when I grew up, uh the answer was always the same. Play in the NHL. Uh getting to play in one NHL game is obviously a dream come true for any player. Uh to play in uh 809 809 of them. Uh I’m not sure how I got so lucky to live out that dream for the last 14 seasons, 14 years. Um I obviously want to thank the Columbus Blue Jackets for believing in me and taking a chance on me. Uh I was an undersized kid who went 157th overall uh my second year of eligibility. I would tell Porty that I think I I would tell everyone that I went third overall in the sixth round in 2008. Um obviously the McConnell family, management, Dawn, uh coaches, staff, uh thank you. Uh from the day I started my my career for their AHL team with the Falcons in Springfield, Massachusetts to my first NHL game here at Nationwide Arena. uh to our historic win um win streak obviously our our first round sweep of Tampa Bay in 2009 playoffs uh to the fanless games during COVID to my last game as a CBJ uh player and obviously my first game back at Nationwide after being traded. Uh the friendships we’ve made that will last a lifetime. It was so special to be a Blue Jacket and to obviously play in front of the fifth line. Uh to my teammates I got to play with in Columbus, Philly, and Tampa, I just want to say it was an honor. Uh when I think of my best memories in hockey, uh they’ll always be with you. And they’re not even the ones on the ice. The card games on the plane, being on the golf course, the downtime in the hotel, dinners on the road, uh the laughs and jokes. I miss it already. Uh the camaraderie. Thank you to also their amazing families. Uh you made my wife and kids feel at home and like they were part of your family. Thank you to all the players I’ve competed against. Uh this sport is truly a family and a brotherhood. Uh you’ve all made me a better player and I looked up to many of you. And to the fans, you are the heartbeat of this league. Uh Blue Jackets, Flyers, and Lightning fans, you’re the best fans in the world, but especially the Blue Jackets in the fifth line. You show up for this team every single night, win or lose. Your love for this city, your team, and its players is unconditional. Uh to my mom and dad, thank you for introducing me to the game of hockey. Um some of my favorite memories are the the early morning outdoor practices at Grunch uh skating club and all the road trips we took together. The sacrifices you both had made for me and my brothers never went unnoticed. All I ever wanted to make you guys proud and I hope I did. Sorry. To my brothers, Steve, Tommy, Brett, and Scott. Uh, thank you for always being there for me and having my back since day one. Having your support has meant the world. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for one another, and that is what family is all about. To their wives, Sophie, man of Bethany, and Mary, and her nieces and nephews, thank you for keeping my brothers in check and being their person. To my in-laws, Steve, Lisa, Miles, his wife, Katherine, and Hillary. Um, I couldn’t have asked for better in-laws. Whenever I was on the road, uh, you guys were there at the drop of a hat. You allowed me to fulfill my dream and job with a clear mind knowing you’re always there for, uh, Natalie and the kids. Without question, you guys would do anything and everything to be by our sides for games, holidays, and special core memories. So for that, thank you to my kings, Declan and Kaden, and my princess Fallon. Everything I do is for you. Being your dad is the best accomplishment of my entire life. I can’t wait to be home with you now and start this next chapter. All right, put the gum in your mouth. Right. To my beautiful wife, my rock, my everything. Since day one we met at BC, I always knew we would start a family and grow old together. My greatest accomplishment is our kids and having them with you to raise them with. Through all the ups and downs on the ice and off, you’re always there to pick me up. What we have together, the sacrifices you made to allow me to chase my dream. I could never thank you enough. I love you. All right. Sorry. When I think about my legacy in hockey, I wanted to be that I made a difference. Whether it was through my philanthropic with a work with the Force Network Fund or the Battery Hockey Academy, I just hope that when people think of me, they think of me not only for the things I accomplish as a hockey player, but the things I’m passionate about as a person. Growing the game of hockey, the game that I love so much, the game that has given me and my family so much, especially in Columbus, Ohio, is so important to me. That is why I started at the battery. I want kids to have the best foundation to learn how to be professionals and just all around good people. I hope my story one where nothing was handed to me going in the sixth round third overall being cons uh constantly told no I could never make it to this level or that breaking my leg and being told I would never be able to walk again that I was too small especially I hope I inspire kids at all ages. Use doubters and negativity as your fire to prove everyone wrong. You are special. No one else will believe that unless you do. I hope our team we had back in 2017 through 19 inspired young boys and girls to try playing hockey. I know we have some of the next great NHL players right here in Columbus and I hope to be part of their story one day. It is obviously not lost to me that tonight I will be the first player since Johnny hockey and maybe the last to wear number 13 for the Blue Jackets on the ice. Johnny and I were really good friends. Um, as well as Meredith and and their kids. And I’ll be thinking about him and his family as I take my final lap tonight. And lastly, taking my final lap will be one of the most humbling moments of my career. Getting to finish my career where it all started in a city that became home with the fans and the people that took me and my family in as one of their own. With my family and my friends watching is nothing short of a dream come true. Thank you to the Blue Jackets organization for welcoming me back home. Now, we’re going to follow that with some questions. So, who would like to go first? As long as it’s not porty. Oh, we’ll go to Aaron Port. Athletic. Sorry to disappoint you. Uh, Cam, you’re an East Coast kid. Can you tell me what you thought immediately when Columbus drafted you? Did you know anything about the city? Is it surreal being here today and being so much a part of it? Um, you know what? Um, I remember that day uh like it was yesterday. Obviously, all my five brothers uh are here right now in Columbus and um I think one of my brothers like where the hell is Columbus, Ohio? And and sure enough, we all thought the same. But um coming here, I remember from my first training camp and uh kind of engraving yourself into the city and into the community and and clearly starting a family and all three of my kids here were born at Riverside and um with the Battery Hockey Academy, we have so many friends outside of of the of the hockey world here and this is home for us and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else and u you know, like I keep saying, I’ll keep harping on it, the the best fans at Fifth Lines are some of the best loyal fans in the league. league. I’ve been part of some other organizations and I’ll tell you right now that they are special group through the ups and the downs and um just happy to be able to call this place home. Brian Hedger, dispatch. Hey Cam, congrats. Brian, thank you. Um remember during the 2020 uh COVID kind of pause, I was talking to Nick Felino about your guys’ sweep of the Lightning in 2019. And one of the things that stood out was he said that after game four, you know, just leaving the ice and seeing like workers in the stadium and and different places just everybody thanking him and people with tears in their eyes. Did you have a similar experience in that and like what what are what are some of your favorite memories from that particular you know event and what you were able to do for the city at that? I mean that whole that whole experience was remarkable and to be part of that was truly special. But I got interviewed earlier today um on 971 and they asked pretty much the same question and I remember going back into the locker room um after we embraced being on the ice with the fans and well I remember getting I’ll backtrack. I remember getting interviewed after the game by Jody Shel and I almost threw out the fbomb. Uh, you know, because I was like, “Let’s go.” You know, and I was obviously emotions got to me and um, sure enough, go back to the locker room and luckily we only had one kid at the time, Declan. But my phone ring camera was like ding ding ding ding like every five minutes. And it was like packs of three to five kids, young kids that would put brooms outside our door and they were like to the camera, “Let’s go. Let’s go.” And so I’m like looking at I’m like, “You guys should be asleep right now. What the heck is going on?” But I mean, there were so many different uh moments from that that uh you know, at the end of the day, it was our first time ever making it to the second round and and hopefully this year’s we get past that. Um but just the fans, you know, they deserve it the most. and the t the tough times that I they’ve had for all of us um at at the earlier stage when the organization started to the first five or six years that I was here in 2011 to 2015 and that was truly for them and I think Nick was the first person to say that in his interview that it was uh special to be part of but the city the organization the fans deserve it more than anyone back to This is for Don and Cam. There’s been some discussion about Cam joining the organization. Is there anything official in that area? Can you say what capacity that might be? No, we’ve met several times and uh trying to figure it out. We both uh have uh thoughts about it and obviously uh as I told Cam too right now, you know, coming off playing, same thing I told Rick Nash a year ago. You know, you’ve missed your family for so many years. make sure your first priority is taking care of the kids and your wife and all that because you know that those years don’t you never get those years back. So yeah, nothing official but we are talking about it. I told Don I’m not coming for his job. Um but I think he knows and everyone knows uh especially in this room how much I love you know living here and being here and being part of the Blue Jackets organization. So, uh, hopefully one day I’ll, uh, be able to come back and and work for the organization. Metsy, Cam, one of the, uh, well, the architect of some of those really successful teams was Tors. I’m wondering if you’ve heard from Tors and secondarily, just what kind of impact he had on those years for you. Yeah, you know what? I was actually just talking with Tors yesterday. Uh, he was supposed to be here, but he’s working for ESPN and, uh, first thing he said was, “Don’t f it up when I come out here.” So, um, you know, Torch, I he coached me eight out of my 14 years playing and I I owe a lot of my success to him, uh, not only as a player, but as a person. and uh how he got me to play the game uh on a daily nightly basis, not only obviously during the game, but in practice and how you go about your business and um how you uh act away from the rink and uh how it’s all about this brotherhood and this camaraderie and um you know, I think he ingrained and instilled that in in everyone that has played for him. And uh don’t get me wrong, him and I had plenty plenty of FU matches which I texted him and called him back. I was like, I’m gonna miss those. But I think we should still have a couple of those ep conversations just to kind of get the juices going. So, um know him and his wife have been great for me and and and Nat and our kids and uh he is already telling me he wanted me to go out and bring the kids to his farm and have the kids ride their horses and all that stuff. So, um yeah. No, it’s uh I appreciate everything Torsch has done for me and my career and and I owe a lot of my success to him. I’m going to Jeff Sabotjackets.com. Gam, congrats. Uh you mentioned you came here, it was third overall pick, I think it was. Uh yeah, third overall. Um coming here as a six- round pick, a guy that had been doubted so much. What did it mean to you just at the beginning of this organization, believed in you, gave you a chance and allowed you to flourish here over so many years? Yeah, you know what? It’s uh I owe a lot to that to that to Rob Riley who was a scout at the time who I knew and uh he actually I saw him I want to say four or five years ago. he was back in town for some reason and he kind of told me the story of how it all went down on the floor with Scott Hen and Chris McFarland at the time and they kind of gave him the look and was like, “Hey, we’re going after your boy sort of thing.” So, that was pretty cool to hear. Um, so yeah, it’s uh any player all they want is an opportunity, right? And it’s how are you going to seize that opportunity in that moment? And um how you going to prove all the naysayers and and all the doubters and how are you going to turn that and use that as a positive? I think that’s always been my mindset that all that has fueled my fire to to allow me to be the person I am today and the player I was. So, um, yeah, I just can’t thank the Blue Jackets enough for just that opportunity because that obviously started my whole career. Go ahead, Mark. Hey, Cam. Talking to Boon Jenner today, talking to Zachari today, they really credit you for their leadership and a lot of what they go through. So, when you hear something like that that how you influence them, just how proud are you of everything that you know, from from the time up till now, what they’ve been able to do. Yeah. You know, u those two are very special players and special people that are still I consider some of my best buddies. So, I talked with them um a lot. And you know, um, I have to give, well, Rick Nash obviously was my first captain, so I learned a lot from him early on in my career, but Rick or, uh, Nick Felino, um, you know, he, uh, worked at becoming a leader and how can you improve every single day and, um, just listening to him and being around Nick, I think those two can attest that we learned a lot from Nick and the trickle down effect happened. And, uh, everyone leads different ways and how they go about that, but those two are some of the best leaders right now. you can see um you know how Boon kind of carries himself on and off the ice as well as you know Z and uh the type of player that he’s blossomed into which we’ve all known he’s what he’s capable of doing and it’s it’s great to see uh him do that and we’re going to need him to step it up a little more. Um but no it’s uh those guys are some of my best buddies so love those guys. Go to Mike Arace here on the left dispatch Kim. Um everyone’s got to prove themselves in this league. your bar was higher for reasons that you described. Um can you talk about what it was like early and when you realized that you had made it? Yeah, you know, um my first training camp came in and um right before well, right after we had rookie camp, which I think kind of helped get into those game-like situations and feeling comfortable on the ice and then I just allowed myself to play in that training camp and I remember doing some pretty good things and scoring some goals and setting up some plays. Uh I remember being in Carolina and setting up RJburgger. I remember all all this stuff. Uh um and uh I think that was one of the last games and sure enough obviously cut day and and I I think it was me and Ryan Johansson we went in individually and um at the time they were kind of messing with me and asking me how I was how I felt and how I thought I did and I’m like I thought I played okay and like you think you made the team I’m like I don’t know you guys tell me like call your parents because you’re going to be on the opening night night roster. So that obviously was really special and walking out um from the room to go to the bench and calling my parents and looking around that was truly a a pinch me moment that I’ll never forget the feeling where you know what I was wearing and looking around when no one was in the building and uh just thinking to myself all the hard work has paid off. Go back to Craig Mir back right. Hey, Cam. Um, after you had your surgery a few years ago, how important was you to for you to come back and play and then retire on your own term? Yeah, that was uh those are some of my darkest days. Obviously, not only for me, but uh for my family and yeah, sorry, I don’t know why I’m getting emotional. just was I didn’t know kind of the avenue I wanted to go down just cuz yeah, you know, you’re you’re being told this and that and and I just knew I wasn’t right. And um didn’t know what I needed to do to get better. And uh finally was Anthony Deicero, who I give all the credit to, who is a neurosurgeon in Philly for the Eagles. And um this was after I’ve talked to probably five different doctors and really no one had an answer for me. And I’ll never forget uh this was kind of the final show. I walk into his office and this was at like 7 in the morning and I’m just tired and I’m pissed off. And uh he’s like tell me a little bit about yourself blah blah blah. And I’m like Cam Atinson. He’s like where’d you go to school? I’m like Boston College. He’s like stop. I know someone so famous I went there. I’m like who? And he’s like me. like I kind of like this guy, you know. So, uh, then he just reassured me, you know, he’s like, I literally have done I’ve been doing this for 40 years on elite athletes in football and hockey. I will get you back to playing to your elite level, but most importantly, I’ll get you back to being a dad. Dave Metsel, I know you’ll be around the guys pregame tonight. Do you have a pregame speech planned? Oh, I was hoping to get a pregame meal here. Um, you know what? It’s I I I’m just here to go on the ice and do my part. And uh, you know, I was hoping to be in warm-ups so I could start seeing some pucks at Mar and McKinnon down there on the other ice, but I know Olivia would have my back on that, but uh, no, you know what? I’m just going to enjoy the moment as it comes and excited to take one final last lap and kids are going to light off the cannon. Uh we’re trying to figure out which kid is going to do that. Um yeah, Dean Dean’s raising his hand, but no, just exciting exciting for the opportunity and to want a final salute. Hopefully I don’t fall. Go back to Bobby Mack. Cam, I just want to ask you about you were talking about, you know, a young guy coming in here. You were part of that core with Nick and David Sevard and Seth Jones, all those guys. um you were part of growing up in that and then all of you guys leaving and now coming back here today to um to finish it off. Is it how surreal is it for you everything that you’ve experienced not just in the NHL but just in this organization and with those guys? You know, time flies, right? It’s uh I never thought I’d be in the situation right here that I’m sitting in uh in front of you. Beautiful people that I’ve known and seen for a long time. and um you know that that some of those teams are some of the most fun I’ve had uh as well as all of the wives and our families and um getting together all the time and you know Fina would have parties at his house for for everyone and didn’t matter who was in town um and just coming together as a team and and and growing and winning. I mean, I think winning, as we all know, solves solves a lot of problems and issues, but uh we did it the right way and how we went about our business on the ice and off the ice. It’s uh you know, those guys are are truly special people, and it’s uh I’m glad that hopefully we made the organization and the fans proud during those times. And um so yeah, Brian Hedger, Cam, I just want to give you a uh a final chance to give a comment about Blue Jacket super fan Tony Maza. Oh, dear Lord. What do you What do you think about that guy? I don’t know. I don’t I forget who Tony Maza is. That Tony Maza still haunts me till this day. Um I’m not a big prankster. I never have been. Uh but I had to obviously get Nick back for that. And you know, I can’t say the things I want to say. Um, but I got him back pretty good with the pizzas and I actually had to stop sending pizzas because he was going to fight everyone at his house. U, but it was good. I hopefully I got it back. But god damn Tony Maza. Dylan Cam, if you go back to the day you were drafted or around then and they were to tell you that you’d play 800 games in the NHL and have the opportunity to retire with the team that drafted you, what do you think you would have said back then? That’s a h ah a pinch me moment, right? It’s uh I think every player just wants to make it to the NHL and it’s hard enough to play one game, but to play that many games and to play a lot of those games here with this organization and obviously retire here, I mean, everyone has individual goals. This was never an an indiv individual goal for me. I mean, I I’ve been very open and honest. Um I started my career here and I wanted to finish it here. and to kind of go out on my own terms that way. It’s truly humbling and a great feeling and obviously having my family and all my friends in town and um you know it’s uh I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Bill Rubino back left. Cam, could you reflect on time when you were a teenager I guess when you broke your leg and were told you wouldn’t walk and let alone play hockey again and you’re already facing kind of daunting odds anyway. What was that period like and and how much did that drive you? Yeah. No, that that was definitely another dark time, but I was young enough where mentally I was pretty strong back then. I don’t know. Uh I don’t know what I attest that to just uh I know obviously fast forward to some of the injuries I’ve had as a pro and I’ve I’ve been able to surround myself with positive people and different kind of books that have put me in the right positive mindset during darkest times. But I remember that day playing in a tournament, um, breaking my leg, going to the hospital, local hospital in Boston somewhere, and the doctor kind of made a joke about coming in after I got the X-ray. I was like, “Oh, there goes his hockey career.” And that was the first time I actually started crying. And I think my dad was there at the time and he pulled him aside and I almost beat the crap out of the guy. But, um, no, it’s, uh, we we I I give a lot of credit to Dr. Downing who, uh, unfortunately passed away. He was one of the uh surgeons for the Jets and his kid was um on our team at the time and uh we we drove back to Connecticut and he got his A team to you know to work on me and uh put a rod and two pins in my leg and I was skating I think three or four months after that. Um and you know it’s it’s situation like that where someone tells you what you can and cannot do and for me personally I I’ll say it till I’m blue in the face. I I always use that as motivation to prove people wrong and give you a big FU, right? And um actually, believe it or not, when I committed to that was freshman year of when I was at Avon in sophomore year in the summer, I played in the Havon Holinka tournament and uh a week after that, I committed to Boston College. And so I think as an FU, uh we sent that doctor the article of me uh committing to Boston College on a full scholarship. And I don’t know if he ever got it. I don’t know if he even remembers till this day but uh in my uh but yeah I mean it’s u I hope every kid you know they don’t listen to the doubters because it’s easy to do so nowadays and u you know use that as motivation to fuel fuel your f your fire and prove people wrong and believe in yourself that’s that’s what it all comes down to. Time for a few more. We’ll go to Mark Pierce. And when did you know that this day was coming and then who approached who about making today the way it worked out? Yeah, you know, um, kind of last year I kind of mentally prepared myself for this could potentially it be it as a PL as a player and I was totally fine with it and and kind of wrapped my brain around, okay, transitioning to being retired. And uh, I don’t think it took me a while to uh, tell everyone just because when I got back here, anytime I’d go out, people, are you where you going? What are you doing? are you signing or the Blue Jackets signing you? I’m like, I don’t know, maybe. We’ll see. But deep down, I kind of knew I was done. And I I approached Don. I approached uh Johnny McConnell and uh had a meeting with him and uh then obviously had a meeting with Don and uh and Nasher and just kind of told them um my thought process and how I, you know, started my career here and wanted to end it here and hopefully one day work for the Blue Jackets to some capacity. and they obviously are, you know, I’m very grateful and thankful that uh they’re allowing me to have this night for myself and my family that I think my family are the ones that deserve it the most. They put up with me through a lot and um you know, they deserve this more than I do. So, it’s uh truly humbling and I cannot wait to get off the ice so I can have a maybe a cocktail or two. Far back. Dave Holmes, Channel 6. And Cam, I love hearing East Coast guys sometimes talk about Midwest life. And I’m curious, you mentioned the fifth line. Is there an illustration, a story, something maybe out in public with fans that you could share that made you feel appreciated by this community? Oh man, I mean, there’s so many different experiences that I’ve had with the with the fifth line and and uh maybe not so much them embracing me, but me embracing them and and and showing my apprec appreciation for them. And um you know during playoffs I remember I was with my dad and uh we were I was living downtown at the time and we were walking from downtown uh condominions to go eat somewhere in um uh on High Street and fans were parked outside uh this was the night before a playoff game I think one of our home opener or not home but one of the first playoff games here and uh they were camped out here and so I’m like you know maybe I can it was his idea at the time but um it was Nat Sorry. It was my wife. It’s my wife. I don’t want to get in trouble here. It was my wife’s idea. Um, usually always is, you know. Smart man. Yeah. Um, and she was she was like, uh, why don’t you get their tickets for them? And, you know, um, that’s just one way of me showing my appreciation for the fans. And, um, you know, they they deserve it. They deserve to get into the game and and watch and uh hopefully those fans enjoy themselves. Go ahead. Brian Gon in the back. Cam, with your kids being the ages that they are, how will you try to relate your career to them since they obviously didn’t see it. What do you want them to know about you as a player? What do they What do you want them to know about your career in the National Hockey League? Yeah, you know what? Thank God for YouTube, right? because uh the good YouTube part, not uh the uh you know they they I’m coaching both boys um at the battery and actually we just got back from our second tournament with Declan. It’s his first year of travel hockey and um I’m undefeated, Don. So I won two championships um in case you’re looking for a coach. But uh you know what? I just I want them to know how hard I worked and uh nothing was ever given to me and and never take a day for granted and uh prove people wrong and you know there’s always going to be negative people that come into your life and on especially now as nowadays with social media and um you know just hopefully they’re proud of me and they have no problem uh they have no problem with the clout and and being like you know who my dad is and what he’s done and then as soon as I start coaching Declan he’s like don’t talk to me I don’t want you to tell me anything. I’m like, well, so I’m like, Jesus Christ. Uh, but no, just hard work and dedication and and and loyalty and family is the most important thing. All right, great. Thanks everybody. Hey Bobby, I got two words for you. Game over. Thank Congratulations. Congratulations everybody.

Cam Atkinson meets with the media to sign his one-day contract before being honored at tonight’s game as he takes the final lap of his NHL career!