Sounds of the Thrashers during Olympic coverage

Aug 18 2008

Published by bud006 at 9:50 am under Thrashers Analysis Edit This

By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com

A little sound of the Thrashers on the Olympic soccer coverage this morning.

JP Dellacamera, the Thrashers’ play-by-play man for TV broadcasts, called the two women’s soccer semifinals on MSNBC today. And, I have to admit – cruel as it may be – that every time somebody scored and I heard JP make the call, I looked at my TV thinking I’d see Kari Lehtonen sprawled out in the crease and a couple of Thrashers’ defenders standing around staring off into space.

One person who it doesn’t appear will be manning the Atlanta blueline this season is Russian national team defender Ilya Nikulin. Published reports earlier this offseason speculated the 6-foot-3 defender was ready to leave Russia to play for the Thrashers, but recent news from Russia indicates Nikulin will spend this season playing over there as opposed to over here.

Nikulin definitely would upgrade an Atlanta defense that ranked last in the NHL last season in goals allowed and shots allowed. Doesn’t look like he’ll be here, though.

A final note on Dellacamera’s call of the Beijing Games: How fitting was it that a goal was scored for Team USA today by Lori Chalupny? Why, you ask? She wears No. 17, and we’ve heard plenty of goal calls from JP when a certain other No. 17 lights the lamp.