There are always a hundred different directions for me to take these posts. I try to keep them simple with something that I find interesting or that isn't getting much attention. I don't want the popular stories. I wasn't sure where to take this today. Then I saw a simple post made by the Abbotsford Heat. Dean Arsene retired.
To many it isn't a big deal. Another player retiring. Certain players resonate with me. Dean Arsene was one of those guys. The picture above is from Elite Prospects, a great hockey website for people looking for any type of information on players or teams. I've been with them for four hockey seasons now. Next year will be my 5th season as the AHL update guy. I don't update transactions, transfers or recalls. There are a few reasons. One is that I just don't have that kind of time. Two, they happen so frequently I could never keep up. Lastly, with people spread across the globe somebody almost always will have it posted within minutes of hearing the news. I heard about this early this afternoon. I posted and confirmed his retirement at 10:03 tonight. According to my log sheet the last transaction I posted on the site was July 6th, 2011. Somebody saved this one for me.
Arsene was a defenseman. He was never drafted coming from the WHL. He wasn't going to score you a lot of goals. He was there to play defense and make you miserable and maybe get in a scrap or two or ten. His career started in the ECHL in 2001. I wasn't really following the league at the time to the extent I do now. The next season though he played in the AHL for Hartford. Now he was on my radar. In 50 games he had a goal and 94 penalty minutes. Again, nothing that stands out. It was his next move that proved to be a game changer.
Arsene moved on the following season to join the Hershey Bears. He ended up spending most of his time as a steady piece on the back end for the Reading Royals of the ECHL which included a deep playoff run. By 2004-05 Arsene had earned himself a full time gig in the AHL. Not only was he in the AHL, on one of the best teams playing in the loudest arena, but also now playing against better talents with the NHL lockout lasting all season. Arsene ended the season with 140 penalty minutes and 14 fights. His role increased even more the following season. He played in a career high 68 games racking up 181 penalty minutes and helping the team win the Calder Cup.
Arsene returned to Hershey once again the next season. It was now his third full season and fourth overall playing with Hershey. The guy who was never drafted was named captain of arguably one of the best hockey franchises in North America. He didn't disappoint. He set career highs in points with 15 and penalty minutes with 187. More importantly he was a big player in the community and quickly becoming a fan favorite. His hard-nosed style caused frequent injuries and his next season with Hershey saw him in only 14 games. That didn't stop him from having a dominating presence. He often sat in with announcer John Walton as his analyst generally speaking his mind about the game and other players with very little filter. He was back in Hershey yet again the next season now his 6th straight. While injuries still kept his game appearances low he once again proved a valuable piece come playoff time playing in 22 games and helping Hershey win another Calder Cup.
While prospects and players around him continued to progress to the next level or receive a call-up, Arsene had yet to reach the NHL. Part of it had to do with the organization. Hershey was a breeding ground for talent especially at the time that Arsene played. Sometimes going back and looking at some of these names can even be fun for me.
Just on defense - Brett Clark was captain in Arsene's first year. He played the next seven seasons in the NHL and three times played in all 82 games. A guy named Johnny Boychuk played in every game that season for Hershey. Too bad Colorado eventually traded him after continually keeping him in the AHL. Then came along Mike Green, John Carlson and Karl Alzner.
Arsene knew the depth and talent in front of him. He had worked his ass off to this point just to be a two-time AHL champion. If he wanted to reach his goal he knew he had to make a change. There is no way it came to him easily after all he had done and accomplished in Hershey, but Arsene decided his best chance to make it to the NHL was to go somewhere else. Going for the dream he chose a team he knew would have availability in a struggling Edmonton Oilers squad. He started the season in the AHL with Springfield as the captain in his first season. As the season progressed and Edmonton's struggles and shaky defense continued, Arsene got the call. And don't think people in Hershey weren't ecstatic to hear about it. Arsene ended up playing in 13 games with Edmonton and picked up 41 penalty minutes including three fights and a misconduct.
Those would be the only NHL games he would play. He ended up going to the St. Louis Blues organization the next year. Again he was the captain right away. He played in all but three games and continued his tough style. He left again after one season this time to a struggling Phoenix organization, but played the whole season in the AHL. He departed again after one season to the newly formed Winnipeg organization but once again found himself stuck in the AHL.
For the 5th season in a row after leaving Hershey he changed organizations this season. He landed in Abbotsford, his hometown, to play for the minor league affiliate for Calgary. Once again he found himself wearing the "C" on his sweater. He played in another 42 AHL games.
At some point the body starts to give. Arsene was the kind of guy you really wanted on your team. There was no lack of passion or drive. His leadership was undeniable. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a guy become the captain of a team in his first season three different times in five seasons. Everything Arsene got he worked for in his career. He deserved those NHL games and got them because others also recognized. Even though he bounced around looking for that second chance at NHL glory I'd like to think a piece of Dean never left Hershey. In the game today you probably won't see another guy play that many seasons in a row for one AHL team.
I'm not sure what the next chapter for Arsene holds. Maybe hockey isn't even a part of it. I'd like to think he would make a good coach especially on a lower level because he knows what it takes to get to the top when you aren't blessed with all the talent in the world. Part of me thinks if his interest is to return to hockey it will be with Hershey. Guess we will find out. The town would be thrilled to have him back.
QUICK SIDE NOTE:
As I blabbered on it was made official that the team from Abbotsford, who happened to be the last team Arsene captained, will indeed be relocated to Glens Falls. Good for them. One team leaves and another takes their place.
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