Heading to Fort Meyers is usually a prefered destination for those looking for a nice little
budget Florida pit-stop on their way to Miami.
Sure it's a short drive to Naples and you usually jump on the '75 through the Everglades on your way to Miami or Key West.
But while you're stopping in Fort Meyers, don't miss Estero river, Estero bay, and if the beauty of the little enclave hasn't charmed you yet, you'll be happy to know that in this small 18 000 soul town, Germain arena hosts the ECHL's Florida Everblades.
Beautiful blue water and hockey.
And the 20th pick of the 2006 NHL Draft.
The last time I picked up David Fischer's trace was training camp 2010, the jersey wasn't quite the one I expected to see him wear come late Summer, the Canucks had invited him to tryout with their rookie squad, he wasn't retained and shortly after, his agent got on the phone and looked for a place his client could rebuild a career battered by unfulfilled expectations.
Now granted, the 2006 draft past the 20th pick will always remind Habs fans they could have had Claude Giroux, towering centerman Patrik Berglund, but beyond the obvious benefit of hindsight the story and career of David Fischer didn't stop once he knew the CH crest wasn't in his future.
Coach Greg Poss of the Florida Everblades saw in the young defenceman a toolset he could use and after a short meeting with team president Craig Brush decided to give the kid a shot.
David Fischer finished his first ECHL campaign with 29 points in 64 games, 4 points less than team leader Bob Raymond in 8 less games, an output which quickly made him a strong core member on the team's leadership committee.
A strength he found by witnessing his mother's recurring battle with Cancer, per a teammate with the Everblades.
'' I think that Fischer had allot of worry about things that were out of his control, his mom's illness probably put him at peace with the unpredictable values of life ''
Fischer sees his stint with the Everblades as part of his growing into an NHL defenceman and his entry into Pro-Hockey has definitly been a succesful one.
At season's end Craig Brush added Fischer's name to the list of protected players ECHL team's submit, a sign they want to get Fischer back for an additional season.
Per coach Poss
'' You spend enough time around the minor league system and you quickly spot out the talent, this kid has the talent and the attitude it takes to make it to the next level, he loves the game and knows what it takes to meet expectations. He can't change the past, but he's got the moment and he'll turn out just fine. ''
