Trio trying to be NHL teammates

RALEIGH -- Casey Borer, Brett Carson and Bryan Rodney have much in common.

All three are defensemen, in their mid-20s, who have gotten a taste of the NHL and want more. All hope to win a spot on the Carolina Hurricanes' roster this season in what promises to be a highly competitive training camp.

And there's another bond: All three were on the Albany River Rats team bus that snowy February night in 2009 when their world was turned upside down and lives were changed.

The bus skidded off an icy Massachusetts highway returning from a game, flipping on its side and sending everyone tumbling. Carson and Rodney suffered bumps and cuts but generally were unscathed. Borer suffered a broken neck that twice required surgery and extensive rehabilitation, leaving his career in jeopardy.

"But now," Borer said Wednesday, "there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

This week, Borer, 25, has been at the RecZone sports complex going through the Canes' informal workouts, working hard, enjoying it all.

"I'm here, I'm involved," he said. "I'm excited about it, to be honest with you. Just trying to move forward."

While there still is soreness in his neck and shoulders, he has long since passed a physical and psychological hurdle - his first jolting hit.

"Got it on my second shift back," he said.

Returning to the River Rats' lineup almost a year after the crash, Borer was banged hard along the boards in the American Hockey League game. There was some whiplash but nothing else. In a flash, there was nothing more to fear.

"I got ripped, and I lived," Borer said, smiling. "I had no repercussions. It was good to get that done."

Borer went on to play 36 regular-season and playoff games for the Rats, then the Canes' AHL affiliate. He also was recalled and played two April games for the Canes, the 15th and 16th NHL games of his career.

"It's been interesting," he said. "There have been points of disappointment, of not knowing if you can play again. There were months of not doing anything.

"After I played my first game, there was a flashlight at the end of the tunnel. Now maybe it's a little bigger. But it's one thing to say you're cleared to play and another to be comfortable playing and believe it's the right thing to do."

While Borer was making a comeback last season, Carson and Rodney had their chances with the Canes. Carson, 24, became something of a regular, playing 54 games and finishing plus-5 in the plus/minus rating.

"I think I showed I can play consistently and play some decent minutes," Carson said.

Rodney, 26, was in the lineup for 22 games while spending much of the season with the Rats.

All three now recognize the equal opportunity in front of them. No longer are such veteran defensemen as Niclas Wallin, Andrew Alberts, Aaron Ward or Brian Pothier around, taking up roster spots.

"We've got some younger guys coming in, still trying to prove they belong full time in the NHL," Carson said. "We're going to push each other and have fun with it."

Carson believes he belongs. So does Rodney, who said, "I think I've been ready for a couple of years."

And Rodney and Carson can't help but pull for Borer, who was signed to a one-year contract in July.

"He's a tireless worker," Rodney said. "It's hard, especially when the injury was away from the rink. I think he's shown signs so far this week that he's back to where he was when he was a high prospect in the NHL."

That's what Borer had set out to do: show he's NHL worthy.

"Obviously, I wouldn't have gone through all that not to try and get back to the NHL," he said. "Obviously, that's the goal in mind, but you have to take baby steps. Just get through training camp without an injury and go from there.

"As I said, I'm pretty excited."