Eagles' Nest

A blog dedicated to the Colorado Eagles and the ECHL

[thomas-mercury]

October is over

The first month of the regular season has come to an end and the Eagles find themselves in the middle of the Western conference pack, 5th in the West, 3rd in the Mountain division.

After losing all three of the preseason games the Eagles have traded wins with each of their opponents, Colorado has not won or lost any consecutive games yet in the young ECHL season.  It has been obvious by stats, scores and watching games that the Eagles are no longer the powerhouse club that they used to be in the Central Hockey League, as expected, despite the influx of improved talent including NHL prospects from the St. John's Ice Caps. 

Some of the pleasant surprises have been the productive duo of Jack Combs and Chad Costello, the team leading scorers for the Tulsa Oilers last season continue to be the team leading scorers for the Eagles this season. C&C combined for 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) of Colorado's total 69 points, exactly one-third of team scoring.  Underrated is Aaron Slattengren, the third man on the line.  Slattengren has been a productive play maker and has contributed 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) of his own.  His specialty seem seems to be getting control of loose pucks and great in tight areas.

Kudos to Aaron Schneekloth for once and always remaining the team leader in plus/minus.  Schneeks is the second leading defenseman in scoring for Colorado, behind Jon Landry.

Expectations have been higher for Riley Nelson, AHL assignee Akim Aliu and Kyle Peto.  Nelson started the season slow and has only recorded 5 points and has 12 penalty minutes, among the highest on the team.  He hasn't played poorly, in fact he is on a three game scoring streak, and still exemplifies leadership on and off the ice.

Aliu has not really had a lot of time to adjust or impress, but from the few games that I have seen at home he appears to be a naturally talented athlete, but has spouts of laziness and lack of work ethic. I wonder how long that will last with head coach Chris Stewart who has preached hard work ethic from the beginning of training camp.

Peto, like Nelson, has not played bad, and he is a defenseman, so he is not counted on to produce offense.  But ZERO points and even +/-? He is better than that, last season he contributed 54 points (47 assists). If the Eagles can see anything close to that again from Peto, a few more wins may be in their future.

Mike Garman had failed to impress Stewart and the Eagles' front office since the Cornell graduate has officially  been released.  In the regular season Garman got the nod twice, letting in five goals in his first game and four through the second game.  The Eagles are now returning the Eagles to the goal tending duo of Kyle Jones and Penner that backstopped the team to second overall in the CHL last season, with new addition Chris Carrozzi (has yet to play an Eagles game)

There has been some reassignment action.  Jake Marto has been called up to the AHL St. John's Ice Caps. Marto, defenseman, had three assists and a +1, good enough to be the top scorer for the Eagles. His strength is sound positioning and playing the body well with his 6'3" and 200lbs. frame. While Carrozzi and Tommy Maxwell have been reassigned to the NoCo squad. Carrozzi was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 6th round, #154 overall. Maxwell has 99 ECHL games and 151 AHL games on his resume.

[thomas-mercury]

Fighting in hockey: Alex Penner

Alex "Weapon X" Penner, defenseman

On his role on the Colorado Eagles roster: “I personally enjoy my role.  I like it a lot. I’m personally just a type of person who likes fighting and likes getting into a hand-in-hand combat with a fellow man.  If I wasn’t doing it in hockey, I think I’d do it as a past time off on my own, even if I had a desk job, I think maybe I’d be doing it just to relieve some stress.  As far as hockey, I think it’s a great aspect of the game. Because personally my look at it is you have some guys out there that run around and they can hit and they can take advantage of smaller guys, even smaller guys are out there and they could be doing cheap things, spearing, high sticking and what not.  You just need someone out there to patrol, they use the old model 'police.' And just make sure everything is intact.  We’re not going out there trying to kill people, we might try to make a big hit to hurt someone or when we get into a fight, yeah, we might try to hurt each other.  But we just want to make sure that things safe out there and still going hard.”

On why he fights: “Some of the reasons are just sometimes players are just taking liberties or going over the boundaries on you skilled players.  And some of the other reasons are you just kind of want to kick start the emotion on your team, if your team is kind of flat-lined or not playing well or not skating or not hitting or something.  Sometimes they need something to kick-start the emotion and fellow teammates out there and sometimes just to get the crowd into it.  So there are multiple reasons why, sometimes you’re just not having a good game and feel like you just need to go out there and relieve some stress.  For the most part its just to get things going, trying to get the emotion and energy back into the game.”

On other fighters and enforcers: “I’ve known of some people that they just don’t like each other and they’ve always fought. But the funny thing is that with a lot of enforcers around the league and in other leagues up to the NHL, you become friends.  You run into each other and fight each other so many times and a lot of the enforcers are actually nice, true people right down to the heart.”

On the difference in fighting between leagues: “It’s the same concept, hockey is hockey no matter where you go.  You’re always trying to put the puck in the net and you’re always trying to win, find any way necessary to win.”

On his new mohawk: “I always get bored and like doing new stuff. I really enjoy my tattoos that I have on my head so might as well let them buck. But I’ve always tried to represent or emulate hairstyles from my favorite band. Panterra, the lead singer Phil Anselmo. I like Pantera and their lead singer he has cool hairstyles. That's why I got the tattoos, cause if him too.”

On his image in Northern Colorado: “I work with my image. I think everyone has an image. I'm proud of who I am and I don't have a problem showing it. Cause people might look at me and be intimidated but deep down I’m a nice guy, I just get pissed off and like to take care of business.”

[thomas-mercury]

Fighting in hockey: Ralph Backstrom

Ralph Backstrom, Founder

On fighting in hockey (general): “Well it happens, it’s a physical game.  A lot of times a fight will start when someone inadvertently is slashed or high sticked or something, which will result in tow guys going at it, but in most instances, probably in the high 90’s nobody really ever gets hurt.  You may the odd bloody nose but you get two combatants out there of equal size that are ready to throw some punches, very, very seldom do you ever see any body hurt in a fight like that because they both know how to fight, but they also know how avoid getting hit. It avoids a lot of frustration and I think sometimes a good battle between two players that are let go will set the tone for the rest of the game. But I have mixed emotions about it, I think in some ways its part of the game and will always be a part of the game.  I’ve been a part of the game for over 50 years and I’ve seen a lot of things happen out there.”

On the strategy of fighting: “Where it all started is you’ll get some of your talented players, and a lot of times they are smaller players, the opposing coach will tell their team to hit them as many times as you possibly can to slow them down.  And that resulted in the other coach saying we can let these big guys run our little guys so you take care of them. And you may not come out and say it but what they’ll do is say in such a manner that’s what one of the tougher guy on your bench is designated to do.”

On the difference between the NCAA and the ECHL: “Keep in mind that college you where full face gear. There’s really not much sense in fighting, if you want to break your hand, sure, punch somebody in the mouth with your fist.  But the NCAA frowns on fighting and it’s a good rule.  But when you take that next step up things do happen.  And the tougher guys on your team feel they have an obligation to protect your smaller, more talented players on your team. It’s a vicious circle, but that’s the way it is.”

[thomas-mercury]

Fighting in hockey: Kevin McGlue

Kevin McGlue, Voice of the Eagles

On the entertainment value of fighting: “When you look at hockey there’s only a few things that are guaranteed a fan out of their seat, one of them is a goal and the other is a fight.  There is no question the fans, for the most part, by and large can endorse fighting.  It’s a necessity, I think, in the game. I know there’s people that want to get it out of the game and I don’t know if that makes up a very large contingent of the hockey operation. I think you need it in the game, I think it keeps the entirety of the team safer by having that out there.  It’s something that can hang around as far as taking a run at some of your feature players and top-flight guys. Having that threat that’s out there and having that reality of it, I think, keeps guys safer on the ice. It certainly is entertainment, people like it, there’s people who come to the games where the one thing they want to see is a fight.”

On hurting players on own team and opposing team: “I think overall, when you look at the scrums, if you took fighting out, you’re still going to have the scrums, there’s no question about that. When it comes to the actual fight, for the most part, by and large, you’re only going to have certain guys who are going to get involved with that.  But, if you take a run at someone’s top-flight type of guy, you’re going to get hurt, and that’s going to happen. I think it keeps a lot of that out.  It keeps guys from getting boarded and it keeps guys from getting run and it keeps guys from injury that’s going to keep them out for long periods of time.  I think its not only entertainment factor, I think its not overly a safety factor. People don’t recognize that, all they see is two guys fighting it out, they don’t realize what’s going on in the big picture sometimes.”

On the team mentality, how 'skilled players' appreciate the enforcers: “Absolutely, whether you’re a young guy or a forty goal-scorer, you’re not going to have to bail out on certain situations.  You’re going to be able skate a little more freely, you’re going to be able to get closer to the net to do what it is that you do, and that’s put the puck in the net, knowing that nobody is going to take liberties with you and they are going to pay the price if they do.”

On the route to the NHL as an enforcer: “When you think about it, sometimes one of the quickest ways up the ladder to the NHL from a like this would be to be an enforcer. You don’t necessarily have to be the most skilled hockey player.  If you can skate, and you can contribute a little offensively, but you can be a dominant enforcer, sometimes that can be quickest, fastest way to the NHL. “

On the difference in fighting between minor leagues and major leagues: “I think that, especially in the ECHL so much now is build on speed and talent, everybody’s got speed. You can’t have too much of your team comprised of players that are just there to serve that roll.  You got to have guys that contribute offensively, defensively and all around talented players.”

[thomas-mercury]

Eagles still finding identity

This blog will mostly be a list of observations and speculations from me. Here are some notes on last night's game (Oct. 7) against the Las Vegas Wranglers, a team Colorado will see 13 times this season and potential conference rivals.

Colorado had some very well set up systems on the ice, especially early in the game.  It was evident to me that they have been practicing and learning systems in all three zones. That's not such a bad thing, especially when trying to cultivate chemistry with so many guys who have never played together before. That includes an influx of four new players that ha reassignments announced from AHL clubs earlier that day.

Chemistry was also noteworthy. Once the systems were broken up the team looked to be scrambling.  Players don't know their teammates styles and tendencies, so forechecks, odd man rushes and defensive zone coverage looked out of sync.

I suspect that when these players get a feel for each other, they will gel nicely.  There is no question the amount of individual talent this team boasts, but as Coach Stewart stresses, this is still a team game and hard working teams win championships, not hard working individuals.

One line that really seemed to click was the "third line" of Troy Ofukany, Patrick Cey and Pat Knowlton.  That line combined for the first two Eagles goals.  Both of the goals looked prototypical of a grinding line, hard shots from low spots and netting loose rebounds.  Outside of the score sheet, this line connected the most passes and broke up the most plays, that I noticed.

One thing that Eagles fans will be happy about is that the level of physicality will not be diminished in the ECHL.  This to me is a little bittersweet at the moment.  On one hand, I love that the Eagles are staying physical and grinding, that is one trait that has been dominate of the club through all of their successful seasons in the CHL.  Yet on the other hand, they have taken 24 penalties in just three games. Physicality is important and necessary but they need to learn to do it cleanly. 

The penalty kill has been pretty darn good, they were 16 for 18 in the first two games, and went 4 for 6 in last night's game.  But that's a pace I think they'd like to see less tested.

Speaking of special teams, has any one noticed the Eagles have yet to score a power play goal? I could only assume that question marks are being raised here.

Finally this is still the preseason and nothing that has happened so far means squat. But now NoCo fans have gotten a chance get a glimpse of their team and taste of ECHL level of play. Expectations are still high for this organization, from inside and outside.  Colorado stayed competitive with Alaska (2011 league champs) in their first game an against the Wrangler's.

[thomas-mercury]

Preseason Speculations

Eagles' ECHL debut tonight! It should be an interesting road trip tonight and tomorrow in Alaska. 

Speculation 1: I think the Eagles will play one goalie through one game for all three preseason games.  My guess is either Andrew Penner or Mike Garman will take the ice tonight; and whoever doesn't play tonight will probably play tomorrow. I think since head coach Chris Stewart and Andrew Penner have spent the past few seasons together, they each have realistic expectations of each other.  And the Eagles want to see how Penner will do against one of the best ECHL teams in a relatively low pressure game.  Penner proved he could handle pressure with an 8-3-1 record.  Also, they might want to see how Garman plays in a similar situation against the same team in the same arena.  These two games could dictate which of the two of them make the team. We can basically assume Kyle Jones has a stable job after his performance last season when he took the spot between the pipes in 43 games.

Speculation 2: The four veterans will all be returning players Riley Nelson, Steve Haddon, Aaron Schneekloth and Jason Beatty. That leaves Rhett Gordon out of the loop.  I could be wrong, since Gordon has a great run in Germany's top leagues. I know it has been repeated several times that Stewart has not guaranteed anyone a roster spot, but its hard for me to imagine that any one of the those fan favorites will have to find a new home this season.  If Gordon does beat out one of them, then he will have big shoes to fill and high expectations.

Speculation 3: Colorado will do better than most people expect.  They won't dominate the league like they are used to, since their inauguration in 2003/04.  But they will be competitive with the best of them. I predict they will finish 3rd in the Western Conference, behind the Alaska Aces (in the same Mountain division) and the Bakersfield Condors of the Pacific division.  The Eagles are bringing some of the best CHL talent with them.  Elite scorers Nelson, Combs and Costello. Shutdown defensemen like Schneekloth and Beatty. Offensive defensemen like Kyle Peto and Slattengren. And great netminder Jones.

12 of the 26 players on the preseason roster have previous ECHL experience from 1 game to 149 games. This roster of 26 players has a total of 773 ECHL games.  Below is the list of 26 roster players followed by their number of ECHL games.

Patrick Cey (0), Adam Chorneyko (0), Jack Combs (60), Chad Costello (2), Rhett Gordon (0), Steve Haddon (0), A.J. Hau (0), Andrew Howes (0), Liam Huculak (108), Patrick Knowlton (9), Anthony Maiani (1), Riley Nelson (0), Troy Ofukany (0), Alex Penner (38), Nic Polaski (0), Shawn Prouix (0), Brad Hau (0), Jason Beatty (0), Matt Duffy (110), Jon Landry (2), Kyle Peto (112), Aaron Schneekloth (50), Aarron Slattengren (149), Mike Garman (0), Kyle Jones (32), Andrew Penner (100)

[thomas-mercury]

The Eagles and the Monsters

The Colorado Avalanche have recently reassigned four more players from the big club to their AHL affiliate the Lake Erie Monsters.  Those players were Tyson Barrie, Brad Malone, Patrick Bordeleau, and Trevor Cann. And they still need to cut four more players before Oct. 8 season opener against the Detroit Red Wings.

This means that Colorado Eagles (of the ECHL) will most likely see forward Chad Costello return during preseason.  He has been in Lake Erie for all of training camp and two preseason games, in which he has recorded one assist. Likely, he will be back in town for the Eagles' final preseason game at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colo. on Oct. 7th against the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Costello played last season with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey league, and was called-up to play eight games with the Monsters. Costello led the team in scoring in the regular season with 84 points (34 goals, 50 assists) in the regular season.  Then he continued a masterful season into the playoffs where he also led the team in scoring with nearly 2 points per game average (19 points in 10 games).

The Eagles signed Costello in the off season along with Jack Combs, the #2 scorer for the Oilers last season in both the regular (40-42-82) and post season (3-7-10).  This dynamite tandem will bring some of the best offensive talent from the CHL into the ECHL, and Colorado will gladly accept their services, I'm sure.

Check out my regular site for Eagles news and reports on Examiner.com

and follow me on Twitter for musings and speculations

[thomas-mercury]

Is Weapon X the catalyst?

Welcome back Eagle's fans,

Tonight is the first game back from the All-Star break (the CHL All-Stars beat the host Rapid City Rush 11-6) and the first game of the second half of the regular season.

COL is (18-11-2) and Odessa Jackalopes are (17-14-3)

The season series for COL vs ODE is (2-0-1).

During the break the Eagles re-signed Alex Penner and he will once again play under the same banner as his brother, netminder Andrew Penner.  The heavyweight fighter is here to fill a void that has been missing since Fraser "Flippy" Filipic decided to hang up the skates.  In the off season Colorado signed tough-guy Brad MacMillian, but he never got a real chance to showcase his talents due to a "Slapshot"-like brawl in the preseason and was consequently suspended for 22-games.  Another big-man from the Eagles' roster was Mike Sgroi, who coming into the season had over 2,000 career PIM and countless fights, but made little impression in Eagles' Country (he is with the Texas Brahmas now).  And Mario Joly had a short stint with the team, starting with last season that was cut short due to off-ice issues. 

That is just a quick overview to the lack of stable enforcer power on which the Eagles thrive.  It has been missing and it shows.  The Eagles have historically used that physical presences as a tool to their advantage and they excel when an enforcer is in full force.

So the real question is can Penner put the punch back into the "recharged" Ealges? I think he can... with some guidance from bench boss Chris Stewart. Penner not only needs to be responsible with his throwing around his weight (and his fists), but also needs to occasionally input offensively.  Jason Beatty and Brett Thurston have been excellent at this balance.

If Penner succeeds and takes control of the role player of enforcer then I think we will see the Eagles flourish and regain the Governor's Cup (division champs) down the stretch in the tight Turner Conference.  Only two points separate the first place Rapid City Rush and the fifth place Quad City Mallards and six points between RPD and seventh place Wichita Thunder.

[thomas-mercury]

Oilers must win? Expectations on Eagles

Tonight the Colorado Eagles take on visiting Tulsa Oilers.  Going into the action the Turner Conference first place Eagles are running an eight game winning streak in their first nine games, while the Tulsa Oilers are looking for light after dropping eight straight games since winning their first two games of the season (bot against Wichita Thunder).

Though the Oilers are in the basement of the Berry Conference, they have been competitive in most of the games, aside from the schalaking they received in an 8-0 loss to Wichita. They have played seven games on the road, and only three at home.  Looking forward they are looking at first place Colorado and defending champions Rapid City Rush on the road and return home to play the Allen Americans who hold first place in the Berry Conference.  ouch. If they don't steal at least two points in their next three games they will have a VERY difficult time making it into playoff contention, bar any miracles.

In Tulsa's last meeting with the Eagles they played a tight defensive game keeping the Eagles to two goals on the night, including a heroic last second by Steve Haddon to cap the victory before the Oilers could secure at least a point.  Tulsa's point producers are spread out between Chad Costello, Harrison Reed and Jack Combs each with four goals.

Colorado is expected to win this game, anything less in a disappointment to Eagles' country. The scoring is hot all around for them, from captain Riley Nelson to newcomer Scott May and all in between they firepower from the sky is undeniable.  And what else can you say about the stone walls between the pipes? Kyle Jones is undefeated in four starts holds the league best in GAA ( 1.77) and SV% (.943) and Andrew Penner is still a fan favorite and holding his own with a record of 3-0 in his last three games and has a 2.95 GAA and .911 SV%

[thomas-mercury]

Millitary Appreciation Night

Tonight the Budweiser Event Center will have an illuminate atmosphere as the Colorado Eagles dedicate tonight's game against the defending champs Rapid City Rush. In support, many regular season ticket holders have donated their seats to military families.

The Eagles are flying high on a league high 7 game winning streak since dropping their season opener to the Arizona Sundogs.  While 2009-10 Ray Miron Champions have opened their season at .500 (4-4-0). These two clubs have faced-of twice this season and will see each other nine more times before the post-season.

It should be an exciting game where the Rush have seemingly more to prove and will come out guns blazing, but in the Eagle's corner the home ice advantage may provide a little extra boost should the game get tight in the closing minutes.

Colorado has been dominating the opposition net outscoring their opponents 32-20 on the season. As always, Eagle's captain Riley Nelson has had a hot stick netting 5g 9a and 14p in all 8 games on the season.  But new name to the roster, Scott May has been a key contributor in the offensive category, with 8 goals, tied for most in the league (he has even tossed in a hat trick in Colorado's first game against Rapid City). 

The Eagles have also found more stability in net this season. With Andrew Penner back to being focused on winning after shaking off a rocky season opener.  He is 3-1-0 and has a 2.96 GAA (goals against average) and .911 SPCT (save percentage) in his last three games.  He is complemented by newcomer Kyle Jones who is 4-0-0 and has the CHL lead in GAA (1.50) SPCT (.948) and record.  He has been a welcomed presences behind the Northern Colorado hockey club. 

Despite the average record, Rapid City has a lot to boast.  The league best power play that is 31.4 percent effective.  This season Brendon Hodge his hot, finding himself on the score sheet in all eight of his games this year (1g, 9a, 10p).  Never count out any team in this league, especially a team as potent as the Rush.

[thomas-mercury]

CHL preview: Evansville IceMen (EVN)

LAST SEASON -

The 2010 All-American Hockey League Davidson Cup Champions will be their third season of professional hockey. And after the union of the Central Hockey League and International Hockey League, the 2010-11 CHL season will have three defending champions (Evansville IceMen of AAHL, Rapid City Rush of CHL, Fort Wayne Komets of IHL). Evansville purchased the rights to the former Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL franchise. The Lumberjacks have established a new "Junior-A" team in the United States Hockey League. The Lumberjacks franchise brings 50 years of Muskegon pro hockey history.  

FORWARDS -

Aaron Naphan #10 - Naphan was the team MVP (as voted by the players), and Fan Favorite award (the vote for which was conducted online). His 30 assists was the most for all IceMen, a complemented with his 17 goals made him the team scoring leader at 47 points. In addition, he had the most power play goals (4) and penalty minutes (103) for his squad. 

Jon Esposito #18 - The effective forward scored 24 goals, tops for Evansville. Ability to read the play and get into position gives him the ability to find the back of the net. He'll need to continue to get faster and stronger to keep up with the likes of CHL and IHL tough guys who let him ve so comfortable in front of the net.

T.J. Schneider #22 - In 28 games, he netted 16 goals and assisted 19. The forward averaged 1.25 points per game in the 2009-10 season.  

DEFENSIVE -

Tim Recio #26 - The D-man holds the honor of Best Defensive Player for the IceMen. The  defensive defenseman is the kind of guy that goalies appreciate to have in front of them. Though Recio plays a tough game, he is a clean player, staying out of the sin bin.

Shane Heffernan #42 - The four-year veteran is rumored to be moving to Norway and the European leagues. Hefferman will a great asset to Evansville if he stayed and led the team into the CHL. Not only was he the team's leading scoring defenseman, but he was also second in scoring on the team. He netted 19 goals and had 26 assists in his 25 games split between three teams.

GOALIE -

John Dorman - The AAHL Goaltender of the Year had an outstanding post season where he won 7 of his 9 games on his way to winning the AAHL Davidson Cup Championship. His post-season .928 SV% and 2.87 GAA were key reasons for Evansville's victory. Dorman will need to be this good all season in the CHL for his team to be highly competitive in 2010-11.

ACQUISITIONS -

No acquisitions

2010-11 OUTLOOK -

The new team in the CHL is hard to predict how they will do. They will have stiffer competition, and the players have to step up their game. Their confidence of a AAHL Championship should inspire them to work hard and strive to establish themselves in a new league.

sources: http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/ and http://centralhockeyleague.com/ and http://pointstreak.com/ and http://hockeydb.com/

[thomas-mercury]

Dayton Gems (DAY)

LAST SEASON - The Dayton Gems had a rough time last season on their way to last place in the International Hockey League in 2009-10 with a record of 25-46-4. Last season the Gems finished at the wrong end of almost every category in the league. Dayton has some rookies that they will be expecting to grow and put up solid number. And they have been proactive this offseason when they added some firepower and a new head coach in hopes of turning things around.

FORWARDS -

Mike Vaskivuo #55 - In 2009-10 Vaskivuo ranked third among all rookies in goals with 25. Six of those were game winning goals, also tops for rookies. He was the team leading scorer with his 49-point season. There will be high expectations and pressure to be a leader of a team moving into a better league and a bigger stage.

Jonathan Ornelas #19 - Also a rookie, finished the 2009-10 season as the second leading goal-scorer on the Gems roster with 22 goals and tied for second in points with 43. Ornelas will also have a load to bare as he and Vaskivuo will have to lead the charge in this team's turn around.

Brett Lutes #xx - The Dayton Gems made a splash when they signed Lutes. The solid forward earned 50 points (16g, 34a) in his 54 games last season with the Colorado Eagles and was a +20. Lutes brings with him playoff experience and a winning attitude. The veteran can be a vital presence in the Dayton locker room

DEFENSEMEN -

Greg Labenski #27 - The 13-year veteran is going to return for his second season with the Gems. He led all Dayton's blue liners in scoring with five goals and 22 assists in his 71 games played. His experience and hockey sense will be a great asset to the Gems, especially to the rookies and second-year players.

Russ Smith #11 -The enforcer bounced around last season. He started the season with the Bloomington Thunder and then had a 25 game stint with the Muskegon Lumberjacks before finishing out the 2009-10 season with the Gems. Between all three teams he played 73 games and had the second most time in the penalty box with 233 PIMs. His physical play on the boards and in front of his net keeps opposing players in their toes and doesn't allow them to get comfortable.

GOALIE -

Derek MacIntyre #37 - Last season, he proved to be the workhorse of the league. MacIntyre played 53 games and led all goalies in minutes played (3059:18) and had the most saves (1570). He ended the season with 3.41 GAA and a respectable .900 SV%, not to mention three shutouts.

ACQUISITIONS -

Brett Lutes - (signed, spent 2009-10 with the Colorado Eagles)

Kyle Bochek - (signed, spent his 2009-10 with Missouri Maverick and Knoxville Ice Bears, respectively)

Guillaume Piche - (signed, entering his rookie season)

Paul Ferraro- (signed, entering his rookie season)

2010-11 OUTLOOK -

Though the upcoming season does not bode well for any division or league titles, they do have a talent and the opportunity to steps in the right direction. With more firepower and the combination of youth and veteran experience can produce a team that Dayton will be proud to support. What Dayton needs is a firm-handed head coach, and recently hired Brian Gratz will get his chance to produce.

source: http://www.daytongems.com/ and http://centralhockeyleague.com/ and http://pointstreak.com/ and http://hockeydb.com/

[thomas-mercury]

Deleted Blog

Hey Followers,

Somehow my blog for the Colorado Eagles was deleted today. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to redo the whole blog. So I will continue on pace with my 18 teams in 18 days. However, if I receive even one request via twitter or Facebook to see it re-posted, I will redo it on the 19th day as a make up.

Cheers

[thomas-mercury]

EDIT for Bloomington post

Head Coach Jarrod Sklade will NOT be returning for a third season with the Bloomington PrairieThunder.

http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/news/index.html?article_id=4798

[thomas-mercury]

CHL preview: Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (BOS)

LAST SEASON -

The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs ended the season third in the Northern Conference and fifth in the Central Hockey League with a record of 38-22-4 and a total of 80 points. The 'Bugs had winning records both at home at the CenturyTel Center (19-13-0) and on the road (19-9-4). Bossier played a conservative game, last season 45 of 64 games were decided by 2 goals or less. They allowed a grand total of 180 goals against all season, and ended the season with the CHL's lowest goals against average per game at 2.81. Additionally, the "Bugs only gave up 95 goals against while on the road, fewest in the CHL. Bossier spent little time in the penalty box, finishing third fewest penalty minutes as a team with 1140.

FORWARDS -

Travis Clayton #38 - The seasoned 14-year veteran is the CHL leader in games played (820), goals (365), assists (571) and second in total points (936) merely 50 points away from the CHL all-time point leader. He has ended every single regular season of his career in the CHL with 50 points or more. Clayton also finished second in scoring for Bossier-Shreveport  for the second season in a row, this year he had 18 goals and 32 assists. He then went on to tie for the team lead in postseason scoring with ten points (5g, 5a) in 11 games, including two playoff game-winning goals. What's more, Clayton tied a single-game franchise record with four assists, the same game in which he scored and additional goal for his 900th career point . “Travis Clayton brings the experience of a veteran and the passion of a rookie to our hockey team,” said Head Coach Scott Muscutt. “...Travis is the kind of guy you can build a team around. He is a pillar and a leader for our hockey club because he finds ways to contribute every night...”  (Mudbugs press release July 2nd). 

David Rutherford #91- Rutherford had a solid start to 2009-10 but then caught fire in the latter half of the season, at one point he scored 35 points in 32 games. In a total 60 games, Clayton finished third on the 'Bugs roster in points with 50. He also led the team with a +26 rating while adding three game-winning goals. His regular season hot streak was highlighted with the league's second longest scoring streak with 24 points in 16 consecutive games.

Shawn Limpright #26 - In what could be considered a breakout season, Limpright topped career high 35 assists and 53 points (destroying his previous high of 40 points), and tied his best of 18 goals. His first year in the CHL, after spending 8 seasons in the ECHL and one season in the AHL, saw him become the leading scorer in Louisiana.  His success did not slow moving into the postseason capping out with 4 goals and 6 assists in nine playoff games. Muscutt has said that Limpright established himself as a team leader and a threat on both ends of the ice.

DEFENSEMEN -

Simon Mangos #64 - Through his second year as a Mudbug, he set new career bests at 33 assists and 12 goals. Mangos' 45 points tied for 4th in the league among defensemen. He also led Bossier-Shreveport blue liners in every offensive category, including +16. His time on the power play was well deserved, he netted four goals and 14 assists with the man advantage. Also, he was a finalist for the CHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award and at one point he was named CHL Player of the Week.

David Pszenyczny #5 - A solid defenseman with good work ethic and positioning. The big blue liner was the toughest player on the Louisiana ice with a season total 134 penalty minutes. He also put up respectable numbers on the offensive with 25 points, 11 goals and 14 assists.

GOALIE -

John DeCaro # 1-Sadly, Ken Carroll, the long time veteran, respected goalie and person, is retiring. Carroll's retirement leaves the door open for his partner DeCaro to take the reigns as the undoubted #1 net minder of Louisiana. Carroll and DeCaro spent last season as a terrific tandem, DeCaro played 39 games and Carroll picked up the other 27. DeCaro ended the 2009-10 season with 2.73 goals against average and .912 save percentage. He also ended the season with 24 wins, good enough for fourth in the league. DeCaro had outstanding numbers in 2007-08 with the Mudbugs, after 38 games he had a 1.63 GAA and .941 SV%.  Maybe being pegged as the #1 goalie, DeCaro can see more ice time and find his groove again to return to those more than impressive numbers.

ACQUISITIONS -

No new acquisitions

2010-11 OUTLOOK - On a denfense-minded team like Bossier-Shreveport, if DeCaro can post stats even close to 2007-08 and he has a reliable back-up, the Mudbugs could be in the running of a CHL title. Bossier's two-way style of play allows them to control the tempo of the game. They play smart hockey with systems and fast transitions, constantly keeping their opponents on a swivel.

source: http://www.mudbugshockey.com/ and http://centralhockeyleague.com/ and http://pointstreak.com/ and http://hockeydb.com

[thomas-mercury]

CHL preview: Bloomington PrairieThunder (BLM)

LAST SEASON -

The PrairieThunder has not had a single playoff berth in franchise history. Last season they posted a record of 31-34-5-6 for a total of 72 points. They tied at fourth in the International Hockey League, and just missed their first playoff berth due to the tie breaker of overall wins.  In good news, Bloomington set franchise records for a single season: most wins (31), fewest losses (34), victories at home (21), goals scored (241), assists (407), points scored (648), penalty minutes (1864) and hat tricks (7). Things are looking up, in large thanks to head coach Jarrod Skalde, who will be entering his third season with the PrairieThunder. FORWARDS -

Craig Macdonald #61 - Macdonald became the stud of Bloomington last season.  In 76 games, his career high 90-point season destroyed his previous high of 71 points. Totaling 44 goals and 46 assists, he was PrairieThunders' scoring leader, finished third in the International Hockey League overall scoring and second in goals. He led the IHL with 11 game-winning goals, set a team-record three hat tricks and was named the league’s Player of the Week five times. His offensive success spilled over into the special teams, too. Macdonald scored a team-record 16 power play goals (and had 16 PP assists), which finished second in the league. This will be Craig’s seventh professional season and his second in Bloomington. During his 258-game career, he has scored 96 goals with 104 assists for 200 points. He has nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 24 playoff games.

Jon Booras #27 - Booras is returning for his fifth season with the PrairieThuner, he is the longest tenured player on the team, having been with the franchise since the fourth game of its inaugural season. Before Macdonald, Booras was the team’s career leader in games played with 222; goals scored (85); assists (112) and points (197). In 2009-10 Booras tallied 80 points, 23 goals and 57 assists, last year making him the PrairieThunder’s second leading scorer and sixth overall in the IHL. His 57 assists ranked him third overall in the league. In previous season Booras was named to the IHL all-league team last season and was one of only two players to score 100 points in the league (40 goals and 60 assists in 75 games) to rank second. His goals and assists totals ranked third in the league. He was second in power play goals with 15 and led the league in shots with 313.  He was a unanimous choice as the PrairieThunder’s Most Valuable Player. Zach Pearson #9 - Possibly Bloomington's best penalty killer. Pearson was the team's leader and second in the IHL with four short-handed goals, also he was the team leader and third in league with three short-handed assists.  Pearson was one of two players who played every game last season showing toughness and durability that would be welcomed on any team. DEFENSEMEN - Jason Lepine #4- Lepine was the top defensive scorer for Bloomington. He had 11 goals, 33 assists, and a total 44 points. Lepine was also a good complement to Macdonald on the power play, where he scored 7 PP goals and had 17 PP assists. The PrairieThunders' most offensive-defenseman is a good asset and can be a difference maker if makes good decisions on the fly. He was an overall -9, and negatives are not attractive on a defenseman's resume.

Justin Sawyer #29- The Badass of Bloomington. He was the league leader in penalty minutes (288) and majors (28).  He was also the other iron man who played in all 76 games. Iron man.  leader in PIM (288). Bloomington was the league leader in penalty minutes (1864), majors (118), 10-min misconducts (23), and game misconducts (16).  Every team needs an enforcer, and Sawyer is among the best patrolmen of his ice and guardians of his team.

GOALIE -

Andrew Martin #35- The goalie situation in a bit questionable and a complete toss up. Last season Martin played the most games (40), but Sebastian Dahm played 26 games after joining the PrairieThunder mid-season. Dahm, in 2008-09, had an outstanding season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch.  He played 24 games and ended with a career best 2.66 goals against average (GAA) and a respectable .914 SV%. But has not been able to repeat those numbers.  So the case for Martin is consistency and experience.  After seven seasons, Martin has been a solid .901 SV%.  He also has six seasons worth of experience in the Central Hockey League, which could be a valuable key after the merger of the two leagues.   ACQUISITIONS -

no new acquisitions 2010-11 OUTLOOK -

The PrairieThunder have improved every season, and this past season they broke a lot of team records. However the lack of inactivity in free agency and trades leaves questions. How will they compare to teams of the CHL? Will Bloomington continue to improve or will they hit a wall? They do have all-star caliber Macdonald to lead the charge, with a sufficient supporting cast.  Bloomington probably won't be hoisting the cup at the end of the 2010-11 season, but if they can learn to play a more balanced game to be more offensive without sacrificing defense they could have the potential to make the post-season for the first time in franchise history. source - http://www.prairiethunderhockey.com/ and http://centralhockeyleague.com/ and http://pointstreak.com/ and http://hockeydb.com/

[thomas-mercury]

CHL preview: Arizona Sundogs (ARZ)

LAST SEASON -

The Sundogs ended the regular season with a record of (24-34-6) and had a winning record on the road (15-14-3). To their boast, they also hold the 2009-10 CHL regular season record of six powerplay goals in a single game. However, the Sundogs had a struggled season. They did not make post-season and had a franchise low of 34 losses, and they did not have a single player in the league's Top 25 for points. Arizona had the most losses in one-goal games (12-14-6) and the second most one-goal games (32).  FORWARDS - 

Konrad Reeder #7 - In his debut season with the Sundogs, Reeder scored 25 goals through the season, most for Arizona with 25 goals and enough to finish 23rd in the league. Reeder became a key leader for the 'Dogs. A stable veteran presence on and off the ice.

Kyle Hood #8 - Hood was Arizona's top scorer, finishing with 56 points (14g/42a). He also lead the team in penalty minutes with 131.  Hood is a smart play maker and has a great ability to create scoring chances. Head coach Marco Pietroniro said that Hood needed line mates to compliment his skills. The Sundogs could be looking to free agency to fill some holes.

Joey Sides #12 -  Sides was one of the top rookies of the 2009-10 season. He finished third in goals (18) and fourth overall in points (38) in the CHL. He also held the best +/- for the 'Dogs with +6. Sides has a good work ethic and a strong determination that landed him on Arizona's roster. If he can keep momentum and improve, then he can become a premier offensive force. In the NCAA Div-III, Sides tallied 32 goals and 53 assists in 90 games. He was a two-time ECAC Northeast All-Star selection served as team captain his senior season with Wentworth in Boston.

DEFENSEMEN -

Chris Bartolone # 29 - A big question mark for Arizona. He suffered an undisclosed injury back in January 2010 and did not return for the remainder of the season.  As of April 2nd he was still uncertain to whether he will return to Prescott Valley next season. The Sundogs believe that if Bartolone can return in any capacity can still help the team. The veteran presence will always be welcomed around Tim's Toyota Center.

Tyler Butler #xx - New acquisition for Arizona this offseason captained the Tulsa Oilers last season and led the team in special teams scoring with 22 power play points (8g/14a). A great pick up for the 'Dogs who struggled with their power play early last season. The eight-year veteran defenseman and two-time Central Hockey League All-Star will be a great additional leader to Bartolone. “Tyler is a smart defenseman...” Pietroniro said.  Butler has a history of established success in the CHL, starting with his rookie season with the Amarillo Gorillas in 2003-04. He started his career leading all rookie defensemen in scoring with 35 points (12g/23a) and was a finalist for the CHL Rookie of the Year. He had career highs in 2007-08 with the Rocky Mountain Rage: 16 goals, 36 assists, 52 points, second CHL All-Star appearance.    GOALIE -

Doug Groenestege #40 - Groenestege was a late pick up in the last half of the season and took the reigns as #1 goalie. He finished 10-10-3 with Arizona, and overall 18-15-4. Acquired from the Missouri Mavericks in a trade for Kari Sellan, Groenestege is a proven goalie in the CHL. He tied for the most shutouts (3) last season and second most in shootout wins. In 2008-09, Groenestege was a finalist for the CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender, league-leading 2.10 GAA and .922 SV%.  If he can bring his numbers around this level while in Prescott Valley, the Sundogs could once again return the CHL's elite teams.

ACQUISITIONS -

Joe Ori (Completion of trade with BOS)

Adam Basford (Completion of trade with BOS)

Tyler Butler (Signed. Spent 2009-10 with TUL)

2010-11 OUTLOOK -

The Arizona Sundogs right now have a lot to prove and need to be on a mission. They had struggles last season and have taken a few steps in the right direction to fill the gaps. But with the International Hockey League being introduced into the league, the 'Dogs will have even tougher time keeping up. But they have full potential to return to glory, in this league no one can be counted out.

source - http://arizonasundogs.com/ and http://centralhockeyleague.com/ and http://pointstreak.com/ and http://hockeydb.com/