Michigan Hockey September 28, 09

Michigan Hockey michiganhockeyonline.com V.20:I.05 | September 28, 2009 FIRST CLASS

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

FROM THE EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR

A real eye-opener

Last weekend at Viking Arena in Hazel Park I struck up a conversation with a gentleman whose 14-year old son was playing for the 1995 Ohio squad in town to compete in the Compuware/ Honeybaked AAA tournament.

He had a copy of Michigan Hockey in his hand and had just read our new Navigating the Frozen Waters feature on the Tier I Junior A United States Hockey League (September 14 issue). His son had designs on playing college hockey, but the father hadn’t realized his son would need to spend a season or two playing junior hockey in order to have a shot at reaching his goal.

“I had no idea,” he told me.

Well, that is exactly why we conceived this educational series aimed at helping both new and veteran players and parents understand the different levels and pathways of hockey available in Michigan and across the United States. In this issue, the second Navigating the Frozen Waters feature (pg. 12) covers the Tier II Junior A North American Hockey League.

Also in this issue are arena-themed features on Upper Peninsula rink renovations (pg. 13), mapping Michigan’s rinks (pg. 14-15) and how adult leagues impact an arena’s business (pg. 16).

Our Pro Preview takes a look at the three Michigan teams in the IHL, the Kalamazoo Wings first season in the ECHL (pg. 32), the Grand Rapids Griffins’ future Detroit prospects (pg. 33) and how the Red Wings re-tooled after losing some firepower up front in the offseason (pg. 37).

Thanks for your feedback on our recent issues and, again, if you have any ideas for future stories, things you liked (or didn’t like) reading about in Michigan Hockey or just want to talk hockey, send me an e-mail (phil@michiganhockeyonline.com) or give me call (248-479-1136) anytime.

Have a great season,

TM

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September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

52999 Broughton Rd Macomb, MI 48042

www.suburbanhockey.com

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INSIDE 09.28.09 6 MH BEAT

Editor-in-Chief Philip D. Colvin

• O’Leary Hawks women’s team gets ready for 21st season • Livonia Hockey Association celebrating 40th anniversary (p. 8) • Former Spartans come back to campus for Pro Camp (p.22) • Mike Knuble helps at Griffins’ youth camp (p.29)

Advertising Lucia Zuzga

10 STATE OF THE GAME • Tiering Doesn’t Play Well in Michigan BY LYLE PHAIR Design Editor Chuck Stevens

12 NAVIGATING THE FROZEN WATERS

• The second installment of our new educational series takes a look at the Tier II Junior A North American Hockey League (NAHL)

STAFF Contributing Editor ........................... Kevin Allen Advertising ......................................Lucia Zuzga ................................................... Philip D. Colvin ................................................... Lauren Kovacs Subscriptions/Distribution ...............Lucia Zuzga Administrative Director ............. Peggy A. Griffin Controller .................................. David J. Klavon Administrative Assistant ...................Amy Jones

ARENA GUIDE ’09 13 • Upper Peninsula arenas undergo renovation projects • Mapping Michigan’s rinks (p. 14-15) • Adults a big part of rink business (p. 16)

26 REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Circulation: Weekly press run of 8,000-10,000 with an estimated readership of 24,000-30,000.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob Despirt, Christine Szarek, Derek Blair, Don Dales, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda Holland, Lisa Zarzycki, Lori Yarnell, Mark Vansaw, Randy Paquette, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening

DEPARTMENTS

telephone numbers.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, a division of Suburban Sports Group, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. ©2004 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY 23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829 (248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601 EMAIL: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com WEBSITE: www.michiganhockeyonline.com Cover: Muskegon’s Justin Abdelkader by Mark Newman/ Grand Rapids Griffins.

This page (from top): A 1959 Zamboni Model F in the lobby of the Mount Clemens Ice Arena and Fitness Center; Motor City Metal Jackets players Anthony Coles, Dustin Hopfner and Mike Monfredo; Grand Rapids goalie Daniel Larsson by Mark Newman/Grand Rapids Griffins and Red Wings training camp

by Dave Reginek/DRW.

Cover reprints available: email mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

HOCKEY REPORT 28 JUNIOR • Motor City players help set hamburger record • Q and A with Metal Jackets owner Kenji Yamada • Whalers and Spirit start fast in OHL (p. 30)

32

INSIDER 34 •NHL Allen: NHL team-by-team 2009 PRO PREVIEW • Flint, Muskegon and Port Huron get ready for IHL season • K-Wings look forward to first year in ECHL • Grand Rapids Griffins roster chock full of talent (p.33)

Attention Holiday Shoppers Michigan Hockey’s Holiday Gift Guide is coming in the November 9 issue!

Note to advertisers: Ad deadline is Oct. 28 for the Holiday Gift Guide – call Lucia at (248) 479-1134 for more info!

previews • Waddell: With Red Wings losses comes opportunity (p. 37) • Fans love Red Wings Training Camp in Traverse City (p. 38)

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

The O’Leary Hawks women’s team (photos from their first season and last year’s national tournament) celebrated their 20th season last year and is getting ready for the new season.

O’Leary Hawks women’s team starts 21st season Last season the Michigan O’Leary Hawks women’s team celebrated a big milestone: their 20th anniversary.

The Hawks, formerly known as the Livonia women’s team, first took the ice in 1989 after several players who had grown up playing in the Livonia Hockey Association on youth girl’s teams graduated to the adult women’s league.

In the summer of 1989 team manager Carrie Sirola was searching for a team sponsor and after sending numerous letters to Livonia businesses she met Joe O’Leary. O’Leary ran a State Farm Insurance agency and had been involved with amateur hockey for many years as a coach, sponsor, and volunteer with the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association.

After receiving Sirola’s letter and talking with her, O’Leary decided to sponsor the team. For their first season, O’Leary outfitted the Hawks with two new sets of jerseys, socks, pants and helped them find ice time - all without ever seeing the team play.

With a new team name and coach Andrea Layman at the helm, that first year as the O’Leary Hawks proved to be a good one as the team won the MAHA state championship finished second at the USA Hockey Nationals. The Hawks, with O’Leary again in the stands for many games, went on to win another state title the second year.

But just as the Hawks women were getting used to having their new team sponsor, Joe O’Leary passed away in 1991. In just two and a half short seasons, the Hawks had learned what the rest of the hockey community knew already - that O’Leary was a very generous man who touched many people’s lives. For this reason the women decided that they would remain the O’Leary Hawks as a tribute to Joe O’Leary. One of Joe’s sons, John O’Leary, took over the business and continued to sponsor the team.

In the first six years, the O’Leary Hawks won five state championships and a USA Hockey national championship in 1996.

The following year the Hawks moved up into the Senior A division where they competed against teams comprised of former college and U.S. National Team players for the next five seasons. After a third place finish in the 2001 nationals, the Hawks moved back to the Senior B level and competed in six National Tournaments in the

next eight seasons. seasons The team is currently on a three-year run as Silver medalists at nationals.

While Little Caesars had become the Hawks newest rival, over the course of 20 seasons their main rival was the Michigan Chiefs.

The two teams played many spirited games over the years, including several league, tournament and state championship finals. When the Chiefs folded in 2005, the Hawks gained several talented players from the Chiefs.

Over 20 seasons the Hawks women have logged many miles on the road and in the air. The team traveled from Alaska to Boston, California to Toronto, and to many states in-between.

Some highlights include places like Anchorage, Alaska, where they got to ride on a dog sled with a participant in the Iditarod race, go sight-seeing over Mt. McKinley and take a boat ride to see the glaciers.

In Las Vegas they took in the sights, played the slots and played a little hockey at 2 AM. In Washington DC, they received a private tour of the Capitol building, went to the Smithsonian museum and saw the White House.

The Hawks have been to California twice (Anaheim and San Jose).

Several players went to Disneyland, and took in other popular sights like the beaches, the Hollywood sign, Redwood forest and the famous 17-mile drive by Pebble Beach. They have made several trips to New York State to compete in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.

They’ve been to Boston several times, and have dined on lobster and chowder. They traveled to Philadelphia twice, and have seen the Liberty Bell, the famous Museum steps from the movie Rocky, toured a retired battle ship and added a side trip to Atlantic City.

And, with the close proximity of Canada, the Hawks continue to compete there several times each season, visiting cities like Windsor, London, Toronto and Wallaceburg.

Over the 20 seasons two players, Carrie Sirola and Marcie Walker, have played the entire time, while Kim Kelemen has played 19 years.

For 15 of the 20 seasons, the Hawks have been coached by Andrea Layman. There are several other players who have played for 12 or more seasons: Vicki Foley, Bonnie Donahue, Missy Donahue, Judy

Velasco Bart Jennifer Czajkowski, Czajkowski Laurie Lough-Saunders Velasco, Linda Bart, and Robin Demarest.

Most of the Hawks played hockey in their youth, and a few even played college hockey. With a shared passion for the game, continuing to play as an adult seemed like a natural progression for these women.

Over the course of the years, some of the Hawks have gotten married and had babies (taking a season off when necessary), and then returned to the sport they love the following season.

For a few seasons, the Hawks motto was, “don’t drink from the water bottle”, or you might be the next pregnant player.

There was also a three-year period where three different Hawks’ mothers had twins. The Hawks roster has also included two Olympic players: Shelley Looney (USA) and Oona Parviainen (Finland). Both women played for one season with the Hawks. Looney played in 2003 while home in Michigan after capturing a gold and silver medal with Team USA during the 1998 and 2002 Olympics. Oona played in 1997 while working in Michigan. She went on to play for Team Finland in the 2002 Olympics and in several World tournaments.

In 20 seasons, the Hawks have an overall record of 556-211-113.

The team has won seven State titles, one USA National championship, finished in the top three at Nationals 12 times and won numerous other tournaments.

While winning hockey games is a tradition with the Hawks, what has kept the Hawks together for 20 seasons is the camaraderie and friendships that they have formed over the years. While other teams seem to come and go every few seasons, the Hawks have endured because they are a family. Outside the locker room, the Hawks have celebrated birthdays, baby showers, weddings and holidays together.

In recent years, at the Hawks end of the season party, Marcie Walker has written a poem about the Hawks season-long accomplishments and memories.

She always ends the poem with the statement “cheers to my peers with the beers” to which the Hawks always toast each other with their glasses, thankful for the past season, the friendships and memories and the future seasons to come.

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MH BEAT

Livonia Hockey Association celebrates 40th anniversary this season

PHOTO BY SARAH ZIENTARSKI/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

BY SARAH ZIENTARSKI TheLivoniaHockeyAssociationiscommemorating its 40 years of operation this season and to kick things off the organization celebrated with an open house at Eddie Edgar Ice Arena on September 13.

Both past and present association members were treated to a day of free food and fun, including a chili cook-off, a dunk tank and an inflatable bounce house. A band that included members of a LHA Bantam team performed for the crowd.

“I’d say I’ve seen at least 500 (players) of all different ages at the celebration,” LHA Business Manager Mary Ann DeMarco said. “We’ve had grandfathers whose sons now have sons that are members of the organization and they’re all here.”

A somber yet inspirational moment came when the association paid tribute to Tony Chracchiolo, a former LHA president who passed away. A tree was dedicated to Cracchiolo, who was at the forefront of a LHA’s 1993 acquisition of Devonaire Ice Arena, a key moment in the association’s history.

“A milestone for us definitely was when we decided to take over operation of Devonaire because it secured our future of being able to offer the sport at a reasonable cost and that was Tony Cracchiola’s foresight,” DeMarco said.

The Livonia Hockey Association has much to be proud of in their 40 years, starting with keeping costs down for their families and their goal of making sure every player in the LHA, regardless of ability, is given equal ice time. DeMarco said the equal ice time rule is governed by their directors, who believe it helps all players learn the game and improve their skills.

That philosophy has helped LHA produce championship teams at many levels.

The Livonia Hockey Association started its 40th anniversary season with a open house at Eddie Edgar Ice Arena on September 13 that included free food and fun, including a chili cook off, a dunk tank and an inflatable bounce house.

Back By Popular Demand

“We’ve had five national championship teams on top of many, many state champs,” DeMarco said. “We not only have a strong boys’ program but our girls’ program is very strong as well.”

A Wall of Fame was unveiled at Eddie Edgar Ice Arena during the open house, honoring those national championship teams and Livonia players who have made it to the college and pro ranks. Ryan Kesler (Ohio State/Vancouver Canucks), Dave Moss (Michigan/ Calgary Flames), Eric Reitz (Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers), Bryan Marshall (Nebraska-Omaha/ Lake Erie Monsters of AHL) and Mike Walsh (Notre Dame/Grand Rapids AHL) are among those featured.

“I know there are more (players) out there and we kind of thought this is a good start,” said LHA Administrative Assistant Lori Yarnell. “And as people come in they’re going to see them and say they know this person and this person and the wall will be forever growing, so that’s what we were hoping for.”

The LHA hopes their yearlong 40th anniversary celebration will translate into an even closer knit hockey family in Livonia.

“We hope it fosters a sense of community and lets people realize that they’re part of a pretty unique association and get people excited about being more involved and donating their time so we can continue,” DeMarco said.

And the success of the open house means that the LHA hopes to make it an annual tradition to start the season.

“There are a lot of faces here I haven’t seen in years, so that’s kind of what it’s all about, old and new and getting them all together,” said Yarnell. “So we’re hoping (to have one again next year). There seems to be a lot of interest and a lot of members are talking about it. We’ve already got people who want to sign up for the chili cook-off.”

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

STATE OF THE GAME

State Game of the

by LYLE PHAIR

TIERING DOESN’T PLAY WELL IN MICHIGAN their district boundaries. In theory, the out-of-district limit still provides individual families and teams with some choice, but at the same time limits those options somewhat. Although how much of a limit could be argued, particularly in Districts 3 and 4 where there are a multitude of arenas and plethora of players within a relatively small area. There are still plenty of choices of places to play.

IT SOUNDS GOOD IN THEORY In theory, the concept of creating tiers within youth hockey leagues seems to be a very good idea with a very good and very well-intentioned purpose.

The primary objective of any youth sport should be about creating the best experience possible for all of the participants.

Striving for parity and evenly matched games by grouping teams into divisions based on competitive level seems like it would be a step in the right direction. Minimizing mismatches and eliminating blowouts whenever possible is a benefit to both teams. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Not necessarily. At least not in Michigan.

The youth hockey model in Michigan has constantly evolved over the years and is an ever-changing work in progress. It has to be. Times change and we have to change with them. But maybe we have taken it a step too far.

HOW IT WORKS

It is a bit confusing, but here’s how it works. At each age group in boys’ hockey, there are three distinct classifications. At the “recreational” or “B” level (sometimes called house) hockey, there are no tryouts, everybody plays and teams are formed by drafts in an attempt to achieve parity.

At the “competitive” level, where teams are formed by tryouts, essentially there are two tiers. Tier I (aka AAA hockey), designed to be the “top” level of play, means a team can be formed from players anywhere in the state and some from even outside the state. (It does happen, even at some of the younger age groups, which while bordering on insanity, is a completely different issue.

Should you really be considered to be of sound mind in sending your child to live away from home to play hockey at 12 or 13?).

To summarize, Tier I is pretty much wide open as to where the players come from.

Tier II teams (aka A or AA) are limited to players from within their district plus a maximum of three players from outside of

10

As it relates to the differentiation between Tier I and Tier II teams, tiering appears to be working fairly well. In most cases (but not all) the Tier I teams are better than the Tier II teams in their respective age groups. But let’s take it a step further.

In Tier II hockey the majority of teams play in the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League. And there are a lot of teams. And they come from all over the state and even some from outside of the state. From Big Rapids to Port Huron to Portage and everywhere in between. As many as 50-60 teams at each age level in Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantams.

Managing the time and cost of travel as well as the competitiveness of the games to create the best experience possible for all of the participants is no easy task. Who wants to drive from Bay City to Monroe to win or lose a game by 8 or 10 goals? Who wants to drive three blocks to your home rink to win or lose a game by 8 or 10 goals?

So over time, the league has created tiers to prevent just that sort of unfortunate circumstance from occurring. Well at least as much as is possible. At the end of the day when all of the tinkering, manipulating and maneuvering is complete, the puck still gets dropped and the players on the ice determine what happens from that point on.

The theory behind the creation of tiers is to make sure that the league games are competitive and worth playing. That concept works very well in system that has a little more structure than what we have in the Wild, Wild West of Michigan where freedom of choice is king and pretty much anything goes.

In Canada, for example, hockey is still community-based in most places and there are residency restrictions on where players can and can’t play. In a given area like Windsor or Chatham, all of the players in a particular age group try out for the top team first.

Larger areas with larger player pools would definitely have a team in the top competitive bracket and might even have a team in the next level or two below that as well.

Smaller communities, not having access to the player pool

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

available to the largest programs, wouldn’t necessarily have a team at the top bracket (although they could play up if they could compete), but might have a team at the second or third level and they might only have one team per age group while a larger area might have two or three.

In that instance, the concept of tiering works because player movement is restricted. If you don’t make the top team, you might make the next one down. If you don’t make that one, you might make the next one down, or if not, then you play on a house league team.

That is not how it works in Michigan. If you don’t make the Tier II team you want to play on, you find one that you can. Within the very limited restrictions on where you can play. New “travel” teams spring up all over the place. Pretty much anybody can play travel. It seems like it is almost shameful to play house hockey these days.

THE GAP WIDENS

Not surprisingly, the disparity between the top teams and the bottom teams grows every year. Players jump from team to team at will. Coaches welcome it. In fact they encourage it. Especially when the better players are moving to their team.

And that is where the tiering animal rears its ugly head. Tiering becomes a recruiting tool. Coaches use it to their advantage. “Play for my team. We are going to be in the top division. It’s not AAA, but it’s the next best thing.”

So better players from weaker teams constantly migrate their way up to better teams. The strong get stronger. The weak get weaker. The gap between the top and the bottom increases. As does the chance for blowouts if these teams ever played each other. Anybody getting a mental image of a dog chasing its’ tail?

Initially, and in theory, the creation of tiers in hockey in Michigan had the good intention of making games more competitive and the experience better for all.

But it has grown into much, much more than that. Now it is all about marketing. In fact, it is gotten to the point that the “tiering label” is used to attract new players and as a way to retain the ones that teams have. And it definitely gives the higher tiered teams a very distinct competitive advantage. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The gap widens.

Restricted player movement will never play well in Michigan.

The toothpaste is out of the tube. It is impossible to put it back in. Freedom of choice can be a good thing. But not when served on the same plate as tiering. They just don’t mix.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

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To recognize and promote the commitment of youth coaches in the state, Michigan Hockey would like youth coaches to tell us a few things about yourself and why you coach youth hockey.

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Most memorable coaching moment Coaching philosophy/style Favorite drill Coach you admire most and why One thing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d change about youth hockey

Please attach a digital photo of yourself with your answers and email everything to: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

NAVIGATING FROZEN WATERS

Navigating the Frozen Waters

North American Hockey League is country’s only Tier II junior circuit Editor’s Note: The following article is the second installment of our new “Navigating the Frozen Waters” educational series aimed at helping both new and veteran players and parents understand the different levels and pathways of hockey available in Michigan and across the United States. Michigan Hockey will explore other junior leagues, along with high school and youth hockey in future issues.

We invite you to share your questions and concerns regarding Navigating the Waters by e-mailing us at: mh@ michiganhockeyonline.com.

BY TIM WILSON For the vast majority of players with the goal of playing college hockey, spending a season or two in junior hockey is the rule, not the exception.

And for almost 35 years the USA Hockey Tier II Junior A North American Hockey League has consistently been a feeder league to both Division I and III schools across the country.

Originally founded in Michigan in 1975 as the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League, the NAHL now includes 19 teams in four divisions spanning from Metro Detroit in the east, Texas in the south and Alaska in the west.

The league is the only Tier II Junior A circuit in the United States and is generally regarded as the second best junior league in the country behind the Tier I United States Hockey League.

“We compete with the USHL, as that is where every player wants to be,” said Alpena IceDiggers Coach and General Manager Jack Fritsche. “But the NAHL is full of potential college players.

We are by far the second best league in the country. The NAHL is very successful and well run.”

As a Tier II junior league, teams in the NAHL pay nearly all player costs, including equipment and ice time. Like many junior leagues, most of the players on each NAHL team are from out of town (or state) and are placed with a local host or “billet” family.

Outside of personal expenses, players and their families are only required to pay a $300 per month fee to those billet families to cover room and board and the expenses of housing a player.

The IceDiggers play in the NAHL’s North Division along with the Traverse City North Stars, Marquette Rangers, Motor City Metal Jackets and Janesville (WI) Jets. All NAHL teams play a 58-game regular season schedule with most games against teams within their own division due to the large geographic range of the league.

In addition to the competitive regular season schedule, the NAHL Showcase is a key event on the calendar of college coaches. Held every September at the eight-sheet Schwan’s Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota, the Showcase brings together every franchise in the league for a fourday tournament that helps players get exposure to college coaches from all over the country.

“Our Showcase is a focal point of the year,” said Fritsche. “Every Division I school in the country is there along with National Hockey League scouts and NHL Central Scouting. The Showcase is a very large reason that the NAHL is so successful.”

BUILDING A TEAM

As one of the top amateur leagues in the country, there is a great deal of competition for a spot on a NAHL roster.

And there is more than one option available to making a team. A player can either be tendered, drafted or attend an open tryout.

Each team in the league gets eight tenders per year – basically a league-wide agreement between a player and NAHL team that the player intends to play for that particular NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender, he is no longer eligible for the NAHL draft.

“Tenders are very valuable to everybody in the league,” said Fritsche. “They are the main way to build a team.”

In addition the league also holds an annual draft. The number of players a team drafts varies depending on the number of players currently on its roster and the number of players tendered.

Aspiring NAHL players can also attend an open tryout, which each team conducts during the summer. It is not unusual for a handful of players to make a roster after being discovered at a team’s summer tryout camp.

“In Topeka we go after high end kids but we can end up losing some of them to the USHL,” said Topeka (KS) Roadrunners Coach and General Manager Scott Langer. “We put a lot of stock in our tryout camps. We had a handful of free agents that made our team this year.”

The Roadrunners also utilize scouts from around the country to evaluate talent and help build the organization. As with most teams, many of the players come from Midget AAA programs, although Langer said that his staff looks closely at high school players as well.

“We have two players,Tony Thomas and Nick Gatt, on the team this season that played for Novi Detroit Catholic Central last year,” said Langer. “We realize how good Michigan high school hockey is.”

EARNING A SPOT

Regardless of whether a player is tendered, drafted or attended a tryout, nothing is a given according to Fritsche.

“I don’t guarantee anyone a spot on the team,” he said. “There are a thousand other kids that want that spot. Parents pay a lot for kids to play and at this level someone else is paying for it.”

Langer agrees it doesn’t matter how a player is acquired, it’s what they do on the ice that is important.

“Whether you are tendered or drafted you still have to come to camp and produce,” he said.

And while Fritsche does much of his own scouting, he also relies on a network of contacts to keep an eye on leagues all around the country for him.

“The majority of the roster comes from midget AAA teams but Michigan is also producing great high school players. And not every state has that,” he said.

In addition to hockey talent, teams are also looking for players with character. And while colleges consult junior coaches when deciding whether or not to pursue a player, it is also up to the player to work hard on and off the ice to sell himself, according to Fritsche.

“As a coach, you can’t mislead a college,” said Fritsche. “They need to know that they can trust you. Off ice (work ethic and behavior) is a big thing. The players that are serious are the ones that usually move on.”

In Topeka the focus is on more than hockey as well.

“We really focus on character,” said Langer. “There are a lot of good hockey players but you also have to be a good kid.”

GOING TO SCHOOL

The move to junior hockey means that a player could be traded

at any time. Still NAHL teams make an effort not to trade high school-aged players during the season in an effort to minimize the stress on their education.

All of the Roadrunners high school aged players attend the same school and most of the team’s other players take college classes at a school or online. All players are required to either be enrolled in school or have a part-time job.

Topeka has also equipped the team bus with Wi-Fi internet in order to assist players with their education. This is an important tool for a team that plays in the league’s South Division which features the Springfield (IL) Blues, St. Louis Bandits, Wichita Falls (TX) Wildcats and the suburban Dallas-based Texas Tornado.

While not exactly in the heart of hockey country, Topeka is an attractive place to play. The team averages nearly 2,000 fans per game at the modern Kansas Expocentre. The Roadrunners also have a booster club of more than 150 people that help make sure the players get lots of support.

The Wenatchee (WA) Wild led the league in attendance during the 2008-09 season with more than 2,700 per game. Many teams get regular press coverage in the local papers and a number of teams also broadcast games on radio and over the Internet on the B2 network.

NHL players like Doug Weight, Brian Rolston, David Legwand and David Moss are all NAHL alumni and during the 2008-09 season, 86 players with NAHL experience spent time on National Hockey League rosters.

North American Hockey League (NAHL) 2601 Avenue of the Stars, #400 Frisco, TX 75034 Phone: (469) 252-3800 Fax: (214) 975-2250 Nahl.com

Staff

Commissioner: Mark Frankenfeld Director of Hockey Operations: Denny Scanlon Director of Communications: Brian McDonough Director of Officials: Scott Brand Chairman of the Board: Mark Motz

Central Division

Albert Lea, Alexandria, Bismarck, North Iowa, Owatonna

North Division

Alpena, Janesville, Marquette, Motor City, Traverse City

South Division

St. Louis, Springfield, Texas, Topeka, Wichita Falls

West Division

Alaska, Fairbanks, Kenai River, Wenatchee

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September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

ARENA GUIDE

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Upper Peninsula on-campus arenas make big improvements

BY PHILIP COLVIN While most of the late summer renovations to Marquette’s Lakeview Arena are not easy to see, both skaters and spectators should notice the difference.

In addition to finishing up an exterior roof project, the arena also got a new HVAC system, two new boilers and a new dehumidification system was installed to help prevent fog on the arena glass. The new system will allow the arena, built in 1974, to operate 12 months a year if needed.

Other changes are even easier to see. Bleachers in the second level of the west end of the arena that sat 800 people were moved and reinstalled downstairs to make room for a training facility, Advantage Training, that will include a hockey skating treadmill.

The new dehumidification system has already paid dividends for the arena. When the nearby Berry Events Center was booked solid for the USA Olympic Speed Skating Team trials in early September, Lakeview was able to open earlier than usual and handle the overflow ice rentals from Northern Michigan University and youth associations.

In addition, the roof project came in under budget so the arena plans further improvements to lighting, scoreboard and locker rooms.

“We’re excited about the changes,” said Doug Smith, Assistant Director of Marquette Parks and Recreation.

“We’ve improved the building and we have a new yeararound tenant. It’s a win-win for us.”

of the arena.

“It’s going to give a nice, open view of the concourse when you walk in,” said David Nordstrom, MTU’s student development complex building operations manager. “There is better visibility into the arena and a lot more room. Both the hockey team and the building staff are very excited.”

And while the suites and skyboxes will give Huskies fans a new way to watch the game, they could also help in recruiting players.

“When we are out recruiting, facilities are the one tangible that we can show a prospective student-athlete,” MTU head coach Jamie Russell said. “We can’t show them a travel budget or a recruiting

to replace the bleachers on both the east and west side of the arena and possibly renovate storage and concession areas in time for the start of the 2010-11 season.

KMG SIGNS JOA FOR MCMORRAN ARENA

Port Huron’s McMorran Place Arena has a new partner after the city and Kinney Management Group (KMG) entered into a joint-operating agreement with McMorran Civic Center Authority on August 25, The three-year deal is designed to eliminate the city of Port Huron’s reportedly $365,000 yearly contribution to the civic center by the third year. It also designates that Larry Kinney, who runs KMG and also owns the Port Huron Icehawks IHL team, will make all operational decisions together with McMorran General Manager Randy Fernandez.

“We are excited for the opportunity to further expand the partnership with the board, the city and the community as we collectively strive to reduce McMorran Place’s reliance upon the city’s allocation and find creative ways to increase the use of the facility,” said Frank Kinney, Chief Financial Officer of KMG and the Icehawks. “While this will have a positive impact on the hockey team, it is much bigger than hockey. We remain committed to enhancing the already storied legacy of McMorran Place.”

The agreement calls for the creation of a pro shop with icesharpening service in the arena. KMG and McMorran will also create a walkway between the arena and the McMorran Lounge to connect the two facilities. Other improvements include the addition of flat screen televisions in the McMorran Lounge to enhance the fan experience during Icehawks hockey games MACINNES ARENA GETS NEW SUITES and other events.

Built in 1971, Houghton’s John MacInnes Student Ice “We have developed a partnership that gives both entities Arena on the campus of Michigan Tech University hadn’t a chance to increase revenue and decrease costs. The goal changed much in almost four decades. for all of us is to make McMorran Arena the jewel that it once That was until last year when the arena got a new epoxy was,” Fernandez said. floor, new black-and-gold seats to replace the original There will be an open house at McMorran Arena on October Ten new private suites (far left, above) are being added to Houghton’s John wooden ones and an entire section at ice level was made 6 from 5-7 that will feature food and beverages, a meet and MacInnes Student Ice Arena on the campus of Michigan Tech University. handicapped accessible. The improvements were supported greet with the staff from KMG, McMorran and the Icehawks, by donations from alumni and friends, as well as funding from budget. Facilities are the one object that we can use to show a and a brief program about the expansion of services at McMorran. student fees. player the commitment that the school has toward our program.”

This summer the home of the WCHA’s Huskies and MTU’s club MTU Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret agreed.

MICHIGAN STATE FAIRGROUNDS COLISEUM CLOSED THIS team is finishing 10 new private suites at the west end of the arena “We need to have a top-notch facility to stay competitive with the YEAR and has moved and expanded two existing skyboxes to accommodate other teams in the league,” she said. “These improvements will keep The ice arena at the Michigan State Fairgrounds site at 8 Mile and larger groups. us on par with the other arenas in our league and around the nation.”

Woodward in Detroit, previously known as Hockeytown State Fair The new suites, which will seat 8-14 people and sit just above the Construction is expected to be completed by late September in and the Coliseum, will not be in operation this season. concourse level, were made possible by $1 million gift from Ruanne time for the Huskies first home game on October 3.

The Little Caesars Hockey Club had leased the facility in recent and John Opie. Each of the new suites will have its own theme, and years but had their request to extend their lease denied according all are equipped with a wet bar, a drink refrigerator, and a flat-screen YOST ARENA TO GET NEW BLEACHERS to the minutes of a July 15 Board of Directors meeting of the TV with both cable and an in-house feed of the game. Complete food After three extensive renovation projects in the last 13 years, the Michigan State Fair Authority. Little Caesars is now skating out of service from MTU Catering Services will also be available. the Southfield Civic Arena.

University of Michigan’s Yost Arena in Ann Arbor was relatively The new suites are part of a renovation that removed a set of quiet this summer.

Michigan State Fairgrounds manager Daryl Love confirmed that double doors and opened up the concourse level at the west end “there is no ice or skating at the arena this season.”

But next hockey off-season the UM athletic department is slated

michiganhockeyonline.com | September 28, 2009

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MICHIGAN HIGAN HOCKEY

ARENA GUIDE ‘09 09

DISTRICT 7

17. Big Bear Arena, Sault Ste. Marie 18. Centre Ice Arena, Traverse City 19. Cheboygan Ice Arena, Cheboygan 20. Griffin Arena, Harbor Springs 21. Howe Ice Arena, Traverse City 22. Huron Hockey/Skating Association, Tawas City 23. Little Bear East Arena, St. Ignace 24. Mackinaw City Recreation Complex, Mackinaw 25. Northern Lights Arena, Alpena 26. Otsego County Sportsplex, Gaylord 27. Pullar Stadium, Sault Ste. Marie 28. Taffy Abel Ice Arena, Sault Ste. Marie 29. The Kaliseum, Kalkaska 30. Wexford County Civic Center, Cadillac

DISTRICT 8

1. Alger Centennial Arena, Munising 2. Baraga Ice Rink, Baraga 3. Berry Events Center, Marquette 4. Calumet Armory, Calumet 5. Dee Stadium, Houghton 6. George Gipp Arena, Laurium 7. Gogebic Chiefs Arena, Wakefield 8. Houghton County Ice, Hancock 9. Lakeview Arena, Marquette 10. L`Anse Meadowbrook Arena, L`Anse 11. MacInnes Student Ice, Houghton 12. Little Bear West Arena, Manistique 13. Mountain View Ice Arena, Iron Mountain 14. Negaunee Ice Arena, Negaunee 15. Pat O`Donnell Civic Center, Ironwood 16. Wells Sports Complex, Escanaba

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 6

31. Ann Arbor Ice Cube, Ann Arbor 32. Arctic Coliseum, Chelsea 33. Arrington Ice Arena, Adrian 34. Edge Ice Arena, Holland 35. Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids 36. Georgetown Ice Center, Hudsonville 37. Griff`s Icehouse, Grand Rapids 38. Jackson Optimist Arena, Jackson 39. Jolly Roger Ice Club, Grand Rapids 40. Kentwood Ice Arena, Kentwood 41. L.C. Walker Arena, Muskegon 42. Lakeshore Sports Centre, Muskegon 43. Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo 44. Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing 45. Patterson Ice Center, Grand Rapids 46. S2 Ice Arena, Kalamazoo 47. Southside Community Ice Center, Byron Center 48. Suburban Ice East Lansing 49. The Rink, Battle Creek 50. The Summit at Capital Centre, Dimondale 51. Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids 52. Veterans Memorial Park Arena, Ann Arbor 53. Walker Ice & Fitness, Walker 54. West Shore Community Arena, Scottville 55. Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo 56. Yost Arena, Ann Arbor

DID YOU KNOW?

• The average thickness of the ice in an arena is: 1 ½” and it takes approximately 15,000 gallons of water to make a regulation ice surface.

• In most arenas there are approximately three - five miles of refrigeration tubes under the ice surface.

• The optimal temperature for good ice varies depending on the type of activity. A surface temperature 22-24 degree for hockey and 24-26 degree for figure skating is ideal. The interior temperature of an arena also varies, but Yost Ice Arena’s temperature is about 18-20 degrees, for example.

• The face-off circles, lines and dots are all painted with a nontoxic, water based paint that freezes to the rink surface, and never dries like a traditional paint.

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57. Bay County Civic Arena, Bay City 58. Dow Event Center, Saginaw 59. Colleen J. Howe Arena, Sandusky 60. Flint Iceland Arena, Flint 61. Glacier Pointe Complex, Port Huron 62. Gladwin Community Arena, Gladwin 63. Huron County Ice Arena, Bad Axe 64. I.C.E. Arena, Mount Pleasant 65. Ice Mountain Arena, Burton 66. McMorran Place, Port Huron 67. Midland Civic Arena, Midland 68. Perani Arena, Flint 69. Polar Palace Arena, Lapeer 70. Saginaw-Bay Ice Arena, Saginaw

CLOSE-U

DISTRICT 2, 3

• The first indoor ice rink in the United States opened in 1879 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

the building was renamed the Colosseum as it had been called when it was first built.

• Houghton hosted the state’s first hockey game in 1898 inside a building that had support pillars right in the middle of the ice surface. That same area had the first-ever pro hockey team in 1902 and the first-ever arena reportedly build specifically for hockey – The Palestra – was built in Laurium in 1904 with seating for 4,000 and an ice surface that measured 180 feet x 78 feet.

• Ann Arbor’s Yost Ice Arena began as Yost Fieldhouse in 1923.

Named after Michigan’s legendary football coach and athletic director, Fielding H. Yost, it housed football, baseball, track and field and basketball in the 1950’s and ‘60s before becoming an ice arena in 1973 and became the home to the Wolverines hockey team.

• The Calumet Colosseum, built in 1913, is the oldest indoor rink still in use today. Artificial ice was installed in 1969 when the arena was called the Calumet Armory. In the summer of 2005, the National Guard moved into a new Armory, and the Calumet Hockey Association, along with Calumet Township, took over the old Armory building operations. In keeping with its history,

• S.S. Marie’s Pullar Stadium was built in 1939 after Sophia Nolte Pullar endowed the city with $70,000 to start either a home for the elderly or a community center. Her board of trustees concluded that a community center that doubled as an ice rink would fit most with what she had in mind. Construction took just under nine months and $181,000 to complete.

Upper Peninsula arena information from: cchockeyhistory.org.

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

ARENA GUIDE ‘09

BY THE NUMBERS

DISTRICT 4

71. Arctic Edge, Canton 72. Arctic Pond Arena, Plymouth 73. Birmingham Sports Arena, Birmingham 74. Compuware Sports Arena, Plymouth 75. Detroit Skating Club, Bloomfield Hills 76. Devon-Aire Arena, Livonia 77. Eddie Edgar Arena, Livonia 78. Farmington Hills Ice Arena, Farmington Hills 79. Grand Oaks Ice Arena, Howell 80. Hartland Sports Center, Hartland 81. Kensington Valley Ice House, Brighton 82. Lakeland Arena, Waterford 83. Novi Ice Arena, Novi 84. Orchard Lake St. Mary`s Arena, Orchard Lake 85. Plymouth Cultural Center, Plymouth 86. Redford Arena, Redford 87. Southfield Sports Arena, Southfield 88. Suburban Ice Farmington Hills 89. Wallace Ice Arena, Bloomfield Hills

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

DISTRICT 3

90. Berkley Ice Arena, Berkley 91. Great Lakes Sports City, Fraser 92. Grosse Pointe Community Arena, Grosse Pointe 93. John Lindell Arena, Royal Oak 94. McCann Arena, Grosse Pointe Woods 95. Mt. Clemens Ice Arena, Mt. Clemens 96. ONYX Rochester Ice Arena, Rochester 97. St. Clair Shores Civic Arena, St. Clair Shores 98. Suburban Ice Macomb 99. Troy Sports Center, Troy 100. Viking Arena, Hazel Park

ARENAS BY DISTRICT: District 2 22 District 3 11 District 4 19 District 5 14 District 6 26 District 7 14 District 8 16 Total 122 SHEETS OF ICE BY DISTRICT: District 2 32 District 3 25 District 4 32 District 5 18 District 6 41 District 7 16 District 8 17 Total 181

REGISTERED PLAYERS IN MICHIGAN BY DISTRICT: District 2 6,845 District 3 12,518 District 4 12,685 District 5 7,182 District 6 12,778 District 7 2,747 District 8 2,779 Total 57,534

Source: USA Hockey Michigan Registrar (200809 season). Does not include junior players.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER SHEET OF ICE BY DISTRICT: District 2 214 District 3 501 District 4 396 District 5 399 District 6 312 District 7 172 District 8 163

P

&4

DISTRICT 2

101. Allen Park Civic Arena, Allen Park 102. Dearborn Ice Skating Center, Dearborn 103. Canfield Ice Arena, Dearborn Heights 104. Canlan Ice Sports, Monroe 105. Clark Park, Detroit 106. City Sports Center, Detroit 107. Garden City Civic Arena, Garden City 108. U of M-Dearborn Arena, Dearborn 109. Hockeytown State Fair, Detroit 110. Oak Park Arena, Oak Park 111. Ice Box Sports Center, Brownstown Twp. 112. Inkster Ice Arena, Inkster 113. Jack Adams Arena, Detroit 114. Joe Louis Arena, Detroit 115. Kennedy Ice Arena, Trenton 116. Lincoln Park Civic Arena, Lincoln Park 117. Melvindale Civic Arena, Melvindale 118. Modano Ice Arena, Westland 119. Southgate Arena, Southgate 120. Taylor Sportsplex, Taylor 121. The Peak, Romulus 122. Wayne Ice Arena, Wayne 123. Yack Arena, Wyandotte

REGISTERED NUMBER OF MICHIGAN TEAMS

BY DISTRICT (2008-09 SEASON): District 2 259 District 3 334 District 4 480 District 5 365 District 6 357 District 7 131 District 8 139 Total 2065

Source: MAHA 2009 Summer Meeting-Michigan Registrar report. Note: includes high school and adult teams.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF TEAMS PER SHEET OF ICE

BY DISTRICT: District 2 8 District 3 13 District 4 15 District 5 20 District 6 9 District 7 8 District 8 8

MOST SHEETS OF ICE 5-Great Lakes Sports City, Fraser 4-Troy Sports Center, Troy 3-Ice Cube, Ann Arbor 3-ONYX Rochester Ice Arena, Rochester 3-Kennedy Rec Center, Trenton 3-Lakeland Tri-Arena, Waterford 3-Midland Civic Arena, Midland 3-Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo 3-Detroit Skating Club, Bloomfield Hills 3-Kensington Valley Ice House, Brighton 3-Ice Box, Brownstown OLDEST RINKS IN MICHIGAN 1913 Calumet Armory, Calumet 1928 The Dee, Houghton 1939 Pullar Stadium, S.S. Marie 1958 John Lindell Arena, Royal Oak 1960 McMorran Place, Port Huron 1960 L.C. Walker Arena, Muskegon 1961 Kennedy Arena, Trenton 1968 Optimist Arena, Jackson 1968 Yack Rec Center, Wyandotte 1968 Eddy Edgar Arena, Livonia 1968 Devon-Aire Arena, Livonia 1969 IMA (now Perani Arena), Flint 1971 St. Clair Shores Civic, St. Clair Shores 1972 Jolly Roger, Grand Rapids 1972 Lakeland Arena, Waterford 1972 Redford Arena, Redford 1972 Ice Box Sports Center, Brownstown 1972 Jack Adams Arena, Detroit 1972 Saginaw Civic Arena (now Wendler Arena) NEWEST RINKS IN MICHIGAN 2007 Arrington Arena, Adrian 2006 The Peak, Romulus 2005 Midland Civic Arena, Midland 2005 Suburban Ice Macomb 2004 Georgetown Ice Arena, Hudsonville 2003 St. Mary’s Arena, Orchard Lake 2003 Hartland Sports Center, Hartland 2002 Westshore Community Arena, Scottsville 2001 Arctic Edge, Canton 2001 Taylor Sportsplex, Taylor 2000 Mackinaw City Rec Complex, Mackinaw City 2000 Polar Palace, Lapeer 2000 The Koliseum, Kalkaska LARGEST SEATING CAPACITY 20,066 – Joe Louis Arena (Detroit) 10,834 – Van Andel Arena (Grand Rapids) 6,637 – Yost Arena (Ann Arbor) 6,470 – Munn Arena (East Lansing) 5,133 – Wings Stadium (Kalamazoo) 5,100 – L.C. Walker Arena (Muskegon) 4,421 – Perani’s Arena (Flint) 4,128 – MacInnes Arena (Houghton) 4,000 – Taffy Abel Arena (S.S. Marie) 3,902 – Berry Events Center (Marquette)

FOR INFO AND MAPS TO ARENAS PLEASE VISIT: ARENAMAPS.COM michiganhockeyonline.com | September 28, 2009

15

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

TOURNAMENTS

Arenas work hard to develop fun and competitive adult leagues

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DIG PHOTO

BY LARRY O’CONNOR All over the state adult hockey is filling a vital role in arena operations.

Because they use late night ice slots, adult players are an important part of an arena’s overall business and a good fit with an arena’s other youth hockey, figure skating and high school hockey programming.

At Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, men and women players account for the arena’s third largest user group behind Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association and high school teams. Adult hockey is a sevennight a week operation at nearby S2 Arena, which has 46 teams whose members range 18 to 50 years in age.

Troy Sports Center houses 84 teams, Suburban Ice East Lansing boasts more than 500 adults playing the game while Kensington Valley Ice House in Brighton has 54 teams, which is one more than last season and contrasts a 12-percent drop in youth team registrations.

“It’s huge for us,” says Joe Barone, the adult league director at Troy. “Just Sunday night alone we have 24 hours of adult hockey from 5:45 a.m. until we close the building, on all four pads it’s adult hockey here.”

Those numbers mirror a statewide surge in adult players, says Ray Kraemer, Michigan Amateur Hockey Association vice-president for adult hockey. The state boasts the most registered adult skaters in the USA. The more than 19,000 registered adult players account for nearly 40 percent of MAHA membership.

One reason for the jump is that existing players and leagues are opting to sign up with MAHA and become USA Hockey sanctioned, Kraemer says. Another factor is the Detroit Red Wings’ success.

“That generates a lot of interest,” says Kraemer, 64, whose state organization saw 10-percent spike in adult players this year alone.

“The second part is that kids who have gone through the system have grown up and are now adults, and they want to keep playing hockey.”

Michigan Sports Enterprises (MSE) has run the adult leagues at the Mount Clemens Ice and Fitness Center since 2005. Budget and staffing cutbacks led the arena to hire MSE, and the decision has been a “win-win” for both the arena and its customers.

“Running an adult league is a full-time job,” said Mount Clemens Ice and Fitness Center manager Nick Poliski. “And MSE has a staffer here every night to make sure things run smoothly. That allows us to focus on running the rink and keeping the locker rooms clean and the ice in great shape.”

MSE’s organizational skills and hands-on approach has helped the adult league grow every year at Mount Clemens.

“It’s just good customer service because they do a better job running the league than we did,” said Poliski. “And that is no knock on any of the arena staff, because I was the one running it before.”

And an adult league’s benefits can extend beyond the bottom-line.

“A lot of our parents play because the kids play, so it connects them with their kids because they are playing, too,” says Amy Hawes, Kensington Valley Ice House adult league coordinator. “It just promotes the love of hockey.”

16

ADDED AMENITIES

Adult players need more than a fresh sheet of ice and a refrigerated puck to commence playing, rink operators say.

To cater to the older puck-chasing set, though, rink organizers need a wedding planner’s scheduling acumen, Madeleine Albright’s diplomacy, and John Goodman’s nose for beer and pizza.

On the latter, Wings Stadium, S2 Arena and Kensington Valley Ice House have restaurant/bars on site.

At Wings Stadium, which is also home to the ECHL’s K-Wings, winning adult teams even receive $25 in food/drink vouchers for the arena’s Icehouse Bar and Grill.

Other incentives to lure adult teams include offering discounts for returning teams and payment plans, “so it’s not as a big a bang on their wallet,” says Jeff Weber, Wings Stadium ice events coordinator, who also oversees the complex’s Annex and Cube rinks.

Adult players are an important part of an arena’s overall business and a good fit with an arena’s other youth hockey, figure skating and high school hockey programming.

Kensington Valley Ice House takes service to the next level, offering to bring a case of cold beer to team locker rooms at game’s end. The cost is $1.10 a can.

“It’s as a cheap as if they were to smuggle it in from Kroger,” says Hawes.

Beer service is limited to 24 cans. However, more than a few players visit the arena’s Top Shelf Pub and Grub, which has viewing access to the facility’s two rinks.

With Suburban Ice East Lansing located near the Michigan State University campus, there’s no need to worry about barley and malt deprived players.

The arena’s 50-and-older circuit is known as “the buffet league”

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

since team dressing rooms often includes a crock pot and full spread.

“You have some people who come for the exercise,” says Rucinski.

“You have some people who come to win. Then you have people who just come for the camaraderie and basically the dressing room atmosphere.”

QUEST FOR PARITY

Player thirsts and appetites are sometimes easier to satisfy than their desire for competitiveness and companionship. Many players want to skate with friends, but that can disrupt league balance, says Rucinski, who puts most teams together from individual registrations.

The East Lansing facility conducts a draft for its 40- and 50-andolder leagues where team captains can pick a few friends before culling for lesser known talent.

“If guys want to play with their friends, sometimes the team is just not as good as some of the other teams,” Rucinski says. “Other times, if guys have been playing together for a long time, typically they have a couple of really good players on that team. They will beat a team who are all individual guys who are all new to the area, who might be beginner hockey players and just looking for a place to play in the area.”

The quest for balance is the most vexing part of the job, Kensington Valley’s Hawes says.

The adult league coordinator devises an eight-week schedule, giving teams a chance to play each other once before re-seeding squads according to the results.

Wings Stadium employs a similar strategy, Weber says.

Those methods are not foolproof, though.

Hawes cites a recent example where she had to redo schedules to accommodate an over-25 division team, which had been severely defeated in its first two outings.

“We run into that sometimes, (so we try) to make sure they are playing in the right league to make sure they are happy there so they can compete,” Hawes says.

S2 Arena uses a five-tier system, ranking teams from platinum for elite squads to bronze for novices. Top level players are prohibited from playing in the lower tiers.

“We have a fun league,” Kevin Woods, S2 Arena general manager.

“Our ultimate goal is to balance the teams very evenly.”

Adult league coordinators also ensure each league has up-to-date standings and statistics. They also have to field protests, including the most common.

“Complaints about refing will never go away,” says Kris Barnes, Novi Ice Arena general manager. “We have very open lines of communication with our referee scheduler and make sure we have the right level of officials for the level of competition in each division.”

In the end, health and welfare take precedent, the state’s adult hockey VP says.

“After a few years of playing, most of them realize ‘I have to get up and go to work tomorrow,’” Kraemer says. “They have family responsibilities. They want to play in safe leagues where things are called but not over-called. They don’t like guys hacking, whacking, punching or whatever.”

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MH BEAT

Pro camp draws former Spartans back to East Lansing

BY JOHN RAFFEL

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September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

a few days of on-ice drills and competition and off-ice fun.

Even years af ter leaving town to play “It kind of got started at the request of (former professionally, numerous former Michigan State MSU goalie) Jason Muzzatti when he was playing,” Spartans find their way back to campus every Michigan State assistant coach Tom Newton said.

August to get ready for the new season.

“He thought a few of the guys would like to get Now in its 12th year, the MSU pro camp at together and have something organized. At that point in time, I talked to coach Mason. He said sure, if the guys wanted to do it. Muzzatti did the initial legwork and got a lot of the guys together. We started putting some organized workouts together. I talked (MSU trainer) Dave Carrier and (equipment manager) Tom Magee into helping out to make sure the guys had some care and facilities available to them. It’s gone on from there.”

Former Spartans at the pro camp this year or in previous seasons were David Booth, Ryan and Drew Miller, Shawn Horcoff, Justin Abdelkader, Tim Kennedy, Jeff Lerg, Bryan Lerg, Zak McClellan, Tim Kennedy, Adam Hall, John-Michael Liles, Jim Slater and Mike Weaver.

“Some of these guys that have just graduated I haven’t met because I’ve been gone five years. That’s too bad because it’s nice to get to know everybody,” said former Spartans forward Steve Guolla, who was back in East Lansing after playing the last five seasons in Switzerland, Finland, Germany and Austria.

The Spartan alums share fond memories of living, going to school and playing in East Lansing – and also have in common the fact that they are all playing professionally.

“The coaches are here doing drills and it’s great to be back at Michigan State, a place Former Michigan State Spartans forwards Rem Murray we all love and are proud of, and see all of (top) and Steve Guolla were back in East Lansing in the faces and the trainers and the coaches,” August to participate in the annual MSU pro camp. said Guolla. “We also had a golf outing. It’s something you circle on your calendar and look forward to being a part of. It’s special feeling to be a part of Michigan State hockey.

I’m honored to have played here.”

Another former Spartans star from the early 1990s, Rem Murray, feels the main thrill of coming back to the camp is “just returning to Michigan State, with the atmosphere and being able to see everyone again. It’s a high level of competition, but the biggest thing is getting back and seeing everybody.”

“The other players are getting to be younger and more energetic,” said Murray, who played 10 seasons in the NHL and has spent the last three years playing in Europe.

“I try to get back every year and say hi and see how everyone is doing.”

Newton has remained active with the event and skated with the former Spartans again this summer.

“The guys look forward to getting back on campus and seeing their former teammates and guys they got to play with and guys they’ve gotten to know at Michigan State over the years,” Newton said.

Booth and Ryan Miller used the camp to prepare for USA Hockey’s three-day Olympic Orientation camp in Chicago. Red Wings forward Dan Cleary, a friend of Horcoff’s, also joined the workouts at Munn Arena.

Munn Arena has become an annual tradition that “I think it’s a good gauge for a lot of them to started out modestly back when Ron Mason was figure out where their conditioning is as they’re the Spartans head coach. This summer’s camp getting ready to go to camp,” said Newton. “Most drew about 20 former MSU players who are still of them are in really good shape. What they need playing at the pro level back to East Lansing for to get back is their timing and that type of thing.”

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25

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI October 2-4, 2009 Mite A, Mite AA, Midget Minor Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI October 30-November 1, 2009 Pee Wee A, Bantam House, Midget Major/HS Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Bear - The FlatWater Ann Arbor, MI October 2 – 4, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & J.V., B - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - The Fall Colours Ann Arbor, MI October 30 – Nov. 1, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & J.V., B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

DTHL Table Hockey Tournament Madison Heights, MI October 4, 2009 walkerartstudio@wowway.com ww.cagahockey.net

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI November 6-8, 2009 Mite House, Mite A, Bantam A Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI October 9-11, 2009 Pee Wee House, Pee Wee AA, Midget Major/ HS Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI October 9-11, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series KALAMAZOO, MI October 9-11, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Girls K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series KALAMAZOO, MI October 9-11, 2009 U10, U12, U14, U16 & U19 (A,AA, AAA, B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Big Bear - The Victory Honda Inv. Detroit, MI October 10 - 12, 2009 Mite Major – 2001 Birth year www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI October 16-18, 2009 Squirt House, Squirt A, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI October 16-18, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI October 23-25, 2009 Squirt AA, Pee Wee House, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI October 23-25, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com

Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI November 6-8, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Big Bear - The Ursa Major Detroit, MI November 6 - 8, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & J.V. ¨ B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Big Bear - Cold Fusion Grand Rapids, MI November 6 - 8, 2009 Miter Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & J.V. - B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Manon Rheaume Tournament Farmington Hills, MI November 12-15, 2009 Girls 19&/21U, 16U, 14U & 12U 248-479-1139 Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI November 13-15, 2009 Squirt House, Mite AA, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association November 13-15, 2009 Big Rapids, MI Squirt tournament www.ferris.edu/icearena www.bigrapidshockey.org Tournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881 Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI November 13-15, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Great Lakes Tournaments Series Holland, MI November 20-22, 2009 Mite House, Pee Wee House, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI November 20-22, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com

Michigan Thanksgiving Classic Monroe, Michigan November 27 – 29, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 BOYS - (Travel B, Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Girls Michigan Thanksgiving Classic Monroe, Michigan November 27–29, 2009 Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Tier II (C, B,BB) and Tier I (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Turkey Day @ the Shores Saint Clair Shores, MI November 27-29, 2009 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, U16 & U18 248-670-5742 director@greatlakeshockey.com www.greatlakeshockey.com Great Lakes Thanksgiving Classic Holland, MI November 27-29, 2009 Holland, MI Great Lakes Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Wolverine Cup Tournament Series BRIGHTON/NOVI (Western Detroit Suburbs), MI November 27-29, 2009 Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series KALAMAZOO, MI November 27-29, 2009 Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Big Bear - The S2 Invitational Kalamazoo, MI November 27 - 29, 2009 Bantam Minor & Bantam Major only Tier 1 AAA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Big Bear - The Wild Turkey Tournament Detroit, MI November 27 - 29, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget.

B - BB - A – AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MI December 4-6, 2009 Squirt House, Pee Wee A, Midget Minor Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI December 4-6, 2009 Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Big Bear - The FireBolt Ann Arbor, MI December 4 - 6, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

COMPLETE TOURNAMENT LISTING ON WEBSITE

www.michiganhockeyonline.com

Bluehawk-Warrior Wishbone Invitational VII Northbrook, IL November 25-29, 2009 Mite & Squirt AA, A1, A2 – Pee Wee & Bantam, AA, A 847-501-2069 tgullen@winpark.org INDY CUP Tournament Series: The Indy Cup Indianapolis, IN October 9-11, 2009 Mite through Midget: A, and AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH October 9-11, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series PITTSBURGH, PA October 9-11, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Queen City Cup Tournament Series CINCINNATI, OH October 9-11, 2009 Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com Niagara Falls Columbus Day Early Bird Niagara Falls, NY October 10-12, 2009 Mite – Midget A, AA & AAA Email: gcarella17@cs.com

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Fall Classic Chicago, IL October 23-25, 2009 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Fall Classic Pittsburgh, PA October 23-25, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Music City Tournament Series: Nashville Fall Classic Nashville, TN October 23-25, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, and AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Empire State Tournament Series: Empire State Showdown Rochester, NY October 23-25, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State Showdown Riverside, CA October 23-25, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH October 23-25, 2009 Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com

Hockey for Heros / Armed Services Las Vegas, Nevada November 12 – 15, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Las Vegas Hockey Classic II Las Vegas, Nevada November 13 – 15, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Las Vegas Hockey Classic III Las Vegas, Nevada November 20 – 22, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com November Classic Oshawa, Ontario November 20 – 22, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, New Jersey November 27 – 29, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Thanksgiving Classic Chicago, IL November 27-29, 2009 Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Bear - Fire on the Water Cleveland, OH October 23 - 25, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget B - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Classic Pittsburgh, PA November 27-29, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Las Vegas Youth Blast Las Vegas, Nevada November 5 – 8, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Empire State Tournament Series: Rochester Thanksgiving Classic Rochester, NY November 27-29, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Veterans Cup Pittsburgh, PA November 6-8, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Congressional Cup Tournament Series: Congressional Thanksgiving Classic Washington, DC November 27-29, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

October Classic Oshawa, Ontario October 16 – 18, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

INDY CUP Tournament Series: The Indy Fall Classic Indianapolis, IN November 6-8, 2009 Mite through Midget: A, and AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State Thanksgiving Classic Riverside, CA November 27-29, 2009 Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Las Vegas Old-Timers Classic Las Vegas, Nevada October 23 – 25, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH November 6-8, 2009 Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH November 27-29, 2009 Mite thru Midget/High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House) Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, tony@ itshockeytime.com www.itshockeytime.com

Big Bear - The Eye of the Storm Tampa, FL October 10 - 12, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget A – AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Big Bear - The Fall Prep Showcase Nashville, TN October 10 - 12, 2009 High School & J.V. www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694 Big Bear - Pond Rockets St. Louis, MO October 10 - 12, 2009 Mite B, Mite A & Bantam A only www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

TOURNAMENTS

Advanced

Tournaments

Holland, MI Great Value

Period Length

Entry Fee

Mites Squirts/Pee Wees Bantams Midgets

13 minutes 13 minutes 13 minutes 14 minutes

$695 $750 $795 $895

All Tournaments Four Game Minimum October 2-4, 2009

January 8-10, 2010

Mite A, Mite AA, Midget A

Mite B, Squirt A, Midget B

October 9-11, 2009

January 15-17, 2010

Pee Wee B, Pee Wee AA, Midget AA

Mite AA, Squirt B, Bantam AA

October 16-18, 2009

January 22-24, 2010

Squirt B, Squirt A, Bantam B

Squirt AA, Pee Wee B, Bantam A

October 23-25, 2009

January 29-31, 2010

Squirt AA, Pee Wee B, Midget B

Mite B, Squirt B, Bantam B

Oct 30-Nov 1. 2009

February 5-7, 2010

Pee wee A, Bantam B, Midget AA

Mite A, Pee Wee B, Midget B

November 6-8, 2009

February 12-14, 2010

Mite B, Mite A, Bantam A

Squirt B, Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA

November 13-15, 2009

February 19-21, 2010

Mite AA, Squirt B, Midget B

Mite B, Pee Wee B, Bantam B

November 20-22, 2009

February 26-28, 2010

Mite B, Pee Wee B ,Bantam B

Squirt B, Squirt A, Midget B

December 4-6, 2009

March 5-7, 2010

Squirt B, Pee Wee A, Midget A

Mite B, Pee Wee B, Bantam B

December 11-13, 2009

March 12-14, 2010

Pee Wee B, Pee Wee AA, Bantam B

Squirt B, Squirt AA, Midget B

Chicago, IL

Fall Classic

Oct 23-25, 2009

Thanksgiving Classic

Presidents Cup Feb 13-15, 2010

Chicago Showdown

Nov 27-29, 2009

Mar 5-7, 2010

Midwinter Classic

Spring Classic

Jan 16-18, 2010

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Oct 23-25, 2009

Jan 16-18, 2010

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Dec 11-13 = Bantam B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($770) FSU vs Western Michigan, Saturday Dec 12th – call early for group tickets Jan 29-31 = Pee Wee B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675) Feb 19-21 = Mite B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675) FSU vs Michigan State, Friday Feb 19th – call early for group tickets Feb 26-28 = Midget B/BB Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($770) FSU vs Western Michigan, Friday Feb 26th – call early for group tickets Midget and Bantam tournament games = 1.5 hours

Apr 23-25, 2010

Pittsburgh, PA Nov 6-8, 2009

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Feb 13-15, 2010

Spring Classic Mar 12-14, 2010

Tournament Locations in: Nashville, TN - Rochester, NY - Riverside, CA For More Information: www.advancedtournaments.com 847-277-7343

All Tournaments are 4-game guarantees, with Fri/Sat/Sun games unless noted

Tournament Info: printable application, hotel info, tournament rules, etc

www.ferris.edu/icearena www.bigrapidshockey.org Tournament Hotline:

(231) 591-2881 michiganhockeyonline.com | September 28, 2009

27

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

PARENT’S GUIDE

Motor City Metal Jacket players help break record for biggest burger PHOTO BY KIMBERLY TAUBER/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

FROM JAPAN TO WYANDOTTE: Q & A WITH MOTOR CITY OWNER KENJI YAMADA

Last season, the Motor City Machine went through a turbulent first go-round in the North American Hockey League.

The first major facelift took place when an ownership group from Japan, led by Kenji Yamada, took over the Wyandotte-based franchise and renamed it the Metal Jackets.

Michigan Hockey interviewed Yamada about the team and how he got involved in a Junior A team in metro Detroit. Here is an excerpt:

Motor City players (from left) Anthony Coles, Mike Monfredo and Dustin Hopfner helped devour a record 180-pound hamburger at Mallie’s Sports Grill and Bar in Southgate on September 6.

BY CARL CHIMENTI Three players from the North American Hockey League’s Motor City Junior A team helped break a record and the season has just started.

The Metal Jackets’ Mike Monfredo, Dustin Hopfner (Eastpointe) and Anthony Coles helped devour a record 180-pound hamburger at Mallie’s Sports Grill and Bar in Southgate on September 6. All three players are over 6-feet tall and weigh over 200 pounds, which made them ideal candidates to take part in the event that was filmed for the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food show.

“It was a great experience for the Metal Jackets organization to take part in this challenge,” said Motor City’s public relations director Jason Brown. “It was great exposure for the team and the North American Hockey League.”

Formerly known as the Machine, the Metal Jackets have a new owner (see story below) and play at Yack Arena in Wyandotte. The organization passed out Metal Jackets merchandise and used the event to introduce the team to the large crowd.

“The team is brand new and we felt that we had to take on a new culture, a new look and a new attitude,” said Metal Jackets GM/ Coach David Cole. “We recruited a very fast team with size. This is a very elite level of hockey and we feel the product that we put on the ice will be very strong.”

One of Cole’s future goals is to ice a team made up of predominantly Michigan-born players.

“Michigan is Hockeytown, USA,” said Cole, a native from St. Catherines, Ontario. “Let’s cater to our Michigan players, so they can stay home and play and get the support from families and friends.”

Motor City opens its home schedule on September 26 at 7:30 PM at Yack Arena against the Traverse City North Stars. From 5-7 PM the Metal Jackets will have a tailgate party in the parking lot of the arena that will feature food, drinks and prizes.

Michigan Hockey: How did you come to get involved with the Metal Jackets franchise?

Kenji Yamada: I have been working for the Japanese U20 team, and through this activity, I become acquainted with hockey coaches in the U.S. One of those coaches introduced the previous ownership of the team to me.

MH: Why did you want to get involved?

KY: Fundamentally, I love to support young athletes’ development, and if I can be support or a resource for them, then that is great pleasure for me. I think that the junior stage is the most important stage for athlete development, both in hockey skill and behavior development.

I would like to establish a “successful international hockey business model” between the U.S. and Japan. There is a huge, untapped hockey market in Japan. This market is pretty unique and very different from that of the U.S. or Canada. I hope that we can explore the Japanese ice hockey market - adult recreational, junior recreational, junior athletes, and all levels of youth - with Metal Jackets branding.

I want to make this team a window between the Japanese ice hockey society and U.S. ice hockey society. I may bring Japanese or Asian ice hockey player to this team, or I may introduce U.S. hockey players for Asian leagues or Japanese colleges.

MH: It’s pretty rare that an out-of-the-country owner owns a team. How do you respond to that?

KY: First of all, my spirit is always with Metal Jackets team regardless of my physical location. Plus, I am just one call away when somebody on my team needs to talk.

Also, I see this is a unique opportunity for us. I do not underestimate both the difficulty and importance of the hockey operation of the team. In this regard, I am really happy that we have David Cole, Jason Cirone and Sean Clark as the core management staff of our team. Plus, thanks to today’s information technology and transportation effectiveness, I am able to keep in touch with team on an almost day-to-day basis, and I am just 13 hours away when I need to come over here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mount Clemens & Fitness Center: Turkey Day at the Clem Thanksgiving Youth Hockey Tournament November 27-29, 2009 Mini-Mite thru Midget/High School all classifications For more information visit: www.greatlakeshockey.com Mount Clemens Fire Department Charity Adult Hockey Tournament December 1 - 3, 2009 Open to all Fire, Police and EMS For more information contact Chuck Jawor cjawor@cityofmountclemens.com 28

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

While I am in Japan, I am aggressively promoting the Metal Jackets and the NAHL, exploring opportunities, developing a fan base, marketing Wyandotte and the Downriver community as a place for hockey camps for Japanese hockey teams, things like that. We have already started planning a Metal Jackets hockey development camp for Japanese players in multiple locations in Japan, as well as a Downriver hockey tour for Japanese hockey fans to visit places, watch games, play drop-in, and have some fun with players.

MH: What is your hockey background in Japan?

KY: I played in college. After graduation, I joined a Japanese trading company, and that company had a corporate hockey team – amateur, not high level hockey, though. I quit playing hockey when I moved to Italy for my business assignment and since then, I had not played for many years. After coming back to Japan, I met Yuji Iwamoto, who was a well-known former professional ice hockey player who has numerous records with his hockey career, including 605 games, still a national record in Japan, and we established 13 Leaves Ice Hockey School together.

This hockey school is providing skill development opportunities for adult recreational hockey players in Japan. Currently I enjoy playing hockey with my friends and other 13 Leaves schoolmates.

MH: What is competitive hockey like in Japan?

KY: There are over 600 college men’s teams in the Tokyo area alone. Working for the Japan U20 team and playing in Division I international championships, I observed various Japanese and other players. Recently, I joined the IIHF U16 development camp in Finland, where over 200 players worldwide practiced and had exhibition games. From those experiences, I strongly believe that some, not very many, though, Japanese players can be quite competitive at the U.S. junior level, and in the near future, I would like to invite them to our tryout camp.

MH: What has been the reaction within the team since your group took over?

KY: The reaction was very positive and supportive, not only within the team, but also among people surrounding us in Yack Arena. Of course, I have been trying to communicate as much, and as frequently as possible, to share my intentions and goals with people. I think we are starting to create a very unique international hockey model there.

We care about people who come to see us, who support us, who work for us, and who play for us. We have been trying to take part in local communities’ activities and local economies, and continuously doing so in order to develop constructive relationships with local society. We have been trying to recruit as many Michigan players as possible, too.

Yamada Q & A by Matt Mackinder

Mount Clemens Ice Arena & Fitness Center 200 North Groesbeck Phone: 586-307-8202 Fax: 586-307-8245 Email/Website

info@mountclemensicearena.com mountclemensicearena.com Contact Info

Contact Carly Harris for more information

MH BEAT

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Knuble’s message to young players and their parents: ‘have fun’

BY JOHN RAFFEL Kentwood native and current Washington Capitals forward Mike Knuble remembers the enjoyment he got from playing hockey while growing up in Michigan.

And while the 12-year NHL veteran now has to treat hockey as a job, he stresses that young players should concentrate most on having fun.

“Kids are in a much different position than I am,” said Knuble, who spent a day in early August at Griff’s Icehouse working with young players at the Grand Rapids Griffins youth camp. “And sometimes they get caught up a little too much in being professional. All my friends still play on Wednesday nights because they still enjoy the game. It’s all about having fun.”

Knuble has attended the Griffins’ youth camp for the past five years and this summer he was a featured presenter along with Muskegon native Justin Abdelkader, who was called up to Detroit for the Red Wings playoff run last year after a full season in Grand Rapids.

“Kids should stay busy and play lots of different sports (in the offseason)” said Knuble. “Things like hand-eye coordination from baseball or lacrosse and using your teammates, plus positional play and working to get open in soccer transfer to the ice. I recommend that kids play every sport that they can. It just makes them better athletes.”

After playing the game his whole life, Knuble is grateful to still be competing as a pro, but it also means a lot of hard work. And his schedule isn’t one a young player should try to emulate.

“It’s a job. I’m up every morning and I’m in the gym by 8 AM,” he said. “People think that athletes have a great summer and we do. But there’s a price to pay to be a professional athlete and it’s year around. It’s in every aspect of your life from what you’re eating and when you’re sleeping to what you’re doing in the course of your day.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great lifestyle. Anybody

Current Washington Capitals forward Mike Knuble (right, with Grand Rapids assistant coach Jim Paek) spent time with players at the Griffins youth camp this summer.

who has been an athlete for a while will tell you there are no free rides in the summer time. You can’t stop preparing for the next season.”

Knuble stressed that kids need to recharge for the hockey season.

“They don’t need to be in the rink 10-11 months out of the year,” he said. “They need to go outside and swim. They need to let their bodies heal. I haven’t met a kid under the age of 15 who likes to go out and run. I’ve never met one yet. Again, kids aren’t going to get out of shape like adults do. If they stay in shape, that’s plenty.”

Knuble cautioned parents from overtraining their hockey youngsters.

“There’s such a thing as overtraining,” Knuble said.

“Some off-ice training is good. Kids learn how exercises and hopefully they’re learning good form. There’s a time in their life when they’ll need to use these things a lot more. If they’ve learned it at a young age obviously they’ll be better at it and probably get more enjoyment from it.”

Knuble, who spent four seasons at the University of Michigan and has played 820 NHL games, has seen the focus on offseason training evolve.

“It’s definitely changed,” he said. “The weight programs that colleges and pro teams recommend for players are now more about being strong.”

“But kids are different. Some might burn out faster than others. Is there a blanket rule for anybody? No. Probably the largest percentage of kids need some balance and need to get away from the rink and not think about hockey for a while.”

Time spent in the rink should be used to improve skating and puckhandling skills whenever possible.

“Skating is so important,” said Knuble. “If you can’t skate you can’t play and that’s true at any level,” Knuble said.

“And just getting on the ice with your friends and having fun will increase your skills. And if you don’t get any better at least you have good memories of being out there with your buddies.”

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29

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

Whalers start season with two wins and might wind up with Tatar after all

PHOTO BY WALT DMOCH/PLYMOUTH WHALERS

BY MATT MACKINDER

the game. Windsor forward Taylor Hall (three goals, two assists), defenseman Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills), with four assists, and Plymouth forward Tyler Seguin (two goals, assist) had multiple-point games.

For Seguin, whose linemates from last year (Chris Terry and Matt Caria) have moved on to pro hockey, being matched with Sterling Heights native Myles McCauley and Tyler G. Brown paid immediate dividends not only in the Windsor game, but two nights later in Plymouth for the home opener against Oshawa. Brown scored the overtime winner that gave the Whalers another 6-5 victory after another late-game meltdown.

“Seguin is shifty and creative and he gets the puck to you whenever you’re open,” Brown said. “Myles is the same way. It’s nice having those guys on a line. We have some chemistry going right now. We’ll keep working at it and hopefully become a dominant line.”

Brown also talked of his game-winner and gave much of the credit to overage defenseman Leo Jenner, who also scored in the game, but was outdone by kid brother and rookie Oshawa forward Boone Jenner, who scored twice.

“I got a pass from Leo Jenner and skated into the offensive zone,” Brown said. “I wanted to get a puck on net since we hadn’t gotten many shots in the third period and the overtime.

So I got the puck on the net and I thought I could get there for the rebound, so I dove and made it happen. I tried to use the defenseman as a screen, so the goalie wouldn’t see the puck clearly. He kicked it right out to me.”

After a game in Saginaw on Sept. 24, Plymouth hosts London and Battle Creek native Jared Knight on Sept. 26.

It sounds like something that should be on daytime network television, but the Plymouth Whalers may wind up with Tomas Tatar yet.

When the Whalers traded Gabriel Landeskog, their own draft pick from June’s import draft, to Kitchener in early August for Tatar, Kitchener’s import pick and a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, the jury was out as to whether or not Tatar would ever wear a Plymouth jersey.

However, the Red Wings signed Tatar in mid-September and assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids. If he doesn’t thrive in the AHL as an 18-year-old, Tatar will play in the Ontario Hockey League with the Whalers.

If he has his way, though, Tatar will stay in the AHL. “I think the better decision for me is Grand Rapids because I played one year on the men’s team in Slovakia,’’ Tatar said to mlive.com. “I think I’m ready.’’

Detroit general manager Ken Holland also thinks Tatar is AHL material, but didn’t rule out Plymouth.

“We want him to play in North America,” Holland told the Detroit News. “He had an out in his contract in Slovakia if he signs a contract over here. We think we can do a better job of controlling his development over here. Grand Rapids or Plymouth are the two options. We’re going to give him every opportunity to earn a spot in Grand Rapids.”

The Whalers released defenseman Jan Latal over the summer to free up an import roster spot. Veteran defenseman Michal Jordan occupies one of the two allotted import roster spots and Plymouth had been banking on Landeskog reporting, but once he balked at coming to Plymouth, his rights were WHALERS NOTEBOOK sent to Kitchener and the drama began. The Whalers had Seguin (No. 3), Farmington Hills defenseman Austin Levi already traded forwards Vern Cooper and Kaine Geldart to (No. 117) and Monroe forward R.J. Mahalak (No. 122) make Sault Ste. Marie and Kingston, respectively, to move up in up the Whalers contingent ranked by independent scouting Plymouth’s Tyler Seguin and Austin Levi celebrate Tyler G. Brown’s overtime publication Red Line Report for next summer’s NHL draft … the import draft.

Time will tell if Tatar ever comes to Plymouth, but not too goal that gave the Whalers a 6-5 win over Oshawa on Sept. 19 and the team’s Second-year defenseman Beau Schmitz (Howell), passed over many teenagers stick in the AHL. Ask Red Wings head coach second victory of the season. in June’s NHL draft, signed an AHL contract with Carolina Mike Babcock and he’s counting on a few visits to Compuware earlier this month … No official captains have been named, OPENING WEEKEND A SUCCESS Arena this season. but overage forward Joe Gaynor wore the ‘C’ in Windsor, while Plymouth traveled to defending league and Memorial Cup “He has a real nose for the net, a real good hockey IQ, tenacious fourth-year forward AJ Jenks (Wolverine Lake), an alternate the champion Windsor to open the OHL season on Sept. 17 and although guy,” Babcock said in the same News article. “I think he’s gonna have past two years, was captain for the Oshawa game … The Whalers they blew a 5-2 lead, the Whalers skated away with a 6-5 win in a real good year in junior. I think they’ll play him in the American are trying something new for their game on Wednesday, Dec. 2, as a shootout.

League a little bit, but they’ll get him to junior. Plus, where he’s gonna the game time has been changed to a 10:45 a.m. start with hopes of The game was also an NHL scout’s droolfest as three, perhaps play junior is two minutes from my house, so I get to watch him.” having (literally) bus loads of school-aged children attend the game. the top three, NHL prospects for next summer’s NHL draft controlled

Despite not having Pasquale and Murovich, Saginaw opens with two wins

BY CARL CHIMENTI Saginaw started the new season with some good news and some bad news.

Seven players - T. J. Brodie, Joe Pleckaitis, Ryan Schnell, Jordan Skellett, Cody Sol, Jordan Szwarz and Brad Walch - returned to Saginaw from NHL training camps in time to play in the Spirit’s opening weekend.

While forward Tyler Murovich (Syrcase/AHL) and defenseman Nick Crawford (Buffalo) are still at pro camp, Saginaw also started the season without the services of starting goaltender Edward Pasquale and backup netminder Tadeas Galansky.

Pasqual, a draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, is suffering from an undisclosed illness and has not been on the ice since the start of training camp.

The Spirit’s Craig Goslin is optimistic about the Toronto native’s quick return to the team.

“We expect him back in the not to distant future,” said Goslin. “He has been sick and told by his doctor to

30

stay off the ice for a few more days.

He is feeling better and on the road to recovery.”

Galansky suffered a sprained ankle in an off-ice drill and is expected to be out of action for 3-5 weeks.

“It’s going to be a month before they remove the cast off,” revealed Goslin.

“Hopefully he will be back at practice shortly some time after. We will have to wait and see how long the recovery period will be.”

Anthony Peters, acquired last season from Kingston, started the season in goal.

TELEGIN SIGNS

Dearborn’s Barry Sanderson started the season with three goals in Saginaw’s first two games.

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Russian import center Ivan Telegin is signed, sealed and delivered. The Spirit drafted the Novokuznetsk, Russia native in the 2009 CHL Import draft.

Drafted by Saginaw in the 2009 Import Draft, Telegin played last season with Novokuznetsk Metallurg and played internationally at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge and helped Russia win Silver at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

“We are excited to get Ivan,” said Todd Watson, Saginaw’s coach/ director of hockey operations. “He is a top NHL prospect that plays with an edge that combines grit with offensive skill.”

Spirit director of scouting Jim Paliafito is also vey high on the 1992-born Telegin, who is eligible for the 2010 NHL Draft. “The young man is an elite center with NHL first round talent,” said Paliafito, who is in his first year with the Spirit. “He plays a North American style and will be a valuable addition to this year’s team.”

“The Spirit is thrilled to welcome a player with the international credentials that Ivan brings,” said Goslin. “He was the captain of Team Russia and is regarded by many in the NHL scouting community as being a highly skilled difference maker.”

SPIRIT NOTEBOOK Josh Shalla wasted no time paying quick dividends for the Spirit, scoring a regulation goal and the shoot-out winner against the Guelph Storm, who dealt him to the Spirit during the off season, helping the Spirit to a 4-3 win in the season opener on Sept. 18.

Barry Sanderson (Dearborn), scored twice and goaltender Anthony Peters stopped 40 shots… The next night the Spirit took a 3-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack behind Peters 37 saves, which earned him first star selection. New left wing Stephen Francella (picked up off waivers from Kingston), T. J. Brodie and Sanderson, with his third goal in two games, led the Spirit attack…Saginaw also traded former first round (2007) pick, forward Daniel Pachis, to Oshawa for a 2010 conditional draft pick.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

PRO PREVIEW

Flint, Port Huron and Muskegon are getting ready for new IHL season

BY MATT MACKINDER As the International Hockey League begins its third season under that name, just three teams from Michigan remain after the Kalamazoo Wings bolted for the ECHL over the summer.

The trio that’s left – Flint, Muskegon and Port Huron – will be part of a revamped IHL that brought in a new team from Dayton (OH) and brought back Quad City.

Bloomington (IL) and defending champion Fort Wayne round out the seven-team league.

feel they’ve assembled a solid core to make a run at the Turner Cup this season.

New head coach Rich Kromm is optimistic about his team’s chances and has the vote of confidence from Muskegon general manager Tim Taylor, who led the team to the league finals a year ago. “(Kromm’s) history here is one of being a true winner and one who has enhanced the quality and class of Muskegon hockey and all of our community,” Taylor said. “His consummate professional approach and demeanor represent major assets and attributes to our organization and marks another major step in achieving our

PHOTO BY BARRY JONES

FLINT GENERALS After a mess of a 2008-09 season and a rumor-filled offseason, the Generals announced during the summer that they would be returning to the IHL this season after talk of the team folding was nearly reality.

Travis Prince, part of the former ownership group that also included Kris Draper of the Red Wings, is now the sole owner of the team and started to make his mark on the franchise with the hiring of ex-Michigan State goalie Jason Muzzatti as Flint’s new head coach.

That said, as of mid-September, just four players had signed with the Generals, including center Greg Bullock, who played in Flint last year.

“I have forgotten about last season and am looking forward to the coming season and going full force,” said Bullock, entering his 15th pro season. “With ‘Muzz’ at the head, I’m looking forward to working with him. I have a positive attitude.”

Goaltender Jean-Francois Labbe, center Pascal Rheaume and defenseman Tyler Howells, a key cog on Michigan State’s national championship team in 2007, are the others who will call Genesee County home this year.

“We’re thinking positive, and everybody else is thinking negative,” Prince said to the Flint Journal. “And I wish everyone would start getting a little bit more positive.”

Prince also said if the Generals don’t succeed financially this year, the team will fold.

“What have we got in Flint for people to go to?” Prince added.

“There’s not much here anymore. I hope you guys don’t cut us up too much, because we are trying to bring something to Flint, and I think it will go if everybody gets on the same page. If everybody starts cutting us down, then I’m sure it’s going to fail.”

MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS It’s the 50th anniversary of Muskegon hockey and the Lumberjacks

of our franchise and of this community.”

Goaltenders Sebastien Centomo and Matt Lundin will be between the pipes and in front of them, defensemen Justin Dacosta, Matt Gens, Mike Novak, Lubos Velebny and Jason Lawmaster (Westland) should be a solid group.

Up front, forward Billy Collins starts his sixth full year in Muskegon after three seasons with Wayne State.

“Billy has been a staple of our franchise for many years,” said Taylor. “His championship experience is vital to our success, and with that said, we are looking for a big season from him.”

Collins will be joined by Kevin Demers, Matt Robertson, Travis Banga, Brian Bicek (Western Michigan) John DiPace (Clinton Township) and enforcer Robin Big Snake on the Lumberjacks roster.

PORT HURON ICEHAWKS

Westland native and former Plymouth Whalers forward Kris Vernarsky has scored 21 goals in each of the last two seasons with the Port Huron Icehawks.

goals and objectives as an organization both on and off the ice.”

Two major players should help achieve said goals and in the annals of Muskegon history, there are no bigger names than forwards Robin Bouchard and Todd Robinson.

“To have Todd Robinson and Robin Bouchard back with us is as it should be here,” Taylor said. “They have scored together and they have won championships together here with us. They are the faces

The Icehawks think their mix of skill and grit will keep them in the IHL’s upper echelon.

Port Huron returns several players from last season in goalie Larry Sterling (Lake Orion), defensemen Daniel Tetrault, Rob Cowan and Ian Turner and forwards Kris Vernarsky (Warren), Nick Lindberg, Tab Lardner (Michigan Tech) and Kerry Bowman.

The tough guy role will be filled by newcomer Jason Kostadine.

“We are very happy to add a solid player of Jason’s ability,” Port Huron head coach and general manager Stan Drulia said. “He is a big physical player that will bring toughness to our lineup.

He skates well and can lead our forecheck.”

Defensemen George Halkidis and Kevin Hansen, who signed a two-year contract, join the Icehawks on the back end, while forwards Kai Magnussen, Mikael Bedard, Steve Natywary and Billy Burke make up the rest of the skaters up front.

Goalie Adam Russo, a former Canadian Hockey League goaltender of the year, will form a potent 1-2 punch with Sterling.

“Adam is a quality goaltender,” noted Drulia. “He brings with him a solid resume and the desire to succeed at the highest level possible. I spoke with a lot of coaches about him and they all had great things to say. He is quick and gives you a chance to win every night.”

Sterling is elated to be back and to have the opportunity to go further this year.

“We didn’t have the ending to the season that we wanted to last year, both as a team (lost in semifinals to Muskegon) and individually,” Sterling added. “I didn’t play the way I hoped to through the playoffs and was anxious to come back and prove myself. I think our team is out to prove something this year.”

K-Wings prepare for first-ever season in ECHL

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The state of Michigan will have its first ECHL ECHL,” said Wings VP and general manager Wade team this season when the Kalamazoo Wings kick Welsh. “We feel he can create scoring chances not off their first season in the league after the past only for himself, but for his teammates, and O’Connor two in the International Hockey League. not only brings playoff and championship experience, The K-Wings’ 36th season in minor pro hockey but he has produced in those high-pressure games.” will also be marked by NHL affiliations with Nie, who played in Kalamazoo in 2006-07 and was Philadelphia and San Jose. the United Hockey League’s top rookie that year, is a When the announcement was made of the welcome addition to the Wings. move June 9 by Kalamazoo president Paul Pickard, “We have a proud tradition of solidifying strong excitement was the word. goaltenders and that continues with signing Nie,” “Having a history in ECHL, I have first-hand added Welsh. “He’s a difference maker between the knowledge of the similarities between our pipes and has the ability to steal games.” organization and our new league,” said Pickard.

Also inked for this season are defensemen Matt “With the K-Wings and the ECHL having strong Krug (Livonia), a former Wayne State Warrior, Devin business models and sharing similar philosophies, Featherstone, Jon Landry, Jeff Mason and Jeremy we expect a smooth transition into the league.”

Swanson and forwards Rick Cleaver, Trent Daavettila While the team switched leagues, the K-Wings (Howell), Sam Ftorek, Erik Johnson, Bryan Jurynec, tradition of promotional games is unchanged, Anton Kharin, Olivier Legault and agitator Darryl Lloyd. including the Orange Ice game at Halloween, The K-Wings remaining roster spots will be filled by the Golden Ice game on January 30, the Pink Ice players Philadelphia and San Jose assign to Kalamazoo. game on Feb. 14 and the 29th annual Green Ice The Wings will hold a free showcase on October 3 game on March 17. at 7 PM for fans to get a look at the new team.

On the ice this year, it’s shaping up to be a Howell native Trent Daavettila is back “With no home preseason games, we felt it imperative Plymouth Whalers reunion as Kalamazoo has in Kalamazoo this season. to have an event for our fans to witness the building of signed goalie Ryan Nie, defenseman Ryan this year’s team,” said Welsh. “The showcase will be McGinnis (Fenton) and forwards Andrew Fournier and Sean O’Connor a great chance for our fans to see the players competing on the ice and (Brownstown). McGinnis, Fournier and O’Connor won an Ontario Hockey battle for roster spots.”

League title with the Whalers in 2007.

“McGinnis has the tools to become a top-notch defenseman in the

By Matt Mackinder

PRO PREVIEW

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Grand Rapids starts AHL season with roster full of Red Wings prospects

BY JOHN RAFFEL

a good job for us.”

Kindl leads the way on defense for the Griffins and will be supported at the blueline by Sergei Kolosov and Logan Pyett.

“They look like they’ve gotten better as well,” Fraser said, adding that Piche also shows promise coming out of juniors. “We added two veterans. Delmore played in Germany last year and was a very good offensive defenseman in the NHL and the American League, plus Doug Janik, who comes to us from Hamilton last year where he played very well every time we played against them.”

At forwards “the big question around camp has been what’s happening with Abdelkader,” Fraser noted. “It all depends on what happens through the exhibition games on where he winds up.”

Another key players for Grand Rapids will be Tardif, a five-year OHL veteran who was signed as a free-agent to a two-year entry As another American Hockey League season opens for the Grand level contract in 2007.

Rapids Griffins, various questions come to mind for the primary Last season Tardif scored 18 points in 55 games with the Griffins affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. and ranked 10th on the club in shots with 124. He scored just eight Who will stay with the American Hockey League team and who seconds into the Griffins’ 3-1 win at Peoria on Dec. 30, which set will wind up in Detroit? Will Griffins coach Curt Fraser have a squad franchise records for the fastest goal to start both a game and that can challenge for Grand Rapids first ever Calder Cup? Who will a period. He was injured and missed the final two games of the be goalie now that it appears Jimmy Howard will be Chris Osgood’s regular season but he got back for the playoffs and had two goals backup in Detroit? Can the Griffins turn the tables and be dominant in 10 games as the Griffins went to the AHL’s North Division finals. over AHL power and North Division and Western Conference rival Tardif showed his potential in mid-September by scoring a goal Manitoba Moose? Will Muskegon native Justin Abdelkader stay for the Red Wings during an exhibition game. with the Griffins or wind up in Detroit?

“It’s coming along very well,” he said. “That game Some of those questions will be answered in was a good test for what you can do for the guys in October, while others will take until April or May Detroit. Right now I know Detroit isn’t an easy team to be resolved. to crack. My job is to go out and make their decision Around 20 players who played for the Griffins’ 2008tough. When they send guys down, I just want to make 09 squad were expected to be on hand for the start a good impression and let the Red Wings know what of Red Wings camp, including goaltenders Howard, I can do for their team.

Daniel Larsson and Jordan Pearce; defensemen “Last year after the first month I thought I did well.

Jonathan Ericsson, Jakub Kindl, Sergei Kolosov, Brian Then in February I tore my MCL. I came back to the Lashoff and Logan Pyett; and forwards Abdelkader, playoffs and we had a tremendous playoff run. I’m Cory Emmerton, Darren Helm, Ville Leino, Francis happy that we finished off the year on a good note.

Lemieux, Evan McGrath, Jan Mursak, Ryan Oulahen, “I want to be a key part of the (Grand Rapids) team Francis Pare, Brent Raedeke, Mattias Ritola and leadership wise,” he said. “I worked hard during the Jamie Tardif. summer on my strength, conditioning and speed. The “So far through camp, all the players who played NHL is definitely faster than the American League. in Grand Rapids last year look better,” Fraser, in his The thing that is holding me back is my speed. It’s second year with the Griffins, said in mid-September. something I definitely need to work on.”

“They’ve matured a little bit. They’ve gotten bigger Despite the uncertainty regarding the final makeup and stronger. The players we’re adding are high-end of their roster Grand Rapids has the pieces to be a players.

Calder Cup contender.

“With our goaltending the way it looks, with (Daniel “We’re going to have a good mix of kids this year,” Larsson, Jordan Pearce and Thomas McCollum), I Fraser said. “From what I’ve seen in camp so far, all think we’ll have an excellent chance to be even better the guys who played in Grand Rapids last year have than we were last year. As of right now things are shown a lot of improvement. That’s a good thing to looking very good and we should be able to provide look at for the future in Grand Rapids.”

Goaltender Daniel Larsson is back in Grand Rapids after winning 22 games last season. another exciting year of hockey in Grand Rapids.”

The Griffins style of play “will likely be the same,” Also participating in camp were players who could spend time Fraser will look for offensive production from a group of returning as last season, Fraser said. “We’ll play a lot like the parent team, the with Grand Rapids this season, including McCollum; defensemen forwards.

Red Wings. We’re going to play fast. We have a lot of skill. Last year Andy Delmore, Travis Erhardt, Doug Janik and Sebastien Piche; “Ritola has looked good in training camp. (Jan) Mursak has come was a winning formula for us. That’s what we’re looking to do again and forwards Dick Axelsson, Kris Newbury, John Vigilante and in and is flying. Tardif, Emmerton and McGrath look very good. this year. Unlike last year, when a lot of kids we had were in their Jeremy Williams.

“And one of the kids who has been very good early in the prospects first year, they are now back for their second or third year. They’re For Fraser, plenty depends on what players the Red Wings keep. and at the Wings camp has been (forward) Francis Pare. So we have a little more mature and stronger and should be able to contribute “When Detroit leaves for Sweden on (Sept. 27) they can only take a lot of kids who have come in great shape and look a little stronger more and should give us an opportunity to improve.” their NHL roster. Then I think that will give us our team in Grand and more mature than they did last year.”

“In our division, Manitoba is going to be really good,” Fraser said.

Rapids,” he said.

Two new forwards the Griffins have added are Williams and “Cleveland has a chance to step up a little bit. There’s a lot of things With Howard in Detroit, Larsson is returning for his second season Newberry. going on in Toronto with the Maple Leafs and their farm team, the and is expected to be the starter. Pearce, who comes from Notre “They played with the (AHL) Toronto Marlies last year and were Marlies. They could be pretty competitive this year. Hamilton is Dame, hopes to be Larsson’s backup. also up and down with the Maple Leafs,” Fraser said. always pretty good. Our division will be very good this year.”

“We have three really good kids there,” Fraser said. “They’ll do

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michiganhockeyonline.com | September 28, 2009

33

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

PRO PREVIEW

Movers and shakers: NHL Western Conference will be very competitive

BY KEVIN ALLEN Here is an alphabetical look at the National Hockey League’s Western Conference teams heading into the 2009-10 season:

PHOTO BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

ANAHEIM DUCKS

Additions: GM Bob Murray moved strongly to improve the team’s second line by trading for Joffrey Lupul and signing Saku Koivu as a free agent. Murray also added young defenseman Luca Sbisa when he traded away Chris Pronger. Evgeny Artyukhin, a tool shed-size winger, also joined the team through a trade with Tampa Bay. Issues: The Ducks have the best/worst situation of having two premium goalkeepers fighting for one spot. Jean-Sebastien Giguere has won a Stanley Cup for the Ducks and Jonas Hiller looked spectacular in last spring’s playoffs. At some point, somebody will be moved, although it probably won’t happen during training camp.

The Ducks are also working with a rebuilt defense.

Predicted Western finish: 5th. The Ducks gave the Red Wings trouble last season with only one line, and now they have two scoring lines.

and Jeff Woywitka were signed to bolster the defense.

Issue: The Stars’ most significant problem last season was Brendan Morrow’s injury and he’s healthy. But the team lacks a big-name, big-play defenseman and owner Tom Hicks told Nieuwendyk not to take the team to the cap this summer. Former Michigan goalie Marty Turco played poorly early last season but was better in the second half.

Predicted Western finish: 12th. Too many factors would have to go very right for the Stars to be aligned well enough to make the playoffs.

Additions: Center Marcel Goc played four seasons with the Sharks.

Center Ben Guite has played the last three seasons in Colorado.

Issue: The Predators were among the NHL’s lowest scoring teams last season, and they could use another proven scorer in their lineup. They tried to land Phil Kessel, but fell short. Pekka Rinne’s development in goal certain will help, particularly since the Predators need to win 3-2 or 2-1.

Predicted Western finish: 14th. If you can’t score, you can’t win the talent-rich Central. They needed to spend this summer to keep up.

Additions: GM Darryl Sutter signed prize free agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and then hired his brother Brent to coach the team.

With Bouwmeester aboard, the team’s top four of Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr and Corey Sarich is certainly among the NHL’s best.

Super pest Theo Fleury has come out of retirement in an attempt to make the lineup of his former team.

Issue: After losing Mike Cammalleri to free agency, the Sutters will have to figure out a way to generate more offense. The team’s defense will be among the league’s best and the Flames will generate offense from the back end, with Phaneuf and Bouwmeester both capable of netting 15-20 goals. Center Mikael Backlund, 20, might be ready to step in and contribute offensively.

Predicted Western finish: 6th. Improved defense reduces the worry about whether Miikka Kiprusoff is still a premium goalie.

PHOENIX COYOTES

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

COLORADO AVALANCHE

Additions: Craig Anderson, formerly of the Florida Panthers, signed with the hope he can finally become a No. 1 goalie. New general manager Greg Sherman picked up defenseman Kyle Quincey, 23, to help with his rebuilding effort. Defenseman Tom Preissing came in the same trade, which sent Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings.

The new coach is Joe Sacco.

Issues: The Avalanche will be looking to clean up the team’s defensive play. Last season, the Avs were tied for last in the Western Conference in goals-against. It will be challenging for the Avs to overcome the loss of retired Joe Sakic. His presence was as valuable as his goal scoring. The presumption is that first-round pick Matt Duchene, chosen third overall, will make the team and start his process to be a long-term replacement.

Predicted Western finish: 15th. Anderson’s won be enough to keep the Avs out of the bottom of the Western Conference.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Additions: Veteran center Sami Paulsson signed to become the team’s checking center.

Issue: The Blue Jackets have to see if Derek Brassard is finally the right center fit for Rick Nash. Finding the right linemates for Nash has been a lengthy project for the Blue Jackets. This team has improved dramatically defensively in the past two seasons, and goalie Steve Mason’s arrival has made them a complete team. They went to school last spring when they played Detroit in the playoffs Prediction: 8th. With Ken Hitchcock as coach, the Blue Jackets are always a threat to make a quantum leap in development.

DALLAS STARS

Additions: The biggest changes to the team came at the decisionmaking level with Joe Nieuwendyk taking over as general manager and Marc Crawford coming in as coach. Alex Auld was acquired through a trade to be the team’s back-up goalie. Karlis Skrastins

34

Additions: It’s a complete makeover for the Wild with Chuck Fletcher taking over as general manager and Todd Richards assuming the role as coach. Fletcher signed right wing Martin Havlat to liven up an offense hurt by the departure of Marion Gaborik. Shot-blocker Greg Zanon was signed to help the defense, along with veteran Shane Hnidy, and Petr Sykora signed to help the offense Issue: The Wild wanted to make an even larger splash in the free agent market place, but they continue to have a challenge to recruit players to play in Minnesota even though it has an established hockey culture. Owner Craig Leipold wants to enhance the Wild’s national reputation.

Predicted Western finish: 11th. You could finish 11th this season and only miss the playoffs by four points. That’s how tight it is going to be.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

CALGARY FLAMES

Additions: RW Marian Hossa, the Blackhawks’ prize agent signing, will miss the first couple of months of the season because of shoulder surgery. Big-bodied winger Tomas Kopecky will probably receive more playing time that he received in Detroit.

Issue: Goalie Cristobal Huet probably needs to prove he’s ready to be the No. 1 goalie of a team that has a shot to compete for the Stanley Cup championship.

Predicted Western finish: 4th. Will push Detroit for Central crown, but not there quite yet.

MINNESOTA WILD

Westland’s Mike Modano returns to Dallas this year for his 21st season with the Stars organization.

DETROIT RED WINGS

Additions: After losing Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky to free agency, the Red Wings signed Jason Williams to play the point on the power play and Todd Bertuzzi to add some size and scoring touch. Right wing Patrick Eaves joins the team as a role player. Darren Helm becomes a regular, although he’s injured now.

Issue: The Red Wings are pushed against salary cap ceiling, meaning they don’t have much wiggle room to improve the team.

Predicted Western finish: Central Champions, 1st overall.

Everyone is too quick to write off the Red Wings who still have the NHL’s best defense and an impressive cache of scorers.

EDMONTON OILERS

Additions: Nikolai Khabibulin was signed to be the team’s No. 1 goalie and Pat Quinn was brought in to be the team’s head coach.

Tom Renney is the associate coach. Center-left wing Mike Comrie was a late summer free agent signing.

Issue: Unable to land a big-time winger in the off-season, the Oilers need to see if Patrick O’Sullivan is the right man to play with Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky on the top line. Comrie could also get a shot. The Oilers have a decent number of good players, but not enough blue chipers.

Predicted Western finish: 9th. The Oilers put a lot of balls in the air in an effort to improve, but they are still an average NHL team.

They might make the playoffs. The probably won’t.

LOS ANGELES KINGS

Additions: GM Dean Lombardi signed Stanley Cup Finals hero Rob Scuderi to fortify his defense and traded for Ryan Smyth to increase his offensive firepower. David Drewiske is penciled in to grab a defensive spot.

Issue: The Kings were among the NHL’s lowest scoring teams and they weren’t able to do enough to address that in the off-season.

Predicted Western Finish: 10th. Not enough goalscorers to make the playoffs.

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Additions: Veteran defenseman Adrian Aucoin, a puck mover, was signed to a one-year deal. Forward Radim Vrbata comes back to Phoenix where he had his best NHL performances. GM Don Maloney also traded for defenseman Jim Vandermeer and forwards signed Tayler Pyatt and Vernon Fiddle.

Issue: The franchise is surrounded by chaos as a bankruptcy mulls over whether the team should stay in Phoenix or be moved to Hamilton, Ont. Meanwhile, coach Wayne Gretzky, whose face and investment are tied to the court proceedings, is staying away until it is resolved. Youngsters Kyle Turris, Viktor Tikhonov and Kevin Porter are more ready than they were last season when they played for the Coyotes.

Predicted Western finish: 14th. The summer’s legal chaos wasn’t conducive to creating a winning environment.

SAN JOSE SHARKS

Addition: Dany Heatley was acquired from Ottawa in a trade that sent Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek to the Senators.

Scott Nichol comes over from the Predators to serve as a role player.

Issue: Coach Todd McLellan, a former Red Wings assistant, only has to sort out who plays with who now that Heatley joins the team’s top six and then the organization has to figure out why this team soars in the regular-season and flops in the playoffs. When it comes to talent, San Jose is second only to Detroit in the West.

Predicted finish: Pacific Division champion, 2nd overall. When it comes to offense, adding Heatley was like adding nitro to the tank.

ST. LOUIS BLUES

Additions: Free agent signee Ty Conklin could push No. 1 goalie Chris Mason for playing time. Veteran defenseman Darryl Sydor, a past Stanley Cup winner, has a shot to make the team.

Issue: Although the Blues were among the NHL’s best teams in the second half of last season, they are still unproven. They need youngsters such as T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund, Erik Johnson, etc. to continue to make significant strides to make the playoffs.

Prediction: 7th. In terms of overall play, this team is the NHL’s most improved team since the All-Star game last season.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Additions: The Canucks signed right wing Mikael Samuelsson to play in their top six forwards, and traded for Christan Ehrhff and Brad Lukowich to add to their defensive depth. The Canucks also signed Mathieu Schneider, meaning they have 10 NHL defensemen under contract. Andrew Raycroft was signed to compete for the backup goalie spot, but Cory Schneider, 23, has the edge in that battle. With center Cody Hodgson is likely to make the team, he could end up among the NHL’s top rookies this season.

Issue: Now that Daniel and Henrik Sedin, plus Roberto Luongo, have been given new contracts, they must prove they can take the team to the next level. GM Mike Gillis seems to have done a good job of making this team believe it’s ready to compete for the Stanley Cup. Predicted Western finish: 3rd. The Canucks could be a sleeper pick to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Pens and Flyers are class of the East ATLANTA THRASHERS

Additions: Center Nik Antropov was brought in to play with Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Kubina was acquired from Toronto. First rounder Evander Kane will make the team.

Issue: Kovalchuk could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If they can’t sign him before the season begins, don’t they have to consider trading him?

Predicted Eastern finish: 9th, Thrashers’ improvement not quite enough to grab a playoff spot.

BOSTON BRUINS

Additions: Veteran D Derek Morris.

Issue: The loss of Phil Kessel leaves a major void in the team’s offense, although the Bruins should have enough scoring.

Predicted Eastern finish: Wins Northeast. 2nd overall. Zdeno Chara, at 6-9, makes a big difference.

BUFFALO SABRES

Additions: Veteran D Steve Montador moves into the top six, and Mike Grier adds some size and strength.

Issue: With Jaroslav Spacek gone, who becomes the team’s puck-moving defenseman?

Predicted Eastern finish: 10th. Sabres not quite sharp enough for upward thrust.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Additions: Defenseman Aaron Ward was on Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup championship team.

Defensive forward Stephane Yelle and defenseman Andrew Alberts signed as free agents.

Issue: Rod Brind’Amour is still captain, but he’s 39 and played most of last season on the third line.

Is it time for Eric Staal to be acknowledged as the team’s go-to guy and leader?

Predicted Eastern finish: 8th, Staal is to the ‘Canes what Joe Sakic was to Colorado.

FLORIDA PANTHERS

Additions: Goaltender Scott Clemmensen is Tomas Vokoun’s running mate. Ville Koistinen and Jordan Leopold were signed to bolster the defense, and center Steven Reinprecht was acquired in a deal with Phoenix.

Issue: With the sale of the team in limbo, Randy Sexton will continue to serve as interim GM. His mission will be to get the team into the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

Predicted Eastern finish: 12th. Panthers miss the playoffs for ninth consecutive season.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

Additions: Signed free agent forwards Mike Camalleri and Brian Gionta and traded for Scott Gomez. New coach Jacques Martin is known for playing a disciplined defensive style.

Issue: With Saku Koivu and Alexi Kovalev gone, who is the captain of the Canadiens? What is the team’s identity? How does Martin’s style fit with these offensive-minded newcomers?

Predicted Eastern finish: 13th. Canadiens have stirred the pot to the point that the mixture isn’t recognizable.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Additions: Jacques Lemaire returns as coach.

Defenseman Cory Murphy has 79 games of NHL experience. Niklas Bergfors would seemingly get his shot.

Issue: Point-per-game LW Patrik Elias is hurt to start the season.

Predicted Eastern finish: 6th. Lou Lamoriello’s teams have made the playoffs 19 out of the past 21 seasons.

NEW YORK RANGERS

Additions: Marian Gaborik, Ales Kotalik and Vinny Prospal signed and Chris Higgins came over in the Scott Gomez trade. Donald Brashear was brought in to add toughness.

Issue: With only four experienced NHL defensemen in training camp, the Rangers will give youngsters Matt Gilroy and Bobby Sanguinetti a chance.

PRO PREVIEW

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Predicted Eastern finish: 7th, Coach John Tortorella won’t let them miss the playoffs.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Additions: John Tavares is the team’s best forward prospect since Pat Lafontaine. With goalie Rick DiPietro’s recent injury history, the Islanders signed Marty Biron and Dwayne Roloson to fill in.

Issue: With new arena situation still unsettled, GM Garth Snow’s budget is near the floor of the NHL salary cap. The Islanders’ youth movement is still ongoing.

Predicted Eastern finish: 15th, they could end up with another No. 1 draft pick next summer.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Additions: Big, tough difference maker Chris Pronger and goalies Ray Emery and Brian Boucher.

Gritty free agent signee Ian Lappierre also adds spunk.

Issue: Is Emery the goalie who led Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007 or is he the undependable goalie that undermined the Senators’ in 2008?. He played last season in Russia and the Flyers liked what they saw.

Predicted Eastern finish: 4th. Flyers are the sexy pick to win the Stanley Cup.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Additions: Shot-blocking defenseman Jay McKee and F Mike Rupp signed as a role player. Brent Johnson becomes Marc-Andre Fleury’s backup in goal.

Issue: They climbed hockey’s Mount Everest in June by winning the Stanley Cup. Are they mentally ready to start another climb?

Predicted Eastern finish: Wins Atlantic, 1st overall. Could be first team since 1998 Red Wings to win back-to-back titles. Take Penguins over Flyers in Eastern Finals.

OTTAWA SENATORS

Additions: Alexei Kovalev was brought in to make the team’s top six stronger. Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek make the offense deeper.

Issue: Although Pascal Leclaire’s presence should solidify the goalkeeping, is the defense is good enough?

Predicted Eastern finish: 11th. It’s difficult to believe the team was in the Stanley Cup Finals 28 months ago.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Additions: Veterans Mattias Ohlund, Matt Walker and Kurtis Foster were signed to alter team’s defensive look. Free agent Alex Tanguay steps into their top six, probably to play with Steve Stamkos. Defenseman Viktor Hedman was drafted No. 2 and he is expected to play immediately.

Issue: Owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie don’t agree on how the team should be managed.

Predicted Eastern finish: 14th. Work here is far from complete.

March 12 - April 11, 2010

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Additions: Defensemen Mike Komisaek, Francois Beauchemin and heaving-hitter Garnet Exelby.

Forwards Phil Kessel and Wayne Primeau. Swedish sensation Jonas Gustavsson will compete with Vesa Toskala for the starting goaltending job.

Issue: Defense is better, offense is still shaky.

Predicted Eastern finish: 6th. Healthy goaltending and improved defense get them into the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Additions: Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison signed as free agents, essentially replacing Viktor Kozlov and Sergei Fedorov who signed with the KHL. Kurt Alzner is penciled in for one of the top six D spots.

Issue: The Capitals need more from Michael Nylander to justify his $5.5 million paycheck and they want to remind themselves that they gave Pittsburgh Penguins all they could handle last spring.

Predicted Eastern finish: Wins Southeast Division, finishes 2nd overall. The big question is why the Caps aren’t moving bolder to surround Ovechkin with more talent?

By Kevin Allen

michiganhockeyonline.com | September 28, 2009

35

RED WINGS

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

With a mix of veterans and young talent, Detroit is still hungry for success

BY DAVE WADDELL The Detroit Red Wings didn’t just lose the Stanley Cup, they also lost a chunk of their roster over the summer for the first time in the salary cap era.

With the departure of forwards Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky, along with their combined 88 goals, the Wings roster has some significant holes to fill.

However, in the loss there is also opportunity.

The Wings have been slowly grooming a handful of youngsters in what should be the biggest influx of fresh talent into the lineup since Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan departed in the summer of 2006.

Fans got a sneak preview of several of the new Wings during last year’s playoffs when forwards Darren Helm and Ville Leino, along with defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, all made strong cases for making the permanent address change from Grand Rapids to Detroit.

“There are a few more new faces than we’re used to,” Red Wings defenseman Nick Kronwall said. “It’s another challenge.

“But the guys they brought in are guys most of who have been here before. They’re familiar faces. The coaches, staff and players all know them. They just have to come in play the way they did.”

NHL READY

However, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said there are half a dozen other prospects getting very close to being NHL ready.

Muskegon’s Justin Abdelkader is prime among that group. Though the Wings have long preferred he play another AHL season, Helm’s sprained shoulder in training camp has opened up an opportunity for the former Michigan State Spartans star to start the season with Detroit.

Having watched how the Wings have meticulously groomed Helm and Ericsson, Abdelkader is fine with whatever decision the club makes.

“I trust the organization to make the decision that’s best for my career,” he said.

However, this pre-season is important to far more than just Abdelkader.

The Wings pipeline of talent is bursting and the youthful push from below is keeping the pressure on the NHL incumbents to battle to keep their jobs.

“We’re real anxious to see Mattias Ritola, Ryan Oulahen, Jakub Kindl and Daniel Larsson in the exhibition season,” Holland said. “(Goalie) Thomas McCollum is still a kid, but can Larsson be a number three goalie this season if and when we need him?”

The early answer appears to be yes. Larsson looked very solid in his NHL exhibition debut, but more impressively the technical aspects of his game and rebound control were superb.

Larsson probably won’t see Detroit much this season as he has

minor-league options while Jimmy Howard doesn’t. The Wings will give Howard every opportunity to prove himself as Chris Osgood’s backup this season, but with a Stanley Cup contending team on his hands Holland won’t let his club go into the playoffs if the young netminder is still a question mark.

Joining Larsson in Grand Rapids for the last time will be Kindl.

Kindl has signed a three-year, one-way deal that begins in the 2010-11 season, so the Wings feel the skilled defenseman is close. He’s going to get a long look this pre-season to see just how close he is.

Kindl made good strides in his second AHL season, being selected for the league’s all-star game, but he’s in a long line to gain entry on the Wings blueline.

Corey Emmerton also had a nice first AHL season, but the Wings lump him in with McCollum.

“And Ritola has lots of skill, but he’s been in and out mentally,” Holland said. “We need him to be consistent. Oulahen is interesting.

He’s got it done just on his determination.”

STILL INTERESTED IN THE PRESENT

While the kids will plug some of the holes in the Red Wings lineup, this is a team that’s still very interested in the present.

It’s veteran core is not nearly as old as it’s frequently made out to be, especially with Chris Chelios’s departure, but it’s still loaded with championship experience.

Most of the key players on the club, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Dan Cleary, Johan Franzen and Valtteri Filppula, are still in their prime years or younger.

Nick Lidstrom, who will turn 40 before the end of the playoffs, is now the team’s senior statesman. He also was nominated for the Norris Trophy again last season so say no more.

Other than 36-year old Brian Rafalski, the Wings backend is actually pretty young with Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Brett Lebda , Ericsson and Derek Meech all still in their 20s. Andreas Lilja, who will start the season on the long-term injured reserve list, is in his early 30s.

However, not all the new talent is home grown. With limited space under the salary cap, the Wings couldn’t get into the bidding for anyone too pricey but they were active in the free agent market.

They’re hoping they’ve caught lightning in a bottle again, as they did in helping Cleary revive his career, by signing forwards Todd Bertuzzi and Patrick Eaves.

“We’ve done a good job getting some players in here for not a lot of money that are good players that we can fit into our cap and our team,” said goalie Chris Osgood, who looked sharp in the early going. “Every year you need guys to step up and have big years.

Have some people who think they can’t do it or aren’t going to do it. It’s no different.

“We had tons of good young players that played in the playoffs and played really well that are going to get the chance to play even more in the regular season. I’m not worried.”

Bertuzzi is back for his second stint with the Wings after being acquired in 2007. Big Bert put up decent numbers last season in Calgary, but injuries have curtailed his production in recent seasons.

Injuries also have slowed the career track of the 25-year-old Eaves.

A 20-goal scorer in his rookie NHL season, the speedy winger was a Hobie Baker Finalist as the NCAA’s top college player in 2005.

“We love his potential,” Holland said. “We need some players on the team that are cheaper ones too.

“Given his history, we know he has lots of skill. Our feeling is Patrick is a young kid who maybe has lost his confidence a bit after some injury problems. We think he can come here and find his confidence with the players he’ll get to play with.”

Eaves acknowledged the Wings’ success in helping boost careers as a factor in his signing with Detroit.

“They have a history of (guys resurrecting their careers here),” Eaves said. “Hopefully, I can be part of that category.

“I think it shows how good the organization is if you can take players that have lost their way a bit and get them on track. Like Dan (Cleary), who gets an Olympic tryout, that’s awesome.”

Bertuzzi also listed Detroit as his preferred destination after getting a taste of the organization two seasons ago.

The bruising winger has dropped 20 pounds in the off-season and claims this is the healthiest he’s felt in four years. In the preseason, he’s got a look as the left winger for Zetterberg’s line along with Cleary.

“I still think I’m capable of playing a top role and scoring, at the same time you got to go out and prove it and that’s what I’m here to do,” Bertuzzi said. “I’m an offensive player. I had decent numbers in Calgary last year.

“I ran into the injury bug with tearing my hip and having knee surgery. It seems every time things start to go good, something like that knocks me back down and reality kicks in.

“But I’m coming in here with a fresh slate and hopefully find some chemistry with someone early and contribute offensively.”

BETTER DEFENSIVELY

The Wings will need that contribution as they make an attempt to replace some of the goals they’ve lost to free agency.

Tomas Holmstrom said the Wings must attempt to combat their offensive losses on two fronts. Players who didn’t have big seasons last year must pick it up while at the same time the Wings can play better defensively.

“For sure, we lost 80-something goals,” Holmstrom said of feeling any pressure to score more.” All the guys have to step it up.

“I think the young guys will help. Everybody has to do it.

“Maybe our penalty killing can get better. We let so many goals in. If we’re better, maybe we don’t have to (score) so many goals.”

michiganhockeyonline.com | September 28, 2009

37

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

RED WINGS

PHOTO BY GREG GIELCZYK

Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock starts the team’s 2009-10 training camp at Traverse City Centre ICE with a stretching session.

Short Red Wings camp a hit in Traverse City

BY GREG GIELCZYK

38

September 28, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

With the 12th annual Detroit Red Wings training camp in town, fans packed the bleachers at both rinks at Traverse City’s Centre ICE Arena.

While some local fans might find the money and time to buy a ticket and head down to the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit for a regular season game, for the most part training camp is the best time for fans in northern Michigan to get a good look at their heroes up close and personal.

And it’s not just local fans that jam the arena to capacity for practices and scrimmages each summer, even some folks from the Motor City make the trek up north.

Ryan Minkus and his wife, Kari, came from Grand Rapids to see the Red Wings training camp this year for the first time and came away thrilled by the experience.

“I think it’s the fact that you can get so much closer to the players in a venue like this,” Ryan Minkus said. “You go to the Joe for a game, or practice, and it’s not the same. Here, the players walk right by you on their way from one rink to the other.

“Just seeing them so close, it’s something you can’t describe. If they keep coming back, we’ll be back.”

Alex Selim came up from Detroit for the NHL Prospects Camp, too, and was impressed with the facilities and the venue as well the talent from the eight-team tournament that included top young players from Carolina, Detroit, Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Minnesota, St. Louis and the New York Rangers “This is cool,” he said. “It’s been fun. It’s been entertaining to watch practices, and see the players getting ready for the season.”

Players are more accessible to the fans, too. They are regularly available for autographs, and even to chat with the fans.

It’s something that Detroit General Manager Ken Holland knows is important for both the fans, and the players.

“This is a great way to start out the season for our guys because of the response we get from the fans here,” he said. “The rink is jammed, and everywhere we go around the city people are excited to see us.”

Detroit has been coming to Traverse City for training camp for 12 years now, and the fans’ interest hasn’t waned a bit.

From the size of the crowds at this year’s camp, it would seem the interest is only growing. Especially with first-timers joining the throng.

If there was one drawback to the shorter camp, other than less time for the fans to see the players, it was the compression of the practices.

“It’s the shortest camp in our history,” said camp director Pete Correia. “Many of the (NHL) teams have adjusted their camps and preseason schedules a bit this year with the Olympics moving everything up. Add the Red Wings’ trip to Europe to open the season, and it’s a unique scenario that gave them just three days on the ice up here.”

Players also weren’t able to go golfing or pursue other recreational activities quite as much as they had in the past, when the camp was five or six days long.

“We didn’t play as many rounds of golf as we’d like to,” said Red Wings team captain Nicklas Lidstrom. “There wasn’t as much time for it.

“It’s difficult to get ready for the preseason in just three days, but we did a lot of work ourselves and in groups.

“But, we always have a great time here. The fans are super, and it’s neat to see them come out and support us.

They’re excited all the time just to get an autograph, or talk to you.”

Corriea and his son, Lance, put in months of work preparing for the Red Wings annual visit, lining up hotels for the players to stay. And with so much activity going on, extra workers were on hand to keep the ice in good shape, to take tickets and maintain security.

But everything runs as smooth as a Swiss watch.

The Red Wings opened their exhibition schedule one day after leaving Traverse City with a win over Philadelphia on Sept. 16, and begin the regular season in Sweden.

“We’re going over there four or five days before the season starts - and we wanted to play our full complement of pre-season games,” Holland said. “It only gave us a few days (for camp). Hopefully next year it’s another day or two.”

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