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| SportsTuesday, October 16, 2007 11:30 PM CDT |
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PrairieThunder has strong mix of experience
BLOOMINGTON — From 38-year-old right winger Don Parsons to 21-year-old rookie left winger Jamison Orr, the season-opening roster for the Bloomington PrairieThunder runs the gamut experience-wise. For veteran forward Jason Ralph, the contrasts look like a recipe for success entering Saturday’s International Hockey League season opener at Flint. “I think we’ve got a great mix of old guys with young guys,” Ralph said. “We’re not a young team and we’re not an old team. We have guys like (player/coach) Jarrod (Skalde) who have played in the NHL, which is only going to help the young guys out. “Our young guys are fast players. I don’t think they’re going to play like rookies. It looks like they’re really going to step up their game.” Second-year Thunder coach Derek Booth, who guided the then-expansion team to a 25-45-6 record last season in the now-defunct United Hockey League, unveiled an eclectic 24-man roster during Monday’s media day at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Parsons, the all-time leading American-born goal scorer at any level of professional hockey, Skalde and Ralph head a list of eight veterans (300 or more games played professionally) that includes defensemen Cory Laylin and Jeff Ewasko and wingers Vince Malts, Sam Ftorek and Donnie Margettie. Orr, who played the final 10 games of last season with the Thunder after moving up from the junior ranks, will be joined by eight other rookies (less than 60 games of experience): centers Brent Clarke, Rene George and Noah Katz; wingers Brett Holmberg, Kyle McCullough and John Wheaton; and goalies Loic Lacasse and Gasper Kroselj. Besides Orr, other returnees from last season’s team are defensemen Tim Schneider, Casey Handrahan and Sam Miller. “Only time will tell, but from what we’ve seen I like our team,” Booth said. “It’s a thing where you don’t know until you get her going, but right now I feel very comfortable and very confident with our team. Jarrod and I really worked hard with the template we wanted for our team.” Team chemistry was the major component of that template for Skalde, a 16-year veteran who played 115 games in the NHL from 1990-2002. “I think the biggest thing Derek and I talked about was the chemistry of the team and the leadership,” Skalde said. “We brought in some veteran guys that have been around, but most importantly, we brought in good people and I think that really helps the team chemistry. “It makes it more of a family atmosphere and it makes guys accountable. Last year’s situation with a new franchise and Derek coming in late, he wasn’t able to put together those pieces. I think the on-ice stuff takes care of itself. Guys caring about each other, that’s going to be key to the success of this team.” The Thunder split two exhibition games, rallying for a 5-4 victory at Fort Wayne before suffering a 4-2 loss at Muskegon. Ftorek had two goals in the Fort Wayne victory, while Miller had one goal in each game. George scored the game-winning goal against Fort Wayne. Parsons and Pascal Bedard scored the Thunder’s other goals. Bedard and Clarke had two assists each. Schneider, Scott Crawford, Ralph, Handrahan, Parsons and George also notched assists. “Boother went out and got a lot of good players. We have a little bit of everything,” Miller said. “Depth-wise we’re super strong, and we have great chemistry. Our locker room is more upbeat and the guys all get along. It’s a great situation right now.” Booth was impressed with the play of top goaltender Derek Dolson during the exhibition games. The nine-year veteran stopped 28 of 33 shots. “Derek Dolson played two great games for us,” Booth said. “What he’s shown the last couple of games is he loves being out there. He comes out and challenges those shooters.” Thomas, Katz out Forward Leo Thomas will not report to the team until later this week and will not be available for Saturday’s opener. Thomas has a part in a movie that is under production. Katz will start the season on the injured reserve list after injuring his finger in the exhibition game at Muskegon. The five players on the preseason roster who didn’t survive the final cuts were defensemen Ken Patzack and Kristjan Jefkins, forwards Chad Loikets and Martin Oertel, and goalie Justin Grant. PrairieThunder vs. Generals When: 6:30 p.m., Saturday Where: Perani Arena, Flint, Mich. Records: Season opener Radio: WTRX-FM (93.7) Bloomington PrairieThunder Roster FORWARDS -- Vince Malts, Jarrod Skalde, Noah Katz^, Sam Ftorek, Don Parsons, Jason Ralph, Rene George, Brett Holmberg, Donnie Margettie, Leo Thomas, Jamison Orr, Brent Clarke, John Wheaton, Kyle McCullough. DEFENSEMEN -- Casey Handrahan, Jeff Ewasko, Pascal Bedard, Scott Crawford, Sam Miller, Tim Schneider, Cory Laylin. GOALTENDERS -- Derek Dolson, Gasper Kroselj, Loic Lacasse. ^ - injured reserve Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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cant wait wrote on Oct 16, 2007 3:26 PM:
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