Everblades open training camp

Monday, October 08, 2007

Everblades open training camp
The 2007-08 Florida Everblades opened training camp today, still missing pieces of the team that will eventually take the ice for opening night. Most notably, the Blades are missing their second goaltender, who is to be assigned by the Florida Panthers.
David Shantz, the Panthers contribution to the Everblades netminding staff last season is still with the Rochester Americans as is newcome Tyler Plante. Shantz played last night for the Amerks, facing 21 shots, but falling in overtime 3-2 to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Plante has yet to see regular season action for the Amerks as Sabres prospect Adam Dennis took the start in Saturday's game against the Toronto Marlies. Dennis will likely see the bulk of time in net for the Amerks irregardless of which of the Panthers prospects coach Ranny Cunnyworth decides to retain.
Another former Blade who has yet to see ice time and who may be re-assigned down to the Blades is defenseman Frank MacDonald. The Amerks have 9 defenseman on the roster, and Cunnyworth has played the same six for the first two games of the Amerks regular season. Peter Aston, the Panthers sixth round pick in the 2006 draft and Jordan Henry, a Panthers free agent signee, also joined MacDonald on the bench for the first two games.
Meanwhile the prospects that are currently with the Blades are young. The Everblades, who were moving veterans on and off the roster last year, only have one veteran, Ernie Hartlieb, signed for the current season. That may change if Ryan Brindley decides to return to the Blades. An announcement is expected today.
The Blades lost a lot of firepower over the summer with Vince Bellissimo and Dustin Johner off to Europe, and Reggie Berg and Brent McDonald deciding to pursue other careers this season. Some of that fire power was made up earlier this week when the Blades reached an agreement with the Stockton Thunder for forward Mathieu Melanson. The 22-year-old son of former NHL goalie Rollie Melanson netting 14 goals and 12 assists in just 17 games with the Thunder last season. The terms of the deal, which includes financial and future considerations, were not announced.
The Panthers could help on the firepower end as well, as Mike Duco has also sat out the first two Amerks game. A free agent signee, Duco had 20 goals and 20 assists in 54 games during his final year of Junior Major hockey with the Kitcher Rangers.
Currently in camp, the Blades have forward J.B. Bittner, Brad Zancanaro, Grant Goeckner-Zoeller, Brad Herauf, Derek Damon, Jonathan Lehun, Kyle McAllister and Jarret Lukin. Zancanaro, Damon, Lehun and Lukin are all returnees and are familiar faces for Blades fans. The others are fairly steady scorers, but none promise to replace the scoring ability that was lost in front of the net over the offseason.
Steve Czech, Martin Tuma, Brett Peterson, and Bret Nasby will all be back on the blue line for the Blades, and they are welcoming in Brandon Roach and Steve Ward to their number.
While coach Gerry Fleming laments the loss of experience, he feels that he's got a good blend of skill and grit going with the Blades right now. If the Panthers assign only one or two players down, that will leave room for some of the free agents that were invited to Everblades camp to earn roster spots. The names of those players have not yet been released to the public.
Training camp will run through Oct. 18, the day before the opening of the regular season. Camp consists of an on-ice practice at 10 a.m. followed by an off-ice workout session each day except Sunday, which the players will have off. The Blades will play a pair of preseason games Friday and Saturday against the Central Hockey League's Mississippi RiverKings to get ready for the regular season. Tickets to the preseason constests, as well as opening night, are available at all ticketmaster locations and that the Germain Arena Box Office.
Affiliate News: The Albany River Rats won their regular season opener 3-1 Saturday night over the Binghamton Senators despite area problems that produced fog on the ice that interrupted play 25 times. Former Everblade Mike Angelidis tallied for the Rats and while Keith Aucion record an assist. The parent Carolina Hurricanes are off to a 1-1-1 start this season after they lost their last game 2-0 to the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
The Panthers meanwhile are 0-2-0 to start while the Rochester Americans are 0-1-1. The Panthers assigned Kamil Kreps to Rochester on Sunday, but he had not arrived in time to play in the game against Hamilton.