Many variables come into play that affect roster depth over the course of a season at the U-16 age level which includes U-18 callups, injuries and illness, game suspensions, academic endeavors, and players leaving a team.
Fortunately, there is an abundance of high quality players available this season which enables us to expand the team roster from 11 to 13 high quality forwards.
The expansion of the roster will provide us with added depth and versatility and foster healthy competition amongst players to crack the active 20 man roster of players who will dress for games.
The result of the forward roster expansion means that three forward roster spots are open to be filled at the conclusion of Sunday's Intrasquad Scrimmage Game #3.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Goalie Spot Roster Updates; Goalie Kyle Laslo Commits
Goalie Brach Tiller who played U-18 last season continues to be in the running for a goalie position with the U-18 Cleveland Barons AAA team, and has indicated his desire to try and play up next season at either the U-18 AAA or Junior Level.
For the time being Brach's roster spot has been re-opened as he goes through the process of trying out for and selecting a team.
It is the feeling of the coaches and team management that while we have several goalies in our Spring Training Camp who are capable of playing at the U-16 AAA level, outside of Brach, none of the other goalies at this moment in time have established themselves as being the type of "Go-To-Goalie" that would enable our team to challenge for the MWEHL, Michigan State, and National Championships.
For this reason, it became necessary for us to broaden our search for a "Go-To-Goalie" to also include players residing and playing outside of the State of Michigan and Northern Ohio.
During this search process we identified a standout goaltender from Irvine, California, Kyle Laslo who is the #1 goalie for the LA Hockey Club. We recently offered Kyle the opportunity to move to Detroit and play for our team. I am very pleased to announce that Kyle has just accepted our offer for a roster spot and will be playing for our team for the 2007-08 fall season.
The second goalie position for our team remains open at this time.
In the next couple days we will have further conversations with Brach about his intentions, and also speak with the goalies in our Spring Training Camp who remain on the bubble for making our team.
We are hoping to make a final decision on the second goalie spot as soon as possible.
For the time being Brach's roster spot has been re-opened as he goes through the process of trying out for and selecting a team.
It is the feeling of the coaches and team management that while we have several goalies in our Spring Training Camp who are capable of playing at the U-16 AAA level, outside of Brach, none of the other goalies at this moment in time have established themselves as being the type of "Go-To-Goalie" that would enable our team to challenge for the MWEHL, Michigan State, and National Championships.
For this reason, it became necessary for us to broaden our search for a "Go-To-Goalie" to also include players residing and playing outside of the State of Michigan and Northern Ohio.
During this search process we identified a standout goaltender from Irvine, California, Kyle Laslo who is the #1 goalie for the LA Hockey Club. We recently offered Kyle the opportunity to move to Detroit and play for our team. I am very pleased to announce that Kyle has just accepted our offer for a roster spot and will be playing for our team for the 2007-08 fall season.
The second goalie position for our team remains open at this time.
In the next couple days we will have further conversations with Brach about his intentions, and also speak with the goalies in our Spring Training Camp who remain on the bubble for making our team.
We are hoping to make a final decision on the second goalie spot as soon as possible.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Travis Hafner Declines Roster Spot; Names His Replacement
Cleveland Indians power hitting First Baseman, Travis Hafner, has unexpectedly declined the fall roster spot offered to him last week by the U-16 Belle Tire Wizards Hockey Team.
Hafner, a lifetime .294 hitter with 127 career home runs in six Major League Seasons has decided to stay with the Indians baseball team through October as the Tribe prepares for the pennant race.
A teary-eyed Hafner, flanked by his wife and agent at his side, made his decision public at a news conference Tuesday Evening, and offered up his namesake, Rusty Hafner, as his replacement.
Said Hafner, "This was a very difficult decision for me to make. I took a few days to think it over with my family but decided that my $9.5 million dollar salary and the opportunity to play in the postseason with the Indians this fall was just too much for me to give up. Besides, this Rusty Kid is a big strong defenseman, and unlike me, he actually plays hockey and will be a much better fit on the Belle Tire Wizards blueline."
Said namesake Rusty when reached by phone while lifting weights at his Suburban Toledo residence, "I will do my best to represent the Hafner name with great honor and dignity. This is a tremendous opportunity, I am very thankful to Travis for giving it to me and I will not let him down."
Detroit Tigers Fans were obviously disappointed with Travis Hafner's decision. Said one Tigers fan who spoke on the condition of anonymity, "We were all very excited to see Travis leave the Indians to pursue hockey. This reversal of fortunes is a major blow to the Tigers chances of making the playoffs and repeating as American League Champions this season. This Rusty kid will not be received kindly by Tigers Fans when he crosses state lines."
When asked if he was worried about retribution from angry Tigers Fans, Rusty responded, "No they are all just a bunch of wimps, I can take them. This type of thing comes with the territory, being from Ohio I am used to being harassed all the time, and it has made me mentally tougher".
Hafner, a lifetime .294 hitter with 127 career home runs in six Major League Seasons has decided to stay with the Indians baseball team through October as the Tribe prepares for the pennant race.
A teary-eyed Hafner, flanked by his wife and agent at his side, made his decision public at a news conference Tuesday Evening, and offered up his namesake, Rusty Hafner, as his replacement.
Said Hafner, "This was a very difficult decision for me to make. I took a few days to think it over with my family but decided that my $9.5 million dollar salary and the opportunity to play in the postseason with the Indians this fall was just too much for me to give up. Besides, this Rusty Kid is a big strong defenseman, and unlike me, he actually plays hockey and will be a much better fit on the Belle Tire Wizards blueline."
Said namesake Rusty when reached by phone while lifting weights at his Suburban Toledo residence, "I will do my best to represent the Hafner name with great honor and dignity. This is a tremendous opportunity, I am very thankful to Travis for giving it to me and I will not let him down."
Detroit Tigers Fans were obviously disappointed with Travis Hafner's decision. Said one Tigers fan who spoke on the condition of anonymity, "We were all very excited to see Travis leave the Indians to pursue hockey. This reversal of fortunes is a major blow to the Tigers chances of making the playoffs and repeating as American League Champions this season. This Rusty kid will not be received kindly by Tigers Fans when he crosses state lines."
When asked if he was worried about retribution from angry Tigers Fans, Rusty responded, "No they are all just a bunch of wimps, I can take them. This type of thing comes with the territory, being from Ohio I am used to being harassed all the time, and it has made me mentally tougher".
Practice Added
We have added a practice next Sunday, June 3rd at 1:25PM at Great Lakes Michigan Arena. This practice replaces last weekend's canceled practice due to the arena's closure
Monday, May 28, 2007
Canceled Practice Information
Apologies for the cancellation of Sunday's practice at Great Lakes.
Our team management was never notified that the arena would be closed and we had no reason to believe that it would be considering it only closes Christmas Day.
We will attempt to make up the canceled practice by adding another practice for next Sunday to schedule.
Our team management was never notified that the arena would be closed and we had no reason to believe that it would be considering it only closes Christmas Day.
We will attempt to make up the canceled practice by adding another practice for next Sunday to schedule.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Fall Roster Updated; Just 2 Spots Left
Defenseman Travis Hafner has accepted a fall roster spot offer for the 2007-2008 Fall Season. This brings the number of fall roster commitments to 18 with 1 opening left for a skater and 1 opening left for a goalie.
There are several strong candidates for these positions in our spring camp and we are fielding calls and e-mails on a daily basis from more players asking for a look.
The final decision on these last roster spots is an agonizing one. At the Midget Age level MAHA should really allow teams to roster up to 25 players for the fall season and let the players compete throughout the season to determine which 20 of them will dress for games.
Unfortunately, this is not the case right now, and whatever decision is made for these final roster spots will mean that some very good players won't make the fall team.
There are several strong candidates for these positions in our spring camp and we are fielding calls and e-mails on a daily basis from more players asking for a look.
The final decision on these last roster spots is an agonizing one. At the Midget Age level MAHA should really allow teams to roster up to 25 players for the fall season and let the players compete throughout the season to determine which 20 of them will dress for games.
Unfortunately, this is not the case right now, and whatever decision is made for these final roster spots will mean that some very good players won't make the fall team.
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