Last minute updates

Both training camp goalies (Lansdowne & Smith) were released (according to cycloneshockey.com we have 23 players in camp). Means we should be seeing both Grumet-Morris and Desjardins dressed tonight in Youngstown. If you can't make it be sure to listen to Hammer on cycloneshockey.com -- and check back here for a post-game update from Y-Town. Game time is 7:05.

The team also released their promo schedule... highlighted by Twister Bobbleheads (!!!!!), Nashville Predators Night, Montreal Canadiens Night, and the return of Faith Night (note: Grumet-Morris will be in net, whether you like it or not). Also, Wet Wednesday & Thirsty Thursdays are also back.

Only slightly-related note: The Bulldogs raise their Calder Cup Banner tonight in Hamilton vs the Amerks. :)

11 days

I didn't make it to the scrimmage today but from what I hear there were a lot of different mini-games involved. The Cyclones' recap is here. The team plays Friday in Youngstown at 7pm at the Chevrolet Centre, the Section 136 crew is making the trip, so I will be sure to link some photos next week and come back bearing some real insight, finally. Look for an update late Friday or early Saturday with a game recap. If you can't make it Friday - the game is on B2.

We're also trekking to Cleveland on Saturday for the Hamilton/Lake Erie game, and I'll be sure to drop a few updates on how things are going for the Bulldogs. Not sure if this was mentioned, but Cyclones signee Gerard Miller is on a 25-game PTO with Hamilton and played his first AHL game on Friday. The season hasn't started yet and our players are already being sought after - hopefully it's a good sign. (Btw, they topped the Amerks 3-2, 0:39 into OT on a Maxim Lapierre goal.)

A few notes of interest... the first coach's show is on Monday the 15th at Jefferson Hall (Newport on the Levee). Need more info on Jefferson Hall? Show kicks off at 7pm (Happy Hour is 4-7, btw), and the place is family-friendly before 9pm (and in case you're of the older age bracket, there is a DJ at 10 on Mondays). If you can't make it, catch it on SuperTalk 96.5FM. Also, October 21st the Cyclones make an appearance at Kings Island... special discounts are available.

In the mean time... we're 11 days from Opening Night at the Nut House... any early observations??

Miscellany

• P.O. Mouton was released by the team on Friday.
• Meltdown in Dayton? Columbus severed ties with Dayton, and move affiliation to Elmira. Camp for the neighboring Bombers opens October 11th, just 3 days before their matchup with the Cyclones. Detroit, having no ECHL affiliate, could make the move, but we'll have to see how it pans out for the Bomb Squad.
• As for the Cyclones, in day 2 of camp - they're looking fast, solid, working well together already. Except for Dov "Top Corner" Grumet-Morris. But we won't go there...

Welcome to Training Camp

Coach Weber, Coach Stork, and the boys were on the ice this morning at Sports Plus in Day One of the 2007-08 Cyclones' training camp. The team will be back on the ice at 11am tomorrow and Sunday if you want to catch them in action. Don't forget - Tuesday at 4pm, the team will be scrimmaging.

2 weeks, 1 day until the road opener in Dayton!

Former 'Clone update: Jarred Mohr inked a deal with the Rocky Mountain Rage (Broomfield, Colo.) of the CHL; forward Erik Johnson has joined Youngstown.

Hamilton demotes 4, MacDonald returned, Milwaukee sends 3 (UPDATED)

Matt MacDonald was returned by Rockford to the team on Monday. More here.

The team received four from Hamilton today - forwards Mathieu Aubin, David Desharnais, Thomas Beauregard, and goaltender Cedrick Desjardins.

• Aubin, 21, went 16-30-46 in 48 games with the Cyclones in 2006-07, including 9 points in 10 playoff games. He also had 5 points in 17 games with Hamilton.
• Desharnais, 21, finished a successful QMJHL career in 2007, finishing last season with an impressive 108 points in 61 games (374 points in 262 career games with Chicoutimi). He also suited up in 7 games with Bridgeport and went 1-1-2.
• Beauregard, 21, is also a product of the QMJHL and scored 124 points in 69 games with Acadie-Bathurst.
• Desjardins, 22, returns to Cincinnati for his second professional season after going 24-19-1 with a 2.54 GAA and .917 SPCT. He also went 0-2 in two games for Hamilton.

Milwaukee also assigned three to the team, goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris, forward James Sixsmith, and defenseman Bryan Schmidt.

• Grumet-Morris, 25, split the season between Cincinnati and three AHL clubs (Hamilton, Portland, and Manitoba). With the Cyclones he went 11-8-3 with a .909/2.77.
• Schmidt, 26, notched 18 points in 58 games with Manchester of the AHL. He also spent six games with Reading (ECHL).
• Sixsmith, 23, joins the team from the college ranks out of Holy Cross where he averaged 38 points per season. He also played three games with Bridgeport (AHL), and had was 2-1-3.

Current roster stands at 22:

• Goaltenders (4): Cedrick Desjardins, Dov Grumet-Morris, John Smith (PTO), Lee Lansdowne (PTO)
• Forwards (14*): Barret Ehgoetz, Scott Reynolds, Mathieu Aubin, David Desharnais, Thomas Beauregard, Jean-Michel Daoust, Avery Wilson, Travis Fuller, Billy Irish-Baker, Andrew Martin, Matt Rogers, Steven Doherty (PTO), P.O. Mouton (PTO), James Sixsmith
• Defensemen (7): Matt MacDonald, Chad Starling, Conrad Martin, Tyler Howells, Greg Gallagher, Sean Perkins (PTO), Bryan Schmidt

*Forward Gerard Miller is still with Hamilton.

Roster Takes Shape

Released from Milwaukee's camp: Cyclones' signees Travis Fuller, Jean-Michel Daoust, Conrad Martin, Avery Wilson; Admirals also assigned to Cincinnati defenseman Andrew Martin and Tyler Howells.

And from released from Hamilton were Scott Reynolds & Barret Ehgoetz. Hamilton currently possesses 4 goalies - I'd look to see at least one be assigned in the next few days.

Training camp updates

In Hagersville, ON the Hamilton Bulldogs took a 7-6 win in OT in their final preseason matchup on a goal by Cyclones' Gerard Miller... Mathieu Aubin and Greg Stewart each recorded two assists... Desjardins with 17 saves after replacing Yann Danis after one period of play. Bulldogs' season begins October 6th.

Meanwhile in Milwaukee, Dov Grumet-Morris and Maxime Daigeneault combined for 21 saves in the Admirals' final preseason game. Their season opens October 6th in Peoria.

Camp opens for the Cyclones on Friday October 5th at Sports Plus. Don't forget:

Tuesday 10/9 @ 4pm - intrasquad scrimmage
Friday 10/12 @ 705pm - Cyclones @ Youngstown (preseason)
Sunday 10/14 @ 7pm - Cyclones @ Dayton (Kettering)
Wednesday 10/17 @ 6pm - Open House (meet the team, buy equipment, tour the locker rooms)

Former 'Clone Update

Look to see Jason Goulet in uniform for the Bombers for the season opener Oct. 20th in Dayton.

“It’ll be interesting being on the other side of the fence,” Goulet said of
the Bombers rivalry with the Cyclones. As for dropping the gloves against his
former team, the defenseman said simply, “we’ll have to see how it goes.”

Radio schedule

Check out the Cyclones' radio schedule on 96.5FM right here.

Better late than never, right?

So I'm a little slow in posting. Give me a break. I've been galavanting around the DC/Baltimore area, turning 21, and taking in as much (losing) baseball as possible before September 30th takes that away.

Our roster stands at 12 signed players (bolded players attending AHL camps in parentheses):

1. Jean-Michel Daoust (Milwaukee)
2. Matt Macdonald (Rockford)
3. Barret Ehgoetz (Hamilton)
4. Travis Fuller (Milwaukee)
5. Conrad Martin (Milwaukee)
6. Scott Reynolds (Hamilton)
7. Gerard Miller (Hamilton)
8. Chad Starling
9. Avery Wilson (Milwaukee)
10. Greg Gallagher
11. Billy Irish-Baker
12. Matt Rogers

The team has also extended tryout offers to 5 players, which opens up October 5th, with 2006-07 team in parentheses:

1. F Steven Doherty (Kalamazoo - UHL)
2. F Pierre-Olivier Mouton (Kahnawake - QAJHL)
3. D Sean Perkins (Vernon - BCHL)
4. G Lee Lansdowne (Milton Keynes - EPL)
5. G John Smith (Cyclones' emergency backup goalie)

Updates on a few potential returning players from last season...
Out of Montreal: Forwards Cory Urquhart, Mathieu Aubin, Jimmy Bonneau, Greg Stewart; defenseman Jon Gleed, and goaltender Cedrick Desjardins were reassigned from Canadiens camp to Hamilton's. In their preseason opener, Urquhart netted a goal and Cedrick Desjardins turned away 23 shots.
...Nashville: Goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris was among Nashville cuts and saw ice time with Milwaukee in their preseason opener, turning away 12 of 14 shots. Former IHL Cyclone Shane Willis was also reassigned from Nashville to Milwaukee -- could we see a return of Willis?

Updates on former Cyclones elsewhere in the world...
Sam Ftorek spent time with Jason Deitsch with EHC München, but will be joining the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the new IHL... Deitsch already has 3 points in 6 games... Rory Rawlyk and Mike Wirll are suiting up for EV Regensburg, ... Forward Torry Gajda will suit up for the Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL), but is in camp with Norfolk (AHL) currently... Travis Lisabeth will also be suiting up with Mississippi... Goaltender Ben Gray is with Youngstown (CHL)... Defenseman Brian Mullally has inked a contract with the Mississippi River Kings (CHL)... Nick Martens is with Graz EC in Austria... Fresno (ECHL) has retained Dave Borrelli and Riley Day for another season... former goaltender Brian Gratz is now the head coach of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League's Indiana Ice Miners...

Have an update on a former player or anything else to mention? Email it to section136@gmail.com.