By the Numbers

First business first: David Desharnais named Cincinnati's representative for the American Conference All-Star Team. Congrats, David. I don't agree with this choice, but I think I have spoken my peace about that enough.

Instead, I'm going to rip apart the team by the numbers! Yay!

Let's start with the goaltenders & their rankings...
Goals Against: Cedrick - 4th (2.01); Dov - 11th (2.48)
Save Percentage: Cedrick - 7th (.924); Dov - 23rd (.900)
Wins: Dov - T-2nd (11); Cedrick - 21st (6)
Shutouts: Cedrick - 1st (3)

And for the skaters:
Points: JM Daoust - 2nd (38), Barret Ehgoetz - 14th (28), David Desharnais - 18th (26)
Goals: JM Daoust - 1st (21)
Assists: Barret Ehgoetz - 6th (22), David Desharnais - 11th (20), JM Daoust - 18th (17)
Power Play Goals: JM Daoust - 4th (8)
Game-Winning Goals: JM Daoust - 4th (4)
First-Goals: JM Daoust - 2nd (5)
Insurance Goals: Mathieu Aubin - 2nd (3), Billy Irish-Baker - 10th (2)
Plus/Minus: Barret Ehgoetz - 1st (+19), Tyler Howells - 2nd (+16), Conrad Martin - 3rd (+16), Scott Reynolds - 7th (+14), David Desharnais - 11th (+13), Chad Starling - 13th (+13), JM Daoust - 15th (+13), Gerard Miller - 21st (+11), Mathieu Aubin - 30th (+10), Matt MacDonald - 32nd (+10) ... this stat has basically made my day
Rookie Scoring: David Desharnais - 6th (27 pts)

...and as a team:
107 goals scored: #1 overall (Texas is next with 98)
62 goals against: #2 overall (LV is first with 55)
Powerplay: 19.7% (6th)
Penalty Kill: 85.3% (5th)
Free sandwiches from City BBQ: 7

Let the revolving door turn

Remember me? :)

Players currently on recall: J. Sixmith, B. Schmidt, D. Grumet-Morris (Milwaukee), C. Desjardins, D. Desharnais (Hamilton)
Players we had for a minute: J. Gleed, C. Urquhart, J. Bonneau (Hamilton)

Hey Hamilton, quit depleting us!

Newbs: Maxime Daigneault from Milwaukee, where he was 2-2 with 2.33 and .909 GAA... Ervins Mustukovs, a Latvian who played in the SPHL this season for Knoxville and formerly for Toledo... he went 3-0-1 there but with a 3.91 and .889... I'm assuming Daigneault gets the start between the pipes tonight and Sunday... Mustukovs against Wheeling... those of you going, let me know how he looks.

Guess the bad thing about being a phenomenal minor league team is getting depleted when they get too good.

Also of note (old news now), David Desharnais was PaySource USA Plus Minus Performer of the Month and Rookie of the Month for November in the ECHL... Jean-Michel Daoust was the CCM Player of the Month for November... and Cedrick Desjardins was runner-up for the RBC Saver of the Month award for Nov.

Keep it up boys. Hopefully, even with the callups, they can keep up this pace... this team's unstoppable when in full-force... unbelievable November... here's to an unbelievable December, too.

Transactions

CONTRACTED PLAYERS RELEASED (eligible for waivers/waiver claims)
Cincinnati: Greg Gallagher, D

OTHER TRANSACTIONS:
Cincinnati: Add Jimmy Bonneau, F assigned by Hamilton (AHL)
Delete Billy Irish-Baker, F placed on the 7-day IR
Delete Sean Perkins, D transferred to the 30-day IR

Extending the lead

Unbeaten in the last 7 (6-0-1) with a 3-1 win over Wheeling (they showed up this time).

JM Daoust's 7th consecutive game with a goal is now tied for the longest this season in pro hockey.

Desharnais' goal put him in a tie for the rookie scoring lead.

Gleed & Bonneau were reassigned from Hamilton. Quite a few extra guys floating around. Sixsmith is back in the lineup, as was Gallagher, finally.

Anyone else thing Beauregard should leave the fighting to the big guns? Yeah, me too.

Stats Extravaganza and more

With the 5-4 Win over Dayton -- the boys are at 19 points, a .731 win percentage, and have a two-point lead over Elmira & Reading for first in the North division, and still share a piece of the American lead. Plus Gerard Miller lost a couple teeth so he's pretty hardcore now.

Congratulations to JM Daoust -- his 6-game goal streak is currently the second longest in professional hockey this season!

With almost exactly one month in the books...
- The Cyclones are still tied for the goal lead & have allowed the 3rd-fewest (behind two teams with less GP).
- JM Daoust & David Desharnais are 8th & 9th respectively in overall scoring.
- Desharnais' 17 pts are second in rookie scoring. Beauregard's 12 are good for 10th.
- Desjardins' 2.16 is 5th best overall, and Grumet-Morris' 2.29 is 7th. Grumet-Morris ranks 8th in wins with 5.
- 5 players are averaging at least a point per game (Desharnais, Aubin, Daoust, Beauregard, and yes - my least favorite player ever - Bryan Schmidt, somehow...).
- Desharnais is a +12. I REALLY like this guy. 10 others are at least a +5

- My first month of the season MVP pick: very easily David Desharnais.

The make-up game for Friday's atrocity is Tuesday -- tickets are good for that game -- hope to see all of you (and David Desharnais) there.

Two things. (Actually 3 - see edit below.)

One:

Two:


Enough said.

ETA: Not enough said, actually. Look what I found -- fight videos. Syro vs Lundberg & Wilson vs Kostadine against Augusta on Throwback Night. Be sure to check 'em out!

Catching up

Not that I'm sure anybody noticed my slacking, but I've been sick so the poor little blog took a little hiatus... but I'm back, now (and still sick).

Let's see. Game one in Elmira was ugly and deserves no further mention. The second one was much better, obviously, being 5-1... Dov stopped 30 shots in the win. The next night they spoiled Reading's home opener with a 3-0 win including two goals by Scotty Reynolds. Cedrick stopped all 30 shots in the win. In Dayton on Sunday after a long bus ride home, they dropped 3-2 to the Bombers after giving up a goal to Beaudoin with 0:52 to go.

Finally back home after the 4 (+1 to be played later) game road trip, they stopped Wheeling on Wet Wednesday with a couple of goals by Billy Irish-Baker and the second consecutive shutout by Desjardins. Is anyone else as impressed by this kid? 3 points in 5 games, +4... plays like he's 6'3" and can actually skate...

Last night's game was fun and a little out of control. Avery Wilson got things started 3:04 into the first frame. Yes, that Avery Wilson... and then did it again at the 18:00 mark. He ended up a +3 on the night and managed to not get a single penalty the whole game. Ladies and gentlemen, Avery Wilson is a born-again power forward. Haha. Anyway, three players (Wilson, Aubin, and Beauregard) had two goals apiece... Daoust and Reynolds added the other two, and Dov made 18 stops in the 8-1 win. The 'Clones had 42 shots of their own.

Also, Bryan Schmidt is back from his brief stint with Milwaukee and Fuller has been loaned to Milwaukee.

The team sits at 6-3-0, good for first in the North Division.

Boring stats stuff that excites very few people other than me:
Thomas Beauregard's 10 points are good for 5th in rookie scoring. Desharnais' 9 are good for 12th.
Gerard Miller has 5 points in 6 games since joining the team, 8th among league defensemen.
Desjardins leads the ECHL goalies in shutouts with 2 (and in just 4 chances). Has the Cedrick Desjardins of 2006-07 come back?
Gallagher, Perkins, and Syroczynski are the only skaters to have not yet amassed at least one point.

The Cyclones...
...have the fourth best record in the league.
...have given up the fewest goals in the division (19), and scored the most (35).
...have the 6th best power play in the league at 21.7%, 2nd best road power play at 25.0%
...have the 5th best home PK with 92.0%, 5th best road PK at 88.2%, putting them fourth overall at 89.9%

Don't forget Throwback Night on Saturday! $6 tickets, $1 pop/beer/hot dogs, $0.25 popcorn... and another chance to show Augusta how Northern Division hockey is played. :)

Also don't forget to check out my pictures here... updated constantly. :)

MILLER TIME

BYE BRYAN SCHMIDT!

Hellooooo Gerard Miller!

Game PPD due to zam issues has been rescheduled for 11/18.

Cyclones 5, Trenton 3

David Desharnais is a beast. Just, clearly, a beast.

I can't figure out how Bryan Schmidt is putting so many points on the board. He.is.awful. But to his credit, I said his name in vain much fewer times last night than preseason or the opener last week. (Please note the -1 though. kthxbye.)

Starls was a plus!!! I mean, duh. It's Starls, and he is the pluth mathta.

Also, those game notes on the Cyclones' home page? Basically the coolest thing ever. You know, if you're obsessed with statistics like I am.

That is all. See you all tonight (in costume).

Opening Night Observations

• First of all - why don't we have a captain?
• Dov, way to scare the hell out of us all night. Also way to keep your head on straight even when things were getting shaky. You kept us in it.
• Bryan Schmidt, not a big fan. 4 points, but a -1 and 4 PIM and pulled a Dean Stork defense move approximately twelve times. Hey guess what, that means you fail. Please, have a seat.
• Chad Starling is sort of out of control, but I kind of like it.
• EVERYONE WAS A F*#$ING MINUS BASICALLY. Power play goals kind of hurt us that way, but 4/9 on the PP is pretty much cool with me. 0 goals on the PK, so the PK did things right and that's okay.
• "What's the score now, bitch?"
• Who did Yannick Tifu blow to get an A? Or does that stand for ... nevermind.
• Hey Goulet, you're a Bomber now, but thanks for the PP opportunities.
• Howells and A. Martin combined for 11 SOG. Way to be. Very impressed with both so far. Also with Sixsmith, who put up 2 A's on the score sheet.
• 7801, hahahahahahaha.
• Yay 1-0 and starting the season in 2nd place!
• Also poll results: 11 for Cedrick (61%), 4 for Dov (22%), 2 for Smith (11%) and 1 for "someone else".

We have liftoff.

When I'm less tired and more coherent, I'll break down my $0.02 on the game. In the mean time, have the single best photograph I took all evening (and I took like, 500).

Press Coverage

Press coverage anyone???

Post article from Saturday about Mathieu Aubin & the team.

Enquirer article from Friday about the opener & Avery Wilson.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Update (3:04pm): Another good article out of the Dayton Daily News about Bomber Jason Goulet meeting his former team tonight.

Opening Night Roster

Courtesy of ECHL.com:

Dov Grumet-Morris, G; Chad Starling (Vet.), D; Billy Irish-Baker, F; Bryan Schmidt , D; Greg Gallaher, D; James Sixsmith, F; Barret Ehgoetz, F; Avery Wilson, F; Tyler Howells, D; Andrew Martin, F; Travis Fuller, F; Jean-Michel Daoust, F; Scott Reynolds, F; Cedrick Desjardins, G; Matt Macdonald, D; Conrad Martin, D; David Desharnais, F; Mathieu Aubin, F; Thomas Beauregard, F; Sean Perkins*, D

Notably missing is late arrival Matt Syroczynski, a 6'5" 225-pounder who amassed 41 points in 73 regular season games and 106 penalty minutes with Fort Wayne of the UHL in 2006-07. Appears to be a force to be reckoned with.

Is it Saturday yet??

On the eve of the opener

Ahhh, the season officially opens in less than 24 hours... unfortunately in Johnstown, not Cincinnati. But if you're interested in J-Town/Wheeling and all the accompanying fanfare, it's going to be free on the B2 Network.

Matt Rogers was released today. Steven Doherty was the only other cut following preseason. Also, Sean Perkins was placed on the 3-Day IR to start off the year. Opening Day rosters are due tomorrow afternoon, I'll be sure to post it when I get my hands on it.

For the two (I'm sure) disappointed folks who voted for John Smith in the goalie running, sorry you won't see him here, but Weber says he's trying out in the Mid-Atlantic league.

Anyone else impressed with Billy "The Killer" Irish-Baker? Two games, two fights. Not that he dominated in either, but he really stepped up in both and I give him mad props for doing so. Love to see that kind of play from a team, especially this early on. Last year's team was a lot similar - guys like Urquhart, Gleed, etc... who don't regularly fight - stepping up when somebody went down.

The Hockey News apparently has the Clones slated to finish 4th in the division and 16th overall. Hahahahaha. Because they're totally credible. Remember last year? Last year they chose them to finish 24th of 25.

3:30-4:30 on Thursday - be sure to check out Coach Weber on 700AM.

Pictures: If you're looking for a photos from the two preseason games, I've posted a bunch right here. Nothing super impressive, but feel free to check them out if you've got the time.

Musings from the Road

Hello from windy and cold Youngstown, OH. Our boys opened up preseason play tonight with a 4-1 win over the Steelhounds. The game opened slowly and after the end of 1 was tied at zero. Dov Grumet-Morris was in net and faced only 3 shots in the first period, but ended up with 14 on the night and only 1 (glove side high, of course) went in. He did look impressive, though. The team also did a simulated shootout after the game and Dover looked great. The Clones had something like 30 shots on former Wheeling netminder Andy Franck, and three of their four goals came in a 3 minute span. Two were by Matt MacDonald, two by newcomer Travis Fuller. Three of their goals were powerplay goals. In the second period, their power play looked incredible. Things clicked, passes were made. Very impressive. Hopefully that translates over into the regular season.

A few new players that made impressions: obviously Fuller with two goals; rookie Sean Perkins with two assists; former Storm forward Andrew Martin stepped up with some intense, high-speed play; Billy Irish-Baker was throwing his weight around well. One player I was not impressed with was defenseman Bryan Schmidt, he didn't skate well and looked like he was on a completely different page than the rest of the team. Sloppy.

Overall, they looked good. When I make it back to Cincinnati I'll be sure to link some pictures over if anyone's interested. Not sure if I'm making it to the Kettering game, if not - let me know how they look. :)

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.

Avery is a girl's name

Avery "Section 106, row V" Wilson re-signed with the team.

Now taking bets on who watches more games from the stands, Avery or the season ticket holders. I've got $5 on Avery.

Return of the Conster

Shut up, I'm a little late. The team re-signed Conrad Martin the other day. All I can say is, "Duh" because I saw that coming on, uh, May 3rd.

Also, apparently US Bank Arena has taken away our home opener and made it one for Dayton. Gee, give our lovely rival some more home attendance. Pricks. I'm sick of drivin' to Fairborn.

Mac-Attack

Quick update... the team re-signed Matt MacDonald today. I'm not entirely surprised. Hope he can capitalize on his progress over the course of last year. I wasn't a big fan of his off the bat, but as the year progressed he seemed to know his position more. Apparently he attented Blackhawks camp, hopefully he comes back with a little more experience under his belt.

Chipotle!

Catching Up

The season is quickly (well, sort of) coming upon us. As I start this post we're at 74 days, 15 hours and some absurd amount of minutes/seconds.

So, getting up to speed, we're at six players now:

• Returning captain Chad "My Plus/Minus is Better Than Yours" Starling: very glad to have him back. Big fan of this guy.
• Returning sometimes-wears-an-A centerman Barret Ehgoetz: another solid faceoff winner that I'm glad to see back, will bring leadership to the table, especially with joining Starls for his third year under Coach Weber.
• Returning forward Scott "the Penalty Killah" Reynolds: extremely happy to see Scotty back. Definitely hoping to see some more playing time, and not just on the PK. Definitely looking to see an increase in his ice presence, as well as his scoring.
• Returning defenseman Greg Gallagher: another good move; I was impressed with Gally's progress over the season. He started off slow, but once he got a considerable amount of playing time he really stepped it up. I look forward to seeing what he can do on a more consistent basis.
• Last returner, Billy Irish-Baker: aside from starting on St. Patrick's Day and packing a ton of energy, I don't remember much about him since he wasn't around for long. Look forward to seeing what he can do full-time.
• Total newb: defenseman Gerard Miller. According to hockeydb.com, he had 57 points in 73 games for Flint (UHL). Including 44 assists. I'm impressed. Not only did he have more than twice as many assists as he did goals -- he's a defenseman. Definitely can't wait to see this guy play.

Other rumblings...

• The team secured a radio deal, on 96.5 FM. Definitely good news for the team, since there hasn't been a radio broadcast in years. It may only be 30 games, but who's to say they won't pick up more if things go well?
• Renewed the affiliation with Montreal & Hamilton - hopefully this opens the door to see a few of the guys they passed along to us last year, if not some incredible new talent.
• Also picked up an affiliation with Nashville & Milwaukee. I think this is great news for the team. A double affiliation might turn out to be difficult if both organizations get strapped at the same time, but hopefully it sets us up for a great load of talent being passed through the ranks to us. Plus, the Predators have signed Grumet-Morris. I will censor my comments on that, though.

And if you just can't wait for October 19th, Concrete Clones will be at the Loveland Meijer this Saturday (8/11), Milford the next (8/18), and finish with Western Hills (8/25).

Newb

I'm fairly certain that if you've stumbled across this, you: a) already know me and this site was forced into your favorites, b) have seen/heard me at a game or on a message board, c) have threatened me with (or used) physical harm in one of the numerous away arenas I've spent time in.

I've been a Cyclones fan since 2000, so I'm a relative newcomer, but over the last few years have somehow lost track of time from October to April (and sometimes May) in the time warp that is hockey season. I sit in 136, now, but I've spent time in 116 and 108. I normally come armed with some kind of witty anti-visiting-team sign, a camera, and a noisemaker, but lately arena security has been kind of a stickler about those. Frickin' jerks.

I'm a pretty big fan of Coach Weber, but I'm also one of his harshest critics. I've been known to second-guess his decisions, and a few times have been right (ahem, Erik Johnson). I am not, however, a fan of the Cory Urquharts of the world who put an unneccessary 'i' in team (see-ya later, Wirll, enjoy Deutschland). I'm a supporter of the underdogs, the unknowns, and our incredibly underrated defensemen.

Stats are a pretty big deal to me. You can't argue with statistics, so if you try I will destroy you. Too often people are quick to judge a player for this and that, without looking at how their individual performance affect the score sheet (overall). Plus/minus is my favorite, and if you happen to be one of the people who argued Chad Starling's presence on the team, you may want to look away when I bring up +/-. (Okay, so I hated him with Peoria. This is different.)

Anyhoo, it's currently July and the season is something like 100 days away (I am not yet counting myself) so I'll mostly be around to update with player signings & things of that sort.