Monthly Archives: August 2008
>Jones In Nashville, Living With Jason Arnott
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Great article from The City Paper in Nashville about Ryan Jones coming in during the summer to work out and get to know some of the Predators players. Jonesy is apparently living with Jason Arnott and seems to really be fitting in.
Here’s an excerpt; a quote from Jones in the article:
“You are not likely to see me score many goals coming down the side. But, from what I hear, Nashville is looking for somebody who is willing to go to the net and score those garbage goals. I think I fit that profile really well.”
Check out the rest of the article by clicking here.
I for one, am thrilled for Ryan. It really seems that he has a legit shot to make this Nashville team. I’m sure Barry Trotz would rather him spend some time in Milwaukee, but Jones just seems like a natural fit with this Nashville team.
I’ll keep an eye on this story as camp begins in a few weeks.
>Zats and Tino to Play In Kings Rookie Game
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As a part of the rookie camps for each team, the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes will square off for a series of two rookie games, beginning on September 16, 2008 and concluding the next day, on the 17th. Both games will be held at the Jobing.com Arena, the home barn of the Coyotes, and will feature top rookie prospects from both teams. As you might expect both Jeff Zatkoff (wearing jersey number 35) and Alec Martinez (wearing 53) are currently slated to participate in the exhibition series for the Kings.
On a side note, both Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik will be participating for the Coyotes.
You can watch the first of these two games (again, September 16) on the web, by visiting the LA Kings Official Site. The game is scheduled to begin at 6pm PDT, so depending on where you live, the start time will be different. If you’re reading this in Oxford, you can point your browsers to the King’s page for the live broadcast at 9pm.
>Start the Memorizing…
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The 2008-2009 roster has been posted over at the official athletic website. A few notes:
– Justin Vaive will now wear #22, his dad Rick’s number from his days in the NHL
– Andy Miele will wear number 17 from now on.
– Two Miami players will wear their numbers for the first time in the program’s history. Trent Vogelhuber (13) and Connor Knapp (31) are wearing those jersey numbers for the first time.
Here are the new sweater numbers for the incoming freshman and the last Miami player to wear the number:
4- Will Weber (Brad Robbins, 2004-2008)
5- Cameron Schilling (Charley Fetzer, 2004-2008)
6- Chris Wideman (Jon Saunders, 2003-2005)
13- Trent Vogelhuber (First)
23- Alden Hirschfeld (Andy Greene, 2002-2006)
27- Matt Tomassoni (Justin Vaive, 2007-2008)
30- Cody Reichard (Nick Petraglia, 2001-2004)
31- Connor Knapp (First)
Personally, I don’t think number 17, in honor of Brian Savage, should ever be worn again after Miele leaves, especially since it has been…pseudo-retired. As for number 26, I don’t know about it being officially “retired,” but I think that it should be a year or two before it’s worn again. (Similar to what the Reds have done with numbers 11 and 14).
>Randy Robitaille Headed Overseas
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SF Sport is reporting tonight that MU alum Randy Robitaille has signed with Hockey Club Lugano. HC Lugano is based in Lugano, Switzerland and is one of the more successful hockey clubs in the Swiss National “A” League, having won seven national championships, the last of which, in 2006.
You can view the release from SF sport at this link.
I think, on all accounts, this was a good move for Randy. As we all know, he’s been well traveled in the NHL through his career and, obviously, wanted to continue playing hockey. Considering his age and skill-set in the NHL, this was an outstanding move for Randy, as I for one, would have been surprised if he were signed by a team here in North America.
You can view his team biography by clicking here.
Best of luck to Randy. Hopefully, he’ll find a few more good years with Lugano.
>A Diamond Is Forever…
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“Diamond” Dave Allen began his journey into the world of broadcasting in 1978 at age 12, by taking a tape recorder to Cincinnati Reds games and calling the action. He hasn’t looked back since. Born and raised in Butler County, Allen returned to his roots in 2002, replacing longtime radio voice John Walton. But it was long before that when he first got his “official” start in the business. Well traveled in the broadcasting industry, Allen’s first on air play-by-play was at WTRE-AM in Greensburg, IN, however, his first on-air sports announcing job was as a color commentator for a pro boxing match in St. Paul, IN. He has done on-site reporting for USA Radio Network, WFAN in New York, KCFX in Kansas City and KTAR in Phoenix. He also worked for the NFL office on their Sportsphone service (in the days before the Internet explosion), and was part of the start-up of SportsLine USA, now known as CBS SportsLine.
And that was just the non-hockey experience.
He called selected games for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, when they began in 1997, which landed him his first play-by-play position in Huntington, WV with the Blizzard in 1998. He called a couple of playoff games for the Dayton Bombers filling in for Greg Waddell in 2000. Then, it was on to Greensboro, NC for the 2000-01 season as Voice of the Generals (ECHL).
However, there was one thing more important to Allen…and that was coming home…to Southwest Ohio. As Miami Hockey was on the air via WHSS-FM at the time, Allen says that the situation…was a perfect fit.
“The radio signal was good and I’d be back in broadcasting close to my home, and I love announcing hockey. Being able to again announce hockey games close to home and to be a part of the sport was the real attraction.”
“Love and Honor to Miami,” goes the fight song. But it’s much more than just a lyric to Allen.
“Getting on board with Miami hockey was the absolute best thing to happen to me in my professional life and my joy of being here grows every day,” he said. “I feel completely blessed to be at Miami. To be a part of the magic and excitement that is game night at Steve Cady Arena is something that I don’t believe even the NHL could top.”
Finally, when asked if there was anything he had yet to do in hockey, but would eventually like to do, Allen provided an answer that many of the Miami faithful would love to hear.
“I’d love to say the words…”and the Miami RedHawks are the NCAA hockey champions”!
…wouldn’t we all?
Dave Allen’s Top 3 Miami Hockey Moments:
3. March 13, 2004: Todd Grant’s goal at 12:05 of overtime against Lake Superior State sends Miami back to “The Joe;” the team’s first appearance since the 1996-1997 season. Read.
2. March 11, 2006: Another OT thriller. Alec Martinez scores against Western Michigan at 17:00 of the extra period to send Miami to the semifinals of the CCHA Championship at “The Joe.” Martinez’ goal was the final tally at Goggin Ice Arena. Read.
1. January 24, 2006: 2 goals in the final :22 by Mitch Ganzak and Marty Guerin lift the RedHawks past the Western Michigan Broncos 4-3. Read or watch and listen to Allen’s call.
>Effinger Signs With Gladiators
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The Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL have announced, today, the signing of goaltender Charlie Effinger. You can view the press release here.
Charlie becomes the first goaltender signed by the Gladiators for the upcoming season. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound netminder posted a perfect 6-0-0 record during his senior season with the RedHawks. He finished the season with a 2.16 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 6 games while posting a 4-0-0 record during CCHA conference play.
Effinger had a career year during his sophomore season appearing in 19 games and ranking first in the CCHA in both goals-against average (1.83) and save percentage (.931). He was also ranked second nationally in both categories. During his sophomore season in 2005-06, Effinger was named the CCHA’s best goaltender and was named to the All-CCHA Second Team while he was honored as Miami’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Effinger became the first RedHawks netminder to earn all-CCHA honors since the 1996-97 season when Trevor Prior, who played for Gwinnett during the 2003-04 season, earned all-CCHA honors.
During his four-year collegiate career, Effinger appeared in 53 games with the RedHawks while posting a 32-12-4 record. He finished with a .912 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average and two shutouts.
Gwinnett is the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers.
Best of luck to Charlie!
>Guerin Signs With Checkers
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The Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL have announced the signing of former RedHawk Marty Guerin. Here is an excerpt from the release:
“In 156 collegiate games, Guerin totaled 49 goals and 66 assists for 115 points with 147 penalty minutes. He was a 9th round selection of the Los Angeles Kings during the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft.”
“During his year with the South Carolina Stingrays, Guerin managed 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points in 68 games. He also added 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points in 17 playoff games.”
You can read the rest of the press release at this link.
The Checkers are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.
>Miele Represents on INCH’s A-Z List
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Sophomore forward Andy Miele has been chosen as Inside College Hockey’s “Player to Watch” for the Miami
RedHawks.
Here’s a brief snippet:
“One of Miele’s best assets is his ability to see and process what’s going on around him on the ice, a skill which elevates his own play and the play of his linemates.”
You can read the article on Miele by clicking here.
>Davis Ranked 15th By Hockey’s Future
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Hockey’s Future has put together a nice feture on the Chicago Blackhawks’ top twenty prospects, and Miami alum Nathan Davis cracked the list at number fifteen. Here’s their assessment of the Rocky River, Ohio native:
“Davis is similar to Billy Sweatt in many ways. Though he does not possess Sweatt’s speed, he is a sound skater who sees the ice well, thus making him dangerous in transition. Additionally, like Sweatt, Davis can play defense with the best of them. In fact, he was considered by many to be one of the top defensive forwards in college while at Miami. Davis’ quality two-way game makes him an ideal special teams player. Now that he has been signed by Chicago, Davis will likely see time in Rockford next season.”
To check out the rest of the Blackhawks’ top twenty prospects, click here.
>Martinez High On Kings List
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Frozen Royalty, a wonderful site about the Los Angeles Kings, has a nice article about Alec Martinez. Below, is a small excerpt from the original article:
As with all of their young prospects, the Kings’ coaching staff worked with their young defenseman to refine their games, and Martinez was no exception.
“There’s always little things,” Martinez explained. “You can improve your deception, picking your head up a little earlier, surveying the ice to get better vision. There’s definitely room for improvement.”
To read the rest of the Martinez piece and check out the rest of Frozen Royalty, click here.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Creech.
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