Monthly Archives: July 2009
>Ganzak Moves up
>The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed defenseman Mitch Ganzak to an American Hockey League contract, it was announced on Tuesday.
>Kings Vision with Zatkoff & Martinez
>Jeff Zatkoff:
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?catid=731&id=44893
Alec Martinez:
http://kings.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?catid=731&id=44895
>Avalanche Sign Mercier
>
Per the Colorado Avalanche website:
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has signed forward prospect Justin Mercier. Mercier, 22, spent the last four seasons at Miami University, where he helped lead the RedHawks to the 2009 NCAA championship game by totaling 29 points (14g/15a) in 40 games as a senior.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward finished his collegiate career with 104 points (52g/52a) in 157 contests, becoming the first player in school history to record 100 career points and be a part of 100 victories. A native of Erie, Pa., Mercier was the Avalanche’s eighth selection (sixth round, 168th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft.
This is a great signing for both the Avalanche and Mercier. Colorado had until August 15th to sign him and by all accounts, Justin got a very fair deal with the Avs. Reports said that Mercier and his agent felt that he was more valuable than the offer that Colorado had originally presented, but the negotiations remained cordial on both sides and a deal was done. While the details of the signing weren’t released, it will most likely be a standard three year entry-level conract that will see him play most of this year and possibly the next in Lake Erie. He adds to a strong group of winger prospects in the Avalanche system and with the youth movement in Colorado, we could possibly see Mercier, who joined Miami’s 100 point club this season, playing for the big club sooner, rather than later.
>Wingels Named Captain
>
“…I’m just so proud…to be a RedHawk.”
– Tommy Wingels, 4/11/2009
You could say it was a passing of the torch. In the post game press conference after Miami’s 4-3 overtime loss against Boston University, sat three people- RedHawks Head Coach Enrico Blasi, Captain Brian Kaufman, and Tommy Wingels. There could have been no better set up, no better stage to showcase what was the past, present, and future of the Miami captaincy, as the junior winger has been selected to lead the RedHawks’ as team captain in 2009-2010 and most likely, in 2010-2011 as well.
Wingels, a 6th round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2008, has quickly risen to become one of the shining stars of a very young Miami hockey program and carries himself with the true “Brotherhood” mentality. Having finished the 08-09 campaign with 11 goals and 17 assists, the Wilmette, Illinois native realizes that the RedHawks’ may have been down on that chilly April night in D.C., but they weren’t out.
“It (a National Championship) is going to be our ultimate goal next year,” he said. “We feel like we have some unfinished business.”
Alternate captains for the 09-10 season have yet to be determined.
(Photo Credit: Rachel Lewis)
>2009-2010 Roster & Notes
>The official 2009-2010 roster has finally been released and there are quite a few new faces. Here is a rundown of the new RedHawks’, their jersey numbers, and a few other “roster related notes.”
*Absent from the roster is Jon Whitacre. He “retired” from hockey and left the program.
>Vogelhuber Injury Update
>From the Columbus Dispatch:
…This one wasn’t quite as bad, although it will cost him between 4 and 6 weeks of training. He suffered a knee-on-knee collision. Yesterday, the frustrated Vogelhuber was on crutches but looking forward to getting back on the ice…
>Vogelhuber Reportedly Injured
>
I’ve spoken with a few people that were in attendance at the Blue Jackets’ Development Camp this morning and the report is that Trent Vogelhuber got the worst of a knee-to-knee collision and had to be helped off the ice. Vogelhuber apparently could not put any weight on the left knee.
If this indeed happened, it’s surely a blow to someone who has already had enough injuries to deal with in his young career. I don’t like reporting rumors on this page, but this is certainly something to keep an eye on. We’ve all seen how costly knee to knee collisions can be. Let’s hope for the best.
Stay tuned.
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