Not official, but an idea of the talent fighting for a spot on the 2009-10 roster
Pointstreak.com has listed what I would call an unofficial roster at this time because it hasn't been released by the Brahmas themselves. Be that as it may, here's a breakdown of the list as I see it.
There are 26 players listed, including three goaltenders, nine defensemen and 14 forwards. Notably absent from the list are defenseman Kyle Deck and Making the Cut 2009 winners Kevin Huck and Angelo Serse. If my memory serves me well, there were some names missing last season too. Again, it's Pointstreak.
GOALTENDER
The three goaltenders are Brett Jaeger, Joe Palmer and Matt Koenig. OK, so we all know Jaeger is the number one goalie which puts Palmer and Koenig as potential number two's.
Joe Palmer
Joe Palmer, as many of you know, was assigned to the Brahmas by the Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL) on Thursday. Palmer, 21, a three-year letter winner for the Ohio State Buckeyes, was a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and two-time Academic All-Big Ten choice as a communication major. He played in 68 games for the Scarlet and Gray, recording 25 wins, a 3.04 goals-against average and .889 save percentage, along with two shutouts. He was a member of Team USA at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was also a fourth-round draft pick (#96 overall ) of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Palmer will be attending his third consecutive training camp when he joins the Brahmas on the ice at the NYTEX Sports Centre next week. Two weeks ago he was at the Chicago Blackhawks camp and was assigned to the Ice Hogs on the 16th. Palmer appeared in one preseason game with Rockford, stopping 20 shots en route to a 4-0 shutout of the Chicago Wolves.
Here's a talent analysis from hockeysfuture.com:
A strong skater with good balance and flexibility. At 6’1, 205 pounds, he has good size and plays in a low crouch butterfly stance; he’s also very good at covering the lower portion of the net and is very quick in his lateral movements, which allows him to stay square to the shooter. His quickness and reactions are very impressive for a goalie his size. Palmer also displays on-ice intelligence, as he does a good job of reading and following the play and is hardly caught out of position.
Emulating his idol Martin Brodeur, Palmer is smart at handling the puck and making good decisions when moving the puck up to his forwards or leaving it for his defense. Palmer always comes out of his net to challenge shooters and cut down the angle and is not afraid to use his poke check. He is a very focused and determined competitor who never gives up on a play, and his mental toughness helps him thrive in big-game situations. Palmer uses his frame and strength to his advantage when fighting to gain proper position and recover any loose pucks in his crease when there is traffic in front of the net.
Matt Koenig
Matt Koening, 25, is just finishing his senior year at the University of Wisconsin - Stout (NCHA), the 2009 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Champions. The 6’1, 210pound backstopper from Lakeland, Minnesota played junior hockey with the Bismark Bobcats (NAHL) for two seasons (2003-04, 2004-05) and was named team rookie of the year in 2004.
I had a really difficult time looking up info on Koenig's time with the Blue Devils. He saw action in net 15 times in 2005-06. In 2006-07, he saw action in 11 games and posted a 6-0-1 record. In 2007-08, Koenig saw the majority of time in net during the first half of the season and posted a career high in save percentage and games played. In 2008-09, he had the second best season for any Stout goalie ranked by Save %.
Stout finished the season at 23-6-2 overall, 10-2-2 in NCHA play. The 23 wins is the most wins in school history. The Blue Devils made their first trip to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four after winning the NCHA Championship Peters Cup. They were defeated in the semi-final by Gustavus Adolphus College.
Note: Koenig's teammate Nick Klaren, a defenseman, has signed with the Laredo Bucks.Here is a short video found on YouTube. It's well done and a good watch.
Matt Koenig - Playoff Highlights - 2008-2009
DEFENSE
Of the nine defensemen listed, Craig Minard, Justin Kinnunen, Kevin McLeod, Casey Russell and Derek Merlini have already signed. Again, Kyle Deck, who has also signed, is not listed here. That leaves four players to fight for one, maybe two spots on the roster.
Ross Rouleau
Rouleau, 21, won a training camp contract during last season's Making the Cut prospect camp. He then earned a spot on the 2008-09 roster. After just two games with minimal shifts, he was waived on October 23rd. Later in the season, with Justin Kinnunen called up to the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) and Eric Lundberg on injured reserve, Rouleau was called back and signed a contract on February 20th. He played in the last 15 games of the regular season and 15 games during the playoffs, with two assists and a championship win to show for it. Rouleau showed a lot of improvement during his second run with the Brahmas and has returned to camp with some added size after an off-season undoubtedly spent in the gym. He assisted Dan Wildfong during last month's Making the Cut and will be making the case for a spot on this season's roster.
Jared Seminoff
Seminoff, 23, showed up for the playoffs and played in one game, a 3-1 loss against Odessa on April 10th. He spent the last four years playing at Cornell University. At 5'11", 190 pounds, Seminoff hasn't gotten the opportunity to show us what he's made of. At Cornell, Seminoff played with former Brahmas Topher Scott and Doug Krantz, current Brahma Kevin McLeod and current Dallas Stars forward Ray Sawada. He tallied 35 points (4 G, 31 A) and 174 penalty minutes in 130 games played. He played three seasons in Juniors with the Notre Dame Hounds and Nanaimo Clippers. In his rookie season with the Hounds in 2002-03, the Nelson, British Columbia native was named to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Rookie Team.
Denis Chisholm
Couldn't find anything here. May be the same guy who played for Northeastern University a couple of season ago.
Joey Wilson
Wilson, 23, is a rookie who played right wing at Plattsburgh State University of New York. During the past three seasons, he has tallied 91 points (48 G, 43 A) including 19 power play goals in 81 games played. The 5'10", 170 pound native of Newmarket, Ontario played juniro hockey with the Newmarket Hurricanes (OPJHL). In 2005-06, Wilson was chosen as co-Most Valuable Player, Playoff MVP and received the Coaches Award as selected by the 'Canes coaching staff after putting up 85 points (39 G, 46 A) and 103 penalty minutes in 48 games played.
FORWARD
Thus far, the Brahmas have announced the signings of Jason Deitsch, Jamie Carroll, Jordan Cameron, A.J. Gale, Ryan Cruthers and Anders Strome. Tyler Skworchinski, Grant Jacobsen, Pete Rouleau and Matt Burto are back, but have not been guaranteed a roster spot, for all we know.
Brett Pilkington
Pilkington, 25, is entering his fourth pro season. After four years at Bowling Green University, the 6'0", 200 pound native of Calgary, Alberta went pro during the 2006-07 season. He played nine games in the UHL with the Kalamazoo Wings and 64 games with the Quad City Mallards. Between the two teams he scored 73 points (29 G, 44 A). He split the 2007-08 season in the ECHL with the Mississippi Sea Wolves (11 games) and the Elmira Jackals (50 games). He had two call ups to the AHL, playing one game each with the Albany River Rats and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and tallied 45 points that season (8 G, 37 A). He remained in the ECHL in 2008-09, playing with the Elmira Jackals (5 games), the Trenton Devils (9 games) and the Bakersfield Condors (35 games). His scoring total was 37 points (12 G, 25 A).
Jeff Gumaer
Gumaer, 24, was a teammate of Casey Russell at Bentley College (NCAA). The 5'9", 185 pound native of Webster Groves, Missouri tallied 112 points (62 G, 50 A) and 102 penalty minutes in 241 games played.
Bentley's website lists him as a top-line forward - one of the Falcons’ best all-around players. A pure goal scorer with speed, great release and quick feet and a blue-collar mentality. He was used in power play and penalty kill situations. Gumaer was the top goal-scorer in Bentley’s Division I history and tied for eighth place among Bentley’s career scoring leaders at the Division I level. He holds a Bentley Division I record with four career short-handed goals.
Prior to university, he played three seasons of junior hockey in the NAHL with the Springfield Jr. Blues (02-03, 03-04, 04-05) and the Capital Center Pride (02-03).
Alexandre Lacombe
The 5'11", 180 pound native of Orleans, Ontario played for four seasons at Miami University of Ohio (NCAA) where he tallied 21 points (9 G, 12 A) and 38 penalty minutes in 64 games played.
Last season, the RedHawks, who owned the nation's best combined record since the 2005-06 season and have made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, reached the Frozen Four for the first time in school history and improved to 23-12-5 overall. After defeating Bemidji State 4-1, Miami made the NCAA National Championship game for the first time in school history but lost in a 4-3 overtime heartbreaker against Boston University.
Note: Teammate Bill Loupee will play for the Allen Americans this season.
Mike Willemsen
Willemsen, 23, Played for four seasons at Clarkson University (NCAA), scoring four points (2 G, 2 A) and 42 penalty minutes.
The 5'11", 200 pound native of Stittsville, Ontario was part of Clarkson's 2006-07 ECAC Championship team (Whitelaw Cup) and the 2007-08 ECAC regular season championship team (Cleary Cup).
We'll know more as the week progresses and the Brahmas hold their pre-season scrimmage (closed to the public) against the Allen Americans at the Allen Community Rink. I'll have updates as the information comes and full coverage and photos of the scrimmage on Thursday.
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