A word about signings for the upcoming seasonFans can expect little information at this time of the year...as usual
The current chatter on the message boards is the same as usual this time of year...when will we get more info on player signings? Well Brahmas fans, don't expect to much in the coming weeks. Unlike some of the other teams out there who like to show their hand early, Dan Wildfong has never been one to do so - and don't expect that to change.
A couple of things to consider: at this time of the summer, most players are weighing their options. Do I want to play hockey again this season? Do I want to play in the CHL? Do I want to play in the ECHL? Do I have a chance of making an AHL roster? Do I want to go to Europe?
Also, teams may not want to announce a new player until all the paperwork has been signed and it's a done deal. Even then, things can go wrong. For instance, I was talking with Dan at the Dallas Stars prospect camp last week and he told me about a defenseman the Brahmas were pretty excited about and had signed - only to have the guy opt out for Europe, where the money was much better. Would have made no sense to have announced his signing, would it?
You also have to take in consideration what's going on in the league. Will this team fold; will that team move to the ECHL or SPHL; will a new franchise be available...all these came to fruition this off-season.
As of this writing, the Tulsa Oilers, Wichita Thunder, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the new Bloomington franchise haven't announced any signings for the 2011-12 campaign.
The Rapid City Rush and the Quad City Mallards have matched the Brahmas with two players announced. Laredo, Allen, Wichita and Arizona four; the Komets and the Gems five each and seven each for Evansville and Missouri.
As I said before, Fonger doesn't like to show his hand too early, giving other teams an idea of who they'll be playing against.
For those who have forgotten the past and are condemned to repeat it (in regards to wanting more info on who the bulls have signed as of now), here's a little history lesson:
In July of 2007, five players were announced, including rookies Mark Carragher, Tristan Fairbarn and Greg McConnell (07/09/07), Craig Minard (07/10/07) and Grant Jacobsen (07/23/07). This brought the total number of players signed for the 2007-08 season to eight, including net minders Greg Hewitt (06/04/07), David Cacciola (06/05/07), center Jason Cerone (via trade with RGV for future considerations 06/22/07) and defenseman Eric Main (06/28/07). Three more players were announced in August, including defensemen Tim Laurila (08/08/07), Mike Vellinga (08/22/07) and forward Anders Strome (08/30/07).
In July of 2008, just three players were announced, including forwards Andrew Leach (07/17/07), Mark Carragher and Greg McConnell. This brought the total number of players for the 2008-09 season to six, including forward Lance Galbraith (06/05/08), defenseman Mike Vellinga (06/18/08) and net minder Brett Jaeger 06/25/08). Three more players were announced in August, including forwards Pete Rouleau (08/08/08), Tyler Skworchisnki (08/29/08) and defenseman Chris Mann (08/25/08).
In July of 2009, four players were announced, including Brett Jaeger (07/06/09), forwards Jamie Carroll (07/13/09) and Jordan Cameron (07/23/09) and defenseman Kyle Deck (07/30/09). This brought the total number of players for the 2009-10 season to nine, including forwards Jason Deitsch (05/27/09), A.J. Gale (06/16/09), Anders Strome 06/25/09) and defensemen Casey Russell (06/02/09) and Craig Minard (06/10/09). Three more players were announced in August, including defensemen Kevin McLeod, Derek Merlini and Justin Kinnunen.
In July of 2010, four players were announced, including forwards Ryan McLeod (07/09/10), Nick Toneys, Jeff Hazelwood (07/16/10) and Matt Pierce (07/29/10). This brought the total number of players for the 2010-11 season to seven, including forward Jason Deitsch (05/21/10) and defensemen Jim Burichin (06/11/10) and Nathan Saunders (06/29/10). Five more players were announced in August, including defenseman Kevin Kraus (08/03/10), net minders Scott Campbell and Wayne Savage (08/06/10) and forward A.J. Gale (08/26/10).
On average, the Brahmas announce four players signed during the month of July. On average, by the end of July, the Brahmas have 7.5 players signed (and announced). On average, by the end of August, the Brahmas have 11 players signed (and announced). So far, we have defenseman Jim Burichin and forward Alex Curran on the roster - a couple of solid players with good character.
Here's a good article written by David Thomas of the Star-Telegram about the work Dan and Ronnie are doing to build the training camp roster during the summertime. I'm sure you've all read it before, but it's a good one to read again.
In the meantime, it's the summertime - there should be other things on your minds besides hockey. Let Dan and Ronnie do their jobs and we'll see who shows up at training camp and who makes the final cut.
A couple of things to consider: at this time of the summer, most players are weighing their options. Do I want to play hockey again this season? Do I want to play in the CHL? Do I want to play in the ECHL? Do I have a chance of making an AHL roster? Do I want to go to Europe?
Also, teams may not want to announce a new player until all the paperwork has been signed and it's a done deal. Even then, things can go wrong. For instance, I was talking with Dan at the Dallas Stars prospect camp last week and he told me about a defenseman the Brahmas were pretty excited about and had signed - only to have the guy opt out for Europe, where the money was much better. Would have made no sense to have announced his signing, would it?
You also have to take in consideration what's going on in the league. Will this team fold; will that team move to the ECHL or SPHL; will a new franchise be available...all these came to fruition this off-season.
As of this writing, the Tulsa Oilers, Wichita Thunder, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the new Bloomington franchise haven't announced any signings for the 2011-12 campaign.
The Rapid City Rush and the Quad City Mallards have matched the Brahmas with two players announced. Laredo, Allen, Wichita and Arizona four; the Komets and the Gems five each and seven each for Evansville and Missouri.
As I said before, Fonger doesn't like to show his hand too early, giving other teams an idea of who they'll be playing against.
For those who have forgotten the past and are condemned to repeat it (in regards to wanting more info on who the bulls have signed as of now), here's a little history lesson:
In July of 2007, five players were announced, including rookies Mark Carragher, Tristan Fairbarn and Greg McConnell (07/09/07), Craig Minard (07/10/07) and Grant Jacobsen (07/23/07). This brought the total number of players signed for the 2007-08 season to eight, including net minders Greg Hewitt (06/04/07), David Cacciola (06/05/07), center Jason Cerone (via trade with RGV for future considerations 06/22/07) and defenseman Eric Main (06/28/07). Three more players were announced in August, including defensemen Tim Laurila (08/08/07), Mike Vellinga (08/22/07) and forward Anders Strome (08/30/07).
In July of 2008, just three players were announced, including forwards Andrew Leach (07/17/07), Mark Carragher and Greg McConnell. This brought the total number of players for the 2008-09 season to six, including forward Lance Galbraith (06/05/08), defenseman Mike Vellinga (06/18/08) and net minder Brett Jaeger 06/25/08). Three more players were announced in August, including forwards Pete Rouleau (08/08/08), Tyler Skworchisnki (08/29/08) and defenseman Chris Mann (08/25/08).
In July of 2009, four players were announced, including Brett Jaeger (07/06/09), forwards Jamie Carroll (07/13/09) and Jordan Cameron (07/23/09) and defenseman Kyle Deck (07/30/09). This brought the total number of players for the 2009-10 season to nine, including forwards Jason Deitsch (05/27/09), A.J. Gale (06/16/09), Anders Strome 06/25/09) and defensemen Casey Russell (06/02/09) and Craig Minard (06/10/09). Three more players were announced in August, including defensemen Kevin McLeod, Derek Merlini and Justin Kinnunen.
In July of 2010, four players were announced, including forwards Ryan McLeod (07/09/10), Nick Toneys, Jeff Hazelwood (07/16/10) and Matt Pierce (07/29/10). This brought the total number of players for the 2010-11 season to seven, including forward Jason Deitsch (05/21/10) and defensemen Jim Burichin (06/11/10) and Nathan Saunders (06/29/10). Five more players were announced in August, including defenseman Kevin Kraus (08/03/10), net minders Scott Campbell and Wayne Savage (08/06/10) and forward A.J. Gale (08/26/10).
On average, the Brahmas announce four players signed during the month of July. On average, by the end of July, the Brahmas have 7.5 players signed (and announced). On average, by the end of August, the Brahmas have 11 players signed (and announced). So far, we have defenseman Jim Burichin and forward Alex Curran on the roster - a couple of solid players with good character.
Here's a good article written by David Thomas of the Star-Telegram about the work Dan and Ronnie are doing to build the training camp roster during the summertime. I'm sure you've all read it before, but it's a good one to read again.
In the meantime, it's the summertime - there should be other things on your minds besides hockey. Let Dan and Ronnie do their jobs and we'll see who shows up at training camp and who makes the final cut.
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