Hockeywriter
07-19-2006, 09:21 PM
UHL AND PEORIA?
"The Rivermen will have an informal relationship with UHL expansion club Bloomington and its host of ex-Rivermen players in 2006-07.
Bloomington co-owner John Butler and coach Derek Booth were at the prospect camp Tuesday and met with Peoria general manager and Blues director of pro scouting Kevin McDonald.
"We're going to give them two spots to fill in our (Peoria) training camp in the fall, which will help their recruiting," McDonald said. "It's doubtful we'll send any players from Peoria to Bloomington (on a standard assignment)."
It is possible, however, the Rivermen will send players to Bloomington for brief conditioning stints, or call up former ECHL Peoria guys like Trevor Baker or Tyler Rennette as a weekend emergency replacement.
"We know there won't be an affiliation, but it was just an opportunity to come down here and meet the Blues people and establish a relationship," Butler said.
Butler, by the way, is on the UHL's Executive Committee, which eventually will have to get around to looking at commissioner Richard Brosal. He embarrassed the embattled league last week when recordings of FBI wiretaps caught Brosal talking to alleged organized-crime members operating a team in his league.
The owner of the UHL's Danbury team, James Galante - arrested recently by the FBI on racketeering charges - allegedly punched a referee after a game last season. It appears, in those taped phone calls, that Brosal agrees to assist Galante in making sure no criminal charges came of the incident.
You can hear those FBI tapes for yourself on the Internet at newstimeslive.com /audio/galante.php. They include content some might find offensive.
"Sometimes a phone conversation can be misleading, or out of context," Butler said. "I've heard the tapes. Should Brosal resign? No. I think the league still has confidence in Richard.
"Beyond that, I have no comment.'"
Sounds like a Steinbrenner/Billy Martin vote of confidence.
"The Rivermen will have an informal relationship with UHL expansion club Bloomington and its host of ex-Rivermen players in 2006-07.
Bloomington co-owner John Butler and coach Derek Booth were at the prospect camp Tuesday and met with Peoria general manager and Blues director of pro scouting Kevin McDonald.
"We're going to give them two spots to fill in our (Peoria) training camp in the fall, which will help their recruiting," McDonald said. "It's doubtful we'll send any players from Peoria to Bloomington (on a standard assignment)."
It is possible, however, the Rivermen will send players to Bloomington for brief conditioning stints, or call up former ECHL Peoria guys like Trevor Baker or Tyler Rennette as a weekend emergency replacement.
"We know there won't be an affiliation, but it was just an opportunity to come down here and meet the Blues people and establish a relationship," Butler said.
Butler, by the way, is on the UHL's Executive Committee, which eventually will have to get around to looking at commissioner Richard Brosal. He embarrassed the embattled league last week when recordings of FBI wiretaps caught Brosal talking to alleged organized-crime members operating a team in his league.
The owner of the UHL's Danbury team, James Galante - arrested recently by the FBI on racketeering charges - allegedly punched a referee after a game last season. It appears, in those taped phone calls, that Brosal agrees to assist Galante in making sure no criminal charges came of the incident.
You can hear those FBI tapes for yourself on the Internet at newstimeslive.com /audio/galante.php. They include content some might find offensive.
"Sometimes a phone conversation can be misleading, or out of context," Butler said. "I've heard the tapes. Should Brosal resign? No. I think the league still has confidence in Richard.
"Beyond that, I have no comment.'"
Sounds like a Steinbrenner/Billy Martin vote of confidence.