Stampede Announce Pre-Season Roster
July 10, 2006 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Sioux Falls Stampede News Release
Sioux Falls, SD-The Sioux Falls Stampede announced their roster for training camp today. The roster includes 22 players with three spots yet to be determined. All teams will have to trim their rosters to 23 players in late September.
The roster includes nine players from last year's squad: forwards Jay Barriball, Nick Dineen, Jacob Drewiske, Drew Fisher, Patrick Tiesling, Corey Tropp and defensemen Jake Bauer, Jared Hummel and Zach Redmond.
Stampede head coach Kevin Hartzell feels the defense will be the big strength of the team this year. The Herd welcome first round draft pick Matt Lundin (Apple Valley, MN) in goal along with Jay Clark (Baudette, MN). Lundin spent last season playing at the University of Maine, appearing in 14 games and compiling a 7-4-0 record, 1.72 GAA and a .934 save percentage. Clark split time last season with the Indiana Ice of the USHL and the North Iowa Outlaws of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He played in 11 games with the Ice, posting a 3.73 GAA and a .879 save percentage.
Leading the way on the blueline will be newcomer Sam Zabkowicz (Greendale, WI) who split time last year with the Dallas Stars "AAA" midget team and the Texarkana Bandits of the NAHL. Hartzell has tabbed Zabkowicz as a potential star. Along with Zabkowicz fans should look out for Stu Bickel (Chanhassen, MN) who spent last year with the Southern Minnesota Express (NAHL) and posted 20 points (8g, 12a) in 38 games. Hartzell says Bickel was a "great find" and a guy who can play with a great physical presence (6'3" 190-pounds).
In addition, the Stampede are excited to welcome Zach Hansen (White Bear Lake, MN), Chris Huxley (Weymouth, MA) and Jay Fifield (Eden Prarie, MN). "Hansen is a feisty and skilled competitor," said Hartzell. "Huxley is strong, steady and very smart while Fifield is a guy that surprised us in camp with his solid and consistent play," added Hartzell. Huxley has already committed to play for Harvard University for the 2007-08 season.
The Stampede are also thrilled about their returning veterans on defense: Jake Bauer was considered the best defenseman at camp by the coaching staff while Zach Redmond has shown tremendous improvement in his year with the Stampede and Jared Hummel should start where he left off last year in the playoffs as a steady lanky defenseman, according to Hartzell.
The Stampede offense will also be strong with good veteran leadership and some key newcomers. Jay Barriball will lead the attack for Herd. He spent parts of last season with the Stampede, displaying his flashy offensive skills. The Prior Lake, MN native was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and has already committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2007-08 season. Barriball posted 66 points (28g, 38a) in 20 games with the Academy of Holy Angels and 12 points (5g, 7a) in just 13 regular season games with the Stampede. He also tallied 3 points (2g, 1a) in five playoff games before his season was cut short due to an injury.
Along with veterans Barriball, Dineen, Drewiske, Fisher, Tiesling and Tropp the Herd will also be looking at newcomer Brad Malone (Miramichi, New Brunswick) for offensive power. Malone was acquired by the Stampede via a trade with Indiana for goaltender Alex Kangas during the 2006 USHL Entry Draft. Malone, the cousin of Pittsburgh Penguins star Ryan Malone, is an extremely talented forward that is already projected to be an NHL draft pick in next year's Entry Draft. Malone spent this past season playing for Cushing Academy Prep-School in Ashburnham, MA.
Stampede players will report to Sioux Falls in early September and will open the regular season at home on October 6th versus the Tri-City Storm at 7:05 PM. Season tickets are now available and can be purchased by calling: 605-336-6060.
2006 STAMPEDE PRE-SEASON ROSTER
NAME POSITION LAST TEAM BIRTHDATE
Jay Barriball Forward Sioux Falls Stampede 05/1987
Jake Bauer Defense Sioux Falls Stampede 07/1987
Stu Bickel Forward Southern Minnesota (NAHL) 10/1986
Jordy Christian Forward Moorhead High School 10/1988
Jay Clark Goaltender North Iowa (NAHL) 09/1987
Nick Dineen Forward Sioux Falls Stampede 02/1989
Jake Drewiske Forward Sioux Falls Stampede 05/1987
Jay Fifield Defense Billings Bulls (NAHL) 04/1987
Drew Fisher Forward Sioux Falls Stampede 02/1987
Ryan Guentzel Forward Southern Minnesota (NAHL) 07/1986
Zach Hansen Defense White Bear Lake 09/1987
Jared Hummel Defense Sioux Falls stampede 05/1986
Chris Huxley Defense Nobles & Greenough Prep 02/1987
Matt Lundin Goaltender Maine University 05/1986
Brad Malone Forward Cushing Academy 05/1989
Joe Miller Forward Wayzata HS 09/1987
Erik Peterson Forward Minnetonka HS 09/1987
Zach Redmond Defense Sioux Falls Stampede 07/1988
David Solway Forward Sante Fe (NAHL) 05/1987
Patrick Tiesling Forward Sioux Falls Stampede 01/1988
Corey Tropp Forward Sioux Falls Stampede 07/1989
Sam Zabkowicz Defense Texarkana (NAHL) 06/1987
*TBD
*TBD
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United States Hockey League Stories from July 10, 2006
- Stampede Announce Pre-Season Roster - Sioux Falls Stampede
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