ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades get two assigned from Albany

Published on October 1, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - Florida Everblades President and General Manager Craig Brush along with Head Coach Gerry Fleming announced today that defensemen Brandon Roach and Steve Ward have been assigned to the club from the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. The pair become the 11th & 12th players on the Everblades roster for the upcoming season.

Both rookies, Roach and Ward were participating in Albany's training camp prior to their assignment to the Everblades. Roach joins the Everblades after spending last season at the collegiate level with Acadia University in Nova Scotia. The 22-year-old finished the 2006-07 season with 17 points (7g, 10a) in 26 games with the Axemen. His 105 shots on goal led the Acadia squad and his point total ranked him ninth on the club in scoring.

Prior to skating at the university level, Roach spent four seasons at the junior level with the Lewiston MAINEiacs and the Sherbrooke Beavers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Terre-Neuve, Newfoundland native spent three seasons from 2003-2006 with the MAINEiacs scoring 110 points (35g, 75a) in 192 games. His best season was his final year with Lewiston in 2005-06 when he notched a junior career-high 18 goals and 44 assists for 62 points in 68 games. Roach's first season in the QMJHL came in 2002-03 with the Beavers during which he saw action in 63 games registering one assist and 19 penalty minutes.

"We are excited about adding Brandon and Steve to our club." Fleming said. "Both players have good puck sense and are coming off solid junior careers. Both of them are defensemen that move the puck well and skate well, and they are two players that we will utilize on the power play. Brandon and Steve are viewed highly in the organization as players that have a strong upside, so we're excited about seeing them in action."

Ward looks to make his professional debut in 2007-08 after completing a five-year career at the junior level with the Sarnia Sting and the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The 21-year-old captained the Whalers last season and tallied 45 points (15g, 30a) in 66 games. Ward also helped the Whalers capture the OHL Championship and earn a trip to the Memorial Cup with 14 points (1g, 13a) in 25 post-season games.

"Even though he's young, Steve has strong leadership qualities, and we are looking forward to him bringing those qualities he showed in Plymouth to our club." Fleming added.

Ward's best junior season came in 2005-06 with Plymouth when he notched 47 points (14g, 33a) in 67 games, which ranked him fifth on the team in scoring. During the 2005-06 campaign the Scarborough, Ontario native strung together a 12-game point scoring streak, registering 18 points during the stretch. Overall Ward scored 121 points (37g, 84a) in 249 career OHL games with Sarnia and Plymouth.

Opening Day for the ECHL's 20th Anniversary Season will be Oct. 18 when the Johnstown Chiefs host the Wheeling Nailers at Cambria County War Memorial in a rematch of Game 7 from the first-ever ECHL Finals.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will have 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals.

Experience the excitement of the Everblades 10th Anniversary season! The 2007-08 season begins on Friday, October 19 when the 'Blades host the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 7:30 p.m. from Germain Arena! Individual tickets to all Everblades home games are on sale now! Stop by the Germain Arena box office to reserve your seat for all the exciting action! Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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