Blast loses two players in expansion draft
Published on June 23, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore, MD â The Baltimore Blast lost two players to the Chicago Storm in this afternoon's MISL Expansion Draft. The Expansion Draft took place today in order to fill the roster for the expansion Chicago Storm who will take the field for the 2004-05 MISL season. The Storm, coached by former U.S. National Team player Frank Klopas, selected Baltimore Blast defender Ibrahim Kante with the first pick of the draft and went on to take defender Dewan Bader with the ninth overall pick.
"It is unfortunate that we lost Ibrahim Kante," Baltimore Blast General Manager Kevin Healey said. "He has a bright future in the MISL, however, since we were only allowed to protect 11 players, we knew we would lose quality players."
Kante, originally from Mali, West Africa, signed an MISL Offer Sheet in January and played in his first Blast game in March. In five regular-season games, the 6-3, 215-pound defender recorded one goal and two assists (three points) and one block. In two postseason games Kante tallied one goal and two blocks en route to Baltimore's second consecutive MISL Championship. The 22-year-old spent the 2003 Major League Soccer season with the New England Revolution and is playing this summer for the A-League's Milwaukee Wave United.
Bader, a 10-year veteran of the MISL/NPSL, recorded 36 points and 74 blocks in three seasons for the Blast. He was also selected in the 2003 MISL Dispersal Draft by the St. Louis Steamers, and the Blast made a trade to keep him in Baltimore for the 2003-04 season. Bader told the Blast that he plans to retire this summer in order to accept a Director of Coaching position in a youth soccer organization outside of Maryland.
"We were fortunate that Chicago drafted Dewan Bader since Dewan will be leaving the League to accept a youth soccer coaching position," Healey said. "Dewan has been a class individual for the Blast, on and off the field. It has been a pleasure having him for the past three years and Dewan played a major role in our back-to-back Championships. We wish Dewan the best of luck and know that he will be successful in his future endeavors."
The 16-pick Major Indoor Soccer League Expansion Draft was held today via conference call in order for Chicago to fill its roster with players from the nine other MISL teams. The Kansas City Comets, Philadelphia KiXX and Milwaukee Wave each lost the maximum three players to the Storm.
The 2003 and 2004 MISL Champion Baltimore Blast is currently conducting summer soccer camps throughout the summer at various sites in the Baltimore area. The Baltimore Blast Summer Soccer Camps will run until the week of August 16-20.
Baltimore's 2004 MISL Expansion Draft Losses
Overall Pick Player Position Drafted By
1 Ibrahim Kante Defender Chicago Storm
9 Dewan Bader Defender Chicago Storm
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from June 23, 2004
- Chicago Storm selects 16 in expansion draft - MISL 2
- Chicago Storm selects 16 players in expansion draft - Chicago Storm
- Wave Loses Two Players to Chicago in MISL Expansion Draft - Milwaukee Wave
- Blast loses two players in expansion draft - Baltimore Blast
- Chicago takes Sakuda in expansion draft - San Diego Sockers
- Three KiXX members acquired by Chicago Storm - Philadelphia KiXX
- Force forward/defender selected in draft - Cleveland Force
- Draft day is here for the Storm - Chicago Storm
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