Changes A Plenty Mark Seals Week Four

November 21, 2006 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release


CELEBRATION, Fla. - As the Florida Seals entered week 4 of the 2006-2007 SPHL season, they had won just two of their first six games and faced two tough contests with the Richmond Renegades and their very first road game in Fayetteville, North Carolina against the FireAntz.

Head Coach / V.P. of Hockey Operations Tommy Stewart, sensing that the team needed a jolt, made three roster moves to help bolster his offense. He brought in Tim Vitek, Ryan Fultz and Matt English to hopefully spark the Seals.

"All three of them are very welcome and they're going to help turn this boat around," Stewart said about his three new charges.

Vitek, a 23 year old from Dresden, Ontario, played college hockey at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Following his graduation, he signed on with the Corpus Christi Rayz of the Central Hockey League. In 64 games during the 2005-2006 season, he chipped in with four goals and nine assists. This season, he played just seven games before being released.

"He's a talented kid," Stewart said about Vitek. "He's a great skater but the best thing about Tim is he plays both ends of the rink."

Stewart plugged him into the line with Rob Sich and Justin Keller and he has paid dividends already. In three games with the Seals, Vitek has scored three power play goals and added two assists.

Fultz, who hails from Rochester, Michigan, comes in with a wealth of experience. After two season of college hockey at Bowling Green, Fultz headed to the East Coast Hockey League. His myriad of stops in the ECHL included New Orleans, Arkansas, Greensboro, Lexington, Texas, Gwinnett and Charlotte. This season he started in Wheeling, West Virginia but left before the season started.

"He just didn't want to play in Wheeling any more," Stewart said when explaining how he got Fultz to come to the Seals. "He was just going to retire and go to work."

Fultz had an immediate impact. In his first game wearing the Seals' logo, he scored two goals. The performance even impressed Stewart since Fultz had not been on skates in a while.

"You know, he's not even in shape yet," Stewart said. "Once he gets into shape, he'll be real good."

English, who hails from Buffalo, New York, had an All-American level career at SUNY-Geneseo in upstate New York. The 24 year old defenseman played seven games in Lubbock in the CHL at the end of last season.

Stewart likes what English brings to the table.

"He's another kid who can skate and is a good energy guy," Stewart said. "He's a good defenseman who can shoot the puck."

To make room for the three newcomers, someone had to go. One decision was made for Stewart as defenseman Brett Larson retired. Larson, according to Stewart, was not able to find an equitable balance between his work and hockey schedules. Stewart then waived both Chris Bain and Shawn Grant. Bain, who was brought in to be an enforcer, was made expendable by the play of rookie Cedric Bernier while Grant had been a fill-in for the injured Craig Miller.

Slap Shots...

The Seals went 1-2 for the week, the lone win coming on Friday November 17th against Richmond. Rob Sich and Justin Keller each scored two goals in the 6-1 victory that was marred by four fights in the final 1:02 of the game and the ejection of Renegades coach John Brophy. Goalie Terry Denike stopped 34 of 35 shots to post the victory...Florida's first road game of the season did not go well as they got behind early and never were able to make up the ground as they lost to Fayetteville 6-3. Vitek (twice) and Steve Zoryk were the goal scorers for the Seals...Keller sits in a tie for third in the league scoring race with Ben Manny of Knoxville. Each has 16 points, trailing league leader Kevin Swider of Knoxville who has 22 points and Mike Tuomi of the Ice Bears who has 18. Sich is one point behind his teammate with 15...The Seals kick off the holiday week with a Wednesday night game at the Silver Spurs Arena against the Jacksonville Barracudas. Florida would like to exact some revenge on their neighbors to the north as the Cudas have won both previous meetings this season. It is "Turkey Night" with Thanksgiving themed festivities planned. Game time is 7:35 P.M...Then on Friday, the Seals host Columbus in the front end of a home-and-home series. Following Friday's game, the teams will travel to Georgia for a Saturday night tilt.



SPHL Stories from November 21, 2006


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