Falcons Complete Opening Day Roster

Published on October 16, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, CALIF. - The Fresno Falcons announced today the team's opening day roster for the 2008-09 season.

The 20 players on the Falcons' initial roster are:

Goaltenders (1) - Joe Fallon

Defensemen (7) - Nate Ansell, Bobby Davey, Kenny MacAulay, Daryl Marcoux, Matt O'Dette, Brian O'Hanley, and Brennan Turner

Forwards (11) - Kenny Bernard, Judd Blackwater, Spencer Carbery, Grant Goeckner-Zoeller, Igor Gongalsky, Kyle Hagel, Jarrett Konkle, Peter MacArthur, Derek Patrosso, Mike Radja, and Dustin Sproat

Injured Reserve (1) - Jamie Coghlan (3-day IR)

Two recent Falcons signees, Brad Brown and Matt Stefanishion, are awaiting immigration approval and will not be officially added to the roster until this paperwork is complete.

The Falcons made an additional roster move today, receiving goaltender Michael Ouzas on loan from the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies. Ouzas enters his first pro campaign after playing the last two seasons at the University of New Brunswick. He helped lead UNB to back-to-back appearances in the National Finals, leading the team to a gold-medal finish in 2007-08 and a silver-medal finish in 2006-07. Ouzas was named a 2007-08 CIS All-Canadian and an AUS First-Team All Star. Prior to enrolling at UNB, he played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, and was honored as the OHL Goaltender of the Year in 2005 after posting 24-11-9 record with Mississauga.

The Falcons open the 2008-09 season on the road, taking on the Stockton Thunder on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Opening Night 2008 at Selland Arena is set for Friday, October 24, when the Falcons host their arch-rivals, the Bakersfield Condors, at 7:35 p.m. Season Ticket packages start at just $432, and are now available by calling the Falcons at (559) 485-7825.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 828 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

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