Falcons Take Flight at NHL and AHL Camps
Published on September 26, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, CALIF. - The Fresno Falcons announced today that head coach Matt Thomas and assistant coach Ryan Mougenel are in attendance at the training camp of the Chicago Blackhawks, the team's new National Hockey League affiliate for the 2008-09 season, while nine players with Falcons ties are attending various AHL camps.
Thomas and Mougenel have been in Chicago since Tuesday, and will see three NHL pre-season games while with the Blackhawks. They will remain in Chicago until Saturday, when they head to Rockford to take in a few days of AHL Ice Hogs camp.
"It has been a great experience for us here in Chicago thus far," Thomas said. "The Blackhawks are really excited about working with us this season, and this time in training camp has given us an opportunity to see what Chicago has in its system."
Not only are the Falcons' coaches getting a taste of the higher level, but six players who will be in Falcons' training camp in the coming weeks will also attend training camp in Rockford. Included among those six are three players who were with the Falcons last season: Kenny Bernard, Igor Gongalsky, and Kenny MacAulay. Also attending Rockford's camp are Falcons' signees Judd Blackwater, Rob Klinkhammer, and Ryan Nie.
Also in attendance at AHL camps this week are Oren Eizenman (Manitoba), Brian O'Hanley (Worcester), and Matt Stefanishion (Iowa). Stefanishion was reassigned to Iowa by the NHL's Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, one day after scoring a goal in Anaheim's 6-4 pre-season game win over San Jose.
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.
ECHL Stories from September 26, 2008
- Falcons Take Flight at NHL and AHL Camps - Fresno Falcons
- Nailers Come To Terms With Center Grennier - Wheeling Nailers
- Bombers Jersey Blow Out and Equipment Sale Next Weekend - Dayton Bombers
- Salmon Kings Announce 2008 Training Camp Schedule - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Bombers Sign Goaltender McWhinney - Dayton Bombers
- RoadRunners Head Off To AHL Training Camps - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Blades announce promotional dates - Florida Everblades
- Royals Sign Forward Justin Bourne - Reading Royals
- Bombers Add Center Gaudet - Dayton Bombers
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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