USHL Green Bay Gamblers

Gamblers Go 1-1 Over The Weekend

Published on September 23, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Green Bay Gamblers News Release


The Green Bay Gamblers rounded out the pre-season by participating in the Bob Suter Memorial tournament this past weekend in Madison, Wisconsin. After falling to the Bloomington Thunder on Saturday 3-1, the Gamblers bounced back on Sunday with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Steel. The team finished the pre-season with a mark of 2-2-1.

Despite outshooting Bloomington 36-24, the Gamblers fell to the Thunder 3-1. Green Bay's lone goal came from veteran forward Joey Marooney. Bloomington tallied a pair of second period goals, and added a goal late in the third. Goaltenders Kevin Reich and Ryan Wischow split time in between the pipes. Reich allowed one goal on 12 shots, while Wischow allowed two goals on 12 shots.

In the pre-season finale the Gamblers tallied three power play goals in a 3-2 win over Chicago. Trailing 1-0 after the first, the Gamblers tied it up early in the 2nd period on Marooney's second goal in as many games. Green Bay added power play goals in the third as Nick Poehling and Marc Michaelis each found the back of the net Goaltender Adam Huska played all 60 minutes turning aside 32 shots.

The Gamblers open up their 22nd season in the United States Hockey League on Saturday, September 26 versus the Bloomington Thunder at the Resch Center. Game time is 7:05 PM

GAMBLERS ROSTER

The Green Bay Gamblers released their 23-man roster on Tuesday. The roster includes two goaltenders, eight defenseman 14 forwards. The Gamblers will carry 24 players to start the season, as rookie forward Josh Dunne has been put on the 25-day injured reserve list.

GAMBLERS RELEASE FOUR PLAYERS

The Gamblers announced on Monday that they have released defenseman Parker Revering and forwards Tyler Cline and Jacob Paganelli. Goaltender Ryan Wischow was traded to the Fargo Force for future considerations and defenseman Alex Stevens was dealt to the Sioux Falls Stampede for an undisclosed 2016 draft pick.

WEINTRAUB ADDED TO GAMBLERS STAFF

The Green Bay Gamblers have hired Jeff Weintraub to serve as the team's video coach. Weintraub replaces Will Craig, who was hired in the same capacity by the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Weintraub spent last season at the University of Michigan serving on the team's hockey analytics staff. His duties included filming games, practices, compiling stats and pre-scouting the Wolverines' opponents.

MEET THE TEAM

Meet the 2015-2016 Green Bay Gamblers at Grazies on Thursday, September 24 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. The entire team and coaching staff will be on hand to meet the fans. Grazies is located at 2851 South Oneida Street in Green Bay. To make a reservation contact Grazies at 499-6365.

THE MINIONS ARE COMING

The Minions from the hit movie the "Minions" and "Despicable Me 1 & 2" are coming to the Resch Center for the Gamblers home opener on Saturday, September 26. After the game meet your favorite player as the entire team will be signing autographs. Kid's tickets start at $8 and are available at www.gamblershockey.com or by calling the box office at 920-494-3401. Game time is 7:05 PM

MIKESCH MEETS WITH LOCAL YOUTH

Gamblers head coach Pat Mikesch spoke with the Young Scholars at the Kroc Center in Green Bay on Monday. The program begins in the sixth grade and the goal is to assist underprivileged kids in school. The program also offers collegiate scholarships for those who complete the program.

GRYBA TRADED TO EDMONTON

Former Gamblers defenseman Eric Gryba has been traded to the Edmonton Oilers. Gryba, 27, was taken in the third round (No. 68) of the 2006 draft. He had 12 assists, 97 penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating in 75 games this past season with the Ottawa Senators. Gryba (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) has four goals, 25 points, 187 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in 165 NHL games, all with the Senators. Gryba spent the 2005-06 season in Green Bay, registering 15 points and 205 penalty minutes in 56 games. At the collegiate level Gryba played four years at Boston University winning an NCAA National Title in 2009.

BURISH HOPING TO GET BACK TO THE NHL

As is his nature, Adam Burish isn't going away quietly.

The former Blackhawks forward who helped the team win its first Stanley Cup in 49 years in 2010, is currently without an NHL contract but is determined to change that.

"I'm working my tail off and I'm in the best shape I've been in in the last five years," the always-affable Burish told the Tribune. "I'm waiting for my next chance to win another Cup and prove some people wrong."

Count Sharks management among those Burish would like to prove wrong. San Jose waived the 32-year-old Burish on June 19 and later bought out the final season of his four-year contract, costing the team $1.2 million. This came after a tumultuous 2014-15 season during which the Madison, Wis., native appeared in 20 games and had a goal, two assists and 33 penalty minutes. Burish was sent to Worcester of the AHL during the season and eventually was loaned to the Wolves with whom he had six goals, six assists and 18 penalty minutes in 36 games.

"I think getting out of San Jose will be for the better," Burish said. "I have more good years of hockey ahead of me."

The Hawks selected Burish in the ninth round (282nd overall) of the 2002 NHL draft and he appeared in 169 games for them over three-plus seasons. After helping the Hawks win the Cup in '10, he signed a free-agent contract with the Stars and played for them two seasons before joining the Sharks.

Except for a recent excursion to Chicago to visit with some of his former Hawks teammates, Burish has spent the summer in Madison preparing himself for next season and is looking to land back in the NHL. Burish played one season in Green Bay (2001-02) registering 57 points in 61 games. Burish played his college hockey at the University of Wisconsin, winning a national title in 2006.

CZARNIK FEATURED IN THE BOSTON GLOBE

In 2008, the first year Tyler Johnson was eligible for the NHL Draft, he was not among the 211 players who had their names called.

Twenty-nine teams are regretting this decision.

In 2014-15, the 25-year-old Johnson was one of the catalysts behind Tampa Bay's run to the Stanley Cup Final. As the second-line center between Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov, Johnson scored 29 goals and 43 assists, tied with Steven Stamkos for the team lead with 72 points. Johnson scored a team-best 23 points in the playoffs. He is under contract for the next two seasons at a bargain price of $3,333,333 annually.

Bagging home-run players such as Johnson and filling out their rosters is why teams invest viewings in players who have aged out of their drafts.

The Flames (Mark Giordano), Rangers (Mats Zuccarello), Red Wings (Danny DeKeyser), and Canadiens (David Desharnais) are some of the clubs that are very pleased that high-end players sometimes slip through the draft filter.

The Bruins have had results signing undrafted players, too. They landed Torey Krug as a free agent out of Michigan State. Kevan Miller signed with the Bruins after completing four seasons at the University of Vermont. They've added prospects Joonas Kemppainen, Austin Czarnik, and Noel Acciari to their player pool.

In all of those cases, they didn't have to use precious draft capital to secure their rights. In that way, signing undrafted players is the most efficient method of team-building.

In most cases, players are under entry-level restrictions ($925,000 annual maximum). Getting them in the fold takes careful monitoring, a knack for good recruiting, and sometimes inside help.

Reilly Smith is now a Panther. But last spring, when the Bruins were chasing Czarnik, then a senior at Miami University, Smith became part of the sales pitch.

In 2011-12, when Smith led Miami with 30 goals in 39 games, he had his disher to thank. As a freshman, Czarnik had a team-high 27 assists with Smith riding his wing.

The Canadiens wanted Czarnik, too. But Smith's input, along with counsel from family adviser Brian Bartlett and the pitch from then-general manager Peter Chiarelli, convinced Czarnik that Boston was the right fit.

"He loved it," Czarnik said of Smith's pre-trade experience in Boston. "So I was like, 'You know what? It just seems like a good place.' If he's going to tell me all these great things, I might as well just do it and have a good experience."

Czarnik was not an unknown heading into his draft year. As a 15-year-old, he decommitted from Michigan State. After considering schools such as Denver and Notre Dame, Czarnik committed to Miami.

In 2009-10, he was the second-leading scorer on the National Team Development Program's Under-18 club, a roster that included Brandon Saad, Justin Faulk, and Matt Nieto. In his draft year, Czarnik scored 20 goals and 14 assists for Green Bay of the USHL.

None of it was good enough to get drafted. Czarnik's 5-foot-9-inch stature was too scary for teams to bite.

"It was disappointing," Czarnik said. "I felt I wasn't good enough - that I didn't have enough skill or something like that. In reality, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me."

Interest spiked after his 10-27- 37 freshman year. Czarnik earned an invitation to Tampa's development camp. After his 14-26-40 sophomore season, Czarnik attended Winnipeg's development camp.

By then, NHL teams had a clearer picture of what Czarnik could become as a pro: a fast, skilled, smart, and competitive center. Two additional seasons gave GMs and scouts more viewings and data to produce a sharper projection.

"They're a little further along in their development," said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. "So it's sometimes easier to forecast and predict where they might fit into your lineup - where your gaps currently are - as opposed to the projection piece of an 18-year-old player who's just been drafted."

Czarnik was one of the Bruins' best rookies during the three-team Prospects Challenge against Buffalo and New Jersey last weekend. He was a top-two center, the same role he'll play in Providence this fall as a first-year pro.

With experience, the right-shot Czarnik could develop into an NHL center. He likes to handle the puck. He is a north-south blazer but also has quickness, agility, and a low center of gravity, like former Bruin Sergei Samsonov.

"[Czarnik] has courage at his size," Sweeney said after the tournament. "He understands he's at times at a disadvantage defensively when he doesn't have the puck. He'll get a better feel for where he can stick his nose in, because he's more than willing to. At times, you bite off a little more than you can chew. We've talked to him about that. But the kid makes plays. He's got a lot of courage at his size. He acquitted himself very well these two games."

Czarnik has something in common with Krug, Johnson, Zuccarello, and Desharnais: lack of size. They share another trait: competitiveness.

All hockey players like to compete. But draft picks are given a layer of protection. A team will give its first-rounders every chance to succeed to justify their selection.

An undrafted player has no such safety net. He is fighting for employment. It's not hard to win a puck battle when its outcome can lead to a contract.

"Not getting drafted, I had to prove myself my whole life because I'm so small and everything," Czarnik said. "That's been the biggest knock against me. So it's just proving myself, getting out there, and letting them know that my size doesn't really affect me that much. I'll be smarter in different ways."

The amateur player pool continues to expand. The draft, meanwhile, is fixed pre-expansion: 30 teams and seven rounds. More players will slip through undrafted. The smart teams will pick the best ones.

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United States Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2015


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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