AHL Hershey Bears

Gearing up for training camp from the radio booth

Published on September 20, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


When you've worked in hockey for a while, there is a certain routine to how your daily life occurs. For me, it's pretty simple. New Year's Day occurs sometime in early October. Thanksgiving and Christmas are those off days in the middle of four games in five days, or something similar. The last half of Ohio State's season is a blur since we play every Saturday as well. The playoff push gets started as the weather gets warmer. (Actually that is an addition since I came to Hershey. When I was in Cincinnati, that step was substituted by heading to the garage to polish my irons and search for golf balls). In any event, as the season draws to a close, you shift into your summer responsibilities with the club, get re-acquainted with your front office co-workers and enjoy the summer a little.

I bring all this up for a reason and not because any of this is terribly interesting to the reader. The reason is that the routine is all out of whack thanks to the NHL work stoppage. I realized what a creature of habit I am when players started showing up here last week. It's always great to see the guys return; don't get me wrong. It's just there's a lot to do before the season gets underway, and when I saw Brett Clark downstairs last week, it occurred to me that this September really isn't like any other I've had before. Panic mode set in for a moment when I realized the media guide isn't done yet and we have players here already, but that's just the break from routine. There still is time; it just feels different because all the players are coming here first instead of Denver. We'll probably have a pretty good handful of guys skate here this morning, and that number will only grow by the end of the week. Peter Budaj is already here, Eric Perrin should be here by mid-week and Mathieu Darche might be here today. There is still nothing official in terms of training camp until next Wednesday, but our team as we know it should be pretty intact by the time it opens. If there was ever a camp that makes it tough on a "fringe" guy trying to make the team in camp, this is it. Usually a guy in that position needs to do something to get the coach's attention early in camp before all the "heavy hitters" come down from the NHL. Not this year. For the fans, this is all good news. It promises to be a very competitive camp, and it's also good because the team as we know it should have a lot of time to get to know each other before the opener in Norfolk on October 15.

I've gotten a lot of e-mail from readers about training camp and guys who have signed and those who haven't. All I can really tell you at this point is that the front office here is going to be monstrously busy the next two weeks getting guys signed to AHL contracts. Brett Clark and Chris Bala were both made official with their contracts on Friday, so they're both ready to go. There will be more in the coming days before camp opens. Who you see next Wednesday should for the most part make up the team for this year. I would anticipate more signings this week to start to round out the roster.

So many e-mail questions this week, so little time. I'll do the best I can to get to as many as I can.

John:

I read on TSN that Dominik Hasek is going to camp in Binghamton. What's up with that? Is he really going to play for the B-Sens?

Jerry

Colonial Park

Jerry, he just might. Binghamton sent out a press release Friday that said that Hasek will attend training camp starting next week. The way that I understand it, he would sign an AHL deal just like Eric Perrin or Brett Clark, but we'll have to wait and see. For the curious, Binghamton is in Hershey for the first time on Wednesday, December 29. There is a little more urgency in ticket buying if you want to see the first BEARS/Senators game in Binghamton. We'll be at Broome County for the first time on October 22.

John:

Is there any chance we will see some big NHL stars play in Hershey this year with the NHL lockout?

Sarah Miller

Mechanicsburg, PA

Sarah, big is in the eye of the beholder of course. It's tough to say. All I know is what goes on with our team at this point. Getting Perrin to come back was our "big" move. I don't think you'll see too many household names in the AHL for one simple reason. The reason is that AHL teams can't bank on those guys hanging around. The only think to say now is that there should be some great hockey in this league with or without any other outside "influences".

Hi John:

The signing of Eric is great news, I thought the only way to see him skate at the Giant Center again would be when Springfield came to town. Which leads me to my question, If Eric was not a free agent. How is he able to sign with the Bears, and not be required to play for the Falcons should there be a lockout? Two other questions, what are the chances you will be describing the play of Johnny Boychuk, and Wojtek Wolski in Bear uniforms this season.

Best Regards,

Phil Levens

Lititz, PA

Phil, Eric had his NHL one-way contract locked out just like everyone else. Once that happened, he was able to do whatever he wanted and he chose to return to Hershey. What happens if the NHL settles is not immediately clear, but most likely would be Eric would go to Tampa because of his contract. Anything beyond that would just be speculation by me, and I don't want to do that because I honestly don't know what would happen. As for Boychuk, you can expect to see him this season, but Wolski is still maybe a year away. To the best of my knowledge, he won't be at camp.

John:

When does training camp open for the BEARS? Are the practices open to the public?

William Ross

Annville

William, camp will open next Wednesday on September 29 at GIANT Center. Most of the morning skates will happen at HERSHEYPARK Arena this year. Practices are open to the public.

Hi John:

I read your column every week even though I'm a Penguins fan. What team do you think is the most improved this summer in the East Division? By the way, I can't believe you guys don't come up here before late January.

Dedric M.

Moosic, PA

Dedric, first of all Penguin fandom is curable, our ticket representative are standing by to assist you with that. Seriously, the only thing more amazing than the face we don't play at Wachovia Arena until January 28 is that the Pens don't play at GIANT Center until February 19 this season. I hate to say it for your sake Dedric, but the Pens have probably had the worst summer in the East, although some players are getting signed now. Wilkes-Barre easily lost the most key guys, but still have great young goaltending. Philly helped themselves a lot this off-season, and I think HERSHEY did as well. The balance of power could tip Binghamton's way if Spezza and Hasek hang out in the southern tier all season. Given the NHL labor stoppage, it might be too early to say who has the best talent. As of this moment, I like the rosters in Philly and Bridgeport along with ours. Binghamton might surge to the front of the pack, though. It's going to be a great division no matter what happens from here, that's for sure.

That's going to do it for this week. Keep an eye out the rest of the week for player signings at HersheyBears.com, and we'll be back next week with the training camp edition and the latest East Division news. Bye for now!

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American Hockey League Stories from September 20, 2004


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