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Get real, go live

August 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


It was a deadline weekend with the much over hyped Major League Baseball trading deadline on Saturday (Still can't believe Nomar is "No-mas" in Boston) and the much lesser hyped ECHL deadline for protected players to accept their respective qualifying offers on Sunday. On that note, familiar signings are certainly picking up around the league, as you'll see further down, while Monday could push many veterans into restricted free agency status. As restricted free agents, veterans will be able to test the free agent market, but their respective teams will have 7 days to match any offer. It should certainly make for an interesting weekend all around.

THIS FOURTH SEASON, GET REAL, GO LIVE

I teased it a bit in last week's issue, and then on Wednesday we made it official as the Bullies released a special commemorative logo celebrating four wonderful years in Atlantic City. Along with the logo is this season's new theme: "Get Real, Go Live!" In line with "Operation: 1,700", "Get Real, Go Live!" is a call to action for Bullies fans to get away from in front of their televisions and get down to Boardwalk Hall to see the action live. MediaWorks Communications of Linwood, NJ created the theme, and has designed several innovative and fresh advertising campaigns that you will see around the region in the coming weeks and months that all portray this concept of "Get Real, Go Live!" Some ads may even be more risqué than in years past so certainly keep your eyes open. One thing Vice President & GM Dan Belisle has stressed often for the upcoming season is that our show and our image will be fresh and different. "Get Real, Go Live" marks just the beginning of this new campaign…Last week I mentioned the importance of rookies, and Head Coach Matt Thomas landed a solid pair Monday in center Brett Smith from Ferris State and defenseman Ben Wallace from Cornell. Smith should make an immediate offensive impact coming off a season in which he posted 13 goals and 33 points in the always-tough CCHA (Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Notre Dame). Smith also has a knack for having big games as twice last year he came up with three-point outings. Something you probably didn't know about Brett? His one big wish is to be a star on American Idol! The marketing department may just also have picked up an emergency national anthem singer. Wallace on the other hand is a solid blue-liner that will add to an already strong Bullies defense. A very disciplined player, Wallace was an impressive +18 over 35 games during his junior year when Cornell reached the Frozen Four with former Bullies teammate Sam Paolini. Scouts say that while he isn't flashy, Wallace is a workhorse whose efforts will not go unnoticed. A side note: Immediately after announcing the addition of Ben Wallace, NBC TV-40 sports anchor Mike Dirmann called me up to congratulate us on the addition of Ben Wallace, the starting center for the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. He was joking of course, but think about how that Afro would look on the ice…The Bullies released their new schedule on Wednesday with a few minor changes. The only home date change from the original schedule is Wednesday, December 22 against Dayton, which has now been moved to a 2:05PM matinee on Sunday, November 14, thus giving the Bullies a total of 6 Sunday home games. Matt Thomas will begin his head-coaching career on October 22 in Florence, SC against the Pee Dee Pride, just the second meeting between the Bullies and the Pride and the first in South Carolina. The loss of Greensboro and Roanoke also paved the way for the addition of a home-and-home series with southern rival Charlotte, who was originally not on the schedule. The Checkers will visit Boardwalk Hall on Friday, March 4. Like many other teams, Atlantic City's season outcome will most likely be decided in the final weeks of the regular season when the Bullies play 18 games in 40 nights, including a stretch of 7 games in 9 days.

AROUND THE ECHL…

With that August 1 deadline in the background, several players around the league re-signed with current clubs this week. Among the notables in the North Division, Johnstown inked defensive captains Brent Bilodeau and Jeff Sulluvan, the Chiefs all-time penalty minute leader. Reading's David Masse and Dean Arsene signed two-way contracts with the Hershey Bears, but will play in Reading should they end up in the ECHL. Peoria made a splash in free agency with the signing of all-star forward Jason Notermann who was in Johnstown last season. The Rivermen also renewed their affiliation with the St. Louis Blues and the Worcester IceCats. Goaltender and old friend Shawn Degagne has landed in Dayton to begin the Don MacAdam era in Ohio. Degagne has been a wall the past two seasons in Amarillo of the Central Hockey League. On the flip side, you have to wonder if fans in Wheeling are starting to feel antsy? Coming off a season in which the Nailers broke several club records and restored a winning tradition to a long-standing ECHL member, Wheeling so far has only signed forwards Brendon Hodge and Mark Kosick. J.F. Dufour has signed with Rockford of the United Hockey League and there are rumors floating around that J.C. Ruid could be heading back to the UHL as well. With Jason Jaffray looking to lock up an AHL contract, it's quite possible that the explosive Dufour, Jaffray, and Ruid line could be lost in its entirety. Or, the Nailers could just be playing their cards right and not showing a full hand right now. I guess time will tell the story on that one. If Wheeling fans are antsy, think how the ones in Idaho must feel. The Steelheads are the only team in the ECHL not to announce a player signing for 2004-05.

I'll have a much more thorough issue next Friday with the possibility of some major Bullies announcements. Enjoy another great weekend/week. Keep sending those emails and questions along (dan.weiss@boardwalkbullies.com). 81 DAYS TILL OPENING NIGHT!!!!



ECHL Stories from August 2, 2004


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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