IceMen Sign 3 More Players
September 13, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- With the calendar gradually advancing closer to the dawn of reveille for the premiere of their first-ever training camp as members of the newly-formed Central Hockey League "Super League," the Evansville IceMen continue to attain major inroads in overall roster building for the upcoming 2010-11 pro hockey campaign.
Continuing to meet those marching orders, General Manager / Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced on this date that the IceMen have agreed to terms with three more players with the latest triumvirate of signees expected to fulfill important roles at the forward position for the CHL-debuting contingent.
The latest trio of players to commit to Evansville for the rapidly-approaching season are right wing BO CHEESMAN, left wing JESSE BIDUKE and center/right wing ROBB ROSS. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract deals were not disclosed.
CHEESMAN, 29, is entering his sixth pro season and his first in the CHL "Super League." The strong and stellar 6-2 200lb veteran forward is arriving on the Evansville pro hockey scene armed with an array of credentials paramount to IceMen on-ice success in the fledgling franchise season. Having performed his craft at the professional level in the ECHL for virtually his entire career, his best seasons occurred most recently in the 2007-08 campaign when he led the Alaska Aces with a career-best 30-goals and 57-total points while logging 79-PIM. His knack on the scoring attack was on full display in two other seasons as well. In 2005-06 with the ECHL Wheeling Nailers, he ripped 20-goals, 46-points and in the following season of 2006-07, he delivered 19-more goals, 19-assists totaling 38-points with 117-PIM in 72-games split between Wheeling and the Long Beach Ice Dogs. During that three-year span, the Guildford, England product connected on 69-goals, 72-assists for 141-points through 213-games.
Cheesman will be embarking on a comeback of sorts this season, coming off an injury which precluded him from playing time last season.
GM/Coach Kromm likes the vast experience of the pro game that Cheesman will bring into the IceMen dressing room this year. "Bo is a player who has substantial pro experience and has delivered some really good numbers at the AA level. Moreover, he is a complete player who should be able to provide some offensive punch up front."
Prior to his pro career, Cheesman enjoyed a four-year career at Lake Superior State U., of the CCHA. In addition, from 1998-2002, he starred in the NAHL Junior `A' circuit with the Soo Indians, garnering 29 and 23-goals seasons. His pro career totals read: 247-games; 75-goals, 78-assists, 153-points.
BIDUKE, 22, (bih-DUKE) is setting sail on his second season and his first in the CHL with Evansville. After attending the IHL Muskegon Lumberjacks training camp last year and being one of the last cuts, the 6-1, 210lb power forward proceeded to achieve an extraordinary rookie season in 2009-10 in the SPHL with the Fayetteville Fire Antz. The Whitby, Ontario native was named SPHL Rookie of the Year as well as attaining SPHL All-Rookie-Team honors. Finishing seventh in the league-wide scoring derby, Biduke averaged over a point a game with 58-points in 51-games on 26-goals, 32-assists and 34-PIM. He added 3-points in 3-playoff outings as well; 3(2-1-3).
As he did last season at the helm of Muskegon, so, again, this year, Coach Kromm sees some real potential in the IceMen left wing. "Jesse had an outstanding season in his rookie year in the SPHL and was named rookie of the year for the league. He is a big, rugged left wing who has shown an ability to be a productive offensive player. We are looking forward to seeing him realize his promise and potential."
Previous to the inception of his pro career, Biduke played four years in the major junior `A' OHL for such prestigious, tradition-laden teams as the Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67's and Kingston Frontenacs as well as in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats.
ROSS, 27, will touch down in the southernmost part of Indiana with one of the more interesting and intriguing backgrounds in the world's fastest sport. The diminutive but dynamic 5-9, 185lb speed rocket is a four-year star and stalwart from West Point, having played collegiate hockey at Army from 2004 through 2008. Last season, he plied his trade globetrotting overseas in the Belgian Hockey League where the meteoric numbers he achieved were somewhat staggering. In spearheading his Liege Bulldogs to both the Regular Season and Playoff Championships, the native of North St. Paul, MN amassed an astronomical 61-points in 24-games on 26-goals, 35-assists.
He earned the opportunity in Belgian due to his masterful accomplishments achieved with the Army Black Knights. With the NCAA Division I school of the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA), he topped the team in scoring in 2004-05; 29(11-9-20), becoming the lone Freshman to lead an NCAA team in scoring and the first Freshman to lead team scoring at West Point since the 1978-79 season. A steady, consistent, productive scoring artisan throughout his career at the Academy, Ross climaxed his career there by spurring his Army team to the 2007-08 regular season championship, proving to be the first time in Army hockey history this feat was ever achieved. In that same season, the West Point crew reached the top 20 among the premiere ranked teams across the nation in college hockey in yet another unprecedented attainment.
Kromm is both intrigued and curious of Ross' ability and talents and how he will blend-in with the overall IceMen squad. "Robb is coming to us from NCAA Division I caliber hockey at Army. He played there four years and proved to be a consistent and reliable forward who possesses outstanding skating ability. We are looking for his speed to become an overall asset in the type of team we are building here in Evansville."
Before attending Army, Ross emerged prominently as a prolific point-producing player in the junior `A' NAHL where for two seasons he starred for the Fairbanks (AK) Ice Dogs. In 2003-04, he ranked #2 on the club in scoring with 54(15-35-50), pacing the team in assists. The year earlier, 2002-03, he collected 25-points in 50-games; 50(10-15-25). In both seasons, he was named winner of the team Most Dedicated Player On/Off Ice Award.
Today's signings of right wing BO CHEESMAN, left wing JESSE BIDUKE and center/right wing ROBB ROSS bring to 9 the total number of players presently signed by Evansville for the upcoming season. Previously, the IceMen announced the signings of goaltender MATT LUNDIN; defensemen JORDAN LITTLE, NICK SCHNEIDER; centers BRIAN BICEK, DAMIAN SURMA; left wing MARK CODY.
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- IceMen Sign 3 More Players - Evansville IceMen
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