Seals Make Deals With Cyclones, Renegades
November 28, 2006 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. - The Florida Seals announced today the completion of two deals that they hope will hoist the team out of its recent losing skid.
The first deal was a two-for-two trade of defensemen with the Pee Dee Cyclones. The Seals will get blue liners Scott English and Dan Pszenyczny from the Cyclones and in return Florida will be sending defensemen Matt English and Art Mnatsakanov to Florence, South Carolina. The second deal will send futures to the Richmond Renegades in exchange for forward Scott Corbett.
"I think this will shake things up a little bit but it really betters our hockey club," Seals Coach Tommy Stewart said about the two transactions. "Our hockey club will be better this Friday than it was last Friday."
Pszenyczny, a 25 year old from Sterling Heights, Michigan, became a known commodity when he began playing with the CEHL's Detroit Lightning in 2002. He posted 10 goals and 34 assists for a team that ironically also had Mnatsakanov on its roster (Art had 31 goals and 32 assists that season). During the 2003-2004 campaign, he split time between the Flint Generals in the UHL and the Jacksonville Barracudas of the WHA2, where he had 13 points in 16 games. He joined the Asheville Aces in the then-newly formed SPHL for the 2004-2005 season posting seven goals and 26 assists in 51 games. He also had a one game stint in the ECHL with Greenville that year.
Last season, Pszenyczny played for Pee Dee, scoring five goals and adding 16 assists. He also spent time in the UHL with Quad City, picking up three goals and six assists in 17 games for the Mallards. He started the 2006-2007 season in Quad City but was released. He was picked up by the Cyclones and had played three games for them before the deal.
Scott English, a native of Newmarket, Ontario, comes with the reputation as a tough, hard-nosed defenseman. He turned pro in 2003, signing with the Fort Worth Brahmas in the CHL. He had just three points but posted 324 penalty minutes in 63 games. He started 2004-2005 with the Tulsa Oilers, playing just three games before being traded to the Memphis Riverkings. In 48 games with the R-kings, he had five goals and one assist to go with 268 minutes in the penalty box.
After spending the 2005-2006 with the Brantford Blast of the OHA Senior league, he latched on with the Cyclones. In 11 games this season, he had one goal, one assist and 90 penalty minutes.
"Dan Pszenyczny is a very good defenseman. He's very mobile. He can play the power play and penalty kill," Stewart said. "Scott English is a hard-nosed defenseman."
Corbett is quite well known to Seals' fans. Last season, he was one of the driving forces that led the Fayetteville FireAntz into the SPHL playoffs and a first round series against Florida that will be long remembered. He tallied 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 54 games. This season, he had already led the Richmond team to a win against the Seals at the Silver Spurs Arena. Corbett also has been with the Augusta Lynx and the South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL during his pro career.
Mnatsakanov, a fan favorite at the Silver Spurs, has been with Stewart for four years. This season, he had just two assists in twelve games for the Seals. According to Stewart, his departure is meant to send a message to the rest of the team.
"I had to make a move that sent a message to the guys that I mean business," Stewart said. "It's a move to shake things up."
English had played in five games for Florida after being signed two weeks ago, chipping in one assist in that time.
The Seals also announced that they had waived defenseman Glen Painter and forward Ryan Fultz. Painter was tied for the lead in scoring for defensemen on the Seals squad with six points while Fultz had two goals and four assists in his five games in a Seals' jersey.
Pszenyczny, English and Corbett are all expected to be in the Seals' lineup this weekend when they host the league leading Knoxville Ice Bears Friday night at the Silver Spurs Arena and on Saturday when Florida makes its' first visit to Jacksonville to battle the Barracudas.
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SPHL Stories from November 28, 2006
- Seals Make Deals With Cyclones, Renegades - Florida Seals
- Renegades Trade Corbett - Richmond Renegades
- Best Buy teams with Havoc for Teddy Bear Toss - Huntsville Havoc
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