SteelHounds Monthly

August 31, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


DeJoe Coming Home to Play for the Hounds:

The Youngstown SteelHounds made history on August 27th when they announced the signing of their first ever locally grown prospect as Paul DeJoe has agreed to come home and suit up for the Hounds this season. DeJoe, 24, is a true homegrown prospect growing up in Canfield, Ohio where he first took to the ice at the Rocky Ridge outdoor rink. The 5-7, 175-pound forward played two years of hockey at Canfield High School before joining Division III Neumann College (Aston, Pennsylvania) where he served as captain for three seasons. Following a successful collegiate career, DeJoe went on to play professionally in Europe. He compiled seven goals and 18 assists in 42 games during his final year of play in the Belgian Elite League. DeJoe is the first player in franchise history to come from the Youngstown area and joins Bethel Park, Pennsylvania native Denis Kirstein as regional prospects with the SteelHounds this season.

Chalk it Up to Experience:

After a 34-20-10 regular season record and a first ever trip to the playoffs, Youngstown SteelHounds Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski has been hard at work bringing in the best prospects to help win a championship here in the Valley and the signing of three former American Hockey League players may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Bringing a wealth of talent and experience to the SteelHounds will be forwards Joel Irving, Ryan Bennett and Adam Smyth as between them the trio has been on four AHL teams with five call-ups. Irving, Bennett and Smyth join defenseman Stephen Margeson as Hounds with AHL experience. Here is a quick look at each player individually.

Joel Irving:

Irving, 31, a nine-year veteran of professional hockey was drafted in the sixth round (#148 overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in 1994. The 6-4, 225-pound forward brings a very versatile game to the SteelHounds tallying 171 goals, 231 assists for 402 points to go along with 1068 penalty minutes. Last season the native of Lumsden, Saskatchewan split time with the Bakersfield Condors and Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL recording 18 goals and 35 assists along with 122 penalty minutes in 67 games. Irving has played with the AHL St. John Flames and Rochester Americans and for his career he has averaged 19 goals, 22 assists and 113 penalty minutes per season.

Ryan Bennett:

The fifth year pro from Glens Falls, New York started his professional career with his hometown Adirondack IceHawks before receiving his first AHL call-up with the Rochester Americans during the 2004-2005 season. Bennett returned to the AHL during the 2005-2006 season with the Portland Pirates. Throughout his career the 6-0, 195-pound right wing has consistently been a scoring threat. In 224 games played he has accumulated 62 goals and 97 assists. Last season he split time with the South Carolina Stingrays and the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the ECHL scoring 15 goals and 30 assists in 75 games.

Adam Smyth:

Smyth, 23, is a fifth-year pro out of Wiarton, Ontario who has seen action in the American Hockey League, the ECHL and most recently the UHL with the Muskegon Fury. The 6-1, 225-pound right wing compiled 14 goals, 14 assists and 236 penalty minutes in 70 games last season. The big forward is one of three current SteelHounds to play his amateur career in the Ontario Hockey League. In 172 games with the Ottawa 67's and Owen Sound Attack Smyth accumulated 23 goals, 21 assists and 556 penalty minutes. During his professional career, Smyth has earned 64 points coming from 28 goals and 36 assists; he also racked up 754 penalty minutes in 192 games.

Speed Kills:

AHL experience was not the only thing on Kevin Kaminski's mind this off-season as he brought back a trusted hand in forward Mark Odut and a shifty, speedy forward in Erik Johnson. Odut, 27, joined the team on December 8, 2006 from the ECHL's Long Beach Ice Dogs and in 45 games for the SteelHounds he amassed six goals and 16 assists for 22 points. The forward from Dauphin, Manitoba is no stranger to Hounds Head Coach Kevin Kaminski playing for him with the Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League. While playing under Kaminski with Missouri he notched 41 points on 24 goals and 17 assists during the 2004-2005 season. Johnson, 26, will make his SteelHounds and CHL debut this season after spending his first two professional season in the ECHL where he compiled 14 goals and 12 assists in 63 games with San Diego, Cincinnati and Pensacola. Prior to turning pro the native of Coon Rapids, Minnesota played four years of Division I hockey at Mercyhurst College where he was a teammate of fellow SteelHound newcomer Denis Kirstein.

OOOHHH LaLa:

August has been the busiest month of the summer for the Hounds as they have signed seven players during the "Fun in the Sun" month. Two of which came over from Tulsa as part of the five-player deal that sent Jeff Christian to the Oilers on June 21st as forward Bryan Lachapelle and defenseman Kurtis Dulle have signed contracts for the 2007-08 season. Lachapelle, 27, will begin his fifth year as a pro in a SteelHounds sweater after spending last season with the Oilers. The Hounds mark the Tay Township, Ontario native's fourth CHL stop as along with Tulsa he also spent time in Amarillo and San Angelo. While with Tulsa last season, the 5-9, 185-pound center had 47 points coming from 17 goals and 30 assists to go along with 239 penalty minutes in 50 games. In 117 career CHL games he has accumulated 25 goals, 45 assists and 355 penalty minutes. Kurtis Dulle, 27 is a fourth year defenseman who comes to the Valley after splitting time with Rio Grande Valley and Tulsa last season where he amassed seven goals and 33 assists in 60 games played. The 5-11, 195-pound back-liner also spent time in the ECHL with the Victoria Salmon Kings during the 2004-2005 season.

The Battle for Ohio is set for October 12th:

On August 14th Youngstown SteelHounds General Manager Joe Gregory announced that on Friday, October 12th the Hounds will play the ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones in an exhibition game at the Chevrolet Centre. Tickets are on sale now for just $5 and are available by calling the Hounds at (330) 747-PUCK or by stopping by the Chevrolet Centre box office. The SteelHounds have twice before faced off with ECHL teams in preseason play. In 2005 the SteelHounds played the Toledo Storm in the Hounds first ever exhibition game and last season the Hounds hosted the Dayton Bombers. Youngstown is 1-0-1 all time in exhibition games.

The Future is All Taken Care Of:

The Youngstown SteelHounds are extremely pleased to announce two new members to their family as All Star Forward Chris Richards and his wife Melissa along with SteelHounds Director of Client Services Heather and husband Myron Sahli have became parents for the first time. Chris and Melissa gave birth to Hunter J. Richards on Friday, August 3, 2007 at 11:58am. He is a healthy 7 lbs. 12 ounces and is 21 inches tall. Myron and Heather Sahli gave birth to Isabella Marie Sahli on August 21 at 6:00 pm. She weighs 7 lbs. 1 ounce. and is 20.5 inches tall. We here are very happy for both couples and we know that they will make terrific parents.

Hounds in the Community:

The Youngstown SteelHounds continue to make an impact in our community, please join us at the following events throughout the month of September. Crusher will be at the Canfield Fair all of this week. The SteelHounds Front Office will be taking part in the United Way's Day of Caring on September 11th. Head Coach Kevin Kaminski along with Forward Chris Shaffer will be at Pine Lakes Country Club in Hubbard for the Clear Channel Golf Outing for Hospice of the Valley and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on the 14th and Crusher will be at Nannicola Incorporated on September 22nd. If you would like to have the SteelHounds involved with your event call the Hounds at (330) 747-PUCK today.

The Schedule is Out:

The schedule is out which means hockey season is right around the corner. The Hounds home opener will be on Friday, November 23rd at 7:05pm when they host the defending Northeast Division Champion Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at the Chevrolet Centre. Season tickets are on sale for as little as $42 per month and great group rates are available throughout the season. Call a ticket representative today at (330) 747-PUCK to reserve your seats for the hard hitting, fast paced, exciting action that is Youngstown SteelHounds Hockey.



Central Hockey League Stories from August 31, 2007


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