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Youngstown SteelHounds Monthly

July 3, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


Hounds Re-Sign Defensive Leaders

This summer has been very busy already for SteelHounds Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski as he looks to put the team in prime position to win a championship in 2008. Kaminski feels that last season's team laid the foundation and two of it's key building blocks will be back for the Hounds this season as defensemen Jeff Alcombrack and Stephen Margeson have re-signed for the 2007-2008 season. Alcombrack, 27, has been with the team since game three of its inaugural season and in 2006-2007 the native of Kincardine, Ontario had his most productive year as a pro finishing third on the team in assists (43) and points (52) and was one of only of only three Hounds to suit up in every game, including playoffs last season. Stephen Margeson, 25, is also coming off his most productive year as a pro finishing with 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points. His +21 rating was tops amongst Hounds defensemen and fifth in the Central Hockey League for blue liners and his 17 goals were good for third in the league for a defenseman.

If They're the Foundation then Here are the Walls

Last month the Youngstown SteelHounds were involved in the biggest trade deal of this young off-season as the Hounds traded league MVP and Youngstown's all time leading scorer Jeff Christian to the Tulsa Oilers for forwards Mike Wiggins, Bryan Lachapelle and defensemen Kurtis Dulle and Terry Virtue. The acquisitions of these four players will look to provide some much needed depth for the SteelHounds this season as Wiggins has had 72 goals and 57 assists in the last two seasons while Lachapelle had 17 goals and 30 assists while accumulating 239 penalty minutes in 50 games for the Oilers last season. Defensemen Kurtis Dulle and Terry Virtue will look to provide another consistent attack from the blue line to go along with Margeson and Alcombrack. Dulle had his best season last year while alternating time between Tulsa and Rio Grande Valley he accumulated seven goals and 33 assists in 60 games. Terry Virtue comes over with a plethora of experience including five games in the National Hockey League with Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. Last year in 51 games with the Austin Ice Bats the 36 year old had nine goals and 24 assists. Virtue is the wily veteran of the group while Lachapelle, Wiggins and Dulle are all 27 years old.

Name Change for Divisional Foe

The Youngstown SteelHounds closest opponent and biggest rival, the Memphis RiverKings underwent a name change to more represent the region. The team who plays their home games at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi will now be known as the Mississippi RiverKings. The RiverKings moved out of the big city and into the suburbs when the DeSoto Civic Center opened up in 2000.

League Meetings Conclude with Playoff and Divisional Shake-ups

The annual Central Hockey League meetings concluded on June 16th and there were two major shake-ups for the 2007-2008 season. The first is the divisional alignment as the Fort Worth Brahmas have returned as the Texas Brahmas after suspending operations last season while the Lubbock Cotton Kings have suspended operations this season. The league will remain with 17 teams but the divisions have changed as the Northeast division returns to the way it was during the Hounds first season of play in 2005 as they will be joined by the returning Texas Brahmas (North Richland Hills, Texas), the Mississippi RiverKings and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. The Tulsa Oilers who were in the Northeast division last season return to the Northwest division. The other big change for 2007-2008 will be the playoff format as the six-team, second chance system has been dropped and a new five-team per conference playoff format has been adopted. The top five times in each conference will make the playoffs with the four and five seeds facing off in a best of three series where the winner will then play the top seed in a best of seven series. If this playoff format was instituted last season then the Hounds had played the Oklahoma City Blazers with the opportunity of playing the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs instead of playing the two seed Colorado Eagles who went onto capture the President's Cup after eliminating the SteelHounds in round one last year.

Purchasing Season Tickets just got Easier

Youngstown SteelHounds General Manager Joe Gregory announced a new payment plan to make it easier to enjoy all 32 hard hitting, fast paced Hounds home games at the Chevrolet Centre. Fans can now purchase season tickets for as little as $42 a month. The SteelHounds also introduced "SteelHounds Satisfaction Guaranteed" as full season ticket holders who are not completely satisfied with their season tickets can exchange their tickets for a full refund on all remaining games. For more information on how you can purchase your season tickets with the new payment plan in place contact the Hounds ticket department at (330) 747-PUCK.

Hounds in the Community

The Youngstown SteelHounds loveable mascot Crusher and dance team the Lady SteelHounds are going all over the valley all year long and you will have a chance to see them at some great events throughout the month of July. Join the Lady SteelHounds and radio broadcaster Tim Sampsell at the Canfield and Austintown Parades this Fourth of July. Crusher will be at the Austintown Quaker Steak and Lube for Kids Day on July 15th as well as the Cool Open for Cancer Charity Golf Outing along with the Lady SteelHounds on July 21st. For more information on where Crusher and the Lady SteelHounds are going to be this month as well as information on how you can book them for your event call (330) 747-PUCK today.

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Central Hockey League Stories from July 3, 2007


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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