Returning Players Earning Their Spots at Camp

[Digger]

From the attack website

Earning Their Spots
7/8/2010



The Owen Sound Attack training camp is well over a month away, but with the addition of Matt Stanisz and Richards Berzins, the roster is starting to take shape.

The Attack will (at the present time) only be losing their three overage players from the roster (Mike McGurk, Marcus Carroll and Grant McGee) and one European (Milan Doczy), leaving every other player eligible to return. With winger Jason Wilson being drafted by the New York Rangers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, his status will be better known in the fall. This leaves the Attack Brass with some very important decisions heading into and coming out of training camp this August.

Attack fans at home have been pondering the possibilites of the 2010-2011 season through the summer months and may wonder just what the Attack lineup may look like on paper. With the long list of returnees and upcoming prospects, we have put together a list of all potential returning players for fans to make their choices on the opening day lineup.

Left Wing

- Garrett Wilson ('91): Captain, 65GP, 36G, 26A, 62P, 80PIMS

- Jason Wilson ('90): 46GP, 17G, 18A, 35P, 101 PIMS

- Michael Halmo ('91): 60GP, 11G, 18A, 29P, 121 PIMS

- Daniel Zweep ('92): 52GP, 0G, 1A, 1P, 39 PIMS

Centre

- Steven Shipley ('92): 68GP, 23G, 40A, 63P, 32 PIMS

- Joey Hishon ('91): 36GP, 16G, 24A, 40P, 26 PIMS

- Myles Doan ('92): 64GP, 8G, 6A, 14P, 71 PIMS

- Ben Dubois ('91): 54GP, 1G, 3A, 4P, 55 PIMS

- Jarrod Maidens ('94): 2010 First Round Selection (4th overall)

Right Wing

- Robby Mignardi ('90): 67GP, 32G, 35A, 67P, 58 PIMS

- Roman Berdnikov ('92): 38GP, 9G, 15A, 24P, 12 PIMS

- Brendan Childerley ('92): 55GP, 3G, 1A, 4P, 32 PIMS

- Chris Brown ('92): 52GP, 3G, 0A, 3P, 4 PIMS

- Cameron Brace ('93): 15GP, 0G, 3A, 3P, 7 PIMS

Defence

- Geoffrey Schemitsch ('92): 62GP, 4G, 36A, 40 P, 24 PIMS

- Jesse Blacker ('91): 57GP, 6G, 27A, 33P, 74 PIMS

- Keevin Cutting ('92): 66GP, 2G, 6A, 8P, 41 PIMS

- Jack Kuzmyk ('93): 59GP, 0G, 5A, 5P, 8 PIMS

- Curtis Crombeen ('93): 33GP, 1G, 3A, 4P, 8 PIMS

- Matt Stanisz ('90): 63GP, 0G, 17A, 17P, 51 PIMS

- Richards Berzins ('92): 6GP, 3G, 6A, 9P, 18 PIMS

Goal

- Scott Stajcer ('91): 55GP, 21W, 3.67GAA, .897%

- Jordan Binnington ('93): 22GP, 6W, 4.38 GAA, .889%

Now with that list of potential returnees, prospects looking to crack the Attack lineup also come into play...

To say that training camp will be competitive will be a bit of an understatement.

[Attack Trac]

I would say we might still need more competition on the right side. And based on an article I read on canoe this week Toronto seems pretty keen on Blacker for the Marlies. I don't think the swapping is done yet by anymeans

[Digger]

I would say we might still need more competition on the right side. And based on an article I read on canoe this week Toronto seems pretty keen on Blacker for the Marlies. I don't think the swapping is done yet by anymeans

Blacker can only play with the Marlies after the season is complete.

[OffTheWingClapper]

This line up doesn’t look any better than last year to me. Defence we definitely have some talent but not one defenceman possesses the toughness required at this level. Last year at times our goaltenders were hung out to dry with opposing teams getting second and third chances. I hope Stanisz can possible fill some of that role as a O/A but looking at his stats seems he’s not that type of player. Forwards we have four players possible five that will put up sixty points if J. Wilson returns. A few forwards are 35-45 point getters put in right situations. The rest of the forwards all played on the fourth line or healthies, with very little experience/development or opportunity. The biggest factor is we still have REEDS behind the bench with no assistance coaches to date.
2007/08 .346
2008/09 .493
2009/10 .456
On the bright side we will have new boards at the Lum, the Attack website poll winner “Beef On A Bun”

[$money]

Come on, they should be better. If Mignardi and J.Wilson are back the team could surprise to the upside. However, I don't think Wilson will be back, this will really hurt. They won't be able to replace what he brings.

[Pitou]

The Attack should be a better team this season. However, I too think that J. Wilson will not be back. Just a hunch. He seemed rather disenchanted at the end of last season. If he has any option B at all, he will be gone. That leaves a huge void in any meaning full grit.

Unless the fairy Godmother kissed Zweep on the skates over the summer, he is just too poor of a skater to use his size to his full potential. Time will tell.

[Annie]

The trick is to be ahead of, or at least with the competitive levels of the other teams in the Western Conference.

Hopefully the Attack will do that. It sure is going to be exciting finding out. There won't be a weak team in the conference.

[OffTheWingClapper]

For three years we've been in the bottom 5 in special teams, this needs to improve, agreed. Should we be better.....ya we should be but we all have been saying that for awhile now, have'nt we. I don't know whats in store for this year but IMO there is'nt alot of change and if they (management) think the weak 94 draft, other than Maidens is going to make more of and inpact than two and three year players I don't see it. I'm also sure Reeds will play Maidens a ton and put him on the point like he did with Shipley, because Reeds is that predictable. On another note our second round pick from last year couldn't crack the line-up and rightfully so watching him at training camp, the year before was the same way with our second rounder. As far as the fairy Godmother goes I hope she has lots of kisses not just Zweep.
Defence
Blacker
Schemitsch
Stanisz
Berzins
These are the top four, Berzins in unproven but will get the icetime reguardless. That leaves Cutting, Crombreen and Kuzmyk to be a sixth or seventh d-man which won't be much fun for two of these players
Forwards
Hishon
G. Wilson
Mignardi
Shipley
J.Wilson
Maidens (1st rounder)
These are the top six
Doan
Halmo
Berdnikov
Brown
Childerly
Dubois
Zweep
In no order

[goldfish]

the season is a little over 2 months away....were does it say that this is the lineup?? changes still to come.....

[oldref]

I'm glad clapper isn't coaching the team. We haven't even had training camp yet and he has conceded the season. There will be a lot of changes prior to the first game. A few fringe players will be gone and some new faces will be coming in. And Crombeen will be in the top5 d-men. How could you place an unknown ahead of last years first draft pick? He was having a good rookie year prior to getting hurt. I can think of two d-men that will be on the block and gone if they don't show up for camp determined claim their spot.

Let's see what they have after training camp before we start cutting them up.

[Annie]

Simply put, The Attack have to be better than the teams that finished above them in the Conference last season and watch for Sarnia who finished last.

Dale will have to assess what it will take for The Attack to compete in their division and conference.

Last year the conference finished like this

Windsor
London
Kitchener
Plymouth
Soo
Saginaw
Guelph
Erie
-------------
Attack
Sarnia


Looking above 8th place it looks like some teams will be stronger than they were last season and that Windsor or London won't fall too far down. Yes our players will improve with age and experience, but so will the vets on other teams. The competition is strong.

It takes the right mix of managing, coaching and players to succeed. None of those factors can be weak.

Here's hoping for a strong and successful season.

[OffTheWingClapper]

Goldfish, not once did I say that would be the lineup, I just took what was on the website. I'm sure there will be change like there was last year and years past. Hopefully the change is for the better...we seen change last year and fans on this forum were questioning the decisions made, we are all aware of the players let go and the new players brought in, no need to rehash.
oldref, your right it is a good thing I'm not the coach, but IMO any knowledgeable hockey person could had the same results as Reed. Where did it say I have "conceded the season" I didn't!!. If Berzins comes he did not come from another continent to be our fifth, sixth defenseman, lets be honest. He will be given every opportunity to succeed. You even stated Crombeen will be in the top five (exactly were I have him and or Cutting) so you must agree with me. Why all the drama

Like it or not every team in the west will be good like Annie said we have to be better, can we? I hope but thats all the fans have at this point. If you don't agree with somones posts at least back it up with some relevant facts

[highstickside]

"I can think of two d-men that will be on the block and gone if they don't show up for camp determined claim their spot."

Oldref, do tell!

[Digger]

For three years we've been in the bottom 5 in special teams, this needs to improve, agreed. Should we be better.....ya we should be but we all have been saying that for awhile now, have'nt we. I don't know whats in store for this year but IMO there is'nt alot of change and if they (management) think the weak 94 draft, other than Maidens is going to make more of and inpact than two and three year players I don't see it. I'm also sure Reeds will play Maidens a ton and put him on the point like he did with Shipley, because Reeds is that predictable. On another note our second round pick from last year couldn't crack the line-up and rightfully so watching him at training camp, the year before was the same way with our second rounder. As far as the fairy Godmother goes I hope she has lots of kisses not just Zweep.
Defence
Blacker
Schemitsch
Stanisz
Berzins
These are the top four, Berzins in unproven but will get the icetime reguardless. That leaves Cutting, Crombreen and Kuzmyk to be a sixth or seventh d-man which won't be much fun for two of these players
Forwards
Hishon
G. Wilson
Mignardi
Shipley
J.Wilson
Maidens (1st rounder)
These are the top six
Doan
Halmo
Berdnikov
Brown
Childerly
Dubois
Zweep
In no order

With what we know today your top six is not that far out. Nobody can predict the future, but it is fun to look at the players we know.

Hishon, G.Wilson, Shipley and Mignardi should be no brainers.

add J.Wilson if he plays OA.

The last spot in the top 6 goes to Berdnikov, Maidens or Halmo with the other two included in the top 9 forwards.

Guys like Doan, Childerly, Brown, Dubois, Brace and Zweep all have to be better to get that last spot in the top 9 forwards. I can see some of these guys being moved if it means they play more elsewhere. Some of these guys will not be happy on the 4th line.

There will be some rookies other than Maidens up front, that is what training camp will do.

As far as defence goes your top 4 today in my opinion would include.

Blacker
Stanisz
Schemitsch
Crombeen

The next two spots will involve the following players.

Berzins
Cutting
Kuzmyk

I am looking forward to seeing Wade and Dotchkin at camp and would not be surprised to see Wade on the roster or both.

This camp should be the most competitive we have seen in quite a few years.

[CHL Watcher]

For three years we've been in the bottom 5 in special teams, this needs to improve, agreed. Should we be better.....ya we should be but we all have been saying that for awhile now, have'nt we. I don't know whats in store for this year but IMO there is'nt alot of change and if they (management) think the weak 94 draft, other than Maidens is going to make more of and inpact than two and three year players I don't see it. I'm also sure Reeds will play Maidens a ton and put him on the point like he did with Shipley, because Reeds is that predictable. On another note our second round pick from last year couldn't crack the line-up and rightfully so watching him at training camp, the year before was the same way with our second rounder. As far as the fairy Godmother goes I hope she has lots of kisses not just Zweep.
Defence
Blacker
Schemitsch
Stanisz
Berzins
These are the top four, Berzins in unproven but will get the icetime reguardless. That leaves Cutting, Crombreen and Kuzmyk to be a sixth or seventh d-man which won't be much fun for two of these players
Forwards
Hishon
G. Wilson
Mignardi
Shipley
J.Wilson
Maidens (1st rounder)
These are the top six
Doan
Halmo
Berdnikov
Brown
Childerly
Dubois
Zweep
In no order

With what we know today your top six is not that far out. Nobody can predict the future, but it is fun to look at the players we know.

Hishon, G.Wilson, Shipley and Mignardi should be no brainers.

add J.Wilson if he plays OA.

The last spot in the top 6 goes to Berdnikov, Maidens or Halmo with the other two included in the top 9 forwards.

Guys like Doan, Childerly, Brown, Dubois, Brace and Zweep all have to be better to get that last spot in the top 9 forwards. I can see some of these guys being moved if it means they play more elsewhere. Some of these guys will not be happy on the 4th line.

There will be some rookies other than Maidens up front, that is what training camp will do.

As far as defence goes your top 4 today in my opinion would include.

Blacker
Stanisz
Schemitsch
Crombeen

The next two spots will involve the following players.

Berzins
Cutting
Kuzmyk

I am looking forward to seeing Wade and Dotchkin at camp and would not be surprised to see Wade on the roster or both.

This camp should be the most competitive we have seen in quite a few years.

I agree with all that. Berdnikov has 43 points if he plays a full season as a rookie and he's cannon fodder now? Sheeeee.....Coming off an injury as a non-English speaking, never been here before 17 year old kid and scores at that rate and he's no good? Don't get me started on what I think of Halmo not being included. I'd like two or three more.