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| Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:47 pm Tony Martino Takes The Bench |
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It’s official: The 2006-07 Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees will bear absolutely no resemblance to the 2005-06 version. New coach Tony Martino recently confirmed as much.
The way things are shaping up, popular forward Bill Newson may be the only significant returnee from last season’s team.
Newson, who is on vacation in Australia, has been exchanging e-mails with Martino, and the coach feels confident he’ll return.
As far as players such as forwards Aaron Phillips, Trevor Weisgerber and Bret DeCecco, and goaltender Evan Lindsay, they’ve either intimated to Martino they don’t want to return or they’re waiting to see what other options may be available.
Defenseman Matthew Medley has told Martino he won’t be back.
Veteran defenseman Sean Gillam will be asked back in a non-playing role, while fellow blue-liner Darcy Smith is still weighing his options.
“I want to have 18 players come into work and be team-oriented,” Martino said. “Not individual-oriented where it’s all about them. If that’s the case, they won’t be there very long.
“I tried with Matt Medley as a free agent, and he said he wants to go somewhere else. This organization gave him a chance to play last year. If there’s no loyalty, we’re not going to sit around for anybody.”
Martino is in search of two new goaltenders, as backup Terry Dunbar has signed with Knoxville of the Southern Professional Hockey League and Lindsay is expected to either play for a United Hockey League team, a Central Hockey League club other than the Bees or play in Europe.
Lindsay told Martino that if he is to play in the CHL again, he wants to play for former Bees coach Tracy Egeland at Rocky Mountain. If not, the Colorado Eagles or defending CHL champion Laredo are his preferences.
“That just tells me ‘See you later’” Martino said. “We’re not the second, not the third, not the fourth (choice). Are we the fifth or sixth?
“If they don’t want to be here and want to go play somewhere else, no problem.”
One player who will definitely be with the Bees is Finnish center Juha-Pekka Ketola.
A ninth-round draft choice of the NHL’s New York Islanders in 2001, the 6-foot-1, 187-pound Ketola has kicked around Europe the last four years. He had six goals and six assists in 39 games for Hokki Kajaani in Finland’s Division I.
“He’s a kid that has North American experience,” Martino said. “He was drafted by the Islanders, and he didn’t fulfill his potential there.
“All things I’ve heard about him through NHL and European scouts say he’s a hard working, gritty player. Offensively he can contribute. His game is being solid defensively, in your face. He battles, has good size and is a decent skater. He’s a guy who really wants to win. He really wants to be here and start a North American pro career.”
Martino added he’s got at least one and maybe two more Finnish players as possible recruits for the Bees. He’ll need all the players he can get with most of last year’s team heading elsewhere.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish we could have some of them back,” Bees General Manager Grant Buckborough said. “But if their decision is to go somewhere else, that’s up to them. We wish them the best. I’m more upset for the fans that they’re not going to see some of these guys. Players come and go, but it’d be best to have a few of the guys back.” |
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