The Picnic

A couple of interesting "news" items from this evening's "Meet The Seawolves" picnic. Recruit Jeff Carlson has made it through the NCAA clearinghouse and it is anticipated he'll be joining the team sometime in December. Additionally, BGSU transfer Brian Bales will be eligible to play sometime in December. Both of these bits of news are great; it opens more options to the coaching staff and creates the kind of depth that guarantees everyone will be competing for playing time each and every week. With the extra depth the coaching staff can make little adjustments based on what they anticipate or see from an opponent. Nobody can take shifts off, there'll be no dogging it in practice; whoever works the hardest and matches that effort with good game performance will be the guy skating in the games the next weekend.

There was a good turnout. More than just a few players were unable to attend because of conflicting class schedules but there were still about 15 players there. Brush Christiansen attended and was duly recognized by Coach Shyiak. It's always good to see the man who built the program at the rink or an event like this. Shyiak expressed some of the same optimism about an improved season as he did in the Blueliner Newsletter which I reprinted here last week but he also indicated that his primary goal was to post a best record since UAA joined the WCHA. The two previous high marks were 15-19-2 in 93-94 (the first year in the WCHA) and 15-18-3 in 99-00. With 13 wins last year it sure seems to be a reasonable mark to attain. He also spoke about how important it is to the fanbase and city to earn home-ice this season and of course retaining the Governors Cup.

It was certainly nice to see familiar faces and meet some new folks as well. The food was good and if I have a regret it would be that I didn't make enough of an effort to partake. As a group the players seemed confident about the season; even if they all weren't so confident holding the wireless mic. One of the big laughs was the question that Mr. Suze asked when he wondered (already knowing the answer), "Who talks most on the ice?" Every veteran player immediately pointed to Kevin Clark (who was probably pointing at himself as well). Of course on the darker side of humor was the story about Chris Tarkir's couch (at the house already referred to as "The Morgue" in honor of a murder that occurred in the kitchen) and the old neighborhood guy who wandered over then fell asleep on it ... only to never wake up. And yet the five guys living there apparently like the place. I guess that sort of history makes for cheaper rent.

Thanks have to go to the fine Blueliner Boosters for putting on the event and to all their volunteers as well. My personal thanks to everyone for the complimentary comments about this place and what I say here. That sort of feedback makes the effort worthwhile. There's about two weeks until the first official practice, three weeks before the preseason game against Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and a bit more than 4 weeks until the regular season.

'Bout time.