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8.30.2012

Preseason Roster, Notes

The Thunderbirds have posted their preseason roster. A few things to note.


  • No Barzal. All along I have said that I don't think we have too much to worry about when it comes to Barzal signing on with the team and I will still maintain that to be the case. However, I would say I'm a little more nervous than I was yesterday. No Barzal in this preseason is a strong indication that he still hasn't signed. I'm not worried yet... but on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being "I'm not worried, leave me alone" and 10 being "Crap, here come another 100 'fire Russ' comments" my stress level just went from about a 3 to a 4.  If that makes sense...
  • Wray, Bell, Low, Holub and Folk are the forward guys listed who we may or may not have expected. Kolesar is still around but he's 15 and already signed, so that is cool but he can't make the team. 18 forwards if you count Kolesar and Delnov (who isn't listed). If you subtract either Lockhart or Rouse and Kolesar you wind up with 16 forwards. My best guess is that leaves maybe 1 or 2 cuts to make but I wouldn't be shocked to see them carry an extra guy until they are sure that Delnov will arrive.
  • On defense. Wolf sticks around despite having a so-so camp. He was already signed though so not much of a shock there. Jerret Smith, who showed some very interesting offensive potential in camp, is still around. Only 8 defensemen are listed which would indicate to me that Deagle is definitely staying and they may not make another cut on defense. Maybe 1 cut if they wanted to send someone home to get more playing time. No Douglas as well... he might have been a slight surprise to some.
  • In net... a mess.  5 goalies are still listed and I think it is anyone's guess as to who has the lead in the backup goalie race. I think Cotton is being given a chance to either play himself on the roster or play himself off the roster. His spot to win or lose. If he falters... I'm guessing Myles or Mumaugh and if I had to place a bet... I'm going with Mumaugh.

14 comments :

Anonymous said...

Do you have confirmation that the preseason roster is set? I ask because Portland is showing something like 15 players, vets. Jones isn't even on there. I would think things are still fluid. Obviously Barzal is crucial to this organization's future success, but he can't play until next year. In the immediate, it would be a coup to get Gambrell to commit. I have no idea if that is even possible, as he has stated he wants to go the college route. I was just impressed by the way he played with the veterans. Great rookie addition if they can get something done.

Thunnex said...

Yes and No. The Tbirds haven't announced that this IS the preseason roster. I'm making some assumptions based on the fact that this roster was different just a couple of days ago. So I'm pretty sure this is who is confirmed, at least for now.

Anonymous said...

I am assuming Folk is there to do ummm fight??

Anonymous said...

Spoke with another parent this past weekend. They said Barzal's parents are fully on board with him playing in Seattle, that it is Barzal's decision to delay the signing for another year, since he can't play here this season anyway. Again, just something I heard from another parent.

Anonymous said...

Complete opposite of what his dad said

Anonymous said...

Saw Barzal at the game in Evertt. He was sitting with the scratched players.

Anonymous said...

There is not a chance Barzal's agent would let him sign right away. He cannot plAy here this year so the family and the agent will take their time and see who looks most attractive a year from now. NCAA or WHL. My guess is that things are getting greasy behind the scenes and Farwell is being asked for $$$

Douglas is still considering NCAA and if you watch the Western Hockey College Hockey Blog it sounds like he will be writing his own ticket next year. Douglas showed he is far ahead of Wolfe and showed tremendous upside potential over most of the vets. Hope he still gives Tbirds another look next year. Footnote - Douglas had severe lace bite in last years camp. Did not show well but it was gutsy to even skate as that is apparently very painful.

Wray is a tough kid and i hope he gets a shot. He impressed last year in camp and i hope they find a spot to hang onto him. Wray and Holub should get a shot. I assume the will settle on 14 F and cut the D down to 7 with Wolfe sent ho
E to work on his mobility. I said before you cannot have a D with 3 guys who are that slow! They have their place but if you are forced to use them in unatural ways with wrong partner they are minus machines. Thats why Douglas will be a gem in future. Size and mobility.

Goalies - i have a weird feeling. I certainly hope that Myles gets a shot. There seems to be a Mumaugh love in amongst the media. I assume that is because he was signed and so the media has some background info and needs to write about something. Mumaugh is 16 and 5'10". He needs another year of seasoning. Be realistic! I said before and i will say it again yes I know Mumaugh is talented but no more so than Myles or Kruizenga so you keep Myles. Hope he shows well then possibly trade for another 19 or 20 yr old goalie next year and then let Mumaugh and Kruizenga battle it out for the 17yr old back up spot and future starter. And frankly Mumaugh better grow cause Kruizenga is already 6'3" and this is not a small goalie league anymore unless you enjoy losing.

Anonymous said...

I did not see the Spokane game today, but the Portland game I was pleasantly surprised and liked how the boys worked. Don't sweat the 0-2 start.

Anonymous said...

Wardley was on fire and Sheen was the deek show at the Spokane game. Thunder beauties of the week!

M Jarred Shelton said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
M Jarred Shelton said...

(fixed typos)

Seems there has been an addition to the roster? #6, Damon Hanson, wasn't on there before. Local kid from Renton according to TBird site although Elite Prospects has him listed as from Kent.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=148190

Apparently no longer Medicine Hat property, it would great to have a local kid on the team who deserved to be here.

Anonymous said...

Hanson has been with the T-birds though training camp and camp scrimmages. So he's not really an addition, anymore then say, Brayden Low. Just a couple of players the T-birds have added to their protected list over the past 4-6 months.

M Jarred Shelton said...

Addition in the sense that he wasn't on the preseason roster that Tyler had linked to originally. He may have been here but he wasn't listed on that page.

Anonymous said...

This is just a guess, but probably because he's an American born player and hadn't played an "official" WHL game yet, the T-birds didn't put him on that roster. Once he played in the Everett pre-season tournament, he offically committed to the WHL (forfeiting NCAA eligibility).

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