Mudbugs Hockey Blog

Are the Mudbugs in the midst of negotiating preseason match-ups or what? Surely they can’t be playing only one game? Of course they’re not, they are just holding back info like they always do until they feel it’s the right time to leak the news to the finger tapping hockey hungry fans just waiting to mark up their calenders.

Do we always have wait so long? Fans have schedule’s to plan around also! I say enough of this pussy footin’ around and give us fans the news we need to plan ahead, please!

Having said that there is the question of the possibility of a home preseason contest at the CTC. That would be awesome there is no doubt, but it should not only be open to season ticket holders and/or Booster Club Members like they are some kind of sorority. I say let anyone attend and use this time to attract and promote the sale of season tickets and signing up for the booster club, or even making brand new Mudbug fans. Every game has the potential to win over a new fan of Mudbugs Hockey, after all it is the product of sale and the fans are the buyers by parking their fannies in the seats every game.

So let’s use a game to promote the team in the preseason with a game at the swamp. It can only be a good thing in my opinion.

One of the latest players to sign is veteran defenseman Quade Lightbody who will return for his 5th season with th Bugs. He gives the Bugs a toughness on the blue line and can play a steady game if can stay within his game and not try to do too much. Last season he was rushed alot with the style of play used. Let me add this, every defenseman can be be made to look like a statue by anyone, some of the best NHL D-Men have been made to look bad. It happens.

I have a feeling the team will head back to their roots of team toughness hard work and strong defensive play in an attempt to cut down on the defensive lapse of a season ago. Look for a much tighter game.

I am hoping newcomer of a season ago Ryan Fairbarn return as well as Jason Basile, add that to a healthy Konrad Brand and what we will have is solid tough defensive corp. There been rumor that Jeremy Downs is headed overseas to play in the Nascar look alike leagues. Why? I have no clue, no clue to the truth of the rumor or the fact he would want to in the first place.

The other signee is Tyrel Lucas, the 6′ft 1”in 180lb left winger. Lucas comes in after playing the last two seasons for the University of Calgary of the Western Hockey League. Below is a clip from the Hitmen’s Website:

Tyrel enters his second season in Canada West after spending three years in the Western Hockey League, including the last half of the 2004-05 season with the Calgary Hitmen. A solid two-way player, Tyrel had an outstanding post-season for the Hitmen in 04-05, scoring six goals and adding three assists in 12 post-season games as the Hitmen lost in seven games to eventual WHL East Division Champion Brandon. Tyrel is a recipient of a Western Hockey League scholarship to attend the University of Calgary as part of the league’s Educational Assistance program. Tyrel got married in late August 2005, and his wife is taking Science courses at the Uof C.

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Much can be said for optimism, some of think it is the tell all of excitement that translates into a positive attitude, others may say it’s a positive perspective on the situation at hand, I say its a little of both and then some. Well Mudbugs fans have to be feeling plenty of optimism at least the signings the team has made thus far which can translate ones perspective for the upcoming season into plenty of optimism. Which is it for you?

So far we have a forward line, in Karlis Zirnis, Brett Smith and Darryl Lloyd. We have a defensive pair in Dale Lupul and Jake Ortmeyer and The Top Goalie in the League last season in John DeCaro. That’s a pretty darn good starting lineup, don’t you think?

If Chris Brassard is not one of the next players announced as signed for next season this final week of August, I will be shocked. Speaking of Brassard, I think there is no competition on who wears the “C” this season. The question is “which players will wear the “A”?

This will be a newly led team from a players standpoint, time for some long time Vets to step up and take the leadership reigns.

It’s been confirmed by CHL.com that the Mudbugs will play at least one of their preseason games in Odessa against the Jackalopes Saturday October, 13th 7:05pm. No other dates have been announced, I wonder if they are working on a date with an ECHL Team like several other CHL teams are this preseason.

Final question if the Mudbugs do announce a game at the CenturyTel Center, will fans be able to attend? Will it even be on the radio? And I guess i must ask, who will be calling the game?

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Am I the only one that feels the Mudbugs have signed more potential this early in the off season. It’s a damn fine start for the coaching staff and the team. Picking up Darryl Lloyd will add a real spitfire to the lineup that can skate and put the puck in the net.

I’m thinking the backup job to be earned behind John DeCaro will be a decision made by the end pre-season with a carousel of prospects brought in to maybe catch a diamond in the ruff. aka DeCaro and David Cacciola. Myself I would like to see Adam Hanna in the mix to compete for the job. I think he did a fine job filling in last season and appears to be a great talent.

Having said all that, we learn every year that the game is played with the heart and brain working as one. A strong lineup on paper doesn’t always translate into a great team. How many times have we seen teams load up with player after player and go nowhere?

The point is that it’s not so much the players that make the team as it is the system the team installs in the players they choose. The system is everything, good coaching is everything. and the Bugs have both.

Getting talented players with the heart to play in the system is a strong added bonus, but we have seen what this team accomplishes year in and year out with whatever players they choose to wear the purple and teal. Good job guys with the signings with almost two-thirds of the roster left to fill. I don’t think anyone saw the signing of Lloyd coming, it was a pleasant surprise. I hated him on other teams but I will love what he will bring to the Bugs this season. Welcome to Mudbug Country Darryl.

From Steelhounds.com back in 2005

The 5-10, 195-pound forward played junior hockey with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League where he posted 83 points (44-39 ?83) and 287 penalty minutes in 200 career games. He also played in 26 career playoff games with the Spitfires totaling four goals and an assist. Following the 2002-03 season, Lloyd was named the OHL?s Western Conference Hardest Worker voted on by the league?s coaches.

The fiery centerman was named Darryl by his mother after Hall of Famer and former Toronto Maple Leaf Darryl Sittler. Lloyd has worn Sittler?s number 27 in junior hockey and last season with Laredo in honor of the former great who is best known for posting an NHL record 10 points in a single game (February 7, 1976 – 6G, 4A).

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Ok, I haven’t gotten on my soapbox all summer long, but I just cant hold out any longer. We have approximately a month until training camp and the Mudbugs have signed a mere 4 players. Now I know for a fact that some players ARE in town that are not signed and I have to ask myself “what are they waiting for?” Rumor has it that Danny Pegoraro, Chris Brassard are, just to name a few.

Again why the wait? Are they waiting for our new GM Chernowak to get his bearings straight before signing anymore players? If I remember right he was supposed to take charge of the GM duties early this month, by the way just what does the GM do anyway? I mean It seems the Director of Player Personnel does the player signings and the owner approves the salary and configures it to the salary cap, I always thought the GM did all the trading and signing of players. But those duties are handled by Coach Muscutt.

I am hoping the “Chewy” as he is called, could handle those duties, otherwise the GM is nothing more than an office Mgr./Pr leader. But then again if I have understated or misunderstood the GM duties, then oh! well its not like this kind of Information is available without a boatload of speculation.

Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the guy at all, in fact I hope to friends this season. I will just say this in closing that it will be tough for Steve Chernowak to grab very much control from Muscutt and Madden, but we shall see.

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