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Post by Chris-Suffolk on Sept 5, 2016 20:52:39 GMT -5
Suffolk County NY: The Suffolk Stampede have been busy this off season. From upper management to player personnel, the Stampede have kept the turnstile spinning. Nothing unusual there! Some big names and key cogs have been replaced with younger, speedier and more skilled pieces. When the Stampede front office was replaced, the main focus was to rid themselves of short term contracts and bring in longer term deals, get younger and bring excitement back to the arena.
"I believe we've addressed nearly all of our off season objectives here in Suffolk. We've added some fine young men, added speed and skill. We moved out some age, short term players, and maybe a few guys that didn't fit into the long term plans. We have a new focus here, a new commitment! That commitment extends from the Top to the Bottom, to our staff, players, fans and our community. We want to instill a new atmosphere. We're shifting to a puck possession team. We want that puck, and if you have it, we're taking it and not giving it back! We're almost done with the roster. We've made a huge dent in the free agent market. Filled our Minor League roster, Signed some future blue chip prospects to fill the spots of our graduating prospects, made a splash with some nice trades. We're excited to start the season. The players are excited. Maybe, another piece or two and we are good to go. Let's play some hockey already!"
Indeed, the Stampede front offices have been quite busy. Signing 15 players within the past 48 hours to their minor league affiliate. A bare squad, to a full cupboard, the Stampede facility is a buzz with new players introducing themselves to training staff and each other. Finding out roomies and learning a new system is next up for these wide eyed colts.
From Stampede Headquarters, in Sunny Suffolk County, Long Island NY, I'm Stu PiDasso. See you at Center Ice!
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Post by Chris-Suffolk on Oct 15, 2016 19:43:08 GMT -5
THE SUFFOLK STAMPEDER
October 14 2016: Stu PiDasso reporting from the Stampede practice facility in Suffolk County NY. I spoke with GM Frey, prior to the team boarding their flight home from Halifax. We discussed the teams fantastic start to the season and how important an early season road trip can be for a team.
"Well, I couldn't be more happier for the boys. Our vets have displayed leadership and our newcomers have displayed a willingness to adapt to our in game concept. The staff is ecstatic and think that their eagerness to start the season has spilled over to the locker room. I haven't seen as much excitement and belief in a locker room in a long while. You know, going into Quebec and Halifax was going to be a big test for our club. Coming out of this trip with a lone point would have been acceptable. We have Quebec and Halifax as leaders of the Smythe Division, as do most pundits. To leave those cities with 4 points, I mean who wouldn't leave there feeling like you just stole something! But, we know it's a long season and it's certainly too soon for us to feel like we've accomplished everything we want to accomplish at this stage. We're coming home to our home barn with smiles in hearts, but with our work faces on. On our exteriors you see a man in a business suit, but in our minds we're wearing hardhats and overalls!!! We're here to work, and not just work---work hard--harder than the other team! But, yes, we're happy with the start. We know our team is capable of big things."
So the Stampede return home on Tuesday October 18 for their home opener against a young Edmonton team, whom start the season on a 5 Game Road trip. Look for Suffolk to go with the status quo in the lineup, no surprises, as GM Frey likes to go with the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach. The only change will be Adam Cracknell in for injured Rocco Grimaldi who is day to day after suffering a lower body injury against Halifax. Look for Marc-Andre Fleury to start Tuesday for the home opener, while Reto Berra likely to get his first start of the season against Syracuse here at Suffolk on Thursday.
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Post by Chris-Suffolk on Nov 23, 2016 20:41:43 GMT -5
SUFFOLK STAMPEDER- Suffolk County NY...
The Stampede making huge strides and return to respectability. After losing back to back games of a home and home versus Hartford earlier in the month, Stampede management saw an issue that needed to be addressed. Reeling off an impressive 7 wins, including 5 on the road, GM-Frey addressed that issue. Before returning home from Chicago on Monday, the Stampede made a trade with the Huron.
We spoke with GM-Frey upon their return to Suffolk at this mornings open skate, the first skate with the new arrivals forward James Neal and defenseman Radko Gudas...
"We were playing well, but we knew the boys needed some secondary scoring depth and we definitely needed to address our defense. The defense is something we were attempting to bolster since our management team was put in place. Matty (Carle) played his tail off. Kunitz has been nothing but a leader for this team, always did what was asked of him, a big loss for our squad for sure. The first round pick we acquired for Big Z (Zdeno Chara) became a very very good pick. I think it's #5 Overall as we speak, and looking like thats where it be land. We moved one of our blue chip prospects in Nikolay (Goldobin), he's a fine young talented player. But, we were able to make a deal, in which both of our franchises were happy. A Win-Win for both. Chicago felt that there season was not going as they hoped, and looks like they want to get a jump on their future immediately. They got some good pieces to do just that. Kunitz will help lead the youngsters and in that locker room, Goldobin has a strong chance to get some ice time up with them this year, he's close for sure. And, that 1st Rd'er will give them a 1st or 2nd liner immediately. You know, we're Thankful and Appreciative for the services of Chris Kunitz and Matty Carle. We wish them nothing but continued success as they look to help the Huron. So, what the Stampede get in exchange for all of that, is James Neal and Radko Gudas. Neal will help our 2nd line scoring and 2nd PP Unit. He brings a lot of the same tenacity as Kunitz did, but he has a better scoring touch. He'll go to the dirty areas, has speed, he's good with the puck, and he plays on the edge sometimes. We'll work to make sure he stays on goal with what we're trying to accomplish here in Suffolk. We don't want to put a chain and ball around his ankle, but we expect him to be a team player and not be selfish. In Gudas, we get the type of defense man we have been trying to acquire since July 1st. A sturdy, steady defender who plays with an edge. A guy who hits, blocks, a guy who's nasty. Someone to make opposing forwards think twice about crossing that blue line with their head down. Again, we want to make Radko feel as comfortable here, as anywhere, and we'll work with him to make sure he knows of goal and become a better more all around defender. He's gonna be a fan favorite."
Suffolk returns home after a 4 game road trip, in which Suffolk went 4-0. They have been working on their power play and penalty killing, looking to stabilize those areas. The Stampede even strength play has been one of their strong suits to date. They return home tonight to take on a surging Boston Bears team. An impressive debut for the new additions to the Stampede, and a strong showing by the entire team, sticking to the gameplan and team concept the coach has deployed.
The 2nd line was the story tonight for the Stampede. Brandon Dubinsky potted two goals, Radko Gudas with 3 Assists and a Plus 3, and James Neal netted his first as a Suffolk Stampeder. The 2nd line of Dubinsky-JT Miller and James Neal were all plus 3, while the 2nd defensive unit of Lindholm and Gudas accounted for 4 points and both were plus 3 as well. They held a strong Boston team to 15 shots on goal while reeling off 42 of their own. All in all, a fantastic debut for the newcomers and a fantastic outcome in front of the home crowd.
This Stu PiDasso, saying good night from Suffolk County...We'll see you soon. The Stampede play Friday night at home, as they take on Montreal. It will be the return of Jonathan Huberdeau.
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Post by Chris-Suffolk on Nov 14, 2017 19:07:32 GMT -5
SUFFOLK STAMPEDER: Season Status and Update...
The Suffolk Stampede trotted into the 2017-18 campaign hauling a coach full of questions. After landing stud Austun Matthews with the Top pick in the amateur entry draft and future LW star Jake DeBrusk along with future netminder Thatcher Demko, there was little fanfare around the organization. We caught up with GM Frey to speak about the current team status and whether or not this team as it stands is a contender or a pretender.
Here's what the outspoken GM had to say...
"What do I expect from the club? Are Playoffs in our future? Playoffs? Playoffs!!! Well, honestly, I can tell you this about our boys. They give 110% out there, Every Night! I appreciate what they do out there, and I know what they're capable of and my expectations are realistic. We always realistic here in Suffolk. We don't pretend or sugar coat around here. Our players appreciate and deserve to know, what our organization expects, what our coaches expect and what our fans expect and deserve. SO, when you ask about playoffs, hell yeah, we always want to make the playoffs. If you're lacing up your boots and load up your lunch pail, you better expect to get a sweat going. We have a saying around here, "Bring your lunch bucket and make sure it's empty. When it's full you'll be complacent. If it's empty you're fuel is the desire to fill it!" I want my players hungry!"
"Where do I see this team going. Well, we haven't thrown a towel into the ring. Sure we've had many phone calls in from around the league about some of boys. You know what, that's a testament about them! Although things haven't gone well for some of the guys, they're trying. You can see it in the stats. Take Kaner for example. The kid is skating, he's getting his opportunities, the puck just isn't finding the net for him. It will, it will! We're excited for our future and very happy with the crop of youngsters we have coming up through the pipeline. We're done shipping out our future for a shot at the big show. If we find ourselves out of playoff contention, we'll return some phone calls. We reached out to a few GM's, some of them seem to have Suffolk on the no-call list. So, I doubt they'll receive any consideration from this GM. If they somehow find our number, they'll have to use their dime."
"As for this team as it stands...they're still competing hard for each other! That's all we can ask for!"
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Post by Chris-Suffolk on Nov 18, 2017 11:34:45 GMT -5
Suffolk Stampeder: Suffolk On The Stampede
Don't look now, but after a slow start, it appears there's a dust cloud full of hoofs and hockey sticks in the rear view in the Campbell Conference. At the head of that dust cloud is the Suffolk Stampede, and they're coming in hot!!!
When the Stampede broke camp and headed to the season opener, they were a confident bunch. A little less for the comfort in way of offense, but they were confident that their defense as a team were plentiful. A slow start and trouble finding the net for last seasons Top Goal producer Patrick Kane, had the Stampede searching for depth scoring. It was clear that scoring was going to have to be a team effort after losses in the UFA market left some big holes to the team. Max Pacioretty left for a big payday and upset the Stampede top line. Turn the page to 2017-18, and "it's a committee approach, a team effort" as head coach Buzz DeChamps said. "It has to be that way, Old time hockey! Enough of this I have to be the #1 guy, I want the top minutes! Enough of that! It's a damn team, let's play that way!"
That sentiment seems to be quite evident when the Stampede hit the ice. Even at practice! The negativity at practice and the locker room has left the building. "The weight has been lifted from our shoulders. I mean, there's never been a ton of pressure from upstairs, but the guys all seem to have a different approach this year, a different feeling on the bench during games. We all know, it could be anyones name called to get out there and when you're called, you don't want to let the boys down. You want to get called again, and again, so you bust your butt out there! And you know what, it's paying off for us now. The team has bought into what Buzzy say's! We're a team! We want ALL of us to succeed...We're back!" Said future captain in the making JT Miller.
When you play a team concept, you get team results. Over the past 12 games for the Stampede, they've gone 7-3-2, and are making some serious headway in the standings. 2 Points out of 8th and a spot in playoff contention. With only 6 teams ahead in the standings who actually have More Goals For than Against, Suffolk looks to be headed for a 6th or 7th overall spot by seasons end. Hard to imagine, that Suffolk could be Plus 5 in that area, and be out a playoff birth, when there are a few teams ahead in the standings whom are on opposite side of the spectrum, allowing more goals than they have scored. We spoke to GM Frey specifically about that. Here's what the fiery GM had to say
"Yeah, I love the way the boys have reacted to Buzzy. He knows what he's talking about. He has the knowledge and experience. It just took a bit for the boys to get their confidence going, for them to buy in and totally commit. Now, it's all paying off. We made two key moves, acquiring another setup guy in Marcus ( Johansson ) to fortify that top line and take some pressure of Kaner and our #1 Draft Austun. I think that's exactly what the doctor ordered there. That line is clicking on all cylinders now. I'm looking for Patty to snap out of that funk and I'm pretty sure you're gonna see his name on the statcline on a nightly basis again. Teams were double teaming him, and he was still getting his chances, just not the bounces. Then we make a big splash in the pool. Upset a few of our fans, and a few GM's, acquiring Duby and Quader from Pitt. That was a huge score for us. Turned our defense around. I mean we brought in some new faces on the back end, and they've been wonderful. But, Flower needed a change, he wanted a change. We were able to send him back home, closer to his family you know. He's always been a Top Human for our club. Never got the notoriety the others got, but he never complained about it. He's a Top Notch guy, and we wish him all the best!!! But, acquiring Dubnyk from Pitt, has stepped up that position for us. He's hungry, he wants to win. He's a UFA, so he knows he's gotta play hard and compete every night. And, he's done that. There's going to be a lot of pressure on him, he's gonna get a lot of that net. He's gotta be ready, and he is. He knows! Quader ( McQuaid ) was another solid piece in that deal. He can play top 4 for us, and we can slot him in our PK units. It's invaluable having that option. He's got experience for the locker room too. Big additions with those 3 guys. It's turned it around for us. Let's see what happens. But, I got a good feeling for these kids! Real Good!"
There you have, Good Times seem to be back in Suffolk! Let's see if they can Stampede their way back into playoff contention! That's all for now, reporting from Superior Ice Rink on Long Island, I'm Stu PiDasso....see you at puck drop!
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