HAWKS ANNOUNCE OPENING NIGHT ROSTER...ONE PLAYER AT A TIME
Sept 25, 2021 14:53:32 GMT -5
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Post by Asbjørn Nygård on Sept 25, 2021 14:53:32 GMT -5
HAWKS ANNOUNCE OPENING NIGHT ROSTER...ONE PLAYER AT A TIME
by Asbjørn Nygård
September 25, 2021
ST. ROCH - For some reason the St. Roch Hawks have decided to name their 2021-22 Opening Night Roster by announcing one starter per day leading up to the start of the regular season on October 12. This announcement was made by Hawks President of Hockey Operations Doug MacLean who said he was only "doing what the big guy asked me to do". MacLean quickly clarified that by "big guy" he meant team owner Doug Stolhand and not Jesus Christ, God or Arthur Carlson.
"When training camp started on Friday we told the players that nobody was being given a roster spot. Each spot on the team this season would have to be earned through hard work in training camp," said Hawks General Manager Doug Wilson. "That's a load of crap, of course, as we're not paying (Nathan MacKinnon) $70 this season to play for the Finnish Flash in the AHL or the Stockholm Syndrome in the ECHL. So I guess that's the first announcement - Nate is on the opening night roster."
With only one player officially on the opening night roster and 17 spots still to be determined many of the Hawks are taking this opportunity to try and earn an unexpected spot. "I'm going to show them what I can do this year and make that roster," said 2017 Hawks draft pick Morgan Frost. Frost's face lit up shortly afterwards as he was called into Wilson's office. "This is it! I made the team!" Minutes later Frost emerged from Wilson's office in tears while team staff removed all Hawks branded gear from his person and ushered him towards the exit. Eventually wearing just his underwear and socks Frost muttered that he was put on waivers and had been claimed by the Tampa Bay Thunder before being shoved outside, having his bags thrown at him and the doors locked behind him.
The remaining Hawks immediately got back to practice as head coach Doug Weight encouraged them to "focus on who is here, not who is missing". Each player was wearing a generic Hawks practice sweater with the exception of MacKinnon, now wearing the brown Hawks home sweater indicating he's on the opening night roster. Weight reminded players that the brown sweater not only represented a spot on the opening night roster but also meant the player was not to be hit in any practice or scrimmage. "We don't need to take out our own players with injuries! Nobody touches anyone in a brown jersey but the rest of you are fair game!"
The practice resumed shortly after and three players suffered injuries. Dylan Holloway injured his wrist, Phil Kessel injured his foot and Roope Hintz injured his groin. This information was greeted with fist bumps and smiles from players like Samuel Fagemo, Alex Formenton and Jakob Pelletier who are now three spots closer to making the opening night roster.
The one exception to the opening night roster was the goalies as head coach Doug Weight and goalie coach Doug Soetaert said that goalies would be decided on a daily basis throughout the season based on who was healthy, who was playing well and what that days horoscope had to say. With six goalies in camp the Hawks are loaded with options this season.
Hawks training camp remains open to the public and their first preseason game will be broadcast on Gotham Sports Network starting Sunday at 5pm when they take on the Simi Valley Kings.
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"When training camp started on Friday we told the players that nobody was being given a roster spot. Each spot on the team this season would have to be earned through hard work in training camp," said Hawks General Manager Doug Wilson. "That's a load of crap, of course, as we're not paying (Nathan MacKinnon) $70 this season to play for the Finnish Flash in the AHL or the Stockholm Syndrome in the ECHL. So I guess that's the first announcement - Nate is on the opening night roster."
With only one player officially on the opening night roster and 17 spots still to be determined many of the Hawks are taking this opportunity to try and earn an unexpected spot. "I'm going to show them what I can do this year and make that roster," said 2017 Hawks draft pick Morgan Frost. Frost's face lit up shortly afterwards as he was called into Wilson's office. "This is it! I made the team!" Minutes later Frost emerged from Wilson's office in tears while team staff removed all Hawks branded gear from his person and ushered him towards the exit. Eventually wearing just his underwear and socks Frost muttered that he was put on waivers and had been claimed by the Tampa Bay Thunder before being shoved outside, having his bags thrown at him and the doors locked behind him.
The remaining Hawks immediately got back to practice as head coach Doug Weight encouraged them to "focus on who is here, not who is missing". Each player was wearing a generic Hawks practice sweater with the exception of MacKinnon, now wearing the brown Hawks home sweater indicating he's on the opening night roster. Weight reminded players that the brown sweater not only represented a spot on the opening night roster but also meant the player was not to be hit in any practice or scrimmage. "We don't need to take out our own players with injuries! Nobody touches anyone in a brown jersey but the rest of you are fair game!"
The practice resumed shortly after and three players suffered injuries. Dylan Holloway injured his wrist, Phil Kessel injured his foot and Roope Hintz injured his groin. This information was greeted with fist bumps and smiles from players like Samuel Fagemo, Alex Formenton and Jakob Pelletier who are now three spots closer to making the opening night roster.
The one exception to the opening night roster was the goalies as head coach Doug Weight and goalie coach Doug Soetaert said that goalies would be decided on a daily basis throughout the season based on who was healthy, who was playing well and what that days horoscope had to say. With six goalies in camp the Hawks are loaded with options this season.
Hawks training camp remains open to the public and their first preseason game will be broadcast on Gotham Sports Network starting Sunday at 5pm when they take on the Simi Valley Kings.
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