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Blades get 2 prospects from Albany
AHL affiliate sends pair of defensemen to Florida
By Fort Myers News-Press Staff
The ECHL's Florida Everblades received their first two prospects from their American Hockey League affiliate Monday.
The AHL's Albany River Rats sent defensemen Brandon Roach and Steve Ward to the Blades, who will start training camp on Monday, Oct. 8. The pair become the 11th and 12th players on the Everblades roster.
Roach, 22, and Ward, 21, are professional rookies.
They were participating in Albany's training camp prior to their assignment to Florida.
"Both players have good puck sense and are coming off solid junior careers," Blades coach Gerry Fleming said in a statement.
"Both of them are defensemen that move the puck well and skate well, and they are two players that we will utilize on the power play."
Roach joins the Everblades after spending last season at the collegiate level with Acadia University in Nova Scotia.
The 22-year-old finished the 2006-07 season with 17 points (seven goals) in 26 games with the Axemen. His 105 shots on goal led the Acadia squad and his points total ranked him ninth on the club in scoring.
Ward looks to make his professional debut in 2007-08 after completing a five-year career at the junior level with the Sarnia Sting and the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.
The 21-year-old captained the Whalers last season and tallied 45 points (15 goals) in 66 games.
Ward also helped the Whalers capture the OHL Championship and earn a trip to the Memorial Cup with 14 points (one goal) in 25 post-season games.