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Snakes and Ladders
To refresh your memory: Snakes and Ladders was that wonderful board game of your youth. You rolled the dice and moved your piece on the board. With good fortune, you would avoid the snakes. If you landed on a snake, you could go from almost winning to definitely losing. The ladders helped. You could climb your way to the next level—carefully.
Such is the nature of hockey in the minor professional leagues. We are back in Fort Myers, not too far from the Germain Arena, home of the Florida Everblades. The ’Blades play in the Eastern Conference of the ECHL, along with nine other teams. Five teams are located in the southeast, the others in the northeast. There is also a Western Conference, consisting of 11 teams from California to Alaska.
Most of the teams in the league have affiliation with American Hockey League and NHL teams. The Everblades align with the Charlotte Checkers and the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, and the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Huricanes of the NHL. Some affiliate with one team, some with none. It is the ultimate goal for every player at the ECHL level to move up to the AHL, then to the NHL. Along the way, however, are those snakes and ladders.
Injuries often get in the way. Patrick McEachen spent the first few games this season as an observer. The team carried more defencemen than required, and McEachen was the odd man out. Players were moved to the AHL, and to other teams, and subsequently, McEachen was inserted into the lineup. He played well for eight games, then ran into the injury bug. He has been back skating lately, and his return to the lineup is imminent.
Quite often, finding a spot on the roster depends on the chemistry of the team, and how the coach perceives that chemistry. Some coaches like to build speedy teams with smaller, highly skilled players. If you are a gigantic slug, you should look elsewhere for work. But teams cannot rely entirely on speed. At the ECHL level, all teams must be prepared for physical play as well. In this regard, the Everblades rely on Tyson Gimblett.
Gimblett began his Junior career with the Cobourg Cougars of the OPJHL in 2000. He played 45 games and spent 92 minutes in the penalty box. Tyson stands six-foot-three, and tips the scales at 215 pounds. I imagine he was a big lad when he started with Cobourg, but he was only 15 at the time. The following year, he played briefly with St. Michael’s Buzzers, then moved up to the Majors. He played for Owen Sound and Saginaw in the OHL before returning to the Georgetown Raiders of the OPJHL. He told me he knew the interior of the DukeDome intimately. He also spent five years at the University of Prince Edward Island with former Dukes Steve Cooke and Dayne Davis. He is in his third season in Florida.
The ’Blades are experiencing a banner season, thus far. They have won 24 games, lost five and have two shootout losses. They lead the East Division of their conference. Much of their success can be attributed to their coach, Greg Poss. Due to his experience and knowledge, he is able to juggle the lineup for every game. He must make adjustments weekly for the players he loses to parent teams. Former Belleville Bull Alex Aleardi was recently called up to the Checkers, leaving a gap in the lineup.
The ’Blades play the Wheeling Nailers tonight. It’s $2 drafts, dogs and wine night, so bring your appetite and your thirst.
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