Page 12 New look, new season, new attitude by Nick Zulovich Sports Editor Even though it is not even Halloween yet, it's time to start thinking about that great sport on the ice, hockey. New look, new season, new attitude. This motto has been become the main theme for this season’s version of the Erie Panthers. Yesterday, the Panthers did a major front office shakeup. Former President of the Panthers Jim Clark became the new Chairman of the Board and CEO. Ron Hansis became the new president and director of hockey operations. Hansis will still remain as the club’s general manager. The Panthers also named the new head coach to replace Hansis. Former Panthers’ Assistant Barry Smith became the head coach. Smith has been with the Panthers the last three seasons. After a disastrous season last year in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), the Panthers opened training camp October 1. A sprinkling of returnees were on the opening camp roster, but the big scorers from last season took their services out of Erie. Even though the Panthers won just 18 games last season, they had the highest scoring line in the league. Center Scott Burfoot, the ECHL’s leading scorer from last season with 96 points, signed a richer contract to play in Canada with the Colonial Hockey League. Forward Stephane Charbonneau, who led the ECHL in goals scored with SO, is currently playing with Portland of the American Hockey League. ECHL Rookie of the Year Kevin McKinnon, the last member of the high scoring line, is now playing in a European league in Finland. But with all of that scoring punch away from Erie, Hansis has been very impressed with the players he has looked at during training camp. “We’re looking for players that give 110 percent night in and night out. We’re not going to have the Charbonneaus [with 50 goals] and the Burfoots [with 96 points]. We do have a pretty good balance of guys with character who will stick up for one another, and we’ll win a lot of hockey games that way,” explained Hansis. With training camp comes pre season games. The Panthers played four pre-season games, the most ever. The Panthers needed those games to tune up for the regular season which starts tomorrow night. Erie travels to Louisville for the first of its regular season game. The Panthers had a very successful pre-season. Erie compiled a 3-1 record in their four games. Last Wednesday, the Panthers took on the Toledo Storm in the Storm’s home building. Erie trailed 3-0 early in the game but came back to tie the score at five all in the third period. Then, with just six seconds left on the clock, the Panthers put the winning goal on the board to go back to Erie with a 6-5 win. Last Friday, the Panthers had their first home ice skate against competition other then themselves. Erie was matched up with the same Toledo Storm. The Panthers came from behind again to beat the Storm 4-2. Toledo’s Shawn Penn scored a power play goal to give the Storm a 1-0 after one period. Toledo once again scored on the power play, 4:36 into the second period to make it 2-0 Toledo. But then Erie got its power play scores going. Brad Harrison took a pass from defenseman Todd Harris and scored with the man advantage to cut the Toledo lead in half 2-1. Then, less then a minute later, Erie was given another power play opportunity and tied the score. Carl Fleury's goal at 9:49 of the second period tied the score and swung the momentum to the hometown Panthers. The score would stay deadlocked at two until Harrison’s second goal of the game at 12:20 of the third to put the Panthers ahead to stay 3-2. Fleury also scored a pair of goals in the contest. His second goal was an empty net strike with 37 seconds to play. Head Coach Smith was the leader behind the bench for the Panthers that night. Smith was very happy with the squad’s performance. “I think we played with a little more intensity. We got out of the gate slow, but the second and third period we started hitting, and we started trapping, so that was real good to see. Late in the game, we had a couple of chances, and we put them [Toledo] away,” commented Smith. Hansis explained that sitting up in the stands “you don’t have to worry about changing lines and planning strategies. You can sit back and watch the game, Wanna go to the Black Comedy All Star Jam ? Fill out this coupon and mail it to The Collegian on campus. To win a pair of tickets to the I Black Comedy Ail Star Jam, I . mail this coupon to The Collegian , 1 Drawing to be held November 1,1995. ■ . Name: ! 1 Campus Phonei_ „ 1 1 Campus Box: . 1 Sports enjoy it and get a much better perspective of the action and talent.” A player who Hansis, Smith and the Panthers were counting on to provide some scoring arrived in Erie during the Panthers game with Toledo. High scoring forward Glenn Stewart was claimed by Erie in a dispersal draft when the Greensboro Monarchs joined the AHL in the off-season. Stewart was the leading scorer for Greensboro last season. This past Saturday, the Panthers took the road again, this time traveling to take on their rivals the Johnstown Chiefs. Stewart made an immediate impact scoring two goals in his first game as a Panther, but it wasn’t enough as Erie fell 5-4. Sunday, the Panthers played their fourth and final pre-season game at the Erie Civic Center against Johnstown. With the score tied at one after one period, the Panthers erupted for nine unanswered goals to defeat Johnstown 10-1. Stewart finished the game with a hat trick plus an assist. Brant Blackned added a goal and four assists, while Karry Biette chipped in two goals and two assists. Stewart feels that the Panthers have real potential to play very well in the ECHL. “There’s a lot of talented players here, and we’re tough too. We’re going to have to be tough all year to mix it up with some of these teams,” stated Stewart. Above photo by Jim Cooper Panther coaching changes: Barry Smith (left) was named the new head coach of the Erie Panthers. Smith replaces Ron Hansis (above) behind the bench. Hansis was named the President and Director of Hockey Operations and will still be the team's General Manager. Hansis and Smith are very optimistic for the Panthers’ upcoming season. Erie went 3-1 in preseason aciton. The Panthers home opener is October 20 with faceoff at 7:30 at the Erie Civic Center. Fri i~y. N <jr 3, 1 jjs Warner Theatre Erie, PA Bpm Tickets only $l5 Tickets available October 3 at p— —— The Warner Theatre Box Office Sponsored in part by: Mufti-Cultural Council Erie Limousine and all Ticket Master Locations (814)838-4117 orchaige by phone (814) 452-4857 TICKETS AVAILABLE OCTOBER 3 Thursday, October 12.1995 Returning goal tender Frankie Ouellette explained that the Panthers have brought in more defense to this year’s team. “The guys play pretty well defensively. There are a lot of new faces, and they did the job. It is important for us to get off to a good start [when the regular season starts Friday]”, commented Ouellette. By today, the Panthers' roster must be down to 20 players. As of yesterday, about 25 were still in camp. PENN STATE [BOOKSTORE The Bookstore is now returning the Fail Semesters textbooks to the publisher. Please be sure to purchase your books now.
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