CINCINNATI, Ohio – After winning the 2010 Kelly Cup Championship, expectations are high at the U.S. Bank Arena this season for the Cincinnati Cyclones. “I’m very excited to be a part of the Cyclones organization,” new Head Coach Jarrod Skalde said. “It’s great coming into a place that has had tremendous success with ownership and fans that expect excellence. I’m really looking forward to the challenge and building on that.” COACHING STAFF– The Chuck Weber and Dean Stork days are over at the Bank. Weber is now head coach of the Rochester Americans (AHL) and Stork is the new Director of Hockey Operations with the expansion Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL). Leading the Cyclones this season are Head coach Skalde and his assistant, Scott Fankhouser. Jarrod Skalde – The Niagara Falls, Ontario native comes to Cincinnati after spending two years behind the bench of the Bloomington PrairieThunder (IHL). He has 19 years of service in professional hockey; 17 as a player. Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round (#26 overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, Skalde went on to log 115 games with eight different teams in the National Hockey League. In addition to the Devils, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. Skalde also played professionally in the IHL, AHL, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan during a career that spanned 1,071 games. In 1992-93, Skalde appeared in four games with the Cyclones – putting up three points (1 G, 2 A). He was the first player in Cyclones history to have been called up directly to the NHL. Scott Fankhouser – An 11th round draft choice of the St. Louis Blues (276th overall) in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Fankhouser played a total of 23 games with the Atlanta Thrashers between 1999-01, posting a 3.20 goals against average and an .895 save percentage. FORWARDS – The Cyclones roster has went through an extreme makeover during the off-season. Dylan Hunter, son of former NHL player Dale Hunter, joins the team after spending parts of the 2009-10 season with the Utah Grizzlies, the Milwaukee Admirals and the Rochester Americans. Matthieu Aubin will be looked upon to bring the scoring touch he showed during the 2007-08 season where he amassed 30 Goals and 27 assists in 47 Games played. Adam Bartholomay, who spent last season with the Tulsa Oilers, has returned home to the ECHL. Chris Morehouse and Matt Pierce round out the veterans for the team. Sam D’Agostino will also be suiting up for the Cyclones after four seasons with the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks. DEFENSEMEN – Cincinnatti’s defensive side will start the season with several ECHL veterans. Brock Sheahan and Brian O’Hanley are expected to be the leaders on the blue line for the Cyclones this year. Sheahan was a mainstay on the Cincinnati blue line, skating in 71 of 72 regular season games and all 24 postseason tilts. He was one of 12 Cyclones to log at least one game in the AHL last season, making his AHL debut with the Houston Aeros on February 6th. J.C. Sawyer remains in the state of Ohio after suiting up with the expansion Toledo Walleye last season. Kevin Roeder is looking at becoming a mainstay on the blue line this season after an injury-riddled season where he missed 32 games. GOALTENDERS – The Cyclones will look to Jeremy Smith and Marc Cheverie to provide stellar goaltending between the pipes at the Bank this season. Smith, a native of Dearborn, Michigan posted a 23-15-0-2 record during the 2009-10 regular season, including two shutouts, earning a spot in the ECHL All-Star Game. In the post-season, Smith went 9-7-1 with a 2.67 GAA, a 90.7 save percentage, and one shutout. Upon the completion of the Kelly Cup Finals, Smith was awarded Co-Playoff MVP accolades. Cheverie joins the Cyclones for his rookie season after spending three seasons with the Denver Pioneers of the NCAA. During his three seasons with the Pioneers, he posted a 48-6-8 record in 74 games played. CONCLUSION – With a expectations high, Skalde and his troops are focused on winning another Kelly Cup Championship. EDITOR’S PREDICTION: 1st in the North Division, another Kelly Cup Championship win and Coach of the Year honors for Jarrod Skalde. Mitchell.Tychynski@prohockeynews.com
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