RICHMOND, Va. — Hockey season has finally arrived, and the Richmond Renegades are among the six teams preparing for the SPHL’s fifth season of competition. Head coach Brian Goudie returns to lead the team after a busy summer recruiting quality players for the Gades’ third campaign. “This year I’m taking a different direction, going more the college route,” Goudie said. “I’m looking at more Division 3 guys and guys that already finished Juniors. With three or four years under their belts they’re more seasoned, more mature.” His efforts attracted nearly thirty players to the Renegades’ most productive training camp to date, with bases apparently well covered behind the blue line, up front and between the pipes. SPHL Defenseman of the Year Dan Vandermeer, whose return had not
been considered a lock, highlights the list of nine returning players from last season’s squad. Fellow veteran R.C. Lyke will join Vandermeer behind the blue line, along with returnees Dan Hickman and Clay Lewis. An interesting newcomer who could also impact the squad is John Halverson, a four-year defensive leader from Trinity College in Connecticut, who likes to stick his nose in on offense. Big Jozef Kubaliak’s camp barely got started before he broke his hand in a scrap, but look for 6’3″, 225-lb. Slovakian to round out the defense and handle a fair amount of the tough-guy duties as well. Perhaps Goudie’s toughest decision will be between the pipes. Incumbent Ryan Senft looks healthy and expects to follow up his excellent 2007-08 season with the Gades. Junior-B goalie Josselin St. Pierre, younger brother of veteran pro Martin St. Pierre, had an excellent showing throughout camp and did nothing to discredit his obvious abilities. Whether he can beat out Pierre-Olivier Girouard for the second spot is uncertain. The 6-6 Girouard, who led France’s Magnus League for the past two years, stood out in camp with excellent technique and mobility for a man of his size. Offensively, Goudie wants his attackers to stop hanging around the perimeter, a tendency that may have cost it a chance of advancing in the playoffs last season. “I want guys to be on the same page,” he said. “I want guys to drive the net and get those lucky goals.” Top goal scorers Andre Gill and Donald Melnyk have moved on, but scoring should not be a problem for this season’s squad. Filling the Gades’ final veteran spot will be left-handed winger Tom Kotsopoulos, who brings extensive experience from the CHL and UHL. “People don’t know about him, but it won’t take long for them to figure it out once they see him skate,” Goudie said. “He’ll be a fan favorite before long. He can skate, shoot, score and loves to hit.” His energy showed immediately in camp, and he took on a role of team leadership as well. “He’s gung-ho about coming in and wants to be one of the better players in the league,” Goudie added. Kotsopoulos found an instant training camp linemate in Ryan Busby, a chippy point-per-game center who played at SUNY Plattsburgh with
Renegades center Ryan Busby (L) faces off with Fayetteville%27s Marc Norrington (PHN photo by Lisa Murphy-Wood)
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