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Saturday, September 25, 1999 Page: 9B
SYRACUSE, N.Y.- Murray Eaves has shown great interest in the development of
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins roster.
And for good reason.
Eaves, the brother of Pittsburgh assistant coach Mike Eaves, is coaching
the Wheeling, W.Va., Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League this season. Some
players who are cut from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will be assigned to Wheeling.
The Pittsburgh organization is not the only source for Wheeling players.
“Basically in the summer I talk to a lot of agents and coaches and tell
them about the East Coast Hockey League,” Eaves said. “Some of those players I
get into American Hockey League camps.”
Center Darcy Verot, left winger Matt Van Horlick and goalie David Weninger
were three of those players.
“You don’t want to tell them they’re coming to Wheeling first if you can
get them invited to an (AHL) camp. If it doesn’t work out there they come to
Wheeling.”
ECHL teams are allowed to dress 16 skaters and two goalies each game. Teams
can also have two players on injured reserve.
Eaves does not know how many players he’ll receive from the Pittsburgh
organization or even if Verot, Van Horlick or Weninger will remain in
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Two players who played in Wheeling last season were in
Pittsburgh’s training camp. One was cut and the other, Tom O’Connor, has a
good chance of playing for the local Penguins.~
Verot has the best chance to remain with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (he scored a
goal Friday). He also got into a minor scuffle with longtime AHL tough guy
Dennis Bonvie during Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Wheeling’s camp begins Oct. 1 and the season opens Oct. 15.
Eaves will bring 34 players into his training camp.
* * *
A LITTLE SUPPORT: Although Martin Sonnenberg did not play Friday night, he
still made the trip to Syracuse.
Sonnenberg played 36 games for Syracuse when the Pittsburgh Penguins were a
dual affiliate with Vancouver last season.
Sonnenberg played the other half of the season (44 games) in Pittsburgh. He
was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday.
Besides catching up with some old Syracuse buddies, he wanted to support
his new team.
“I wanted to see how the team played tonight,” he said. “You can only see
so much in practice. I figure to be a team player you have to be there with
the team.”
Sonnenberg will not dress for tonight’s game in Hershey either, but isn’t
sure if he’ll travel to the game as a spectator.
* * *~
~TAKING THE BUS: State Rep. Kevin Blaum was having flashbacks of his high
school days after riding the team bus to Friday’s game.
“It was very quiet,” the Wilkes-Barre Democrat said. “It reminded me of
high school going to the game. After the victory it’ll be a little noisier.”
Blaum admits his athletic prowess went from poor in basketball to worse in
football at Coughlin High.
“I think I got to go to three football games,” he said.
While players were focusing on the game, Blaum was checking out the trusses
at the Onondaga County War Memorial arena.
“It was built in 1951 with 6,200 seats and refurbished in the 1970s,” Blaum
said. “I was interviewing the ushers out there. It’s a beautiful old
building.”
Soon, Blaum expects to be marveling at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s arena. The
home opener is set for Nov. 13.
* * *
ICE SHAVINGS: Defenseman Don Coyne did not play in Friday’s game. He will
play tonight against Hershey and defenseman Chris Kelleher will not dress. …
The Penguins were so eager to play Friday that they boarded the bus 20 minutes
earlier than the 3:15 p.m. departure time. … An estimated 2,000 fans
attended Friday’s game. … Plenty of tickets are still available for
tonight’s game in Hershey. All tickets are general admission and cost $5.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS