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Season opener scheduled...
Reading, MA- The 4th season for the Snipe City Danglers has already been a bit of a roller coaster that has seen
roster changes, the addition of a top minor league affiliate and struggles that put the season in jeopardy. But with
all that behind them now they can focus on the task at hand of winning the Bay State Hockey Elite League. That
task is set to begin two weeks from now on April 24th at 6:30pm at the Burlington Ice Palace.
With the roster down to 12 players now that forward Mark Pandolfo has been placed on injured reserve
the team is set and 100% focused on becoming the top team in the league. "We started out so strong last season
going 3-0-1 in that first month of the season, but then the wheels fell off the wagon and we lost 8 straight. We want
to be the top team from start to finish this season, we have a lot to prove to management with all the moves they made in
the offseason and during camp." said Paul D'Agostino.
"The move to put Pando on the IR has nothing to do with him being injured, it's just a way to keep him on our roster
since he is still playing with Trenton in the ECHL. Once his season is done and if he chooses to join us afterwards
he will be placed on the active roster." said Head coach Mark Morreale.
An opening night celebration is being planned along with other fan appreciation days throughout the season. This
coming Saturday the Danglers will host a meet and greet at their practice facility open to the fans and the media. The
event will be from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Also in the works is a Phil Rowley night tentatively scheduled
for May 15th. For those who don't know Rowley, he was a pioneer for the Burlington Ice Palace hockey league over 30
years ago. This past winter Rowley retired from the Burlington league, many players both past and present on the Danglers
roster have played for Rowley at Billerica High where he has served as an assistant coach for years. Present players
Jon Hutcheon, Jim Toomey, Evan Spencer and Phil's son Todd Rowley
all played for him as well as ex Danglers Jarrett Scarpaci, Jim Crowley, Mark Dube,
Andrew Scarpaci as well as coach Morreale have all been students of Rowley. "We all loved playing for
him and he really taught everyone something in our years with him." said Toomey.
Younger D'Agostino trying to emerge from shadow...
Woburn, MA- On any given night during the week you can find Nick D'Agostino working out on the ice late
into the night well after everyone has gone home for the day. Most of the time he is joined by older brother Paul
D'Agostino and fellow teammate Jon Hutcheon skating, passing and shooting on the Danglers
practice ice. No one is around no coach is telling them what drill to do next. There's no goalie, no
whistles, just the 3 of them working hard in the echoes of an empty arena. No bright lights, no big crowd, but
for this trio it isn't about attention. It's about the will to get better.
For years Nick D'Agostino has been in the shadow of big brother Paul, where only 2 and a half years separate the two.
First at Catholic Memorial High School, then junior ranks and now for the Snipe City Danglers. This will be Nick's second
season as a Dangler and Paul's 4th. Paul ranks 8th overall for all time scoring leaders, Nick had 5 points in 8 games
his first campaign with the team last summer. "It's all about improving this summer, building on my numbers from last
year. I know I didn't have a good summer points wise, but I felt I got better in the D zone each game. So
this spring I've been working on my playmaking and shot so I can be more of a force from the blueline for the team.
Not a liabilty out there either, just a steady player my teammates can rely on." said Nick.
"You can see Nick really wants it this year, he wants to make a name for himself. He's always had the passion
to be a better player, now he is doing what is needed to become a better player. Most of the time when me and Paul want
to take off it's Nick keeping us out there for another half hour just passing and shooting and doing little footwork drills.
He's slowly starting to show his leadership abilities and hopefully he'll really anchor our D corps." said Hutcheon about
his teammate.
Everyone loves the underdog and in this case everyone should be in the younger D'Agostino's corner going into this season.
He has a lot to prove, but he is doing it for no one else but himself and so far the hard work is paying off.
4/6/08 Update...
Woburn, MA- The mood in the locker room was one half somber the other half relieved this afternoon after the Danglers
made numerous roster moves. Cuts are never easy for any team at any time, but it seems as though first cuts are always
the hardest. "Guys come in and are eager to make the team or keep their jobs from last season. With such a short
training camp we knew we needed to cut the numbers down quickly and move on to the players we're going to be going with all
season." said General Manager Pat Conley in a press conference. "Luckily we have a place to send the guys we let go of today
who were under contract so we will be able to keep an eye on them all summer and call them up if we ever need them."
In all six players were affected from today's moves bringing the SCD roster down to 13 players. Forwards Connor
Toomey, Mark Dube and Chris Ochoa along with defenseman Jim Crowley
were sent to Billerica (SCD's minor league affiliate) all four players have two way contracts with the Danglers and will most
likely be seen in a Dangler uniform at some point this summer. Rookie forward Billy Dugan has been
released from his tryout contract. In what has been the shock of this years training camp, last seasons second leading
scorer Jeff Fanning has yet to report to the Danglers. Because of Fanning's actions he has been
fined an undisclosed amount and has been put under suspension indefinately. Due to the one way contract Fanning earned
after his spectacular breakout season last year, he is ineligible to be sent down to Billerica without clearing league waivers.
"The thing with Jeff is this is totally uncharacteristic of him, we've talked with his agent and he isn't 100% sure of
what is going on either. We're going to retain his rights and place him under team suspension for now and see if something
can be worked out. As for the other guys we talked with them this afternoon in private meetings and they know what they
need to work on down in the minors to improve and see the big time again... I think the biggest disappointment is Crowley,
we expected big things from him this season, but he just didn't come through when he needed to." said Head Coach Mark Morreale.
The remaining 13 players in camp include goaltender Todd Rowley, who Morreale officially named his starting
goalie for the time being. "He has really put in his time with this organization the past 2 summers. I think he's
the most underrated goalie in the league, not many people realize that he's gone 8-0-0 in his career as a Dangler. We
expect alot from him this summer and feel like he's ready for the challenge" added Morreale.
"It's very exciting to finally go into the season as the teams number 1 goalie, I feel like it's been a long time coming
and I can't wait to get it underway." said Rowley after the teams morning workout.
Danglers announce new Head Coach...
Woburn, MA- Mark Morreale has officially been named the first ever Snipe City Danglers head coach for the 2008 campaign.
Morreale was a star hockey player at Billerica High School who graduated in 2002 the school's last "hurrah" in the Super 8.
Morreale never played past high school but has a wealth of knowledge that will be relied on to lead Snipe City to the promised
land of a championship summer.
Danglers Roster to see major overhaul...
The Danglers have added three new players to their training camp roster, bringing their roster up to 18 players just
twelve days before opening night. "Some guys have been skipping out on workouts and not getting their money in on time
so as an organization upper management is doing what needs to be done in order to keep our team together. This is our
4th season and we still have yet to win a championship, something needs to be done." said captain Scott McDougall.
Chris Ochoa from UConn, Bill Dugan from Franklin Pierce College and Mark Pandolfo
from the Trenton Devils in the ECHL have all been added to the training camp roster.
"We'll know alot more by Monday after a few more on ice workouts, but we have a pretty good idea of who from last year's
squad will be out. We said it at the end of last season that this will be a whole new team and some of the guys did
not take us serious. First cut day is Monday so I think there will be some shocked players." said G.M. Pat Conley
With less than two weeks to go before opening night rookies new to the Danglers organization are starting to feel the
excitement and nervousness that comes as a first year player for Snipe City. Sean Roche is a young
player who will be attending Babson next fall and recently returned home from the Golden Horseshoe League in Canada and cannot
wait for opening night. "Hopefully I'll be able to make the squad out of training camp and be an impact player right
away. I've heard so much about this team from the D'Agostino brothers over the past few years I just can't wait to get
that first game out of the way."
The nerves aren't just there for the rookies, every season brings new goals and more pressure for the veterans too.
3 year veteran and newly named assistant captain Jim "Booby Miles" Toomey also feels the pressure of a new
season. "With the season coming so fast it feels good to get out there in training camp and wheel around and shake
off that last minute rust. You look forward to it for so long you can't help but get excited for the start of the season....It's
an honor to be named a captain of SCD, I never expected it but it shows that management has a lot of confidence in me and
that is really going to help boost my confidence going this season."
Stay tuned for more updates throughout the weekend.
Team workouts going smoothly...
Woburn, MA- Forward Mark Dube was the first Dangler to step on the ice this past Saturday afternoon
followed by 7 others and goaltender Todd Rowley. The 2 hour workout consisted of some puckhandling
drills and a 2 on 2 tournament. Other players included Jon Hutcheon, Jim Toomey, Coleman Noonan, Connor Toomey,
Evan Spencer, and Nick D'Agostino. "It felt good to get on the ice with the guys and get the
legs moving. That 2 on 2 is good for conditioning and gets you making plays in a small area." said Dube.
Coleman Noonan, who enters training camp on a tryout, really impressed Danglers brass with his smarts and toughness.
He took a heavy hit from D'Agostino during the 2 on 2, but was able to bounce back and lead his team to an overtime victory
in that game. "Seeing a guy be able to bounce back like that really shows his heart and will to make this squad." said
G.M. Patrick Conley.
The team has optional skates all this week.
Danglers Top 10 Scoring Leaders
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