SPHL: Familiar faces back as Storm ready for camp
When the Quad City Storm officially open training camp on Tuesday morning, there will be plenty of familiar players on the camp roster.
There will probably also be some of those returning players missing.
First-year coach Shayne Toporowski welcomes a dozen returners from last season's roster, including much of the leadership group.
Those 12 back in camp are: Doug Blaisdell (D), Dillon Fournier (D), Cole Golka (RW), Michael Greco (D), Nic Levesque (RW), Leif Mattson (C), Jake Maynard (D), Mike Moran (LW), Weiland Parrish (C), Tommy Tsicos (C), Matt Ustaski (RW) and goalie Brent Moran.
As of the middle of last week, Ustaski and Brent Moran were in ECHL camps as were newcomers Brendan Ronan (LW) and Johnny Witzke (LD).
The rest of the newcomers to start camp in QC sweaters are:
Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira (D), Danny Martin (LW), Cyril Nagurski (D), Jan Salák (F), Orca Wiesblatt (C), Houston Wilson (LW), Artyom Zhuk (LW) and goalies Sam Best and Tyson Brouwer.
Zhuk, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound 24-year-old, is the first Belarusian player in Storm history. He is playing in the United States for the first time in his career.
"A lot of production is back," said Storm president Brian Rothenberger.
Mattson (28 goals, 31 assists, 59 points), Golka (32-21-53) and Ustaski (27-26-53) were among the Top 10 scorers in the league last season. Golka and Ustaski were both sidelined late in the season by injuries and missed the playoffs when QC was eliminated in the first round by the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.
Rothenberger also thought it was huge to have leadership back with Tsicos and Mike Moran.
"There's plenty of familiar faces back, but at the same time, about half the roster is new," said Rothenberger. "We're looking at a lot bigger team than we had last year, which we will see how that translates."
Rothenberger also liked the composition of the team with plenty of guys who know the league.
One of the more interesting signings is Houston Wilson. He played 37 games last season in the SPHL with the Pensacola Ice Flyers, scoring 27 points (10 goals and 17 assists). He also previously played 45 games with the now defunct Vermilion Bobcats in 2021-22, when he scored 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists).
"He was productive and especially effective against Peoria," said Rothenberger, pointing to the team's opening night foe on Oct. 19 at Vibrant Arena.
Still, Rothenberger said that Toporowski has diligently worked to put together this starting roster.
"Expectations are as high this year as they were last year," said Rothenberger. "We just need to see the results. Expectations can only get you so far."
sports writer/golf editor
