Nighthawks Open S94 Training Camp

[tcookie 927]

As the puck drops on S94 training camp, there is an air of optimism around the Malmo Nighthawks, a distinctly different feeling than the one surrounding the team the last time most of these players were in the locker room when they were cleaning up after another early playoff exit.

 

The Nighthawks are largely running the same squad back once again, but where there was uncertainty around the futures of nearly the entire core at the end of S93, the off-season has brought answers.

 

One new face is Vlad Von Carstein, an S92 defenseman who was selected 6th overall and has the ability to be a top defenseman in this league. Though his progression has stalled a bit, he is at least a good second-pairing guy already, with the upside for more if his development gets back on track. Von Carstein's contract was set to expire after the season, but he has already signed a two-year extension. The other is star centre Randy Bobandy, a seven-year VHL veteran who has immediately stepped in and made his impact felt in the locker room. Bobandy has 497 career points in 504 games with Seattle and Calgary after being drafted 4th overall in S87. He fills in the spot vacated by Yaroslav Bogatyrev, who retired from the league.

 

More reason for optimism, however, are the contract extensions signed by Viktor Jensen, Jacob Stone, and Phillip Rave. All three players expressed a desire to spend the remainder of their careers in Malmo, and Jensen and Stone both signed contract extensions that will bring them to retirement. Rave signed a three-year extension of his own, leaving both him and the team some flexibility for whatever may come in the next three seasons, but Rave called Malmo "home" and says his preference is to stay in Malmo for a full eight seasons.

 

Malmo can rest easy knowing that this core will be together for the forseeable future. Now it's up to them to prove they're worth keeping together for that long and finally get over the playoff hump.

[AJW 2,192]

Bobandy needs a beer and a dart, these training camps are getting harder for the guy