The tell tale signs are all here. Leaves are starting to appear on the neighborhood lawns. The noticeable chill in the air in the evenings. Yes, it is that time of year again. Time for the boys of winter to shake off the rust and begin preparing for the upcoming season.
That is exactly what the Syracuse Crunch are doing as they opened training camp today at the War Memorial at Oncenter.
It started with very little fan fare. Head Coach Gary Agnew hit the ice around 10:25 A.M. All of the players participating in today’ s workout were already there loosening up for the day’s activities.
A hand full of people were on hand to witness the event. Most of which sat behind the bench area or in the second tier as they sought relief from the fog-laden glass that surround the ice surface.
It was for the most part a pretty uneventful day. That is until about thirty minutes were left in the Syracuse practice. That is when a few news crews entered the scene.
Considering that this was the first day of Syracuse’s training camp, one might expect a small blurb on your local newscast, but they weren’t there for the obligatory video to be used as background for their story. They were there for one man, Brandon Sugden.
Keep in mind that this is minor league hockey, a place where enforcers are held in the highest regard. Also keep in mind that these news stations contact the Crunch seeking stories and any good public relations person worth his salt would point them in the direction of someone like the legendary Sugden, but it is still surprising.
Especially since it is not a foregone conclusion that Sugden will even be able to suit up for the Crunch this season. His checkered past and subsequent banning from the East Coast League for life may stand in his way, but Sugden remains confident that things will work out in the end.
“I’m pretty optimistic, but there is a lot of stuff to be done,” stated Sugden. “I’m almost there and I’m excited that in the next week or so things will be taken care of.”
In the mean time he has focused on getting himself prepared as if everything will work out. “I have a good support group and they are telling me to keep my mind on hockey and they will take care of it,” stated Sugden.
Focusing on getting prepared for Sugden meant off-season workouts that include some show stopping work on the heavy bag. “All of the kids in the gym just sort of sit there with their mouths open,” said a smiling Sugden. “I would spend four hours in the gym each day, five mile runs, two hours on the ice, so it was a good thing.”
As for the media blitz that surrounded him on his first day, one that included two television interviews and a few print ones, the affable Sugden just laughed it off. “Everybody wants to see the new tough guy I guess,” chimed Sugden.
Yes they do, but hopefully on the ice skating toward that penalty box and not just in some 20-second interview on the local news.
Training Camp Notes:
In reference to the Sugden situation, it is not unconceivable that the East Coast League lifts their ban, but the AHL still decides to suspend Sugden themselves. This could be any number of games. All of this should exclude Sugden from any of Syracuse’s exhibition games until the matter is resolved.
As a contingency plan the Crunch have invited Elmo, Ontario native Brad Both to training camp. Although he doesn’t have the prototypical enforcer size, Both racked up 438 penalty minutes with Fresno of the WCHL.
Not many familiar faces dotted the ice on day one of camp. Veteran blue liner Trent Cull skated, as did one-time Crunch player Alex Johnstone. Darrel Scoville, Jeremy Reich, and Brad Moran were all in attendance but did not participate in the day’s activities.