Saturday, October 27, 2007

Gladiators weekend preview

The Gladiators line-up will be slightly different this weekend, as 2005 Thrashers draft pick Chad Denny has been assigned to the team. On this assignment, he's only here for three games (Sat, Sun and Tues). If he still doesn't get ice time in Chicago after that though, he could return. As a result, the Gladiators will go with seven defensemen tonight, with Ryan Walsh the forward who drops out of the lineup. Denny was known in the QMJHL for his slap shot, but coach Jeff Pyle said he won't play Denny on the point on the power play until he learns the team's systems. That probably won't happen at all this weekend. He could be the "backdoor" D though, the left one who swings down. Pyle said that he's asking Denny to be physical, be a defensive defenseman, and just move the puck up to the forwards. Pretty simple.

The other lines will remain the same. Mike Hamilton centering Jeff Campbell and Derek Nesbitt. Pyle said Hamilton is kind of like Brad Schell, but better defensively. He fits in well with these two. The second line is the speed line: Lou Dickenson, Dirk Southern and Andy Brandt. Brandt is more physical, an up and down defensive guy. On the third line, Vigilante adds experience two what otherwise would be a very young group.

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