Skyhawks start signing

The North Bay Skyhawks are please to announce the acquisition and signing of defencemen, Doug Larden and David Ciminelli. The team acquired both players in off-season trades over the summer.

Larden, a 5’10” 185-pound rearguard, comes to North Bay after beginning the 2006-2007 season with the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL and finishing with the Thunder Bay Bulldogs on the SIJHL. In Thunder Bay, Larden scored two goals while adding 16 assists for 18 points in 31 games. He also amassed 264 penalty minutes over those games. “We have acquired a defenseman that plays a rugged style, takes care of his own end and is a pretty good player offensively,” stated Head Coach Darren Turcotte about the 19-year-old.

The 5’9” 180-pound Ciminelli, comes through a trade with the Tulsa Rampage of the WSHL where he finished the 2006-2007 campaign. After beginning the season with the Buffalo entry of the OPJHL, Ciminelli returned closer to home to finish the season. The 19-year-old will also add plenty of grit and determination on the ice.

“After talking to his coach of last year, Chad McLeod, we are confident that Mike will step in to the locker room and be a leader both on and off the ice. He is a steady defenceman that will do whatever it takes to help the team,” added Turcotte.

In 8 games with the Rampage, the Coppell, Texas native registered 2 goals and 4 assists while accumulating 21 penalty minutes.

“These two acquisitions really solidify our defensive corps for the upcoming season as they both bring some strong leadership skills as well as some toughness and grit to our back end.”

Both players will report to the Skyhawks Main Camp on August 20th, 2007.

Three Skyhawks re-sign

The Skyhawks also announced this week that local forwards Kody Carnevale and Justin Roy along with returning defenceman Brad Norkum have re-signed for the 2007-2008 season.

Head coach Darren Turcotte is glad to have them back in the mix.

“These three players build a tremendous foundation of leadership, heart and work ethic and will all be key players over the course of the 2007-2008 season. They will definitely be leaned on heavily by the coaching staff because of what they bring to the rink every day," he said in a press release.