RiverBlades captain Eric Long answers YOUR questions!

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR

ASK ERIC 12/17/02
Question: At what point is a player considered a veteran? Is it a specific number of games? (Lanie)

Answer: In the ECHL a player is considered a veteran when he has played in 250 professional games. That equals out to roughly three and a half seasons. Currently, only four veterans are allowed per team in the ECHL. There is a strict vet rule in this league, because the ECHL is a developmental league, and it ensures that only the best "older" players can continue to play, while allowing room for the younger players to break into the league, and develop. The Riverblades' other three veterans are Matt Pagnutti, Jason Saal, and Jason Bermingham.

Question: What is a bomb squad and does every team have one?

Answer: Can you be more specific? Thanks for writing!

ASK ERIC 12/17/02
Question: This question actually has nothing to do with physical play or violence to sell tickets to the beer-guzzlin rowdies. What's it like playing guys, like Kaiman, who played for us and were traded? Is it a generally friendly and good-natured without hard feelings realizing that it's part of the game, or is there some pent up frustration at your old team. And what when you get traded: how does that affect your relationship with your old linemates? (Ian)

Answer: Every situation is different. A lot has to do with the circumstances in which the player left the team. Usually, there are no hard feelings towards the players because it wasn't the players who traded their teammate. Sometimes players get mad at the coach and want to show him that it was a mistake to get rid of them so they play a little harder than usual.

As for your relationship with an ex-teammate, it is the same as when he was on the team. You want to see that person do well, except when they are playing against you!!

ASK ERIC 12/16/02
Question: Excluding penalty killing situations, when you are the defensive zone are you matched up against a certain offensive player or are you responsible for a certain area? (Coop)

Answer: Good question, Coop. Our team plays more of a zone defense. We try to have one defenseman in the corner and the other d-man in front of the net. The forward who is playing down low is responsible for helping both defenseman. The other two forwards are responsible for covering the other teams defenseman. The strong side forward is right on his point man while the weak side forward sags a little to the slot in case someone misses an assignment he is there to help out.

Question: Hey Eric, I am a Mysticks fan and remember well when you played in Mobile. I have noticed over the years that your style of play has changed, is there any particular reason that changed? And is it hard to change your style of play? (Kelly)

Answer: Hi Kelly! I really enjoyed my two seasons playing in Mobile. Over the years, my style of play has pretty much remained the same. However, my role in Mobile as a younger, less experienced player was different than it is now. I think my skills and head for the game has improved with more experience. I really wish the Mysticks were still in the league. It was a great town to play in!

Question: If you have a player in the box at the end of OT that is one of your five for a shootout, does he get to shoot also, or do you have to fill his spot with someone not under a penalty. (Ted)

Answer: No. A player in the penalty box at the end of OT will be allowed to shoot, unless he has received a game misconduct and got ejected from the game.

Question: In the event of a delayed penalty can the penalized team score on an empty net? (Randy)

Answer: No. The second that the penalized team touches the puck, the whistle will blow, and play will stop.

Question: Hi there. I just wanted to take a few minuets to say thanks! I ran into ya'll after the game in Baton Rouge on Fri., the 13th of Dec. I wanted to thank ya'll for letting my little brother and I cut in front of the whole team (at the restaurant). I now have two favorite teams, the Fish and the Blades. Next time ya'll come to the tank, I'll be cheering for both teams. Good luck in Sunday's game !!! (Danielle)

Answer: Danielle, You are very welcome. It is nice to have fans everywhere. See you in Baton Rouge!

ASK ERIC 12/11/02
Question: Do the jersey numbers ever correspond with the position you guys play...like, do most defensemen have a single digit or lower double digit number..and most goalies have numbers in the 30's...and would captaincy have anything to do with a number usually? (Ted)

Answer: That is an interesting question! There is no set rule what number a player wears. But, your observation is correct in that most defenseman wear lower numbers and goalies are in 30's. There are plenty of exceptions throughout the hockey world! Captaincy has nothing to do with what number I wear.

Question: Why do most players choose not to wear protective visors on the helmet? (Randy)

Answer: That is a good question. Most likely, all players SHOULD wear the visors, but in reality, not very many do. The reason, is a combination of tradition, and personal preference, and depends on what type of player you are. Players who wear them, typically take more shots to the face area by other players, because the players who don't wear them, feel they can take liberties on them because they are protected. Sometimes players are forced to wear the visors, as in the case with Mike Cirillo, because of an injury, and some other players aren't as involved in the physical part of the game, so they can wear a visor and not get taken advantage of.

Question: I have two questions about the 0-0 game against Jackson Tues night: 1) Do both goalies get credited with a shoot-out? 2) What would happen if the score was still 0-0 after regulation, overtime, and a shoot-out? Thanks, Eric! (Puck)

Answer: Yes, both goalies get credited with a shut-out, as well they should! As for your second question, the shoot-out would go on until SOMEONE won, no matter how many rounds it ended up taking. There will never be a 0-0 tie in a shootout, as we would keep shooting until someone won.

Question: Hello Eric! I am Christian from Bayreuth, Germany. Maybe you still remember your former team mate Dan Heilman. He is now playing for the German hockey club Bayreuth Tigers. I'd like to know how good you knew Dan and if you can imagine playing overseas here together with Dan. Thank you, Christian

Answer: Thanks for writing Christian! I know Dan very well, and I think he is an excellent hockey player, as well as a great guy. He's the type of player every coach wants on their team, and every guy wants to play with. I would love the opportunity to play overseas, and it would be an even bigger treat to play with Dan again. We have kept in touch this season, and Dan has kept me updated on his experiences in Germany and it sounds like he is doing just great. Tell him hello, and good luck to your Tigers!

Question: Eric, Why is it that some players go all season without being traded while others are tossed back and forth like a yo-yo? Do some players have a contract with the team? Also when a player is transferred does he have a say in it or is this a decision made by the coach or the ECHL? I would like to see Shawn Mamane be a permanent member of the team. I really feel for guys like him (and their families) that are moved around so many times through out the year. Any way....GOOD LUCK! (Tim)

Answer: There are many reasons why some players stay and some players are traded or waived. To be clear and answer your other questions first, everyone has a contract with their respective team. They are standard contracts that have a blank space to put the players name and a blank space to put the players salary. These contracts can be voided at any time(except when a player is injured). That is why they can be waived or traded. If a player is waived it usually means that there was no interest from the other 26 teams in the league to trade for him. Sometimes players are picked up off the "wire" and signed, that was the case for Mamane. The waiver wire is a draft order that players can be claimed if they are released from a team. The order goes from the last place team getting the first pick to first place getting last pick. When a player is claimed he is entitled to the same amount of money he was paid with his previous team. This usually doesn't happen because when you are waived your "value" as a player has gone down and consequently so does your pay!

As for being traded, this is usually done to improve a team. For example, if the coach thinks we are lacking scoring he will trade for a scorer. A weakness in the team is trying to be fixed!

Unfortunately, the players don't have much say in where they are going to be traded. That is strictly up to the Coach/GM. The ECHL has nothing to do with team transactions. The players can look at a trade as a fresh start with a new coach and a new situation. Sometimes trades work (ie. Buddy Smith for Alex Dumas) or sometimes they don't (Dan Heilman for Ryan Fultz).

The players who seem to "yo-yo" around usually have some type of flaw as a hockey player. Maybe they are not tough enough, or they can't play all aspects of the game well enough, or maybe they don't mesh well with the style of the team? There are quite a few reasons guys are moved around.

Question: Eric who is your #1 kiss for New Years! (Kaylene)

Answer: My #1 kiss on New Years is always my beautiful wife Nicole!! :)

Question: Eric, how's it goin'? My hockey question for you is; when "choppy" playing starts or really physical playing by the opposition, why do we keep playing the same way we have been when it seems that those tactics don't work? Basically, why don't we FIGHT BACK? I think we ought to take the tough play to the other team when they try to dish it to us. What is your view, and your teams? Also Marchant looks a lot like my buddy Gary from Chicago, would you mind askin', if you don't already know, if he ever played in the Chicago area? Thanx! (Ian)

Answer: Every game that our team goes into there is a game plan. Our plan on most nights is to play a defensive minded game. That means making sure the puck is dumped at the red line if there isn't an odd man rush, finishing all checks throughout the game and getting the puck out of our own zone along the walls. Yes, it is true we sometimes stray from finishing all of our checks, but for the most part everyone does a good job. As for "fighting back", we don't want any part of that. Although fighting is a part of the game, it is only useful at certain times. For example, if we seem sluggish or are behind by a goal then fighting can be used to change the momentum of the game. Beyond those circumstances our team would rather take the punches and the slashes and go on the power play. At the time of this answer the Riverblades power play was #1 in the entire league at 24 percent!! This is a major part of our offense!

As far as I know Terry didn't play in Chicago. He is originally from Buffalo and has played in Houston, Baton Rouge and Columbus!

Question: Did you like playing us, LA Ice Gators? &I was wondering how you like Kevin Korol? (Sarah)

Answer: I always enjoy our games with the Ice Gators. They typically have strong teams and the games are always fast paced and physical I think we match up well against the Ice Gators, and I enjoy the competition.

As for Kevin Korol.... he is great. He is a good fit for our team. He brings a lot of energy on the ice and is a funny guy to be around off of it!!

ASK ERIC 12/2/02
Question: Do the RiverBlades ever hold tryouts? Or can some that wants to tryout contact you guys? (Logan)

Answer: The RiverBlades do not ever hold open tryouts. They hold "Training Camp" at the beginning of the season, where guys have been invited to try out. If someone wants to try out for training camp, I would suggest getting an agent, and seeing what training camps he can get you into. Best of luck to you! Introduce yourself to me at the RiverBlades fan fest (coming up) and I will talk to you about it more in person if you'd like!

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR