Elmira Jackals Announce Community Board

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today the individuals who will be on the community board of directors.

"This distinguished group of successful business and community leaders will provide direction, guidance and oversight for the Elmira Jackals organization," said Jackals President Nate Cook. "This is a unique group of individuals that is invested in seeing and participating in the revitalization of the community."

The community board of directors will have the discretion to determine how profits should be re-invested into community. Our objective is to revitalize the downtown community, foster additional economic development and job opportunities, support youth sports programs in the region, provide entertainment and cultural resources, support the Elmira Jackals, and lessen the burdens of government.

The existing management group will continue to manage daily hockey operations. The Elmira Jackals LDC will not control the player signings, game management or day to day operations. Instead it will focus on business operations including budgets, revenues and expenses.

Mr. Arie Jan van den Blink, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Hilliard Corporation, will serve as the President of the Elmira Jackals LDC.

Elmira Jackals LDC:

Beecher, William H.
Bentley, Ronald M.
Booth, John S. III
Cook, Scott M.
Draxler, Donna L.
Dunn, Henry C.
Edger, Jodi J.
Fennell, Martin S.
Gensel, James B.
Hayden, Carl T.
Hosey, Michael P.
Howell, George L.
Hughes, Stephen M.
Keeley, Kevin D.
Kenefick, Jeffrey P.
Krusen, Michael S.
Lambert, Dr. Robert K.
McGurgan, Kevin J.
Meier, John H.
Middaugh, Kimberlee B.
Miner, George E.
Mitchell, Michael T.
Potter, John F. Jr.
Rogers, Michael B.
Santulli, Thomas J.
Stemerman, Marc P.
Tifft, Douglas C.
Tranter, Thomas G.
van den Blink, Arie J. "Jan"
van Dinther, Anthony H.
Winner, George H.

Jackals Broadcasts Return to Original Home on WNGZ 104.9 FM

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that they will be partnering with Community Broadcasters, LLC and every Jackals broadcast will return to its original home on WNGZ 104.9 FM.

"We are excited to get the Jackals games back on their original home, WNGZ 104.9," said Vice President/General Manager Smitty O'Loughlin. "It is a perfect match to have the Elmira Jackals, the community team, partnered with Community Broadcasters, LLC."

WNGZ 104.9 FM will be your home for the latest news, updates and highlights throughout the Jackals season. Additional Jackals promotion will be provided regularly on all other stations controlled by Community Broadcasters, LCC.

"We are grateful for our renewed partnership with Community Broadcasters, LLC," said Jackals President Nate Cook. "Community's professionalism, popularity and widespread broadcast reach solidifies our decision to reestablish our strategic alliance with Community Broadcasters, LLC."

The Jackals' game broadcasts will begin with the pre-game show fifteen minutes prior to the opening face-off and will conclude with a post-game recap after the final buzzer. WNGZ 104.9 FM will also air the Jackals Coach's Show on Tuesday nights from 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. all season long. The voice of the Jackals, Jared Abbott, will handle the play-by-play action and will host the weekly Coach's Show.

Eleven Jackals to Participate in AHL Training Camps

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that 11 players under ECHL contract with Elmira will participate in AHL training camps. Nine players will head to Rochester's camp, one will head to the Adirondack Flames' camp and one will participate in the Utica Comets' camp.

The Jackals will send forwards Lucas Bloodoff, Thomas Nesbitt, Ryan Rashid, Taylor Stefishen, Matt Tassone and Brodie Reid, defensemen Nick Tuzzolino and Steven Shamanskiand goaltender Travis Fullerton to Rochester's training camp. Defenseman Zach Tolkinen will attend training camp with Adirondack, while goaltender Tony Capobianco will participate in Utica's training camp.

Elmira Jackals Add Six to Training Camp Roster

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that they have invited six more players to their main training camp on tryout agreements. Forwards Patrick McCadden and Jacob Johnstone, defensemen Todd Orlando, Rob Florentino and Jakub Baca and goaltender Joe Spagnoli will be attending training camp on a tryout basis.

McCadden, 25, reunites with Jackals head coach Jamie Russell after playing for the new bench boss while attending Michigan Tech. The Chesterfield, MO native played two seasons at Michigan Tech before transferring to St. Norbert College (NCAA-III). McCadden compiled 11 points for the Huskies and garnered WCHA All-Academic Team honors as a sophomore. The 6-foot-0 190-pound forward added 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 57 NCAA-III games and helped St. Norbert win the NCAA-III championship last season. McCadden also won the USHL Clark Cup in 2009-10 as a member of the Green Bay Gamblers, recording 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists) and 167 penalty minutes in two USHL seasons.

Johnstone, 24, was a teammate of McCadden's for two seasons at Michigan Tech and played for Russell during the 2010-11 campaign. The Grand Ledge, MI native notched 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) in 136 NCAA games. Prior to attending Michigan Tech, the 6-foot-0 190-pound forward skated for three seasons in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Green Bay Gamblers, tallying 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists) in 153 USHL games.

Orlando, 28, is a massive 6-foot-8 240-pound defenseman from Clinton Township, MI. Orlando split the 2012-13 season with the Wheeling Nailers and the Denver Cutthroats of the Central Hockey League. He combined for two goals and 55 penalty minutes in 27 games between Wheeling and Denver. Orlando also spent a season in Finland, playing for Hermes in the Suomi-sarja, which is Finland's third highest league. In 14 games for Hermes, Orlando recorded eight points and 48 penalty minutes.

Florentino, 25, split last season between the Reading Royals and the Huntsville Havoc of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The West Roxbury, MA native notched a point-per-game for the Havoc, posting 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 15 SPHL games. Florentino added two assists in nine games for the Royals. The 6-foot-1 190-pound blueliner also appeared in 11 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers after completing his senior season at UMass-Boston (NCAA-III). Florentino recorded 64 points (21 goals, 43 assists) in 73 NCAA-III games and was named to the NCAA-III East All-American Third Team. He started his collegiate career at American International College and played in nine contests before transferring to UMass-Boston.

Baca, 25, is a 6-foot-4 220-pound blueliner from Kosice, SVK. Baca has played professionally in Slovakia and the Czech Republic for the past six years. His father, Jergus Baca, was a seventh round draft pick by the Hartford Whalers in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and appeared in 131 combined NHL and AHL games.

Spagnoli, 30, is entering his fourth professional season after backstopping the Danbury Whalers in seven games over the past three years. He has been called upon by the Jackals to fill an emergency backup role on numerous occasions.

Jackals Add AHL Experience With Brodie Reid

lELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that forwards Brodie Reid and Yuri Cheremetiev have signed Standard Player Contracts for the 2014-2015 season.
 

Hockey League experience to Elmira. The 6-foot-1 195-pound forward spent the last three seasons with the Worcester Sharks, the AHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. Reid posted double-digit goals in each of his three seasons with the Sharks and totaled 71 points (31 goals, 40 assists).

"Brodie is a very talented forward with a big shot who brings tremendous experience to Elmira," said Jackals head coach Jamie Russell. "He is a three-zone player who will contribute to our squad in many different ways, including our special teams units. We believe Brodie will flourish in a significant role with our team."

Prior to turning pro, Reid spent one season at Northeastern University, where he recorded 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 37 games and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Before attending Northeastern, Reid played for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League, logging 16 goals and 20 assists in 46 games. Reid also spent three full seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League split between the Penticton Vees, Burnaby Express and Surrey Eagles. The Delta, BC native notched 136 points (73 goals, 63 assists) in 157 BCHL games.

Cheremetiev, 25, joins the Jackals after completing his fourth season at St. Thomas University in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The 6-foot-1 190-pound forward recorded 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 108 CIS games. Cheremetiev signed with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League at the end of last season and logged three assists in five games.

"Yuri is a versatile player who can play as a forward or a defenseman," said Russell. "He is a mature forward who has grown up in the United States and knows how to play a North American style of hockey."

Prior to attending St. Thomas University, the Moscow, Russia native played for the Halifax Mooseheads and Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Cheremetiev posted 114 points (49 goals, 65 assists) and 152 penalty minutes in 256 QMJHL games. He concluded his junior career in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League with the Truro Bearcats, posting 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in 27 games.

Jackals Invite Five From Pro Placement Camp

ELMIRA, N.Y. -  The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that they have signed five players to tryout agreements who participated in their ninth annual Pro Placement Camp. Tyler Gjurich, Luke Kasteel, Tom Silber, Duncan Schulz and David Mead will compete in the Jackals' main training camp this October for a chance to earn a Standard Player Contract.

Gjurich, 22, skated in two American Hockey League preseason games with the Hartford Wolf Pack on a tryout but did not earn a contract for the season. Gjurich then earned a taste of ECHL hockey, with a two game stint last season with the San Francisco Bulls before the team ceased operations. He also notched one assist in three games with the Columbus Cottonmouths in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The 5-foot-10 190-pound forward was slated to play at Nipissing University in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), but played just four games due to an injury.

The Hatfield, Pennsylvania native skated for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2012-13 campaign. Gjurich lit up the league, notching 53 goals and 97 points in 53 regular season games while adding 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 10 playoff games. He led the league in goals and points and earned OJHL Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and First All-Star Team honors. Gjurich also notched 91 points (38 goals, 53 assists) in 74 games over two seasons for the Springfield Jr. Pics of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

Kasteel, 21, is a big-bodied winger who played two seasons for the Carleton Place Canadians in the Central Canada Hockey League. The 6-foot-2 200-pound forward recorded 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 42 games for the Canadians. The North Vancouver, BC native also skated for the Flin Flon Bombers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Dryden Ice Dogs in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

Silber, 26, is a St. Louis, Missouri native, who took the last six years off from ice hockey to pursue other career options. He played competitive inline hockey and returned to the ice this past January. The 6-foot 200-pound forward played for the St. Louis Blues Junior Program before discontinuing his collegiate career.

Schulz, 23, spent the past three seasons playing for Thompson Rivers University in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League. In 41 BCIHL games, the 6-foot 170-pound forward notched 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists) and 82 penalty minutes. Prior to attending Thompson Rivers University, the Kamloops, BC native played three seasons for the Kamloops Storm in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, where he posted 89 points (35 goals, 54 assists) and 70 penalty minutes in 103 games.

Mead, 22, played in eight games last season at Selkirk College in the BCIHL before an injury ended his season early. Before heading to the BCIHL, the physical 6-foot-1 220-pound defenseman spent a season with the Wenatchee Wild in the North American Hockey League, where he recorded nine points and 132 penalty minutes in 39 games. He also spent a season and a half in the United States Hockey League playing for the Fargo Force and the Omaha Lancers. Mead totaled three points and 91 penalty minutes in 53 USHL games. The nearby Conklin, New York native began playing major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Mead logged six points and 56 penalty minutes in 83 OHL games.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals open their home schedule for their eighth season of ECHL hockey on Friday, October 17 against the Kalamazoo Wings at7:05 p.m. Don't miss a minute of the action with Jackals season tickets! Call 607-734-7825 or visit jackalshockey.com to order your season tickets today. Can't make it to every game? No problem! The Jackals are offering 10 and 20-game select and flex ticket plans! Get 'em while they're hot!

Elmira Jackals Become Community-Run Team

ELMIRA, N.Y. -The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, announced today that co-owners Tom Freeman and Nate Cook have donated the team to the community. A board of directors will be assembled to provide guidance and ensure the company's prosperity towards a long-term future.

Freeman and Cook purchased First Arena and the Elmira Jackals on April 10, 2013. They have donated the team to the community in an effort to bring long-term success to downtown Elmira. Freeman and Cook will still own First Arena and will run the daily hockey operations for the Jackals.

"We want the Elmira Jackals to be a long-term success in this community," said Freeman. "Elmira is the smallest metropolitan area in professional hockey and we are very fortunate to have the Jackals here. There are just 71 cities in the United States that have an NHL, AHL or ECHL hockey team and we are committed to keeping this franchise in Elmira."

Freeman and Chemung County Executive, Tom Santulli, began meeting in early May to discuss the future of the Jackals and the deep-rooted support system in this community. The finalized names of those appointed to the board of directors will be announced at a later date. 

Mark your calendars! The Jackals open their home schedule for their eighth season of ECHL hockey on Friday, October 17 against the Kalamazoo Wings at 7:05 p.m.Don't miss a minute of the action with Jackals season tickets! Call 607-734-7825 or visit jackalshockey.com to order your season tickets today. Can't make it to every game? No problem! The Jackals are offering 10 and 20-game select and flex ticket plans! Get 'em while they're hot!

Elmira Jackals to Make Major Announcement

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, invite all members of the media, valued community members and devoted season ticket holders to a Major Press Conference on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. inside First Arena, located at 155 N Main Street, Elmira, NY, 14901.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014
1:30 p.m.
FIRST ARENA
155 N Main Street, Elmira NY 14901
(607) 734-7825

Please note that anyone attending the Major Press Conference should enter First Arena through the Main Street Entrance.

The Jackals respectfully request that all media members direct special requests to Jared Abbott (908-752-1435 or 607-734-7825) jared@firstarena.com.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals open their home schedule for their eighth season of ECHL hockey on Friday, October 17 against the Kalamazoo Wings at 7:05 p.m.Don't miss a minute of the action with Jackals season tickets! Call 607-734-7825 or visit jackalshockey.com to order your season tickets today. Can't make it to every game? No problem! The Jackals are offering 10 and 20-game select and flex ticket plans! Get 'em while they're hot!