Camp Finalization Story

Tying up loose ends

Bucks finalize details for training camp

By JOY LINDSAY
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Published: Saturday, October 3, 2009 7:58 AM CDT

The Laredo Bucks finalized details for their 2009-10 training camp on Friday, adding three players to their roster and revealing next week's practice schedule.

Forwards Lance Monych, Evan Schwabe and defenseman Nick Williams were the final additions to the Bucks' training camp lineup, bringing the roster up to 30 players with camp officially set to begin on Monday.

The Bucks will play two preseason games as part of their camp schedule, starting next Friday with a home exhibition against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

Monych returns to Laredo

Monych, a 25-year-old right wing, played three games with the Bucks in 2005, and head coach/general manager Terry Ruskowski was eager to bring him back to Laredo.

"He came down to play for us before, and in three games, he had four goals," Ruskowski said.

"He was playing in the American League for a number of years, went to the East Coast League and did well; he was even successful in juniors.

He's a good, quiet guy who comes to play and wants to win.

"To have a right wing come in here with his experience and ability... I had been working on this one for a while."

Monych was a fourth-round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and has scored 63 goals while handing out 43 assists in 208 professional games.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Manitoba native played five seasons of junior hockey, all with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Schwabe back in States

Schwabe, a former Minnesota-Duluth standout, will be making a return to U.S. hockey after playing two seasons in Europe for teams in Denmark in Finland.

The 27-year-center started his pro career in the ECHL, where he played one game with the Las Vegas Wranglers and two seasons with the South Carolina Stingrays.

"I heard he's a great guy," Ruskowski said.

"He puts up great numbers, went to college and played for a great program, was leading goal scorer in the ECHL with South Carolina in back-to-back years, then went to Europe and put up great numbers there.

"He's quick and shifty; I think he's just a good scoring threat."

Schwabe, a native of Saskatchewan, had 43 goals and 80 assists in 129 ECHL games and 23 goals and 37 assists in 60 games overseas.

While in Minnesota, Schwabe helped lead the Bulldogs to the Division I Frozen Four, totaling 126 points in 160 games for his collegiate career.

D-man looking to prove himself

Williams, a 22-year-old Michigan native, will be participating in his first professional training camp, having played only at the junior, collegiate and amateur levels.

"I think he has a lot to prove," Ruskowski said.

"He has a great attitude and really wants to prove to me, to the league and to his teammates that he's deserves to be here.

"I thought that was enough to give him shot to come play for us."

Williams has played for the Flint Jr. Generals, Robert Morris College and the Battle Creek Revolution of the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association and has seven goals, 43 points and 168 penalty minutes 91 in career games.

Camp set

With his lineup finalized, Ruskowski is looking forward to see what kind of team he can put together for the Bucks' 2009-10 campaign.

"I feel okay with what I have, but I need to see them play," Ruskowski said.

"I want to see if they play as team instead of as individuals.

I know better than to be overexcited for what I see out there, but I think we can be pretty competitive."

The Bucks will officially begin camp with two practices on Monday, then be forced to take Tuesday off due to the Pit Bull concert at the LEC before returning to the ice for the rest of the week.

"It is what it is, and we have to make the best of what we have," Ruskowski said.