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STONEY CREEK GENERALS ADD PRO EXPERIENCE TO 2016-17 LINEUP
October 7, 2016 12:53 PM EDT
By Mike Pearson - Stoney Creek News
(From: HamiltonNews.com)
Tony Falasca gets right to the point when speaking about the Stoney Creek Generals’ newest acquisitions.
The Senior AAA hockey club, coming off an Ontario championship last season, is looking to not only defend its provincial title, but to also make a big impact nationally.
Heading into the 2016-17 season, the team has added four defencemen and three forwards with professional experience in the American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and European pro leagues.
“These moves were designed, I’ll be honest with you, to win the Allan Cup,” said Falasca, the team’s general manager.
Former junior star Stefan Legein, 27, is perhaps the biggest name among the new recruits. The former second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets played in two World Junior Championships, winning gold with Team Canada in 2008. The right winger also spent parts of eight seasons in the AHL and ECHL, as well as stints in Sweden and Germany.
“He’s a goal scorer,” said Falasca.
Legein’s best AHL season was 2009-10, where he registered 34 points in 71 games for the Adirondack Phantoms.
Centre Matt Dzieduszycki, 36, has an impressive resume of AHL and ECHL experience. He also played nine years in Germany, where he posted 106 points in 45 games in the 2012-13 season for the Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams.
Gritty left winger Igor Gongalsky, 29, is expected to add toughness and scoring touch. The native of Kiev, Ukraine has AHL and ECHL experience. In his best ECHL campaign, Gongalsky posted 43 points in 63 games for the Fresno Falcons.
“The guy is tremendously skilled,” said Falasca. “He’s got a knack for going to the net. This guy’s incredible with the puck along the boards.”
After losing defenceman Dylan Quaile, who is playing in Germany, Falasca has added four new blueliners.
The team has signed Nick Tuzzolino, 30, a six-foot-six, 235-pound defender who was a former seventh round draft pick by the New York Islanders. He’s split the last seven seasons between the AHL and ECHL, posting his best season statistically with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies in 2012-13, with 36 points in 44 games.
Justin DaCosta, 30, has played the last three seasons in the ECHL. He also has European pro experience. In 2013-14, he posted 33 points in 43 games with the Fife Flyers. DaCosta also played for the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters in 2011-12.
Falasca described DaCosta as a gifted defenceman who can help produce offensively as well.
Martin Lee, 27, a six-foot-four defenceman, has five ECHL seasons to his credit.
“He’s a good stay-at-home defenceman, a great skating defenceman for his size,” said Falasca.
Lee’s best ECHL season came in 2013-14, when he posted a career-high 25 points in 68 games for the Utah Grizzlies.
Defender Deron Cousens, 29, has several seasons of ECHL experience.
“He’s a very good skater,” said Falasca.
After dominating the Allan Cup Hockey League for much of last season and winning the Ontario championship, the Generals’ season came to a disappointing end last April. The team went winless at the national championship tournament in Steinbach, Man.
When asked what was missing on that team, Falasca replied, “A little bit of everything.”
“We were missing five players who couldn’t make the trip,” said Falasca.
With a newly-added fifth line and four new defencemen, Falasca believes this year’s team has the depth to make a serious playoff run.
The Generals open the season Oct. 15 on home ice at Gateway Ice Centre against the Brantford Blast. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
The team will also unveil its OHA Senior AAA championship banner at its home debut.
Mike Pearson is Editor of the Stoney Creek News. He can be reached at mpearson@hamiltonnews.com