Hats off to whomever scheduled the Gateway Athletic Conference – North Division boys’ basketball schedule. This Friday at St. Charles High the Pirates will host cross-town rival Duchesne in a key GAC contest. High (18-5, 3-1), led by 6’8” junior forward Josh Harrellson who is averaging 19 points per game, hope to hand Duchesne (17-2, 3-0) their first conference defeat. Duchesne pounds opponents with a one-two punch called Plackemeier and Lada. Junior Zach Plackemeier leads the conference in scoring with a 23.4 clip. Teammate Mike Lada is right behind him with a 18.6 average.
Should Duchesne topple the Pirates, and I am not for a second saying they will, it will set up a Friday night rumble between two (conference) undefeated squads: Duchesne and St. Charles West. On Friday, February 17, the Warriors of St. Charles West (16-6, 4-0), led by sophomore phenom Kramer Soderberg (22.8 points per game) will travel to Duchesne for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Depending upon who beats whom, one team will walk away: conference champion, conference co-champions, or conference tri-champions. I wonder if Duchesne a.d. Dave Thurmer is selling advance tickets?
Ah, Super Bowl Sunday, it doesn’t get much better than that. For years Lynn and I attended a Super Bowl party “for adults only.” Since we didn’t have any kids it really didn’t matter – but then the latter half of the nineties presented itself; as Lynn likes to say: “I was pregnant for most of the second half of the 90’s.” She has a tendency to exaggerate. She was only pregnant 27 out of 60 months, clearly less than half. But back to the Super Bowl.
Once we started having children I felt uncomfortable leaving them behind on one of the holiest days of the year. I know this will sound sexist, and I suspect it is, but I remember holding both Joe (9 months old) and Dee (2 months old) during the introduction of players and playing of the national anthem for their first Super Bowls. It just seemed like the right thing to do. You see, I am a football guy. Football is directly responsible for the quality of my life. If you can understand that, then you too might be a football guy. If you can’t, well, we can’t all be football guys. Football guys want their sons to be exposed to football so that they too might become football guys. Notice I say, “exposed,” as opposed to “brain-washed,” as suggested by my good friend Robin Carroll. Both Joe and Dee were “exposed” to high school football locker rooms before they could walk. Both Joe and Dee attend one Rams’ game per year, at least one. Joe was at the NFC Title game when the Rams beat Philadelphia, so you can see, they both have been exposed to the game.
The exposure is beginning to reap benefits, as this past Sunday Joe sat on my one side and Dee on the other as the teams were introduced and the national anthem performed. Joe was cheering for the Steelers and Dee the Seahawks. Neither left the room during the first half unless it was to gather some of the “appetizers” their mom and sister had prepared. I suspect this would be the best time to interject that both Lynn and Maggie rushed into the room every time there was a break in the action and a commercial was on. Me, as a football guy, having one of my sons on either side of me and the Super Bowl on the tube, a fire burning in the fire place, plenty of snacks and cold Ultra, all I could think was “life doesn’t get much better than this.” Thank you God.
The Jeff Brown Era Begins. Will it Last
Beyond 2006?
By Louis J. Launer
On February 1, the Missouri River Otters made the uneventful announcement that former St. Louis Blues defenseman Jeff Brown was named the team’s head coach for the rest of the season. Brown was filling in as the interim coach after head coach Kevin Kaminski was fired during the all-star break. Kaminski was a fan favorite. But Brown was given a cool reception in his debut against both Adirondack and Port Huron. Brown is still looking toward the future to keep the faith and save some of the season, even though the chances of the River Otters making the playoffs are very dim.
“I’m extremely excited to be a part of professional hockey again,” said Brown. “I look forward to working with this group of players and believe we can have a lot of success over the second half of the season.”
The 39-year-old Brown spent 13 seasons in the National Hockey League with seven different teams, including the Blues. He played five seasons from 1989-1994 with the Blues, enjoying the most productive stretch of his career.
Before the game against Fort Wayne, the River Otters acquired defenseman Steve Makway as the second half of the deal that sent forward Dave Stewart to the Flint Generals.
“Steve will provide a physical presence for us on defense,” River Otters General Manager Frank Buonomo said. “He is a talented young player who will be a strong contributor on our blueline.”
The 22-year-old Makway played the first half of this season with Flint. His statistics include no goals, seven assists and 98 penalty minutes out of 27 games he played. Makway played last season with the Central Hockey League’s Laredo Bucks. Makway comes from British Columbia.
Makway was a scratch in both games last week against Fort Wayne and Motor City. In Friday’s game, Five different Fort Wayne Komet players scored in a 5-2 victory against the River Otters last Friday at the Family Arena. The Komets continue to extend their third place position by two more points ahead of last place Missouri.
After two Fort Wayne goals, the River Otters came back on a power play as Tim O’Connell fired a shot from the left point behind Komets goaltender Kevin St. Pierre. The Komets scored the lone two goals in the second period and extended their lead to 5-1 early in the third period. Mark Odut scored a too-little, too late goal on a Paul Falco assist.
Reed Low, who was assigned to the River Otters from the AHL Peoria Rivermen, fought once in the game, but it didn’t last long. The linesmen quickly intervened and broke it up. Low has been making his presence known with the Otters. It’s also evident from last week’s Fort Wayne Komet game that Low will be the target of many AA-level players who want the opportunity to take a shot at a former NHL player. Sources tell the First Capitol News that Low refused to be sent to the regular Rivermen’s AA affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska. Low is coming off a hand injury and most likely will remain a River Otter for the rest of the season.
Also acquired after the all-star break was right-winger Tim Kruekel from the Kalamazoo Wings. It was the completion of a deal that took place in December. Kruekel did get an assist in last Saturday’s game against Motor City. The Otters still lost, 6-2.
FINGER POINTING OR SOUR GRAPES: Success does have its downfalls. Successful teams attract fans. Die-hard loyal fans of teams after a few winning seasons will step it up a notch just to prolong the moment in the spotlight. But that spotlight can become rather mean. A few years ago, the Quad City Mallards were enjoying the success of a team that won 50 games in each of the five seasons from 1998 through 2002, including two Colonial Cups. Everyone said that the Mallards were favored by the officials during those years and allowed a few players to get rough and tough. This season, the Muskegon Fury, who have won three of the last four Colonial Cups is being accused by other teams, their fans and other newspapers, of cheating. Several teams became suspicious because the Fury has talent this season, the league’s best record so far and the fewest call-ups.
There has been no concrete evidence according to UHL Commissioner Richard Brosal. Brosal claims that other teams and their fans have been envious on Muskegon’s successes in the last four seasons.
This leads to some of the stuff going on here in Missouri. It’s turned out to be a lean season. Most fans are beginning to accept that. Even during the All-Star break, River Otters majority owner Mike Shanahan, Jr. admitted that his team was not good this year. But he’s not ashamed.
“My team is in last place,” he said. “Someone has to be there. It just happens to be us this year.”
While many fans are upset over the firing of Kevin Kaminski and equally upset with General Manager Frank Buonomo, some fans are realizing that some tough decisions had to be made. Some die-hard hockey fans who really enjoy the sport and attend the games to root for the team during the lean years realize that the Otters are looking toward the future. Jeff Brown might not be next year’s coach, but he is the coach for the remainder of the season, according to River Otters management.
Several fans also heard rumors that a few of the River Otter players have asked to be traded. The team refused to comment or identify those players. But management and some fans do agree that it’s not unusual for some players after a coaching change to want out of a team facing the worst record in the league.
Even owners of other teams who come to St. Charles appreciate what Missouri is trying to do. Michael Franke, majority owner of the Fort Wayne Komets believes that the River Otters will be around for a long time and fans should not worry about the record this season.
“Missouri appears to have some great fans,” Franke said. “They’ve had their troubles on the ice. They got some players further into the season and this team could turn around and be quite good in the second half of the season.”
IT’S OFFICIAL! RAGE READY TO BULL THROUGH 2006 AT SAVVIS CENTER
By Mike Thompson
I’ll borrow the phrase made famous by the late Cardinal broadcaster Jack Buck. “Pardon me while I stand and applaud.”
I couldn’t help but feel just that way as I watched the Savvis Center staff setting up the podium, tables, and seating chart for our press conference this past Tuesday, getting the Rage primed to greet media and sponsors for our big step into the big time. I thought about how this franchise had grown, the hard work that was the forte’ of every member of the staff, from front office to coaches, players, cheerleaders, interns, you name it…everyone associated with the RiverCity Rage had a big hand in making this very special day come about. My mind hit the rewind button as I reflected on the very first such gathering of Rage and media, the one in December of 2004 that announced the formation of GST Sports, Inc. and introduced Majority Owners Tye Elliott and Scott Wilson to a skeptical array of TV sports anchors, scribes, and radio reporters who may have wondered about the wisdom of spending time hearing yet another story of promise from new owners of a so-called minor league team. As the newly appointed Director of Media Relations, I held my breath that day as I studied the entrance of the Locker Room Restaurant at Family Arena, hoping the media I had pounded the pavement to personally contact would be marching through the door one by one, microphones and cameras in hand, pens poised and ready, to get the news out to all that the Rage was up and running, this brand new bull was out of the chute and ready to ride to an NIFL title.
I remember that day well….KMOV-TV was there, as was KSDK-TV, News channel 20 and our friend Randy Gardner, Joe Lyons from the Post and Russell Korondo of the Journal….my friend and co-worker at KLOU, Michelle Holiday came by for moral support and to get a quote or two…and this newspaper was on hand to get word out to it’s readers about the new shift in power.
All in all, not bad that day, not bad for a start, but from that point on I knew the real work was all waiting ahead, and I wondered if we, if I…would be up to the challenge that lie ahead. The challenge to get fans in the seats, to get the media’s attention in a city that boasts of the Cardinals, the Rams, the Blues and a dozen other majors and minors sandwiched in between. Would the team be a winner?
Would the owners see the wisdom in involving themselves and their new upstart team with charitable causes and other worthy concerns? The ‘would-a’ I understood….all this was new…my apprehension involved the ‘could-a’ or even worse…the ‘should-a’…a new team could wither and die on that one! As I walked to my car on that cold winter’s day following that initial foray into the world of professional sports, I silently vowed to myself that I, for one, would not fall prey to that mode of thinking and would do everything in my power to ensure success for this new ownership group rolling the dice on everything from financial stability to personal sanity.
Well, everyone else associated with this team must have walked away that afternoon with many of the same thoughts in mind, because if you followed this football team in 2005, you know full well the impact it has had on the sports fan, the media and the metro area as a whole.
First of all, the team was a winner. Entering the playoffs with a record of 10-5 on the regular season, the Rage lost in double overtime in the opening round of the playoffs, but even that brutal slap in the face had some positive results. In the thrilling, nerve wracking, heart stopping loss, the crowd at Savvis Center and the welcome extended to us by the Savvis management was enough to prompt Tye and Scott to explore ways to make that venue our permanent home. The wheels were soon in motion to make it the reality being played out in front of me on Tuesday afternoon. Our owners threw themselves wholeheartedly into charities and found new, inspiring ways to use the football team and it’s sponsors to add joy and hope to the lives of those in need. We grew from a front office staff of three to a full time staff of six in less than a year, with individuals now available to lend their talents to promotions, sales and community involvement. The Rage became to ‘go-to’ franchise for the entire NIFL. Morris Groves our Director of Operations months ago was given the title of Director of Media Relations for the entire league, and handles all the website duties. I was recently selected as the new Information Director for the NIFL. Coach Mike Wyatt has been the Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year two years in a row, and last November added General Manager of the Year to his impressive resume. We have a full time mascot…Ragie the Bull…making appearances all over the metro area…we’ve added the Ragie Kids Club and a reading and educational program to our list of community activities…we instigated a program that honored high school players and teams with engraved plagues that were sent out every week…we grew, we built, we added…and hopped right under the radar gun of major league status with our latest move to Savvis Center. The next step, perhaps an NIFL Title, will put this team over the top!
So as I watched all the major television stations, radio outlets and news scribes come parading into the Savvis Club on Tuesday for our big announcement, as I saw the room begin to fill up with corporate sponsors, league officials, friends of the team, and even one wildly dressed super-fan, I remembered that similar, yet so vastly different day some 14 months ago. My gosh, how far we had all come….as I listened to Savvis Center VP and General Manager Dennis Petrullo make his opening remarks to get this magical day underway, I looked around the room and thought of how proud I was of my team, my owners, my coach, the players, and everyone who had given his or her heart and soul to this cause calling itself RiverCity Rage football.
“The Rage is a great addition to the sports scene in downtown St. Louis,” Petrullo began, “let’s welcome them to Savvis Center.”
The crowd began to applaud. I was kneeling down, off to the side of the podium taking notes for this article…when I did the only thing I could do…I stood up and began to join in.
Like that first step into the spotlight some 14 months prior, I mentally made note that the real work for this team was waiting ahead. That feeling, I couldn’t shake. The knowledge that this time around our team, this franchise, was ready for that challenge made it a lot easier to accept!
Lindenwood scores second consecutive stellar recruiting class
List of someday stars includes some of Missouri’s leading rushers, super sleepers and record breakers, All-Staters and future All-Americans
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
Kelan Bannecke St. Louis, (Mo.) Lindbergh 6’3 195 WR
Big-framed receiver was two-time 1st team All-Suburban West selection; can make tough catches in traffic
Donnie Bridges St. Charles, (Mo.) St. Charles West 6’2 180 DB
One of the top players in the GAC North as a junior, sleeper missed entire senior year after preseason knee injury
Morgan Campbell Harrison, (Ark.) Wentworth Military 6’0 188 CB
Speedy 1st team All-MRVC pick at running back, after rushing for over 1200 yards and averaged 9.8 yds. per carry
Nathan Crossett St. Charles, (Mo.) Francis Howell 6’0 245 DE
1st team All-State Class 5 selection is one of the state’s top heavyweight wrestlers and a future D-Line star for LU
Taylor Dalby Lee’s Summit, (Mo.) West 5’10 175 WR
Fast-rising program at Lee’s Summit West sends 2nd team All-Suburban Mid Six pick to the Lions
Ryan Dalton Blue Springs, (Mo.) Blue Springs South 6’5 200 LB
Long and rangy with big upside, 2nd team All-Suburban Big Seven selection will play outside linebacker for LU
Josh Davis Dexter, (Mo.) Dexter 6’3 245 TE
Monster TE prospect was 1st team All-SEMO Central on both sides of the ball, with 75 tackles at LB and 20 receptions
Brandon Ellis Brentwood, (Mo.) Brentwood 5’11 185 RB
2nd team All-Metro pick ran for 1,798 yards in ten games to lead metro area; named 1st team All-State in Class 2
Tony Hall Shelbina, (Mo.) South Shelby 6’0 200 RB
Two-time 1st team All-State pick rushed for 2,652 yards and 35 TD’s as senior; ninth all-time single season in Missouri
Dan Harris Desloge, (Mo.) North County 6’1 195 RB
Fast and physical two-way player for one of the state’s top Class 4 programs scored 19 TD’s as a senior
Trevan Hombs Blue Springs, (Mo.) Blue Springs South 6’2 195 WR
Senior injuries limited Jaguar star to five games, but he still earned 1st team All-Suburban Big Seven honors at WR
Dwayne Glaspy Farmington, (Mo.) Farmington 6’3 225 TE
1st team All-Mississippi Area Red honoree has the look and athletic ability of a big-time TE/LB prospect
Austin Hulett Fenton, (Mo.) Rockwood Summit 6’0 180 WR
Versatile two-way performer earned All-Suburban South honors for solid Rockwood Summit program
Jeff Julian Blue Springs, (Mo.) Blue Springs South 6’2 190 OLB
One of state’s very best: two-time 1st team All-State Class 6, 2005 Buchanan Award winner in KC, intimidating hitter
Josh Kimrey Farmington, (Mo.) Farmington 6’0 185 DB
3rd team All-State Class 4 selection at QB, with 1287 passing yards and 500 on the ground, will play safety at LU
Lucas Kirkendoll Kansas City, (Mo.) Park Hill South 5’11 180 DB
1st team All-Suburban Big Six at LB and at RB, earned rep as huge hitter and sideline-to-sideline competitor for PHS
Oscar Mafuli Hazelwood, (Mo.) Hazelwood Central 6’2 220 ILB
One of the state’s top LB’s: 1st team All-State Class 6, 1st team All-Suburban North, 106 tackles, fast and intense
Drew Mannen Independence, (Mo.) William Chrisman 6’2 180 WR
Followed LU freshman Ben Kisner at QB for Chrisman, and had a huge year: 1439 passing, 1012 rushing, 29 TD’s
Will Meury Wentzville, (Mo.) Holt 5’11 200 RB
LU coaches are ecstatic about landing Meury, a rare package of size, speed and power - best kept secret in the state?
Nick Neeley Bonne Terre, (Mo.) North County 6’1 185 ATH
Great 4.5 speed athlete with huge star potential, four kickoff returns for TD’s the last two years - an impact player soon
Zach Palme Edwardsville, (Ill.) Edwardsville 6’3 225 DE
Big-framed, hand-on-the-ground player with toughness, 2nd team All-Metro DE, outstanding wrestler at 215 this winter
Jay Pope Ste. Genevieve, (Mo.) Valle Catholic 6’0 180 WR
Athletic two-time 2nd team All-State Class 1A selection, 1st team All-Mississippi Area Blue pick at DB and at WR
Tony Porto Port Orange, (Fla.) Father Lopez 6’1 190 OLB
2nd team All-State Class 2A, District Player of the Year, tremendous intensity and always around the football
Mike Redpath Carol Stream, (Ill.) Driscoll Catholic 6’1 185 DB
Conference and Team MVP for team which has won five straight state titles - explosive return specialist and hitter
William Royston Manchester, (Mo.) Parkway South 6’0 180 OLB
Suburban West Defensive Player of the Year earned 2nd team All-Metro and 1st team All-Conference honors at LB
Aaron Shepard Blue Springs, (Mo.) Blue Springs 6’0 255 C
Worked with Lion coaches at MU Camp during the summer, making an impression with his toughness and strength
Ronnell Simpson Hazelwood, (Mo.) Hazelwood West 6’1 270 OL
1st team All-Suburban North, 2nd team All-Metro, top heavyweight wrestler with good quicks and toughness
Nick Stemmler St. Louis, (Mo.) Bishop DuBourg 6’2 190 DE
Long and lean with a great motor, was named 1st team All-AAA League on both sides of the ball the last two years
Adam Stipanovich St. Charles, (Mo.) Orchard Farm 5’10 225 ILB
School’s all-time record holder in career tackles (330), single season tackles (150) and single game tackles (19)
Tory Thompson Palm Coast, (Fla.) Flagler Palm Coast 6’2
195 QB
3rd team All-State selection in Florida’s largest class threw for over 3,400 yards and 24 TD’s the last two seasons
Ryan Zimmerman St. Peters, (Mo.) Francis Howell Central 6’1 205 ILB
1st team All-GAC North selection is one of area’s top wrestlers at 215, and has the mean streak Lion coaches love at LB
Saint Louis Lions set tryouts for Premier Development League
By Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
The St. Louis Lions Soccer Club, St. Charles County’s contribution to the Premier Development League, will hold open tryouts February 18 and 19 at St. Dominic High School in O’Fallon.
A $25 tryout fee is required and players must be 17 or older to participate. Registration will begin each day at noon; tryouts will run from 1 to 4 p.m. Players interested in trying out are asked to contact the St. Louis Lions at 636.939.5151 or e-mail at tglavin@stlouislions.com prior to February 17.
The Lions are the newest members of the Premier Development League, which provides top players the opportunity to compete in a “professional setting” while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league allows for seven foreign players and for eight players over the age of 23. The core of each team’s 26-man roster will feature local players 23 and younger.
The Lions will play their home contests at the Tony Glavin Complex in Cotteville. The Lions will be coached by Tony Glavin.
