Bootland Assigned as Training Camp Looms



Hello fellow Jackalope fans!  It's a beautiful night here in the Permian Basin, and we have quite a bit of Jackalope related news to get caught up on.  First, remember in my last post when I mentioned that there might be another big addition that the Jacks would make?  Well, it was announced today on the Jack's website that Darryl Bootland has been sent to the Odessa Jackalopes from the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  This is a HUGE addition for the Jacks, as not only does Bootland have a bunch of AHL experience, but he has quite a bit of NHL experience as well.  Bootland is a 6'2" 200 pound right winger, that is (from what I have seen) a heck of an enforcer that can score too.  All around, he seems to be a great player that is sure to become an instant leader on the team, and an instant fan favorite of the fans.  He is a veteran, which brings the Jacks to the maximum number of six veterans allowed not counting goalies, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he gets called up to the Sound Tigers throughout the CHL season.  That's how good this guy is.  If you would like to read the full article from the Jackalopes website about the big addition of Darryl Bootland, click on this link: http://www.jackalopes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=485:09story12&catid=69:newstory&Itemid=119. 



Training camp around the corner!



 Moving on, Jackalopes training camp starts in (can you believe it) four days, which is on Monday, at Music City Mall.  The Jacks will then head to Colorado for a couple of exhibition games against the Colorado Eagles on October 7th and 9th which will feature two of the CHL's powerhouses going head to head, and then the regular season begins on October 15th when the Jacks travel to Independence, Missouri to take on Scott Hillman and his Mavericks.  Hockey is almost here, folks, so you better get ready to watch a Jackalopes team that could very well be the best that Odessa has ever seen.  So, please, whether you're from Odessa, Midland or any of the surrounding cities and towns, please prepare to get some tickets to come on out to the ECC to watch one hell of a team bulldoze through the CHL in 2010-2011! 

Speaking of the Jackalopes' training camp, the Jacks have announced their training camp roster which can be viewed here:  http://www.jackalopes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=484:09story11&catid=69:newstory&Itemid=119.  Five more players have been invited to camp, none of which I really know much about, and to be totally blunt I doubt if we see any of them make the team this season.  But, you never know, if one of those five guys comes in to camp, works their ass off, and shows that he is capable of contributing to the team, then Gillis could very well give them a shot.  I guess we will find out soon enough who makes the Jacks regular season roster, but with all of the talent and depth that has been signed, I can assure you that camp will be very, very competitive to say the least.  The Jacks currently have 25 players coming to camp, with the addition of Bootland, and if I'm not mistaken, I believe nineteen players are allowed to be on the team's regular season roster, with one of those players being a healthy scratch.  So, that means six players will have to be cut, and like I already said, I expect camp to be very competitive, and I sure wouldn't want to be in Gillis' or Cressman's shoes when they have to make the tough decisions on who to cut from the team.  Also, it was mentioned on the Jack's website that more players could be added to the training camp roster at a later date, so keep checking The Enforcer for more updates when it comes to Jackalope related news in the coming days. 

Finally, I plan on giving my proposed forward lines and defensive pairings within the next week or so, as well as CHL standings predictions, so keep your eyes peeled for that.  With all of this said, I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up here and get some much needed shuteye.  Be sure to check out the blog every day as you never know when Jackalope related news will be announced, and you better believe that you'll get my brutally honest opinion every time news pertaining to the Jackalopes is revealed.

In other Jackalope related news

• A big congrats to Jackalope netminder Joel Martin for getting invited to attend the Islander's training camp.  The guy definitely deserves the exposure at the higher levels as he is one helluva goalie, and there is a reason why he was named the CHL's Most Outstanding Goalie last season.  I wish him all the luck in the world, but the selfish side of me really hopes that he will be in between the pipes for the Jacks come October 15 in Independence.
• Also, a big congrats to Jean Bourbeau who is apparently really impressing the big dogs up in Bridgeport.  He has a contract with the Sound Tigers for the second season in a row, and there seems to be a real possibility that he could be staying up in the AHL for quite a while.  Again, we wish Bourbs all the luck in the world up in Bridgeport, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings to see him back in a Jackalope sweater some time this season.  You can read the full article about Bourbeau impressing the folks up in Bridgeport at this website:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/hockey/article/Bourbeau-may-have-what-it-takes-for-role-with-678554.php
• Finally, the Jackalopes concessions "taste test" for season ticket holders will be held tomorrow evening at the ECC where season ticket holders will be able to pick up their season tickets, as well as mingle with members of the 2010-2011 team.  I'm probably not going to be able to make it tomorrow, as school has really been kicking my butt here lately, so I will have to pick up my tickets some time next week, which sucks.  Fans interested in becoming season ticket holders are also invited to attend the event, which starts at 6:00 PM, so if you want to become a season ticket holder for one of the best teams in the entire Central Hockey League, then head out to the Jack Shack tomorrow evening for the annual "Taste Test Event."

Until next time Jackalope fans all I have to say is GO JACKS GO!!! and I'm counting down the days until October 15th!