The 2004-05 edition of the Worcester Ice Cats will look to improve on the 37-21-13-3 record they posted last year, and they'll be doing it with no less than 13 new faces among the 27-man roster announced on October 11. Fifth-year coach Don Granato will be counting heavily on some of those new faces to provide an offensive spark, and also to provide the muscle to keep the opposition from taking liberties with some of the smaller skill players that will pepper this year's roster.

Goaltenders

Goaltending has become a position of strength in the St. Louis organization, and this is reflected by the presence in Worcester of two legitimate AHL No. 1 goalies. The 2004-05 Cats will be backstopped by prospect Jason Bacashihua (acquired from Dallas for Shawn Belle just prior to the 2004 Entry Draft) and AHL veteran Curtis Sanford. Rookie Chris Beckford-Tseu impressive in camp and at the Traverse City prospect tournament, but he has been assigned to affiliate Peoria of the ECHL to start the year.

Bacashihua, a former first round pick of the Stars, has been stellar in the Cats' preseason. The Garden City, MI native allowed three goals on 42 shots in 101 minutes for a 1.78 GAA, a 92.9 save percentage, and a 1-0-1 record. Sanford, meanwhile, allowed five goals on 39 shots in 110 minutes for a 2.73 GAA and an 87.2 save percentage in the preseason. He did earn a 2-0 shutout of Albany in a game shortened by poor ice conditions, but his stats were affected by being torched for four first period goals on 15 shots vs. Lowell on October 3.

As Worcester's starter last season, the 25-year-old Sanford posted the best numbers of his brief pro career with a 2.13 GAA, 92.1 save percentage, and 20-16-3 record in 43 starts. Bacashihua, 22, didn't fare quite as well behind a shaky defense at Utah last year, but still managed a respectable 2.66 GAA, 91.6 save percentage, and a 13-19-5 record in 39 starts.

Neither "Lamont" (Sanford) or "Cash" (Bacashihua) are big goaltenders; Bacashihua stands 5'11 and weighs in at 175 pounds, while Sanford is 5'10 and tips the scales at 188 pounds.

Both are goalies who are at their best when playing a lot, so there will definitely be a competition for playing time as both seek to establish themselves as the No. 1 guy in Worcester, and third on the Blues' depth chart. Sanford has a leg up on Bacashihua in that he has had a taste of the NHL with the Blues, and was considered an even-money bet to push veteran Reinhard Divis for the NHL backup role this year. Bacashihua is younger, is probably the better athlete of the two, and is hungry to sample the NHL lifestyle for himself. The competition for playing time between these two excellent goaltenders will be just one of the interesting sidelines for Worcester fans to keep an eye on this year.

Defense

The Worcester blueline this season will be a contrast of styles, ranging from offensive dynamos and power play quarterbacks to stay-at-home bruisers and heavy hitters.

Shepherding the IceCats' blueline flock will be veteran Aris Brimanis. The sometime NHL'er and long-time AHL stalwart split time last season between the Blues (no points, 4 PIM in 13 games) and Worcester (19 points and 56 PIM in 65 games), and will be a steadying influence on a defense corps that will be dominated by youth.

Two of the prime examples of that youth, on opposite ends of the spectrum, are free agent signee Dennis Wideman and draft pick Trevor Byrne. Wideman, a former Buffalo draftee who signed with the Blues after the 2004 Entry Draft, is an offensive catalyst (65 points with 85 PIM and a whopping +56 in 60 games with London of the OHL in 2003-04) who seems born to run a power play. His powerful, accurate right-handed shot and offensive skills (5 points with a +3 in four preseason games) draw the inevitable comparisons to Hall of Famer Al Macinnis, and Wideman will be given a very long look in the role of power play quarterback.

Byrne, the Blues' fourth pick (143rd overall) in 1999, is looking to follow up a solid rookie season in which he showed more offensive upside than was expected. Byrne managed seven goals and 20 points in 63 games with the Cats last year, and that upside, plus his 6'2, 208-pound size, puts him high on the call list should the Blues experience injury issues on defense if and when the NHL season finally gets under way.

Another player that is high on the list of potential call-ups is second year pro Aaron Mackenzie. The Terrace Bay, ON native isn't the biggest guy out there at 6-0, 187 pounds, but he is a willing, and fearsome, open-ice hitter who loves the physical game. In 66 games with the Cats last year, the former Denver University blueliner also demonstrated some offensive upside, notching five goals and 14 points to go along with 108 minutes in the sin bin.

Two other prospects who figure into the Blues' long-term plans are Mike Stuart and the enormous Brett Scheffelmaier (6'5, 220 pounds). Stuart, a 24-year-old native of Rochester, MN, got a two-game cup of coffee last year with the Blues (0 points with no PIM), and managed only four assists and 20 PIM in 30 games with Worcester. He is a steady, no-nonsense, stay-at-home blueliner. Scheffelmaier, 23, split time with Peoria (3 points and 21 PIM in 10 games) and Worcester (1 point with 56 PIM in 23 games) in 2003-04, and looks to stay with the Cats full-time this season. "Scheff" is gaining a reputation as a tough guy, as you might gather from his size, and few are willing to challenge a guy who -- in terms of size and appearance, anyway -- may be a Chris Pronger clone.

Mike Mottau, a former top prospect in the NY Rangers system, signed with the Blues as a free agent this past summer, and will add an offensive dimension to the blueline, as well as a veteran presence. The 26-year-old struck for nine goals and 31 points in 69 games with Cincinnati in 2003-04. Another veteran, this one signed to an AHL contract by Worcester, is 27-year-old Brendan Buckley. The Massachusetts native split time last year with Syracuse and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and managed a pair of goals, 10 points, and 101 PIM. Buckley and Mottau, like Brimanis, will be the greybeards on defense, and will be working with the younger prospect defensemen to help them achieve their full potential in the organization.

By the numbers: The average Worcester defenseman is 25.5 years old (Brimanis, at 32.6 years as of 10-01-04, skews this number), stands 6'1.5 tall and weighs 200.4 pounds. The five defensemen eligible for prospect status as defined by Hockey's Future standards (Byrne, Mackenzie, Scheffelmaier, Stuart and Wideman) average 23.4 years old, just under 6'2 (6'1.8) in height and 198.8 pounds.

Forwards

Even more so than the defense, the 2004-05 edition of the IceCats' forward group is defined by youth. None of the 17 forwards on the 27-man roster is older than 26, and there are four "true" rookies making their pro debuts this fall in Worcester.

The youngest of the rookies, 19-year-old Konstantin Zakharov, is a high-risk, high-reward kind of player. He was a top player in the men's league in his native Belarus at age 17, and came over last year at age 18 to play for Moncton of the QMJHL, where he scored 33 goals in 55 games. He's definitely a rising star in the Blues organization, and many eyes will be on him to gauge how he responds to taking another step up, at a tender age, in the level of competition he'll face.

Also making their pro debuts are two players at opposite ends of the spectrum in almost every aspect. Alexei Shkotov is a small skilled European forward, while D.J. King is a hulking bruiser from western Canada with enough offensive upside to justify a third line role.

Shkotov also made his North American debut last year with Moncton, but had an early falling-out with his coaches and was sent packing to Quebec, where he quickly became one of the Remparts' brightest lights. In 43 games total with Moncton (7) and Quebec (36), Shkotov touched QMJHL netminders for 27 goals, and added 40 helpers for a total of 67 points, an average of over one-and-a-half points per game. The 5'10, 175-pounder is as fast as lightning, and can bring the fans out of their seats with his moves and stickhandling.

King split time between Lethbridge and Kelowna of the Western League in 2003-04, eventually piling up 13 goals, 30 points, and 182 penalty minutes. He was effective in the playoffs as well, with 1-6-7 totals, 16 PIM, and a +10 in 17 games for Kelowna, who made it as far as the Final Four in the WHL, and hosted the Memorial Cup. King has gotten a reputation as a fighter you don't want to mess with, and at 6'3, 221 pounds, it's easy to see why. He is in the Blues' future plans as a third-line Darren McCarty type, maybe with a little less offense, but plenty of the same toughness and grit.

The fourth "true" rookie making his pro debut this year is free agent Ryan Ramsay. Ramsay, a 5'11, 205-pound left wing from Ajax, Ontario, was impressive at the Traverse City prospect tournament. In fact, his 1-4-5 scoring totals and +3 tied him for the team lead in both categories for the tournament champions. Ramsay's no stranger to the scoresheet, as evidenced by his 77 points last year with Plymouth (OHL), and his 132 penalty minutes with the Whalers are testament to his grit.

Erkki Rajamaki, a Finnish import acquired from Tampa Bay by the Blues in 2004 in exchange for an eighth round pick in the 2004 draft, also makes his North American pro debut this season. At 6'2, 205 pounds, Rajamaki has the size to play a physical game, and he has the reputation of being just that kind of a player. Rajamaki is a couple of weeks shy of his 26th birthday.

Three other new faces in Worcester this year are Jeff Hoggan and Mark Jerant, each with some AHL experience, and tough guy Robin Gomez, who spent his rookie pro season in the ECHL last year.

Hoggan, 26, has spent the last couple of season in the Minnesota system after a collegiate career with Nebraska-Omaha. He's one of only four players in this year's IceCat roster to have scored 20 goals in the AHL last year, potting 21 and adding 15 helpers in 77 games with Houston. Hoggan signed with the Blues as a free agent over the summer, and will be asked to be a supplemental scorer and a veteran presence on a young IceCat squad.

Jerant, at 6'4, 235 pounds, is one of the biggest players on the 2004-05 IceCats. Signed to an AHL contract by Worcester, Jerant had a good training camp, and developed a reputation for physical play as a rookie pro last year. He split time between Hershey of the AHL and the Elmira Jackals of the UHL, where he scored a total of one goal (with Elmira) and four assists, but he's not in Worcester because of his scoring prowess.

Gomez also manage respectable 26 points in South Carolina of the ECHL last year. The 6'2, 210-pound 23-year-old racked up 214 PIM last year with the Stingrays, and his willingness to stand up for teammates has given him this chance to move up to a higher competitive level.

The last new face on the 2004-05 Cats belongs to Jon DiSalvatore. A New Englander born and raised, DiSalvatore spent four productive years at Providence College before turning pro in the San Jose organization last year. Despite scoring 22 goals and 46 points with Cleveland, DiSalvatore was not offered a new contract by the Sharks, and signed with the Blues as free agent during the summer. DiSalvatore was one of several members of this IceCat squad to have been considered good bets to make the Blues NHL roster before the lockout.

The rest of this year's IceCat roster is comprised of returning players from last year's 90-point team, most of whom are under contract to the Blues. The one player that is not a Blues' chattel is small forward Brendan Brooks. Brooks, a 5'9, 185-pound 26-year-old, split time between Worcester and Peoria last year, and managed 6-6-12 totals with 10 PIM in 32 games at the AHL level. He is under an AHL contract to Worcester.

Two other members of the 2004-05 IceCats split time between Worcester and Peoria last season. Gritty center Greg Black had nine points and 129 PIM in 39 games for the Cats last year, and was slated for the third line center role this season before a serious elbow injury suffered in a fight in the first pre-season game. He will be out for several weeks as a result. Right wing prospect Colin Hemingway had some personal issues that caused Blues' management to assign him to Peoria midway through last year, but while in the ECHL, Hemingway caught fire with 20 goals, 44 points and a +29 in 36 games with the Rivermen and earned a late-season return call-up to Worcester.

Two other players split time between the Cats and the NHL with the Blues. Center John Pohl only had a one-game cup of coffee with the Blues, and had what some might consider a disappointing second season in the AHL. Pohl struck for 16 goals and 41 points in 65 games for the Cats last year, but many were expecting more from him after a 23-goal rookie campaign in 2002-03. The Blues still consider him in the team's plans as a supplemental scoring forward.

Left winger Peter Sejna started 2003-04 with a lot of hype, and after an excellent preseason in which he was paired most often with Doug Weight, Sejna seemed poised to step right in an contribute regularly in the NHL. At the quarter pole of the 2003-04 season, however, Sejna had managed only a pair of goals and four points (all on the power play), was a -8, and seemed lost in the faster pace of the NHL. Assigned to Worcester at Thanksgiving 2003, Sejna struggled initially to make the adjustment, and had some confidence issues as well. By the end of the 2003-04 season, however, he had righted the ship and, most nights, was the top player on the ice for Worcester. Sejna finished with 41 points totals in 59 AHL games last year, and is being counted on to lead the Worcester offense this season. He has trained hard this offseason, and all indications are that he has a rededicated himself to becoming the best player he can be.

Center Jay McClement has been climbing the depth chart in the Blues organization, largely on the strength of his outstanding faceoff ability and commitment to defense. As a rookie last season, McClement brought with him a reputation for being a solid defense-first player, and he also showed flashes of his upside on offense as well. The 6'1, 199-pounder finished with 12 goals and 25 points, and was third on the team with a +6. He also led the team in shorthanded goals with two, and was tied for third with three game-winners. McClement is a player who will do whatever it takes to help his team win, and can fit in on either a checking line or a scoring line.

The last two forwards on the Cats' 27-man roster are Blake Evans and last year's surprise scoring leader, Mike Glumac. On the surface, these two players seem to be carbon copies of each other. Both are 24 years old (Evans, born in July of 1980 is three months younger than the April-born Glumac). Both tip the scales at 200 pounds. Evans checks in at 6'1, while Glumac stands an inch taller. Both played the full 80-game schedule for the Cats last year, and both put up career-best goal totals, Evans with 21 and Glumac with a team-leading 28.

Evans took the junior route to the pros, and has been in the Blues system for three seasons since signing as a free agent. Glumac, also a free agent signing, joined the Blues organization last year after a four-year collegiate career. Both have their supporters in the Blues organization, and both will get a look at the NHL level in the very near future.

By the numbers: The average Worcester forward is 23.4 years old, stands just a shade under 6'1 (72.8 inches), and tips the scales at 200.4 pounds. The nine forwards eligible for Blues' prospect status as defined by Hockey's Future standards (Black, DiSalvatore, Glumac, Hemingway, King, McClement, Sejna, Shkotov, Zakharov) average 22.4 years old, just under 6'1 (72.8 inches) in height and 197.3 pounds.

Outlook

This IceCats lineup may well turn out to be the best ever to take the ice in Worcester. There is a good mix of skill and toughness among the forwards and defenseman, and the goaltending should be solid, very nearly NHL-caliber.

There are scoring forwards aplenty -- Pohl, Sejna, Glumac, Evans, DiSalvatore and Hoggan -- to make up two solid scoring lines, along with the emerging Hemingway, who will be asked to score at the AHL level with the same prowess he displayed in half a season at Peoria. There is also some solid rookie firepower in Ramsay, Shkotov and Zakharov, all of whom scored more than 25 goals in junior last season.

The checkers (Black, McClement) and grinders (Rajamaki, King, Gomez) are available to fill the necessary roles, and support up front will come from players like Jerant and Brooks.

On defense, there is a mix of experience and youth, offense and stay-at-home defense, physical play and solid positional play. Wideman and Mottau will be available to quarterback the power play units, and the veteran savvy of Brimanis and Buckley will anchor the penalty-killing units.

Bacashihua and Sanford will scrap for playing time, and coach Granato will have the happy dilemma of choosing between two NHL-caliber goalies on a nightly basis. It may become an issue to find enough minutes in the season to keep both these workhorses happy, but based on their demonstrated past workloads, a 50-50 split will provide both goalies with about 40 games to strut their stuff.

This team should be able to score, keep pucks out of the net, and stick up for each other when push comes to shove. IceCat and Blues fans alike should find plenty to keep them happy and interested as this season progresses.

Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.