#0 JASON SPENCE

#0 Jason Spence
Position: Forward (RW)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 212
Birth Date: 7/7/1979
Home Town: Windsor Forks, N.S.
Last Team: Johnstown (ECHL)
Background: Brings loads of experience to the 'Hounds having played 346 professional games notching 961 PIMS and 72 points. The rugged winger has played 78 games in the AHL seeing action with San Antonio, Saint John and Lowell. Enjoys hunting, fishing and golf as hobbies. His best sports moment was attending Chicago Blackhawks training camp at just 18-years-old. He has a CHL championship under his belt with Laredo.
#7 Brad Patterson
Position: Forward (C)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
Birth Date: 10/20/1980
Home Town: Cranbrook, BC
Last Team: Nottingham (EIHL)
Background: Returns to the CHL after playing last season in Europe with the Nottingham Panthers (EIHL). He scored 21 points (7-14=21) with the Panthers. Prior to heading over seas, Patterson had two outstanding seasons in the CHL (one with Colorado and one with Wichita). His time with the Thunder saw him score five goals with 21 assists and with the Eagles he scored 15 goals with 23 assists. Played his college hockey at Michigan Tech where he dressed in 143 games.
#9 Joey Sewell
Position: Forward (RW)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Birth Date: 3/15/1981
Home Town: Rankin First National, Ontario
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: This will be Sewell's second season and first full season with the Hounds. Last year, Sewell was outstanding scoing 21 goals (10 PPG's ) in his short time with Youngstown. The 'Hounds acquired Sewell from the Tulsa Oilers on January 30, 2006 in exchange for future considerations which later became defenseman Matt Hanson. Prior to last year, Sewell's best season came in 71 games with Port Huron (UHL) when he scored 27 goals with 29 assists (2004-05).
#14 Chris Richards
Position: Forward (C)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Birth Date: 10/10/1975
Home Town: Cornwall, Ont.
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: Returns for his second season with the SteelHounds after helping lead the offensive charge in the team's inaugural season. The Cornwall, Ontario native posted career numbers with 22 goals and a team-high 70 helpers for 92 points (fourth in the CHL). His own personal best sports moment was making the Frozen Four with The Ohio State University hockey team in 1998. Chris and wife Melissa reside in Austintown and have made NE Ohio their permanent home.
#18 John Wheaton
Position: Forward (C)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185
Birth Date: 8/23/1984
Home Town: Cambridge, Ont.
Last Team: Basingstoke (EIHL)
Background: Joins the SteelHounds for his first pro season in North America. Last year as a rookie, the Cambridge, Ont. native played 50 games with the Basingstoke Bison of the EIHL in Europe. He scored 15 goals with 13 helpers in his winter across the pond. Played his junior hockey with the Owen Sound Attack scoring 11 goals with nine assists in 120 games. His hobbies include playing the guitar and his hockey idol is Joe Sakic.
#19 Shaun Landolt
Position: Forward (RW)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Birth Date: 10/2/1984
Home Town: Colverdale, British Columbia
Last Team: Toronto (AHL)/Pensacola (ECHL)
Background: A former eighth round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2003. Last season he played four games with the Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. The majority of his 2005-06 campaign was spent in Pensacola (ECHL) where he scored 12 goals with 16 assists. His junior hockey was played in the WHL split between Moose Jaw and Calgary.
#23 Brian Boike
Position: Forward (F)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Birth Date: 4/20/1980
Home Town: Arlington, MASS
Last Team: Salem State (NCAA)
Background: Made the 'Hounds after a solid training camp. He enjoys working out, watching movies and reading. He played collegiately at Salem State (NCAA). Was recommended to 'Hounds Head Coach Kevin Kaminski by ESPN Anchor Steve Levy.
#25 Sam Miller
Position: Forward (F/D)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Birth Date: 12/7/1980
Home Town: Vancouver, WA
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: Joins the SteelHounds for their second year after scoring a pair of goals with seven assists in 62 games last season. Miller finished third on the team with 162 penalty minutes and was among the team leaders in fighting majors. Last season, he played primarily as a defenseman but this season he is expected to play mostly at forward. Works as a butcher in Vancouver, Wash., during the off-season.
#30 Jeff Valdes
Position: Forward (C)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200
Birth Date: 8/21/1982
Home Town: Falmouth, MASS
Last Team: A.I.C. (NCAA)
Background: Joins the 'Hounds for his rookie season after playing each of the last four years at American International College (NCAA). Prior to joining the SteelHounds, he participated in the Hartford Wolf Packs AHL training camp. Lists Cam Neely as his sports hero and enjoys boating, fishing and golfing as hobbies.
#39 Chris Shaffer
Position: Forward (RW)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 195
Birth Date: 3/7/1980
Home Town: Dryden, ONT
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: Returns to the 'Hounds for his second professional season. Last year, he was one of the team's top rookies scoring 12 goals with 22 points. Joined the SteelHounds after the season had started and missed some time with an injury limiting him to 42 games. Spent his college career with Lakehead University where he scored 69 goals with 74 assists in 137 games.
#47 Dan Buccella
Position: Forward (LW)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
Birth Date: 6/16/1983
Home Town: Woodbridge, Ont.
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: Beginning his second season with the SteelHounds after an injury-plauged first campaign. Dressed in just eight games having one particularly memorable night on December 23rd in a victory against Amarillo when he had three assists and also droped the gloves once. His best sports moment was winning the Southeastern Professional Hockey League championship with the Huntsville Channel Cats in the 2003-2004 season. His sports hero/role model is Jeff Gordon. His hobbies include golfing and miniature golf, darts, and cars.
#72 Jeff Christian
Position: Forward (LW)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 225
Birth Date: 7/30/1970
Home Town: Burlington, Ont.
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: Made Youngstown his home this past off-season moving to Canfield. One of the 'Hounds veterans, Christian is coming off a career season that saw him score 55 goals and 107 points (second in the CHL). He was named All-CHL First Team. In his career, the sharp shooter has played in 18 NHL games (Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Phoenix) and 1012 games overall. Jeff was originally a second round draft selection of the New Jersey Devils in the 1988 NHL Draft. Recently Started the 'Jeff Christian Charitable Foundation" which benefits local youth. Find out more at www.jeffchristian.org.
#0 John Neal
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 190
Birth Date: 5/29/1985
Home Town: Scotland, Ont.
Last Team: Brantford (OHA, Mid-West Jr. B)
Background: Joins the SteelHounds for his first professional season after having a career year last season with the Brantford Golden Eagles of the Mid-West League (Jr.- B, OHA). In 37 games with the Eagles he scored 13 goals with 40 assists and 126 penalty minutes. He finished with 15 multi point games and had points in 31 games including a five point night on January 19th (vs. Orangeville). Previously, played three seasons in the OHL with Oshawa posting four goals and 40 assists in 196 games. Following last season in Brantford, was named the Mid-West League's Defenseman of the Year.
#0 Stephen Margeson
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Birth Date: 12/2/1981
Home Town: Banff, Alta.
Last Team: Memphis (CHL)
Background: Leaves the Memphis RiverKings to join the 'Hounds after spending each of the last four seasons on Beale Street. With Memphis, Margeson dressed in 133 games scoring six goals with 18 assists. Margeson has ties with a couple of current 'Hounds playing along side of Chris Richards in New Mexico during the 2002-03 season and once being traded for Jeff Alcombrack from the Scorpions to Memphis (2002-03).
#5 Josh Reed
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
Birth Date: 5/21/1979
Home Town: Vernon, BC
Background: A sixth round selection by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1999 National Hockey League expansion draft, joins the SteelHounds for the 2006-07 season. After being selected 172nd overall, Reed went on to play four seasons as a member of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks. The 6-2, 205 pound defender posted nine goals, 30 assists and 94 penalty minutes in 107 games with the River Hawks.
#27 Jeff Alcombrack
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205
Birth Date: 1/10/1980
Home Town: Kincardine, ONT
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: Returns to the 'Hounds for his second season after playing just 28 games last year (broken ankle). The defenseman scored 22 points last season (3g, 19a) and is a veteran of 198 CHL games (Memphis, Odessa, New Mexico, Austin and Youngstown). His hobbies include tennis, golfing and poker.
#41 Mark Lindsay
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Birth Date: 11/13/1984
Home Town: Westbank, British Columbia
Last Team: Fort Wayne (UHL)
Background: Joins the SteelHounds for his first season in the CHL after playing his first 107 professional games in the UHL scoring four goals with 13 assists. The young defenseman has plenty of major junior experience dressing in 96 games in the Western League with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Lindsay previously played under current 'Hounds coach Kevin Kaminski in Missouri (UHL) .
#44 Paul Esdale
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 172
Birth Date: 4/10/1979
Home Town: Edmonton, ALTA
Last Team: Nordsjaelland Cobras (Denmark)
Background: Returns to the CHL where he was the league's defensive player of the year in 2005. Last season he played in Europe totaling 33 games between teams in Sweden and Denmark scoring 11 goals with 13 assists. With Wichita during the 2004-05 season, Esdale was first team All-CHL with 22 goals and 47 assists and a league-high plus-39 plus/minus rating. Has ties to Youngstown as his mother was born in Youngstown and attended Ursuline High before going to Ohio University.
#56 Kelly Sickavish
Position: Defenseman (D)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Birth Date: 7/9/1978
Home Town: North Vancouver, BC
Last Team: SteelHounds (CHL), 2005-06
Background: One of the first SteelHounds taken in the 2005 Expansion Draft. His second year far out-did his rookie season with Wichita as he went from no goals and four assists in 47 games to two goals and 16 assists in 57 games. Following the season, Sickavish was named the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player. His best sports moment was winning the Royal Bank Cup for a Canadian junior "A" National Championship.
#35 Jeremy Symington
Position: Goalie (G)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215
Birth Date: 8/17/1978
Home Town: Camlachie, Ont
Last Team: Port Huron (UHL)
Background: Joins the SteelHounds after spending last season in the UHL with the Port Huron Flags. Two seasons ago, he was a CHL All-Star with the Laredo Bucks going 18-10-1 including a stretch in December where he won eight straight decisions posting a .954 save percentage. Has played five games in the AHL with the top affiliate of the Ottawa Senators (Binghamton) where he went 3-1-1. Attended St. Lawrence University between 1997 and 2001. His senior season he was the ECAC postseason tournament MVP. Was an eighth round draft pick of the NY in the 1997 NHL Draft.
#37 Brad Roberts
Position: Goalie (G)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 190
Birth Date: 7/31/1982
Home Town: Cassville, NY
Last Team: Army (NCAA)
Background: Received the United States Military Academy's highest athletic honor in the Army Athletic Association Trophy in 2006. Was four times named the Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week last season. Was a four-year starter and standout at Army and he graduated with 13 Academy records on his resume, including establishing a new all-time record with 3,013 saves. He also boasts three Atlantic Hockey records. Brad garnered a host of league plaudits throughout his career. He was a second-team All-Atlantic Hockey selection after 2005-06 season and was tabbed to participate in the Skills Challenge at the 2006 Men's Frozen Four weekend. He was also a three-time Atlantic Hockey All-Academic selection (2004, 2005, 2006). He was a first-team All-MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) pick in 2003, while also earning all-rookie and "Goalie of the Year" accolades that same campaign. Attended Syracuse Crunch training camp prior to joining the Hounds.