From: wilson@cs.ucf.edu (tom wilson)
Subject: LIGHTNING NEWS: Roster Cuts
Organization: University of Central Florida, Orlando
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 00:57:13 GMT

LIGHTNING STRIKE AT ROSTER

* Tampa Bay sends one-third of its players packing their pucks

Only minutes had passed since the end of Friday's exhibition hockey game
between Tampa Bay and Ottawa, and already a crew was disassembling the
makeshift rink at Lakeland Civic Center.

In seemingly as short a time, the Lightning must assemble a team that can be
competitive in the NHL. After winning three of five exhibitions, this
diversified blend of NHL castoffs and young, unproven players is beginning
to come together as a team.

Nobody is talking about winning the Stanley Cup next spring, but there is
talk about progress, and that's all the team is realistically seeking at this
point.

"We can't be fooled, because this is preseason, but we've been competitive in
every game, we won most of them, and we've come from behind to win some of
them. That's what I like to see," said Tony Esposito, Tampa Bay's director of
hockey operations.

Tampa Bay trimmed its roster by more than one-third Saturday, assigning 17
players to the Atlanta Knights, the team's minor-league affiliate in the IHL.
Also, defenseman Jeff Bloemberg was traded to Edmonton (for future
considerations), and goaltender Trevor Robbins was returned to his junior
team.

Thirty-seven players remain on Tampa Bay's roster, battling for 22 or 23 spots.
Twenty players dress for games.

Among those players expected to report to the opening of camp in Atlanta on
Monday will be female goaltender Manon Rheaume, whom the Lightning hope to sign
by week's end; center Brent Gretzky, younger brother of Wayne; and several
players with NHL experience who were beaten out in what has been a tremendously
competitive camp. Left wing Dan Vincelette, a six-year veteran with Chicago
and Quebec, also was sent to Atlanta.

Those who were kept for an extended look included veterans Rick Lanz and Ron
Duguay, who had been out of the NHL the past three seasons, right winger Stan
Drulia, and defenseman Stephane Richer, two of the bigger surprises; and rookie
defenseman Roman Hamrlik, the team's no. 1 pick in June's entry draft.

"There are only so many jobs available, and when it comes down to crunch time
at the end of camp, there is a lot of pressure on all the guys," said left
wing Chris Kontos, who has a goal and four assists in three games.

"This is a great opportunity, and I think I've shown I can perform in this new
situation. You do your best every day, and hopefully it all works out. There's
just no way to tell.

The Lightning play in Ottawa tonight (7:35) in the second game of the Breakers
Cup series, and they will play in Orlando Tuesday against Eric Lindros and the
Philadelphia Flyers. The regular-season opener against Chicago is 10 days away.

"We're satisfied, but to a point," Esposito said. "I've got this theory that
you should never be satisfied. We're happy with the progress, but you have to
do a little better tomorrow and a little better than that the day after. That's
what we're going to strive for."

Tom
wilson@cs.ucf.edu - Tampa Bay Lightning contact