Training camp is still over 4 months away, but rosters throughout the AAHL will start taking shape long before camp begins and even before the AAHL's annual Free Agent Camp on August 20-22. In June and July, teams will start signing returning players to qualifying offers and a few standout free agents may sign as well...
* We already know that the IceMen have lost Ryan Ford and Steve Koich, who will both be playing professionally in France in 2010-11. There's a rumor floating around that David Croteau will be joining them, but I haven't seen any official confirmation of that.
* There's been no word yet about any championship-winning players returning to the IceMen. If last year's league rules are still in place, the team will only be allowed to sign 6 returning players prior to training camp. (More than 6 can end up returning, but only 6 can be "locked in" before camp.) I would imagine John Dorman and Aaron Naphan will be at the top of the organization's wish list.
* Battle Creek has announced that Chris Affinati and Rob Schweyer will both return for the 2010-11 season, with Schweyer serving as Assistant Coach as well. So far, they're the only confirmed signings league-wide.
* BC also announced that Nick Bet is retiring as a player so he can act as Head Coach of the new Battle Creek Junior Revolution, who will share the Revolution Arena with the AAHL's Revolution. The expansion Junior Revolution will play in the 6-team Northern Junior Hockey League, a low-level independent junior league.
...that's all so far. Please use this thread to discuss all of the off-season roster announcements for the IceMen and the rest of the AAHL!