The IceGators' early signings in the 2015 off-season had a common thread. Tyler Barr, Alex Hudson, and Anthony Pisano are hard-nosed players who can drop the gloves effectively. Barr and Pisano play more like traditional enforcers, where Hudson has a more balanced game.
Having multiple enforcers on a team in the SPHL is rather uncommon, due to the league's smaller roster requirement. Teams that have gone with a 'punch first' philosophy do not typically do well.
Having multiple enforcers on a team in the SPHL is rather uncommon, due to the league's smaller roster requirement. Teams that have gone with a 'punch first' philosophy do not typically do well.
History does not seem to favor the IceGators, but there are three simple reasons why Louisiana will be an exception.
1. The IceGators can score
There is a common link between Huntsville, Fayetteville, and Bloomington's poor seasons. All of these teams had toughness, but were not strong in the offensive zone. None of these teams scored over 150 goals in their seasons. In contrast, the IceGators averaged 182 goals a season over the last three years. The IceGators have always had offensive talent, and those players should have even more space to operate.
2. Hudson will not scrap as much as you think
Alex Hudson isn't the type of player who will back down from a challenge, but he shouldn't generate the number of penalty minutes as he did last season. In fact, the 172 PIMs that he racked up last season were a career high by a wide margin. Hudson is a grinder and an instigator on the ice, and he will get into his share of scraps; but he won't get tapped by coach Omicioli to take care of business as he was occasionally called upon to do in Peoria.
3. Pisano plays defense, and Barr is a Forward
Eighteen man SPHL rosters do not allow for a lot of flexibility when it comes to employing enforcers. One-dimensional scrappers who do not play a regular shift can find themselves out of a job in this league. Also, having two forwards who are enforcers means that the other forwards' ice times are increased. In the case of the IceGators, Tyler Barr is a left winger who has the ability to play as a top-6 forward. However, even if Barr's role was reduced to that of a 10th forward, Defenseman Anthony Pisano doesn't affect the makeup of the three forward lines.
Coach Drew Omicioli mentioned certain events during last season that were factors in his decision to make the IceGators more physical this season. However, anything can happen during the season. For example, all three of Fayetteville's enforcers did not play the entire season due to injuries or disciplinary actions. It's clear, however, that Omicioli wants to make sure that his skill players have room to make plays in the offensive zone and to get tougher on the other side of the blue line. Hopefully for the Louisiana IceGators, their efforts will not result in a repeat of recent history, but instead mirror the 2011-12 Augusta RiverHawks - who led the SPHL in wins as well as penalty minutes.
Toughness, scoring, and wins... Sounds like the old ECHL IceGators, doesn't it?
Toughness, scoring, and wins... Sounds like the old ECHL IceGators, doesn't it?