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News & Record Masthead
October 7, 2003

Prospects work out at Generals' camp

Mike Bayrack and Matt Chandler become the club's eighth and ninth signees.

BY LARRY KEECH
Staff Writer


Coach Rick Adduono
Photo Credit - Joseph Rodriguez / News & Record
Photo Caption - Class In Session

The Greensboro Generals opened preseason training camp at the Ice House on Monday. Coach Rick Adduono opened with some teaching on a dry-erase board. The team opens the regular season Oct. 17.

GREENSBORO - After opening training camp with 23 prospects in a three-hour practice session Monday, Greensboro Generals coach Rick Adduono announced the signing of two more holdovers from last season's team.

Forwards Mike Bayrack and Matt Chandler became the Generals' eighth and ninth contract signees this season.

Bayrack played well during the Generals' stretch run, after he was acquired from the ECHL's Toledo Storm. He had four goals and five assists in a dozen regular-season games, then had two goals and eight assists in eight playoff games.

"Mike is a versatile forward who can play any spot on the line," Adduono said. "He helped us get over the hump late last season.

"He brings speed and skating ability to the table, and he excels on the power play and as a penalty-killer. He also played on a UHL championship team with the Muskegon Fury in 2001-02, so his leadership is another valuable element."

Adduono was especially pleased with Bayrack's signing because he's an experienced ECHL player who won't count against the league's limit of four veterans per team.

A player now reaches veteran status after 288 professional games, up from 250 last season. Bayrack has played 259.

Chandler was mostly a fourth-line forward for the Generals as an ECHL rookie last season. But Adduono likes his 6-foot-1, 220-pound size.

"Matt was a hard worker who did a good job when he got a chance to play," Adduono said. "He's a strong fore-checker who's tough to handle deep in the corners."

At the end of the first week of camp, the Generals will play two four-on-four scrimmage games in Greenville, S.C., Saturday. They will face the Charlotte Checkers in an exhibition game at the Greensboro Ice House on Oct. 15 before opening the ECHL season with a home game two nights later.

Contact Larry Keech at 373-7080 or lkeech@news-record.com