Soo Indians sign 18 players
Soo Indians have committed to and received commitments from 18 players ahead of the 2019-2020 Michigan Amateur Hockey Association season. The Indians will be coached by Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario resident Patrick Carricato, who is making a return to the bench of the major midget team after three years away from the game.
The 47-year-old Carricato, who also previously coached the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with a good deal of success, said he is refreshed and refocused and determined to return the Indians to winning ways after a couple of seasons at the lower end of the MAHA scale.
Carricato will be aided by holdover assistant coach Klem Kelgar behind the Indians bench.
And venerable local resident Mike (Zeke) Kaunisto remains at the helm of the major midget Indians as their long-serving general manager.
Kaunisto told Hockey News North that he, Carricato and Kelgar “are happy with the way things are going so far in training camp as we have some real strong players and good size moving into the season.
“We still have two roster spots to fill but the coaches are waiting for the right fit to come along,” Kaunisto added.
The Indians will skate into their first action of the season next weekend as they are are off to the Detroit suburb of Troy for a showcase tournament.
“It is going to be a huge test for our team as we will play three round-robin games on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday against, in order, Detroit Victory Honda, Fox Motors out of Grand Rapids and Detroit Little Caesars.
“It is a MAHA Tier 1 AAA event which means that it will be very well scouted as the kick off for the new season,” Kaunisto added.
Following is the Indians current 18-player roster by positions.
Goalies: Gabe Rosek and Logan Raffaele.
Defensemen: Kevin Bostwick, Kobie Guidebeck, Rob Landis, Alex Gordon, Nick Castillo and Dylan Bott.
Forwards: Kevin Smith, Jack Swan, Chase Tallaire, Grant Wickham, Logan Millhausen, Seth Francious, Tommy Cahill, Jaden Martin, Cain Grossbeck and Max Povorozniouk.
Of note, Raffaele, Landis, Gordon, Smith and Swan are all Sault Ste. Marie products.
PHOTO: Soo Indians general manager Mike (Zeke) Kaunisto (left) and head coach Patrick Carricato. (Photo by Allana Plaunt.)