BULLS ANNOUNCE TENDERS TO THEIR ROSTER

Press Release

The 2012-2013 Amarillo Bulls continue to take shape.

The Bulls concluded a very successful NAHL Entry Draft last Thursday and today (Thursday) announced the addition of its tendered players to its roster.

 

Joining the Bulls are goaltenders: Paul Berrafato (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL), Chad Catt (Victory Honda, Tier I Elite League), defensemen Cody Rogers (Dallas Stars U18AAA, Tier I Elite League),  Connor Frey (Belle Tire U18AAA, Tier I Elite League), James LaDouce (Lansing Capitals U18AAA, NAPHL); Forwards,  James Bonaguro  (Chicago Mission U18AAA, Tier I Elite League), Vito Aluia  (Belle Tire U18AAA, Tier I Elite League),  Carter Penzien (TPH Thunder U18AAA, Tier I Elite League), Hampus Gustafsson (Gilmour Academy,  Mid West Prep Hockey League), Tyler Gernhofer  (Dallas Stars U18AAA Tier I Elite League), Kyle Plageman (Culver Academy Prep),  Matt Sieckhaus (St. Louis Amateur Blues U18AAA, Tier I Elite League), Joe Vuolo (TPH Thunder U18AAA, Tier I Elite League),  Jasen Fernsler (Lansing Capitals U18AAA, NAPHL), and Alex Carey (North Iowa Bulls, NA3HL).

 

 

 

“I think our scouting staff has done a terrific job of getting out there and identifying what it is that we look for in a player,” said Bulls Head Coach Dennis Williams. “When you look at stats, it doesn’t really give us the whole story. We look for guys that want to battle for pucks and have the hockey knowledge and IQ. We also want them to be good young men and have the aspirations to move on and play at the Division 1 level.”

 

Bulls’ fans will remember forward Alex Carey who spent the first half of the season with the team. Goaltender Paul Berrafato spent the second half of the season training with the Bulls for this fall. Defensemen Cody Rogers and James LaDouce suited up for the Bulls for several games during the 2011-2012 season. Hampus Gustafsson, who played at Gilmour Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, is the younger brother of former Bulls forward John Gustafsson. LaDouce and forward Jasen Fernsler were selected to the NAPHL All-Academic Team this past season for their excellent work off the ice.

 

The Bulls season concluded just over a month ago and that gave the coaching staff time to rest and recharge their batteries. Coach Williams said that after some time off he is ready to get back at it.

 

“I’m thinking about what our main camp is going to be,” he said. “I’m very excited about our returning veterans and what our staff has done to bring in those players who are tendered and drafted, and those who are not. I think we are going to have a nice mix of players. I’m excited to see what it is we will get down to when we have our final team and see them perform at main camp.” 

 

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)