Mike Stapleton won’t return as an Erie Otters’ assistant coach for the 2008-09 OHL season, an unnamed league source said today. Stapleton, 42, and club officials have agreed to part ways with one year left on his three-year contract, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The source said club officials would release Stapleton from the final year of his deal. When asked about Stapleton’s departure, Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, said tonight, “That’s a safe comment.” But Bassin declined to speak further, including if he will fill the position.
Stapleton, a Michigan native in the offseason, didn’t immediately return a telephone message on Tuesday.
He joined then-coach Peter Sidorkiewicz’ staff as associate coach before the 2006-07 season. Stapleton and Sidorkiewicz were demoted to assistant coaches when Bassin hired current coach Robbie Ftorek on Oct. 29, 2007. Ftorek recently signed a new three-year contract with the club.
A decision hasn’t been reached about Sidorkiewicz, Bassin said. Last month, Sidorkiewicz, who has one year left on his three-year contract, said it appeared he would return. Bassin planned to speak with Sidorkiewicz in the next few weeks. Bassin also said he hopes part-time assistant coach Mike Nelson will return next season, although an official decision hasn’t been made. Nelson had a one-year deal.

– Victor Fernandes

The Buffalo Sabres will begin the 2008-09 NHL season on Oct. 10 against Montreal at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, the club announced Wednesday. The Northeast Division rivals have played in the Sabres’ home opener six previous times, with Buffalo posting a 4-1-1 record.
The Sabres also announced the three “at-large” home games on their 82-game schedule – Feb. 24 against Anaheim, March 6 against Phoenix and 2008 Stanley Cup champion Detroit on April 6.
Under the NHL’s new scheduling format, all 30 clubs will play division opponents six times apiece (24 total games), non-divisional opponents within their conference four times (40 games), 15 non-conference opponents once and three at-large games. The league will announce next season’s schedule today.

Chicago and Detroit, which have the NHL’s longest-running rivalry, will meet in NHL Winter Classic 2009 on New Year’s Day at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., the league announced Wednesday.
The 1 p.m. game will be televised live nationwide on WICU.
The 701st career meeting between the “Original Six” clubs will be the second regular-season outdoor NHL game in the United States. Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 2-1 in a shootout on Jan. 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. A league-record crowd of 71,217 attended the game.
Edmonton and Montreal played in the league’s first regular-season outdoor game on Nov. 22, 2003, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. “The NHL is delighted to bring its most historic rivalry to one of the most historic venues in sports,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a prepared statement.
Bettman also praised Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and the city of New York for their efforts in attempting to bring the Winter Classic to the city. “We look forward to continuing discussions regarding the possibility of playing a future Winter Classic game at the new Yankee Stadium.”

Mike Stapleton, an Erie Otters’ coach the past two seasons, has joined new coach Denny Lambert’s staff in Sault Ste. Marie, the Greyhounds announced today. “It’s an exciting day for my family and me to be joining the Soo Greyhounds’ organization,” Stapleton, 42, said on the club’s Web site. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Denny and being part of a great tradition.”
The Otters hired Stapleton as associate coach in June 2006. Stapleton and then-coach Peter Sidorkiewicz posted an 18-62-1-2 record in one-plus seasons together at the helm. Both were demoted to assistant coach when the club hired current coach Robbie Ftorek on Oct. 29, 2007.
On Tuesday, an OHL source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the Otters would release Stapleton from the final year of his three-year contract. His departure leaves the club with Ftorek and Sidorkiewicz under contract. Ftorek recently signed a three-year deal. Sidorkiewicz has one year left on his three-year deal. But he and Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, will meet in the next few weeks to determine his future with the club. Bassin also said he hopes part-time coach Mike Nelson, who had a one year contract, rejoins the club next season.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters alumnus Jason Baird, 27, suffered serious burns from a lawnmower explosion Thursday night in Austintown, Ohio, The Youngstown Vindicator reported Friday. Baird, a native of Cayuga, Ontario, is listed in critical condition at Akron Burn Center in Akron, Ohio, according to the Vindicator.
Baird was cutting grass for a part-time employer when the lawn mower he was riding exploded, the Vindicator said. Baird, an Otters forward from 1997-2001, played for the Central Hockey League’s Youngstown Steelhounds last season. He recently signed to play with the International Hockey League’s Muskegon Fury next season. “Everybody in the Muskegon Fury family is shocked by this news,” Fury coach Bruce Ramsay said on the IHL’s Web site. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jason and his family. If there’s anything we can do as an organization, we will do it.”
He has 136 goals, 382 points and 1,068 penalty minutes in 383 professional games in the ECHL (Cincinnati – 2001-02), CHL (Indianapolis, Corpus Christi and Youngstown (2002-08) and the Guilford Flames in the British National League (2004-05). Baird ranks among the top five in Otters’ history in game-winning goals (19 – first), penalty minutes (699 – first), assists (131 – assists), points (218 – third), games played (245 – fourth) and goals (87 – fourth).

Sherry Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/general manager, won’t fill the assistant coaching position vacated by Mike Stapleton on Friday. Stapleton left the club after two seasons to join new Sault Ste. Marie coach Denny Lambert’s staff. The move leaves the Otters with Peter Sidorkiewicz as their only full-time assistant. Sidorkiewicz, who was demoted from coach when Bassin hired Robbie Ftorek on Oct. 29, 2007, has one year left on his three-year contract. Bassin wants to finalize his staff by the end of July.
“I’ve got to talk to him about his comfort level with what he’s doing,” Bassin said of Sidorkiewicz.
Ftorek, who recently signed a three-year deal, hasn’t expressed an interest in forming a new staff, Bassin said. Yet, Bassin said he has received many inquiries “from people seeking positions.”

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters alumnus Jason Baird, 27, suffered burns over 60-65 percent of his body in a lawnmower explosion Thursday night in Austintown, Ohio, The Youngstown Vindicator reported Saturday.
Baird, a native of Cayuga, Ontario, is listed in critical condition at Akron Burn Center in Akron, Ohio, according to The Vindicator. Doctors induced a coma to help Baird handle the pain, The Vindicator said.
Baird reportedly was cutting grass for a private landscaping company when the lawn mower he was riding exploded, the Vindicator said. Fuel was reportedly involved in some way, but he wasn’t refueling the mower when the accident occurred, Andrew Frost III, Austintown assistant fire chief told The Vindicator.
Baird, an Otters forward from 1997-2001, played for the Central Hockey League’s Youngstown SteelHounds last season. He recently signed to play with the International Hockey League’s Muskegon Fury next season. “Everybody in the Muskegon Fury family is shocked by this news,” Fury coach Bruce Ramsay said on the IHL’s Web site. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jason and his family. If there’s anything we can do as an organization, we will do it.”
He has 136 goals, 382 points and 1,068 penalty minutes in 383 professional games in the ECHL (Cincinnati – 2001-02), CHL (Indianapolis, Corpus Christi and Youngstown (2002-08) and the Guilford Flames in the British National League (2004-05). Baird ranks among the top five in Otters’ history in game-winning goals (19 – first), penalty minutes (699 – first), assists (131 – assists), points (218 – third), games played (245 – fourth) and goals (87 – fourth).
According to The Vindicator, the SteelHounds are planning a benefit for the Baird family in late August.

* Hodgman update: Forward Justin Hodgman has signed an amateur tryout contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild during their recent development camp in St. Paul, Minn. The club holds his rights until Oct. 1, which means Hodgman can’t speak with any other clubs or attend any other training camps.
Hodgman will represent the Wild at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich., in September. With a strong showing, Hodgman could be invited to his first NHL main camp. Yet, he will report to Otters’ training camp on Aug. 25 at Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, N.Y.
* Better late than never: Left wing Luke Gazdic was unable to participate in full-contact workouts and take slap shots at the Stars’ development camp in Frisco, Texas, two weeks ago. He continues to rehabilitate a surgically repaired labrum in his shoulder. But he expects medical clearance in time for Otters’ camp and his first main camp with the Stars in September. “I’m extremely happy about that. It’s been a long haul here,” said Gazdic, who has undergone daily physiotherapy and workouts this summer.
* Kidd moving closer?: Defenseman Josh Kidd said “there’s been a little bit of conversation back and forth” about a professional contract between his agent and Los Angeles Kings’ officials. Unlike last summer, he was injury free for the Kings’ development camp in El Segundo, Calif., earlier this month.
He missed the 2007 camp while recovering from shoulder surgery, injured his groin at main camp and suffered a concussion before Manchester, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, began the playoffs last spring. He will attend main camp in September. “We’ll see what happens,” Kidd said.
* Toughest workouts ever: Hodgman has spent three days at Overkill Peak Potential Hockey Camp, a five-week camp run by Brian O’Reilly, father of Otters forward Ryan O’Reilly, in Varna, Ontario.
“I’ve never really trained this hard in my life,” Hodgman said Wednesday. “It’s a whole new aspect of training that I’ve never been introduced to. It takes a lot out of you, but it makes better players.”
The camp focuses on fast-paced, high-intensity workouts, Ryan O’Reilly said, including running hills, long-distance runs and balance drills done on beams. “It’s getting all the muscles you need for hockey, not just bodybuilding muscles,” said O’Reilly, who heads to Calgary, Alberta, next week for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team camp. “I can tell by skating that my fitness is ready to go and my body is ready to play again.” Right wing Shawn Szydlowski spent last week at the camp.
* Tough workouts, Part II: Center Greg McKegg, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has trained seven days a week this off-season. Here’s his weightlifting routine: Mondays (legs), Tuesdays (chest), Wednesdays (back), Thursdays (shoulders) and Fridays (legs). In between, he skates on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and runs on a track on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
* Around the rink: Right wing Nick Palmieri is attending New Jersey’s conditioning camp in Newark, N.J., this week. … The Otters held their latest off-season workouts in Welland, Ontario, last week.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters defenseman Mitch Gaulton, 18, will miss the entire 2008-09 OHL season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, said today.
The surgery consists of taking a tendon from the forearm to reconstruct a damaged elbow ligament, according to orthopedics.about.com. The procedure is named after the former Major League Baseball pitcher who underwent the career-saving surgery. In Gaulton’s case, a tendon from his right arm was used to reconstruct the ligament Gaulton injured when he dislocated his elbow in Owen Sound on Oct. 27.
Gaulton, who underwent surgery a few weeks ago, will need 14 months to rehabilitate, Bassin said. That means he wouldn’t be available until Sept. 2009. He played only five games after suffering the injury and 20 games overall last season.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters will hold a fundraiser on Aug. 19 at Warner Theatre for former forward Jason Baird, who suffered serious burns over 60-65 percent of his body in a lawnmower explosion on July 17 in Austintown, Ohio. The benefit will be held from 7-9 p.m.
NHL players and Otters alumni Tim Connolly (Buffalo), Mike Rupp (New Jersey) and Steve Valiquette (N.Y. Rangers) will attend the event. Former Otters goaltender Adam Munro, who played for Syracuse (AHL) last season, also will appear. Brad Boyes (St. Louis), Chris Campoli (N.Y. Islanders) and Carlo Colaiacovo (Toronto) and others also could attend.
The event includes autograph and photo opportunities with players, memorabilia raffles and auction items. Former players could donate ticket packages to a game involving their NHL clubs and Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena next season, Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, said Friday. Rupp, who has taken an active role in the event, expects to donate a ticket package for New Jersey’s game in Pittsburgh on Oct. 11, Bassin said. That package could include passes to the Devils’ dressing room.
Tickets to the fundraiser are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. They include a chance to win hockey memorabilia door prizes. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Baird family to help with medical costs. Light snacks and a cash also will be available at the event. For more information, call the Otters’ office at (814) 455-7779 or e-mail at mark@ottershockey.com.

* On the clock: Sherry Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/general manager, has given assistant/goaltending coach Peter Sidorkiewicz an Aug. 1 deadline to decide if he will return next season. Sidorkiewicz has one year left on his three-year contract. But he can pursue other coaching opportunities closer to his Oshawa, Ontario, home, Bassin said. Oshawa, Kingston and Mississauga have openings. “We know if he comes back, he wants to come back,” Bassin said. If Sidorkiewicz doesn’t return, Bassin likely would hire two new coaches – one as coach Robbie Ftorek’s top assistant and the other as a goaltending coach.
* News and notes: Bassin said he hopes to trade suspended defenseman Frank Grzeszczak before training camp begins next month. The final off-season trading period begins Aug. 2. Bassin has received general inquiries from clubs. … Kyle Creasy’s tenure as head trainer has ended after one season. Club officials are interviewing potential replacements. … Forwards Luke Gazdic (Dallas) and Zack Torquato (Detroit) will join forward Justin Hodgman (Minnesota) at the NHL Prospects Tournament, set for Sept. 13-17 in Traverse City, Mich.

– Victor Fernandes