Post by thesweeper on Dec 10, 2009 9:00:48 GMT -5
By Anna Grearson TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: December 10, 2009
The Vermont Frost Heaves are just a few days away from their first practice of the 2009-2010 season, even though they won't play an official league home game until February.
The team will head to Vermont over the weekend in order to begin strength and conditioning testing Monday morning. The Heaves will hold their first practice that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Barre Auditorium. The team will practice primarily at the Aud but may practice at other central Vermont locations.
"Nobody will be more excited at 4:30 on Monday than me," Vermont head coach Jeff Strohm said. "It will be fun to be in a gym and practicing, and then the journey begins."
During the past three seasons the Frost Heave players have lived in South Burlington, but this year the Frost Heaves will call the Days Inn in South Barre home.
"We're excited they're going to be a part of the Barre community," Strohm said. "We're excited about fans getting to know them."
While the team has released information on a handful of player signings, there are five others Strohm talked about on Wednesday, including a Vermonter: former Missisquoi Thunderbird Ross DeMasi. DeMasi was named a Division II All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches while at Southwest Minnesota State University. The 6-foot-8 forward led the Mustangs in rebounding with 8.9 rebounds per game and was tied for leading-scorer honors last season. He also helped the Mustangs to the NCAA D-II Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., where SMSU fell to Cal-Poly Pomona in the quarterfinals.
Kendrick Price made a big splash at the Frost Heaves tryout at Essex High School this past October. According to Strohm, the Michigan product will be aboard this season.
Another top candidate to guide the Heaves is David Carson, a 6-foot-8 forward out of IPFW. Carson often put up double figures in scoring for his team and was one of the Mastadons' best rebounders.
Rodney Epperson, who played his college career out at St. John's, has also joined the team. The 6-foot-7 forward was one of the best junior college players in the country, ranked in the top 10 by several outlets.
Guard Tony Robertson – fa-miliar to University Connecticut fans – has also joined the Premier Basketball League with the Vermont Frost Heaves. Robertson played in the Huskies' backcourt with Ben Gordon, now with the NBA's Detroit Pistons.
Those five will join former Frost Heaves Aaron Cook and Marcus Austin – who have returned for another season in blue and white – as well as early signees Ken Ottrix, Brandon Ball and Jay Greene. In all, more than 15 players will participate in the training camp. On Dec. 19, the team will host clinics in both Barre and Burlington and then return home to the Aud to host a blue-and-white scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
The team will also host a day-long event on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January. Strohm's first chance to see competition will arrive on Dec. 21, when the Frost Heaves travel to Halifax to scrimmage the Rainmen.
"It's important for us to do with so many road games," Strohm said of the exhibition game. "It will give us a chance to be on the road, a test run almost. It will cost us a day of practice, but we thought it was worth it to do that."
The team will host a three-day Champlain Cup tournament at the end of December and opens league play at Manchester on Jan. 3, 2010.
The Vermont Frost Heaves are just a few days away from their first practice of the 2009-2010 season, even though they won't play an official league home game until February.
The team will head to Vermont over the weekend in order to begin strength and conditioning testing Monday morning. The Heaves will hold their first practice that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Barre Auditorium. The team will practice primarily at the Aud but may practice at other central Vermont locations.
"Nobody will be more excited at 4:30 on Monday than me," Vermont head coach Jeff Strohm said. "It will be fun to be in a gym and practicing, and then the journey begins."
During the past three seasons the Frost Heave players have lived in South Burlington, but this year the Frost Heaves will call the Days Inn in South Barre home.
"We're excited they're going to be a part of the Barre community," Strohm said. "We're excited about fans getting to know them."
While the team has released information on a handful of player signings, there are five others Strohm talked about on Wednesday, including a Vermonter: former Missisquoi Thunderbird Ross DeMasi. DeMasi was named a Division II All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches while at Southwest Minnesota State University. The 6-foot-8 forward led the Mustangs in rebounding with 8.9 rebounds per game and was tied for leading-scorer honors last season. He also helped the Mustangs to the NCAA D-II Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., where SMSU fell to Cal-Poly Pomona in the quarterfinals.
Kendrick Price made a big splash at the Frost Heaves tryout at Essex High School this past October. According to Strohm, the Michigan product will be aboard this season.
Another top candidate to guide the Heaves is David Carson, a 6-foot-8 forward out of IPFW. Carson often put up double figures in scoring for his team and was one of the Mastadons' best rebounders.
Rodney Epperson, who played his college career out at St. John's, has also joined the team. The 6-foot-7 forward was one of the best junior college players in the country, ranked in the top 10 by several outlets.
Guard Tony Robertson – fa-miliar to University Connecticut fans – has also joined the Premier Basketball League with the Vermont Frost Heaves. Robertson played in the Huskies' backcourt with Ben Gordon, now with the NBA's Detroit Pistons.
Those five will join former Frost Heaves Aaron Cook and Marcus Austin – who have returned for another season in blue and white – as well as early signees Ken Ottrix, Brandon Ball and Jay Greene. In all, more than 15 players will participate in the training camp. On Dec. 19, the team will host clinics in both Barre and Burlington and then return home to the Aud to host a blue-and-white scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
The team will also host a day-long event on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January. Strohm's first chance to see competition will arrive on Dec. 21, when the Frost Heaves travel to Halifax to scrimmage the Rainmen.
"It's important for us to do with so many road games," Strohm said of the exhibition game. "It will give us a chance to be on the road, a test run almost. It will cost us a day of practice, but we thought it was worth it to do that."
The team will host a three-day Champlain Cup tournament at the end of December and opens league play at Manchester on Jan. 3, 2010.
