Post by racingwife on Dec 23, 2009 10:04:28 GMT -5
By Anna Grearson TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: December 23, 2009
ARRE – For some of the Vermont Frost Heaves, this holiday season will be the first spent away from families and friends back home. For others, being away for the holidays is nothing new – just one of the sacrifices they make to pursue a career in basketball.
For all of them, though, this is the last big week of practice before the team's pre-season tournament, and shortly after that, league games.
"It's an adjustment for everybody, not being home for Christmas," Vermont guard Jay Greene, of Whitehall, Penn., said before practice last week at the Barre Auditorium. "It can be difficult, and it's just something you'll have to get through and accept it. We're all here for the same purpose, to make each other better and to make the team better, and that's what we've been doing so far.
"It's a first for me, it will be something new," Greene said of being away. "But I think it will be harder for my family than it will be for me. I'll be up here, focusing on basketball. This is a dream come true, so I'm just excited."
The primary reason many players will be in Barre for Christmas is based on logistics. The team hosts a three-team, three-day pre-season Champlain Cup Tournament starting on Sunday and many simply live too far to make it back in time to play.
"It'll probably be tough because we play on the 27th, so it'd probably be tough for guys to get home," third-year forward Marcus Austin, of White Plains, N.Y., said. "I plan on staying."
First-year head coach Jeff Strohm said some of the Vermonters will try to return home – forward Ross DeMasi is from Swanton and forward Bobby Shedd is from Johnson – and some fans will welcome players into their homes as well.
Aaron Cook, a guard from Baltimore who rejoined the team after playing in the CBA and in Poland and Sweden the last two seasons, said that fan base is a big part of why he came back.
"I've never witnessed fans like this, even in my college years, and that's part of the reason I called (Vermont general manager) Mike (Healey) when things weren't looking right for overseas," said Cook, one of the best 3-point shooters in Frost Heaves history. "It was the first phone call I made. You get a lot of fan support and guys like Dick (Rouelle) who helps out and does anything he can to try and make it easier on the players. I'm thankful for that."
Cook will also remain in the Green Mountain State this week, something he did during his first year with the team in 2006.
"I was enjoying myself out here, so it's not that big of a deal," he said. "I talk to my family over the phone. We're here now, so I'm just focused on trying to get ready."
That focus on the Champlain Cup and the Premier Basketball League season-opener on Jan. 3 at rival Manchester is a welcome unifying force during practice and personal time this week.
"As far as the team goes, you really couldn't ask for anything better," Vermont forward Ken Ottrix said. "We get along, we have a good time on and off the court, and having that kind of chemistry is great because we're here so quick and it's such a short period of time (before we start playing games). We don't have to devote a bunch of time to bonding and building friendships. It just kind of happened naturally. It's a wonderful thing for a team in finding success.
"It'll be nice to have some good company, and I'm sure we'll have a good time over the holidays. Everybody's just focused on playing some ball and winning some games."
Ottrix, a product of Slippery Rock University, drove to Vermont two weeks ago from Seattle, Wash., where he grew up and where he was a member of the IBL's Seattle Mountaineers last spring.
"I made a very long drive out here, 60 hours and 3,300 miles of travel, so I have a lot invested in this opportunity and I'm looking forward to taking a lot from it," he said. "I'm just ready to get after it. It's going to be an exciting year. I'm looking forward to seeing all the fans here in the Auditorium and it's going to be a great experience, I have no doubts about that."
Strohm and his coaching staff will pare the 17-man training camp roster to 12 in the next few days.
The Frost Heaves, which played in a pre-season scrimmage at Halifax Monday night, will face Quebec City Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at the Aud. The Tournament continues Monday night at 7:05 p.m. when Quebec City plays Manchester. Vermont and Manchester will wrap up the tournament Tuesday night, also at 7:05 p.m.
ARRE – For some of the Vermont Frost Heaves, this holiday season will be the first spent away from families and friends back home. For others, being away for the holidays is nothing new – just one of the sacrifices they make to pursue a career in basketball.
For all of them, though, this is the last big week of practice before the team's pre-season tournament, and shortly after that, league games.
"It's an adjustment for everybody, not being home for Christmas," Vermont guard Jay Greene, of Whitehall, Penn., said before practice last week at the Barre Auditorium. "It can be difficult, and it's just something you'll have to get through and accept it. We're all here for the same purpose, to make each other better and to make the team better, and that's what we've been doing so far.
"It's a first for me, it will be something new," Greene said of being away. "But I think it will be harder for my family than it will be for me. I'll be up here, focusing on basketball. This is a dream come true, so I'm just excited."
The primary reason many players will be in Barre for Christmas is based on logistics. The team hosts a three-team, three-day pre-season Champlain Cup Tournament starting on Sunday and many simply live too far to make it back in time to play.
"It'll probably be tough because we play on the 27th, so it'd probably be tough for guys to get home," third-year forward Marcus Austin, of White Plains, N.Y., said. "I plan on staying."
First-year head coach Jeff Strohm said some of the Vermonters will try to return home – forward Ross DeMasi is from Swanton and forward Bobby Shedd is from Johnson – and some fans will welcome players into their homes as well.
Aaron Cook, a guard from Baltimore who rejoined the team after playing in the CBA and in Poland and Sweden the last two seasons, said that fan base is a big part of why he came back.
"I've never witnessed fans like this, even in my college years, and that's part of the reason I called (Vermont general manager) Mike (Healey) when things weren't looking right for overseas," said Cook, one of the best 3-point shooters in Frost Heaves history. "It was the first phone call I made. You get a lot of fan support and guys like Dick (Rouelle) who helps out and does anything he can to try and make it easier on the players. I'm thankful for that."
Cook will also remain in the Green Mountain State this week, something he did during his first year with the team in 2006.
"I was enjoying myself out here, so it's not that big of a deal," he said. "I talk to my family over the phone. We're here now, so I'm just focused on trying to get ready."
That focus on the Champlain Cup and the Premier Basketball League season-opener on Jan. 3 at rival Manchester is a welcome unifying force during practice and personal time this week.
"As far as the team goes, you really couldn't ask for anything better," Vermont forward Ken Ottrix said. "We get along, we have a good time on and off the court, and having that kind of chemistry is great because we're here so quick and it's such a short period of time (before we start playing games). We don't have to devote a bunch of time to bonding and building friendships. It just kind of happened naturally. It's a wonderful thing for a team in finding success.
"It'll be nice to have some good company, and I'm sure we'll have a good time over the holidays. Everybody's just focused on playing some ball and winning some games."
Ottrix, a product of Slippery Rock University, drove to Vermont two weeks ago from Seattle, Wash., where he grew up and where he was a member of the IBL's Seattle Mountaineers last spring.
"I made a very long drive out here, 60 hours and 3,300 miles of travel, so I have a lot invested in this opportunity and I'm looking forward to taking a lot from it," he said. "I'm just ready to get after it. It's going to be an exciting year. I'm looking forward to seeing all the fans here in the Auditorium and it's going to be a great experience, I have no doubts about that."
Strohm and his coaching staff will pare the 17-man training camp roster to 12 in the next few days.
The Frost Heaves, which played in a pre-season scrimmage at Halifax Monday night, will face Quebec City Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at the Aud. The Tournament continues Monday night at 7:05 p.m. when Quebec City plays Manchester. Vermont and Manchester will wrap up the tournament Tuesday night, also at 7:05 p.m.