Dave Pszenyczny, the coach of the Quad City Storm, discovered the previous season just how hard it is to assemble and maintain a club.
Over the season, the team he started on the ice every night had instability due to injuries and call-ups. It was obvious how frustrated peoThe Storm was already feeling some of those difficulties as they got ready for the 2023–24 season. Due to visa concerns, some players who the coach was counting on to make significant contributions have not been with the club.
However, Pszenyczny brought some good news with him as he took the dais for the media day events on Tuesday.
Nine players who were signed to the roster but couldn’t be delivered as they were not cleared to enter the country had their work visas approved Tuesday morning.
“Now I have to go back and figure out when these guys are arriving and when we’re doing things,” said Pszenyczny. “It’s been a very interesting start to the season, especially when you put so much time and effort into recruiting and then you get thrown this little wrench.”
Pszenyczny remarked, “I have to go back and figure out when these guys are arriving and when we’re doing things.” “The season has gotten off to a very interesting start, especially when you invest so much time and energy in recruiting and then something unexpected happens.”
Tuesday morning saw the approval of work visas for nine players who were signed to the squad but were unable to report because they had the necessary documentation to enter the nation.
The nine players who were cleared include Tommy Tsicos, Filip Virgili, Cole Golka, Leif Mattson, and Eliott St-Pierre, who will start to make their way into the locker room. Additionally, newcomers Mason Emoff, Troy Murray, Brent Moran, and Michal Matiasko can now visit the Quad-Cities. Virgili, a Swedish player, and Matiasko, a Czech player, are among the six players who are Canadian.
It is unknown if any of them will be present for the home opener on Saturday versus Peoria, an in-state opponent, at Vibrant Arena at The Mark.
When the Storm do take to the ice, a combination of experienced players and gifted rookies will be donning the uniform. As per the coach’s statement, the club will face off against a blue collar team.
Regarding the addition of the veterans to the roster, Pszenyczny stated, “Guys just want to be part of a team.”
Along with defenseman Connor Boyce, rookie forwards Joel Frazee, Emoff, and Matiasko are competing for roster places.
Matt Ustaski, a centerman/left winger who played with QC last season, and Brendan Soucie, a forward, are also trying to rejoin the Storm after being released from ECHL teams last week.
The coach observed another SPHL veteran in the group and commented, “They are guys that just want to be part of the Quad City team.”
The coach stated, “They are guys that just want to be part of the Quad City team,” adding that Doug Blaisdell, another SPHL veteran, had joined the group after playing in Birmingham the previous season.
Pszenyczny stated that his squad must be reduced to 19 players by Wednesday; however, the starting lineup for Saturday’s game may differ from that roster.
“I believed I had a strategy for the training camp. You may be thinking, “Wonderful, we get to spend almost two weeks together on the ice,” but we haven’t had the luxury of having every body on the ice at once. But for now, I’ll accept them.
