News release
3 September 2013
ELMIRA, N.Y. - Last weekend the Elmira Jackals hosted their eighth-annual Pro Placement Camp at First Arena. Forty nine players showcased their skills in an effort to secure an invitation to the Jackals' main training camp in October. At the end of the weekend three players advanced from pro placement camp to the main training camp.
"From everyone on the Jackals, I'd like to thank the players for attending and giving a great effort, the fans for showing up to cheer the players on, and everyone who volunteered their time to make sure the camp ran smoothly," said Jackals vice president and general manager Robbie Nichols.
This year's pro placement camp was a grueling process that had the players on the ice for a total of seven hours in three days. After team practice sessions on Friday evening, Team White and Team Blue scrimmaged twice on Saturday and once on Sunday to close the camp. Team White swept the scrimmages and placed two players in Elmira's main camp.
The players were evaluated by pro placement camp directors Robbie Nichols, Jackals head coach Dwight Mullins, and head coach of the Federal Hockey League champion Danbury Whalers - Phil Esposito. At the conclusion of the camp they selected from Team Blue defenseman Scott Morongell, and from Team White forward Brett Leonard and goalie Mike McDonald.
Morongell, 22, looks to turn pro after finishing his collegiate career at Liberty University. A native of Augusta, New Jersey, Morongell is a 6-0, 205-pound blueliner who produced 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) and 46 penalty minutes in 40 games for Liberty in 2012-13. Liberty is an American Collegiate Hockey Association Division-I program.
Leonard, 26, chipped in 14 points (2 goals, 12 assists) in 14 games with Danbury during the 2012-13 regular season and added another five points (2 goals, 3 assists) over six playoff games to help the Whalers claim the FHL title. From 2007-2012 Leonard, 5-6, 175-pounds, suited up for the University of Vermont alongside former Jackals forward Jack Downing. Leonard, who hails from South Burlington, Vermont, produced 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) in 99 games for the Catamounts.
McDonald, 23, is a rookie goaltender out of Salve Regina University which competes at the NCAA Division-III level. He put together a career record of 9-27-3 with the Seahawks, and was named to the 2012 ECAC Northeast All-Academic Team. McDonald calls Whitby, Ontario home.
Saturday, September 14: Roller Derby, The Dolls of Destruction host their third bout at First Arena with a 6:00 p.m. start.