Not all bad: Accam, Shipp, Gilberto star for Fire
It’s not easy to find positives for the Fire in 2015. Their back line has been inconsistent, big offseason signing Shaun Maloney flopped before returning to England and coach Frank Yallop was dismissed with the team wallowing at the bottom of MLS.
Despite those negatives, one plus heading into 2016 could be the attacking trio of Gilberto, David Accam and Harry Shipp. Each scored a goal in the Fire’s 3-1 victory Saturday over the New England Revolution, and all three figure to be prominent parts of the attack next season.
“Of course, we have a good team; if we keep doing the right things, we’ll get results,” Accam said Saturday. “Especially this season, we’ll try to build for next season so we have good confidence going into next season.”
Help from above
When they open their season Saturday at Allstate Arena against the Milwaukee Admirals, the Wolves should have four players they weren’t expecting to be available.
On Monday, the parent- club St. Louis Blues assigned defensemen Chris Butler and Petteri Lindbohm and forwards Magnus Paajarvi and Ty Rattie to the Wolves, and pending further roster moves, they’re all expected to be in the lineup.
Butler spent most of last season in St. Louis, and Lindbohm appeared in 53 games with the Wolves but couldn’t beat out Joel Edmundson and Colton Parayko for spots on the Blues’ blue line. Paajarvi had 29 points last season with the Wolves, and Rattie is one of the Blues’ top prospects. He had 52 goals and 38 assists over the last two AHL seasons.
California dreaming
The Rockford IceHogs begin their season Friday in San Jose against the Barracuda, one of the five teams that relocated to California this season. Rockford then plays Saturday at Stockton before opening its home schedule Oct. 17 against the Texas Stars.