The off-season started early by Las Vegas Thunder standards. But then again it started right on time.
Seven weeks after it was ousted from the playoffs, but only one day after the Detroit Vipers won the Turner Cup and closed out another International Hockey League season, the Thunder Monday signed Trevor Roenick to its 1997-98 roster.
"Trevor was one of the priority players we ticketed to sign this summer," Thunder general manager Bob Strumm said. "He's shown he can score at this level already."
Also Monday, the Thunder officially announced it had re-signed defenseman Sergei Yerkovich. The Thunder will retain Yerkovich's minor-league rights, but Strumm expects him to be taken in Saturday's National Hockey League draft.
Roenick, 22, is a gritty winger with little professional hockey experience. He still is considered a rookie, although he quickly will be identified by hockey fans, especially in Las Vegas.
He is the younger brother of NHL star Jeremy Roenick of the Phoenix Coyotes. However, those who saw him play against the Thunder at the Thomas & Mack Center last April know him better as the Phoenix Roadrunners player who steamrolled Patrice Lefebvre. That hit touched off a wild melee and caused Lefebvre to receive five stitches over his left eye.
"I joked with his agent and told him 'It's not our policy to have rookie initiations, but we might have to make an exception for your guy,'" Strumm said.
"He's the kind of guy you hate to play against, but love to play with. He came into our home and played with no respect for the opposition. He has lots of character, and that's what we need."
Added Roenick: "I want to prove to them I'm a team guy. Hopefully, they won't hold any grudges."
Roenick prepped at prestigious Thayer Academy, the same suburban Boston school that produced his brother and Chicago Blackhawks winger Tony Amonte. He was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the fourth round of the 1993 draft, but was released last season "because they didn't have room for me."
In 1996-97, the 6-foot-1, 200 pounder finished his career at collegiate powerhouse Maine by posting personal highs in goals (16), assists (14) and penalty minutes (54) in 35 games.
He went on to play seven games with Springfield of the American Hockey League and eight more with Phoenix of the IHL. Between the two he recorded three goals and three assists with 30 penalty minutes.
Las Vegas was the only team to make him an early off-season offer. He signed for one year at an undisclosed salary.
"It was the only real option for me," Roenick said. "I haven't gotten too much interest from the big leagues. I need to develop and show them what I can do. Maybe then I can spark a little more interest when the season is over."
Roenick forewarns Thunder fans they won't be seeing a graceful player when he takes the ice.
"I'm not the greatest skater," he admitted, "but I haven't been my whole life. I get the job done. I'm not going to look pretty. I'm definitely not fancy. Don't look for too much flash.
"But I will be hitting and doing all the little things that aren't always noticed. I'll get a lot of garbage goals, the kind where the fans say 'How did that puck get in there?'"
With Roenick and Yerkovich in the fold, the Thunder has seven players on its roster. Already under contract for next season are Lefebvre, Ken Quinney, Joe Day, Darcy Loewen and Andrei Bashkirov.
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