Storm loan collects interest

7/2/2004

Nick Parillo's trip to the boardwalk is over.

The Storm has signed the left-winger - dealt in March along with Alexandre Jacques, to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies for future considerations - to a contract for the 2004-05 season.

In exchange for 'loaning' Parillo and Jacques, Toledo received the rights to forwards Pierre-Luc Sleigher and Sam Paolini, along with defenseman Kam White.

"I can't believe what they got,'' Parillo said. "To get those players and me back, that was a great deal. Sleigher and White are great team guys and really hard workers. I can see what kind of team [Storm head coach] Nick [Vitucci] is putting together by getting those guys. He wants a team that works a heck of a lot harder than last year.''

The Storm failed to qualify for post-season play last season, one year after winning the regular season championship.

Parillo is one of nine Toledo players who have signed contracts.

Forward John Longo and defensemen Jason Jozsa, Dan Eberly, Bryce Charpentier and Craig Olynick all finished last season with the Storm.

Inked newcomers are ex-National Hockey League wing Reggie Savage, forward Maris Ziedins, and defenseman Dan Rohanna who played college hockey at SUNY-Fredonia last season.

A signed contract does not guarantee a roster spot when the season begins.

ECHL clubs had until yesterday to qualify up to eight players, not including those already signed. Toledo's choices were holdover forwards Jim Abbott and Derek Campbell, and goalie Cory Campbell, as well as newly acquired Paolini, Sleigher, White and backliner Jim Vickers.

The qualifying offer - the same salary as was paid last season if a player has appeared in fewer than 100 pro games, or a five percent raise for those with more than 100 - is part of the new collective bargaining agreement that was reached between the league and its players union.

The qualifying offer remains open until Aug. 1 at which time the team may sign the player to any salary or take no further action.

The only exception to the rule involves White, a veteran of more than 288 pro contests.

After Aug. 1, if the ECHL vet is not signed to a contract, he becomes a restricted free agent with the qualifying team having until Aug. 31 to match any offer.

After that date, the veteran becomes an unrestricted free agent.

If they wish to remain in the ECHL, non-vet qualifiers must play for the team that protected their rights or be traded after signing a contract.

From the group Toledo qualified, Cory Campbell will be returned to Johnstown as part of future considerations owed. Vickers, the futures in a deal with Louisiana that saw Red Wings' pro Paul Ballantyne reassigned, has already signed with a team in Europe but remains Toledo property for 2004-05.

Vitucci said that Sleigher has agreed to terms but the team has not yet received his contract.

Among those dealt during the Storm's firesale near the end of the season, center Morten Ask was qualified by Las Vegas and only after he is signed can he be returned to Toledo.

Goaltender Doug Teskey, dealt to Columbia, is a free agent. The Storm is talking with him.

Jacques is also a free agent, but it's expected he'll advance to the American Hockey League or Europe.

Among the others from 2003-04 who are now free agents: defensemen Kyle Kos, Josh Legge and Tom Nemeth, and forwards Rick Judson, Marco Charpentier and Kris Waltze.

Vitucci said that he is talking to Kos, Judson and Nemeth.

Contact Dan Saevig at:

dsaevig@theblade.com

or 419-724-6110.