On Friday, Oct. 16, the Manchester Monarchs will open the doors for their 15th season of professional hockey in Manchester, and embark on their inaugural season in the ECHL. The team will take on the North Division’s Brampton Beast, and get their first glimpse of the ECHL’s Eastern Conference lineup. Here are a few things to keep in mind heading into the home opener.
 

Division Rivals

With the addition of the Monarchs, Adirondack Thunder and Norfolk Admirals to the ECHL, the Eastern Conference saw movement and realignment in each of its three divisions. The three new teams to the league join the Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals in the East Division.  Manchester caught a glimpse of the Thunder in two preseason match-ups, splitting the overtime contests.  The Monarchs will face off against the Thunder 15 times throughout the season and host the Thunder for the first time on Sunday, Oct. 25. They will then get their first of 11 shots at the Jackals on the road in Elmira, N.Y. on Halloween.  The Norfolk Admirals will initially roll into Manchester for three games on Nov. 20-22.  The Monarchs have to wait until Dec. 4 to see what the Reading Royals are made of when they come to town for a three-game weekend.
 

They're Back
 

While the team is composed of several veterans who will help a younger team, two veterans in particular will be vital in helping the new team realize what it takes to put on the Monarchs jersey each and every night. This season marks the return of former Monarchs, David Kolomatis and Stefan Legein, as both will bring their expertise of navigating the Verizon Wireless Arena’s ice. Defenseman Kolomatis played in 250 games during his four seasons in Manchester from 2009-13.  Kolomatis scored 110 points during his tenure in Manchester on 29 goals and 81 assists.  Legein will also provide a veteran presence as this season marks his 9th year of professional hockey.  In his two seasons with the Monarchs, Legein scored 42 points on 19 goals and 23 assists.

Grade A Stats

The Monarchs have a rookie class composed of impressive college athletes who posted big numbers in the stat columns. One of those players is Matt Leitner who comes to the Monarchs from Minnesota State University.   In four years of collegiate play, the 24-year-old from Los Alamitos, Calif. registered over 162 points, with 114 coming from assists alone. In the two preseason games against Adirondack, he assisted on three goals.  Leitner’s ability to find his teammates’ sticks makes him one to watch for this upcoming season.
 

Matt White is no stranger to the ECHL or finding the back of the net. In two seasons with the Ontario Reign, the 26-year-old forward has posted 117 points, including 50 goals. In his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska -Omaha, he registered 99 points over three seasons. Maybe even more impressive than his scoring is his ability to stay out of the penalty box. In 139 ECHL games, White has collected only 16 penalty minutes. This forward’s ability to score goals and play a clean game will keep the Monarchs on top of the scoreboard.
 

Manning The Pipes
 

Colin Stevens and Michael Houser will protect the net this year for Manchester. Stevens played for Union College where he posted a 2.31 GAA in 67 games during his last season. In his four years, he amassed a record of 52 wins, 24 losses and six ties.  During his junior season, Stevens went on a Cinderella-esque run through the Frozen Four, ultimately raising the Division-I National Championship, defeating the University of Minnesota 7-4 in the Finals. Houser joins the Monarchs with experience in both the ECHL and AHL. Most recently, he collected a 2.83 GAA in 37 starts for the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) with a record of 19 wins, nine losses and four ties. The two will backbone the team and lead the defensive game.

Veteran Presence

This season’s roster has a mix of AHL, ECHL and college players.  Many are beginning their professional careers with the Monarchs this season. The team’s rookies will be shown what it takes to be a professional from teammates with experience in the AHL. Two of those AHL veterans are Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Eric Neilson.  
 

Samuels-Thomas played for the Rochester Americans last season and registered two assists in the two preseason games against Adirondack this season. Samuels-Thomas’ previous numbers with the Americans might not be as showy as Leitner’s or White’s, but the opportunities Samuels-Thomas creates with his speed, body positioning and stick-handling will create plays for the young team.
Neilson enters his 12th season in professional hockey, and is making a return to the ECHL. The Fredericton, New Brunswick native played three years in the ECHL before an eight-year career in the AHL with five organizations. In four of his eight AHL seasons, Neilson collected over 100 penalty minutes, with 207 in one season alone. The Monarchs may have found their new enforcer who will protect his teammates on the ice. As the oldest member of the Monarchs, Neilson’s leadership and wealth of experience will be vital for the success of the young team.
 

Home Sweet Home
 

The Monarchs will host 36 games during the 2015-16 season.  In November and March, the team will get well acquainted with the Jungle faithful, playing in several home games in a short period of time. The team hosts their first of two seven-game home stands on Nov. 13. In the 10-day period, the Monarchs will host the Toledo Walleye, Elmira Jackals and Norfolk Admirals. The second 10-day home stand begins Mar. 4, with seven games against four teams. During this stretch, the Monarchs will have their shot at the Orlando Solar Bears, Thunder, Royals and Jackals.
 

Join the Monarchs at the Verizon Wireless Arena as they begin their season Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. against the Brampton Beast. Tickets are available through ManchesterMonarchs.com or by calling the Monarchs Front Office at 603-626-7825.
 

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