Former Laker McLaughlin Comes Up Short In ECHL Tryout

To the left is a cell phone image of the brand new Lucas County Arena, where the East Coast Hockey League's Toledo Walleye will begin their inaugural season on Oct. 16.  However, former Oswego State forward Brendan McLaughlin will not be in uniform for the expansion franchise when they take the ice.

McLaughlin says he was cut a few days into tryouts but soon signed on with the Chi-Town Shooters of the All-American Hockey League.  He is currently in Indiana watching former Lakers teammates Rich Zalewski and Rick Varone play for the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League.  McLaughlin also mentioned that another former Oswego State teammate of his, Derrell Levy, had been released from his tryout with the ECHL's Elmira Jackals.

McLaughlin joins a Shooters club that won the Champion's Cup in April to close out the AAHL's inaugural season.  The Shooters play their home games at the 1,500-seat Midwest Ice Arena in Saint John, IN.  The AAHL currently features six Midwestern franchises and are considered a low-level affiliate to the IHL.  Chi-Town will open the 2009-10 season on Oct. 23 in Battle Creek, MI.

UPDATE: I received a message from McLaughlin moments ago that stated, "Stop blogging.  The guy from the Chitown Shooter [SIC] heard I was coming and keeps calling."  Take from that what you will, but it sounds as though McLaughlin is not actually joining Chi-Town and was f#@King with me misleading me...again.