Well lookie there, an entire week down on NaBloPoMo, and time for another intro to a random handful of the Bears. For those of you not paying attention, we've added three and lost one, so this week you'll meet the n00bs and the two goalies (bringing me to a total again of 5)

The N00bs, newly from the South Carolina Stingrays:
Patrick McNeill

All three were at Capitals rookie camp pre-season, but only McNeill really made an impression. And that impression for us was really "Wait... but there's a McNeill over there.. what the... oh, there are two of them." D-Man P. McNeill, born in '87 (he's 20) and previously playing in the OHL as the captain of the Saginaw Spirit, was picked up by the Caps in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. From his numbers, he's a very points-oriented blueliner, and doesn't get in too many scraps. Last night, in his first game as a Bear, he put up one assist, no doubt to Motzko, as Motzy was the only one to score... all...four....goals.

McNeill's Superlative: Most Likely to Need Help Dressing Himself Pre-Game (Come on, it's not THAT hard to get a jersey on straight for a photo.)


Tom Maxwell

First of all, to find anything on almost 22 year old Tom Maxwell, you have to search under "Tommy Maxwell." Which somehow is more gangsta than it should be. Coming to the Bears via the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Phoenix Roadrunners, RW Tommy Maxwell can't keep his hands to himself. Last year with the Roadrunners, he put up 13 points and 213 PIM. This year with the Stingrays, he'd already put up 3 points and 28 PIM before the Bears tapped him to move North. Something tells me Louie may need to watch his penalty minute leader status closely.. he's got competition. And competition that blogged for the Roadrunners nonetheless!

Maxwell's Superlative: Most Likely to Wear Socks with Sandals.(He's from Spokane, after all.)

Travis Morin

Selected by the Caps ninth round of the 2004 Entry Draft, Morin previously played for Minnesota State Mankato (and was a business major) before graduating in 2007 and moving to join the Stingrays last year. Numbers wise, he's been putting up around 40 points in a season and not too many penalty minutes, and hockeysfuture.com says "He is a tenacious competitor whose play along the boards is quite good. He is defensively responsible and plays very well in one-on-one situations. His great puckhandling and passing skills enable him to play the point in power-play situations." My guess is that we'll see Morin and Beagle trade off the power play/penalty kill faceoffs.

Morin's Superlative: Most Likely to Freeze His Kneecaps off Trying to Wear Shorts in Hershey.

The Goalies:
Freddy Cassivi

Really, what more can you say about Freddy Cassivi that hasn't been said somewhere else? Drafted by the Sens in 1994, since 2000, he's been bouncing in and out of the Caps organization. Born in 1975, and one of the oldest members of the team, Cassivi has led the Bears through two playoff seasons, and even journeyed to Washington to back Olie and Johnny. There's been some speculation this season that Cassivi may have hit the end of his run, but he's still been starting in the Hershey net, and making some awesome saves.

Cassivi's Superlative: Most Likely to Bail Sami Lepisto Out of Jail for Disturbing the Peace


Daren Machesney

Coming to the Bears last year via the Brampton Battalion and the South Carolina Stingrays, Cheezer's been having a wicked season so far. Racking up a shutout against Albany and being called in for Cassivi (seemingly)on Cassivi's request, as well as receiving a first star, Daren Machesney's on a roll this season. Although some have said (hockeysfuture.com) that he tends to favor a "known shooter" and his angles are weak, from what I've seen, Cheezer's been steadily improving since that review was written, and even if Freddy gets called up to D.C. again, I have faith that the Bears won't stumble at all. (well, more than they are)

Cheezer's Superlative: Most Likely to be Found Wearing Flannel. (Hey, the Brampton Batallion site says he enjoys hunting and fishing. I'm stretching it now...)