Bullfrogs Have Many New Faces but Retain Old Goal as Season Begins : Roller hockey: Only six players remain from 1993 championship team. Opener is Saturday.

Sentiment always takes a back seat to winning in the Bullfrogs’ front office.

Two years ago, the Bullfrogs cut every player they drafted . . . then won the league championship.

Last season, the team lost in the Western Conference finals to Portland. During the off-season, Anaheim traded 1993 playoff MVP Bobby McKillop, a fan favorite, to Phoenix.

So when the Bullfrogs take the floor Saturday at The Pond to begin their third Roller Hockey International season, fans will see a new team with many new faces. But the goal remains the same.

“The tone is getting more serious,” Bullfrogs goalie Rob Laurie said. “This is not a walk-in-the-park summer vacation. There’s a lot of top talent coming into training camp.”

Among the new players is Daniel Shank, who was acquired from Phoenix for McKillop and defenseman Steve Beadle. Shank will team with Victor Gervais to give the team a potent one-two scoring punch.

Gervais, who led the team in scoring with 24 goals and 29 assists last season, is one of only six players in training camp who were members of the 1993 championship team. Laurie, forward Savo Mitrovic and defensemen Joe Cook and Darren Perkins are also back for a third season in Anaheim.

So is Brad McCaughey.

McCaughey, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, also was an assistant to Coach Grant Sonier last season. Although the team is bringing in new faces, an old ally also has returned.

Chris McSorley, who coached the team to the 1993 championship, is back with the Bullfrogs as director of player personnel. McSorley coached Buffalo to the RHI championship last season.

McSorley, Sonier and McCaughey invited 25 players to camp and the team cut three players Friday.

“Last year, there was a step up in the level of play over the first year,” Sonier said, “and this year, the quality of play will move up to a higher level. You can see it at our camp, and I’m sure it’s that way for everyone in the league.”

Those aren’t the only changes in the league.

* After the league expanded from 10 to 24 teams last season, there are only 19 franchises this season. The most notable casualty is Portland, which reached the championship series last season but didn’t raise enough money to participate in the league this season.

* Rule changes this season include the reduction of the duration of minor penalties from two minutes to 1 1/2 minutes. Also, attacking teams on a power play must vacate the offensive zone when the defense clears the puck.

* One of the most intriguing potential changes is being examined by league officials. Sonier has tried a new five-wheel skate (all players currently use a four-wheel model) and has raved about its maneuverability.

“You have a greater amount of control for turning, starting and stopping and you don’t slip as much,” Sonier said. “The only downside is you lose some top-end speed, but I feel overall that this is a better product.

“But not all the teams may have availability to the [five-wheel] skate right away and there is another issue of current sponsors.

“It’s not a simple issue.”

Neither will be Sonier’s task of trimming his roster. Among the new players who should make an impact:

* Shank. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound forward had 17 goals and 30 assists in only 15 RHI games with Phoenix last season. He was the second-leading scorer with Detroit of the International Hockey League this season, tallying 48 goals, 38 assists and 172 penalty minutes in 73 games.

* Mark Deazeley, forward. The Winnipeg Jets hold Deazeley’s rights. At 6 feet 4, 240 pounds, he was named offensive player of the year for the Toledo Storm in 1994 and played for Springfield of the American Hockey League this season.

Deazeley and Darren Banks, who is 6-2, 230 pounds, give the Bullfrogs added bulk up front.

“Deazeley will be a fan favorite,” Sonier said.

Sonier also said Brad Tiley, a 6-2, 210-pound forward, will be a player to watch.

“We still have some very tough cuts to make,” Sonier said.

He hopes they are the right choices, ones that could bring Anaheim its second championship.

Remaining training camp roster:

Goalies--Chris Gordon, Rob Laurie.

Defensemen--Darren Banks, Joe Cook, Marc Ouimet, Darren Perkins.

Forwards--Jared Bednar, Steve Cadieux, Mark Deazeley, Justin Duberman, Victor Gervais, Fredrik Jax, Rick Judson, Brad McCaughey, B.J. Macpherson, Savo Mitrovic, Daniel Shank, Brad Tiley, Todd Wetzel.