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Former Bomber Van Culin joins Gems

Contributed photo Joe Van Culin, former Bombers defenseman

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Staff photo by Teesha McClam Dayton Bombers' Joe Van Culin (right) checks Reading Royals' Kirk MacDonald at the Nutter Center on Wednesday Dec. 10.

By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer Updated 3:41 PM Monday, July 6, 2009

The news couldn’t have come at a worse time.

With a fiancee and a new house, Joe Van Culin was ready to put down some roots in the Miami Valley. The defenseman then heard the news that the Dayton Bombers wouldn’t be back on the ice.

“I thought I might actually have to start using my accounting degree,” Van Culin said.

But just days after returning from his honeymoon, Van Culin got a reprieve from joining the coat-and-tie set as the 27-year-old Minnesota native signed with the International Hockey League Dayton Gems last week.

“I had heard through the grapevine that they were interested and I was definitely interested,” Van Culin said. “The timing was absolutely perfect.

“I didn’t know anything about the Gems until the announcement was made that they were coming here, but it couldn’t have come at a better time — for me, anyway.”

Van Culin, who is the second former Bomber acquired by the Gems — defenseman Greg Labenski was the first — tallied four goals and 29 assists for Dayton last year. It was his second ECHL season after playing four years with Ferris State University.

While Van Culin is happy to be returning to the ice, it isn’t simply about delaying his entry into the business world.

“I didn’t sign with the Gems just to play — I want to win,” Van Culin said. “And, from what I’ve seen, these guys want the same thing.”

The Gems roster is taking shape as Dayton picked up six players in the expansion draft and three more in the Kalamazoo Wings dispersal draft last week. Contract offers have been made to all nine of those players. Forward Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn was the first of the recently drafted players to sign with the Gems.

Versteeg-Lytwyn split time last season with the Flint Generals and the Fort Wayne Komets. The Ontario native posted a combined 17 goals and 27 assists in 60 games.

While some of the drafted players have signed with other leagues, Gems director of hockey operations Guy Trottier is optimistic that several of them will soon be on Dayton’s roster.

“If we can get five out of the bunch, we’ll be happy,” Trottier said.

In the meantime, Trottier will continue to work the phones, which he has been doing day and night for the past month.

“We got a bit of a late start but, hopefully, come September 1, I’ll be able to say we’re done,” Trottier said.

Dayton Gems acquisitions

Name	Position	2008-09 team
Rick Cleaver	left wing	Kalamazoo
Mathieu Curadeau	right wing	Fort Wayne
Jon Grabarek	left wing	Muskegon
Rob Jarvis	defenseman	Kalamazoo
Greg Labenski	defenseman	Dayton Bombers
Ryan Mior	goalie	Port Huron
Dominic Osman	right wing	Kalamazoo
Zach Pearson	right wing	Flint
Corey Rutt	left wing	Bloomington
Joe Van Culin	defenseman	Dayton Bombers
Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn	forward	Fort Wayne