Package Deal: Lough and Tironese come to Gamblers after USHL Draft

First year forwards with the Green Bay Gamblers, Ryan Lough and Evan Tironese, were both selected in the 2013 USHL Phase 2 Draft last spring and have played the last three seasons together. Their first season together, in 2010-2011, they played with the Notre Dame Argos midget team and the last two seasons with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League.

Now for the fourth consecutive season Lough and Tironese will be on the same team, this year with the Gamblers, and most likely will be playing on the same line throughout the season. They will be seeing a lot of each other both on and off the ice because they are also roommates together in the same billet household.

Lough, the second leading scoring last year for Alberni Valley behind Tironese, was excited when his name got called in the 16^th round of the Phase 2 USHL entry Draft by the Green Bay Gamblers. After Lough was drafted the first thing he did was reach out to his close friend and teammate Tironese who was selected earlier in the draft with the 10^th overall pick in the first round, also to the Green Bay Gamblers. They both were talking to USHL teams before the draft but did not think it was possible to end up with the same organization.

“We talked about it before hand with regard to going to the same team but didn’t really think it was a possibility,” said Lough. “I was mostly talking to Green Bay and Evan was talking to multiple teams. It was kind of funny the way it worked out. I gave him a call afterward and we had a good laugh about it and were both obviously thrilled.”

For Tironese it was exciting to get selected by a great organization but after Lough was drafted later on it just made it that much better.

“After I was drafted by Green Bay, I was really happy,” said Tironese. “I did not know Ryan was going to be drafted as well, but once he was he gave me a call right away and we were both excited.”

Lough and Tironese are not new to junior hockey but they are new to the USHL. Both have been impressed with the depth of the league and are impressed with the high speed of play.

“It’s a great league, fast and skilled. Teams are four lines deep and it is a good solid hockey league. I’m honored to be a part of it,” said Tironese.

Lough continued with the same praise of the USHL, “It’s a fast paced league and there is not much drop off from lines one to four, everyone can play. The consistency of play from every team and every line is what impresses me the most.”

While Lough and Tironese are excited about playing in the USHL they are even more pleased to play for an organization like the Green Bay Gamblers. In their first month they have enjoyed their time in Green Bay and are delighted to have a great coaching staff along with good guys in the locker room.

“It’s been a blast so far in Green Bay. Great group of guys, good billet parents, and an outstanding coaching staff. It’s been awesome,” said Tironese.

Lough, the captain last year for Alberni Valley, hopes to take a leadership role this season with the Gamblers by continuing his work ethic both on and off the ice.

“It’s in my personality to be a leader everywhere I go. I just try to work hard on and off the ice and through my hard work comes leadership,” said Lough.

Lough is not consumed with who is the designated leader for the Gamblers, he just hopes he can lead by example and guys will follow

“I am not too worried about who becomes the leaders of the team because as long as I keep working hard every day, I will show leadership to the younger guys,” stated Lough.

Tironese and Lough have played on a line together the past two seasons and have developed great chemistry. Tironese, more known for his playmaking, has gotten used to getting the puck to Lough who usually finishes it off.

“One of the strengths to my game is my vision. I like to set guys up so they can score, I can still shoot but I am definitely a passer,” said Tironese. “It’s great playing with Ryan because I can dish to him and he can bury it along with our other line mate Drew Best.”

Lough echoed the same regard to playing with Tironese.

“The last two years in Alberni we played together and have developed some chemistry with each other. Evan is a great player so it is obviously a lot of fun to play with him,” stated Lough.

For Lough, a veteran in the junior hockey ranks, it was a tough decision to change teams but after coming to the Gamblers he could not be more thrilled to finish out his junior hockey career in Green Bay.

“It has been great so far and the organization is first class. All of the guys on the team are unreal and it has been a change for sure but an awesome experience,” said Lough.

Lough and Tironese have made it clear that they are happy to be in Green Bay to play for the Gamblers, and after just one month and one home game in Green Bay, they both have expressed their enjoyment in playing at the Resch Center and in front of the Green Bay fans.

“The Resch is an unbelievable facility and the crowd is right on top of you and loud. It’s a fun place to play and definitely gives our team that extra bit of energy when we’re playing at home,” said Lough.

Tironese agreed. “You dream of playing in a building like that. Beautiful facility and a great place to play. Fans here are great to play in front of and I look forward to playing in front of them all season.”

Lough and Tironese are looking forward to the rest of the season in Green Bay and they are happy to play another season together in what will probably be their last as Lough will play his college hockey at St. Lawrence University and Tironese will play at RPI. For now the two will be focused on helping the Gamblers back to a Clark Cup Championship.