September 2003

Titans Shore Up Front Line With Two Key Signings

The Trenton Titans went a long way toward becoming a Kelly Cup competitor once again with the signings of left wing Matt Zultek and centerman Joe Rybar for the 2003-04 season.

Zultek had a breakout season last year finishing second on the team in goals (25), power play goals (13), game winning goals (5) and penalty minutes (205). Overall, he finished fourth on the team with 52 points in just 58 games. Zultek notched 11 multiple point efforts last season, and a career best four points, with his first professional hat trick, on December 20th against Roanoke. He registered a career best seven-game point streak (5 goals, 8 assists) in an eleven-day stretch late in December 2002 in helping the Titans turn their season around. The titans posted a 4-1-2 in those contests. A true power forward, he will attend the NHL Minnesota Wild's Training Camp beginning in September.

Zultek joins fellow standout and left winger Scott Bertoli to give the Titans an imposing pair of goal-scoring threats up front. Bertoli, a fan favorite, scored 21 goals and dished out 38 assists for 59 points in just 47 contests last season. Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Bill Armstrong talked about the importance of having Zultek back for the 2003-04 season.

"We are very excited to get Matt back," said Armstrong. "He is a player who gets better each year. Matt adds a new dimension to power forward with his physical style of play and his ability to score points."

Rybar, a veteran centerman, notched a career best 74 points (27 goals, 47 assists) last season with the Idaho Steelheads then of the West Coast Hockey League. He also added four goals and six points in six post-season contests. Rybar began his professional career with the Peoria Rivermen during the 1998-99 season where he netted a still career best 32 goals and 73 points in 70 games. He led the Rivermen to a Kelly Cup Championship during the 1999-2000 season, including a six-game victory in the Northern Conference Finals over the Titans. During that run Rybar totaled six goals and 17 assists in 18 games for the Kelly Cup Champions. He will fill the number one center slot vacated when the Titans traded Adam Edinger to Toledo for All-Star defenseman Grady Moore.

"Joe gives us leadership and a number one center," said Armstrong. "He plays in every situation and is a point-a-game player. Joe is someone our fans will remember back to his days in Peoria, and most importantly he is a winner."