Federal League: NJ Outlaws Deal Armando to Cape Cod and Sign 2 Centers

New Jersey dealt forward Jeffrey Armando to the Cape Cod Bluefins this morning for future considerations.

The second-year pro posted 44 points in his rookie season with the now-defunct Rome Frenzy, after a four-year campaign at DIII New England College. Despite his 44 points, Armando was a team worst -30 during his 46 games as a Frenzy, which leads to questions about his play in his own zone.

To be fair, most of the Frenzy's regulars were in double digit minus ratings as the team struggled to keep pucks out of their own net and none of their goaltenders had a GAA under four. Armando was one of New Jersey's six selections in the FHL's expansion draft, but had not agreed to a contract with the Outlaws.

In addition the Outlaws have solidified themselves down the middle with the additions of two centers, as they have officially signed veteran Kevin Cooper to a standard pro contract and invited TJ Schneider to camp on a tryout deal.

Cooper, 30, joins a growing number of players coming north from the SPHL and will reunite with 2010/11 Huntsville Havoc teammate Billy McCreary.

Outlaws coach Chris Firriolo announced the signing this past Wednesday and called Cooper "an invaluable asset to our organization" based on his experience and leadership. That comes from four years of college hockey at DIII Middlebury (VT) College and seven years of pro hockey experience. Those seven years have taken Cooper as high as the AHL, as he appeared in one game for the Providence Bruins in his rookie season of 2004/05.

Since then, Cooper has seen time in the ECHL, CHL, UHL, SPHL and Sweden's First Division. He will be looked to for offense and goal scoring in particular, as well as to provide leadership and a veteran presence to the younger players.

The 27-year-old Schneider comes to New Jersey for his third season of professional hockey after four solid seasons at DIII Utica College from 2005 to 2009.

Should he make the team, Schneider will be re-united with former Utica goaltender Adam Dekker whom the Outlaws signed earlier this summer. Schneider brings significant size down the middle, listed at 6' 4", 200 lbs, the Outlaws will look to him to effectively use that size to win faceoffs and provide a presence in front of the net on offense.

During his rookie year in the AAHL, Schneider competed in 28 games, tallied 35 points and earned a call-up to the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the IHL, where he went scoreless with five PIM (a fight with Brad MacMillan) in eight games.

Schneider has shown a willingness to scrap with four fighting majors accounting for a good portion of his 45 PIM in the 2009/10 AAHL season, but he'll have some trouble with more experienced fighters, as seen in his 2009/10 IHL preseason fight against Mark Cody.

If he can improve in the fisticuffs department while continuing to be a physical and offensive threat, the Outlaws could have a complete power forward on their hands.