FLYERS NOTEBOOK: FLYERS ADD FOUR PLAYERS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The Valencia Flyers already figure to be a significantly improved team after adding four players to a roster that was shorthanded the first four weeks of the season.

Valencia (5-7), which fielded just 13 skaters two weeks ago in a home- and-away series against the Bay City Bombers, could emerge as a league contender if it's able to finalize a transaction involving Patrick Eckstein, a highly regarded forward who started the season with the Junior-B Portland (Ore.) Pioneers in the North Pacific League.

Flyers general manager Larry Bruyere is eager to sign Eckstein. However, even though Eckstein, a San Luis Obispo-area resident, already has parted ways with Portland, the Pioneers want compensation.

Bruyere hopes to finalize the deal by tonight, when the Flyers open a three-game road series against the Roseville Capital Thunder.

``I don't mind giving up future considerations because that could be anything or nothing, but we don't want to have to give up cash because we don't have a lot of cash to give around,'' Bruyere said.

Eckstein practiced with the Flyers on Tuesday night and is as eager to join the team as the Flyers are to have him.

``I really like the area, and I've heard a lot of good things about the team,'' Eckstein said. ``Hopefully, we can have a good season.''

Since the Bay City series, the Flyers have signed forwards Elliott Neese and Clay Arnold, defenseman Derek Wilkinson and goalie Travis Cottom.

Neese played for the Bombers last season and was the team's leading scorer. Arnold played for the Flyers last season and was the team's second-leading scorer.

The new additions have made Valencia a more talented team. But perhaps more important, the Flyers now have more depth.