Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - 'Rays weekend is unsettled as WPHL grounds Aviators

Marketplace \| Services \| Contact Us \| Community \| Arts & Entertainment \| Local Guides

Friday, December 10, 1999

'Rays weekend is unsettled as WPHL grounds Aviators
Abilene's lack of an owner may cancel Saturday's game
By Mark Button

Caller-Times

The situation concerning the future of the Abilene Aviators brings new meaning to old clich‚, "Take it one game at a time" for the Corpus Christi IceRays.
   Corpus Christi hosts Central Texas today - face off is 7:05 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum - and the IceRays are scheduled to play at Abilene Saturday.
   "Scheduled" is the operative word.
   The Western Professional Hockey League canceled the Aviators' home game against Austin Tuesday and suspended the team's operations Wednesday because the franchise lacks an owner.
   Former Abilene owners Dr. John and Glenda Slaughter defaulted on the team the day after Thanksgiving and the league has been attempting to find new owners since.
   Franchise sales in the WPHL do not happen overnight, and Brad Treliving, league director of hockey operations, said Abilene's future was still uncertain as of Thursday afternoon.
   "We hope to make decisions by the end of the day today," Treliving said, "and we will adjust everything accordingly first thing Friday morning."
   IceRays coach Taylor Hall said he hoped to hear something sooner than Friday.
   "We hope to hear something today (Thursday)," Hall said. "Because we're scheduled to leave for Abilene after the game Friday. (The situation) doesn't sound too positive, but we're prepared to go up there and play. If they tell us it is delayed, then we will just get ready for the next game and go from there."
   As for today's game, Hall said Thursday had not yet made a decision as to who will start in goal.
   One would think putting Eddy Skazyk back in net for the IceRays is a no-brainer, as Skazyk is 4-0 against the Stampede. The IceRays suffered their only loss to Central Texas, 5-3, when Jason Genik played in goal.
   "I have confidence in both goalies," Hall said. "(Skazyk's record) is something to take a look at, but we'll make that decision tomorrow (Friday). But both guys will get to play this weekend."
   IceCubes
   A INJURY REPORT: Defensemen Ryan Esselmont and Kevin Holliday are listed as "probable" for today's game, as is forward Alain Savage. Esselmont is nursing a sprained left arm, Holliday a broken toe on his right foot and Savage has sore ribs. Forward Mike Tomlinson will remain on the injured-reserve list until Dec. 17 with post-concussion syndrome. Forward Dave Gilmore will remain on the IR until Dec. 30 with a broken nose and forward Chris Robertson comes of the IR on Sunday and may could in the IceRays' game at Waco. Robertson's availability for Sunday will be a game-time decision.
   A SIEG SAVES LIFE: IceRays equipment manager Greg Sieg helped save a child's life Sunday night when Sieg dislodged a grape from the child's throat.
   Sieg and his wife, Cindy Sieg, were hanging Christmas lights from the balcony of their apartment when Greg heard a someone screaming. Sieg said he and another tenant ran down to see what was happening.
   "There was this apartment door open and a little boy was on the floor bleeding from the mouth," said Sieg, who is certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
   Sieg said the father was on the phone with 911, so Sieg went to the child.
   "The little guy wasn't breathing," Sieg said. "But he hadn't turned blue yet and he had blood coming from his mouth. I got a hold of his head and the father gave him a couple of smacks on the back and the child gurgled a little bit."
   Sieg then put his index finger in the child's mouth and felt around for the obstruction.
   "He was choking on a grape," Sieg said. "I felt it with my finger but it basically worked its own way out."
   Sieg said moments later the paramedics arrived and took the child and his father to hospital for evaluation. Sieg also said he does not know the name of the family or the child, but he went by the apartment a couple of days later to check on them.
   Amazingly, it was not the first time Sieg helped save a life.
   "Myself and three student nurses pulled a reverend out of a car after it crashed back in Canada in 1995," Sieg said. "The reverend called me a 'hero,' but I just like to think that I was doing what anyone else would do for me if I was in the same situation."
   Sieg was hesitant to discuss Sunday's heroism because he said the child's well being is much more important than any recognition Sieg receives.
   "It's a very humbling situation," he said. "It really shows you how precious life is."
   Last season, Shaun Peet of the IceRays saved a child's life by administering CPR after the child had nearly drowned.



Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at buttonm@caller.com

| Talk about this story | Next Story | Home |

[ Printer-friendly version ]
[ Subscribe to newspaper ]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]