Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - IceRays lock up Bumstead, Robertson for 1999-2000 season

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

Thursday, June 24, 1999

IceRays lock up Bumstead, Robertson for 1999-2000 season

By Mark Button
Caller-Times

The Corpus Christi IceRays have signed their two top scorers from last year's team, including one of their two All-Stars.
   All-Star forward Chris Robertson, the Western Professional Hockey League's Most Valuable Player last season, and Geoff Bumstead, voted the league's best fighter, have re-signed with the IceRays.
   Robertson signed a two-year deal but the terms were not disclosed. Bumstead's terms were also kept confidential.
   Both players said the sale of the hockey team to local owners was the decisive factor in their decisions.
   "A lot of guys were waiting to see what would happen with the ownership," Bumstead said. "Now that Bill Davidson and the local investors have taken over, there was no hesitation."
   Robertson agreed with Bumstead, saying Corpus Christi offered him everything he was looking for, including stability within the organization.
   "With the new owners in place, and with Bill Davidson running the team, I strongly believe that hockey in Corpus Christi is on a much stronger track," Robertson said.
   Bumstead said there is a chance that he will attend an NHL preseason camp, possibly with the New York Islanders or the expansion Atlanta Thrashers. If he doesn't make an NHL roster, Bumstead said he would play for Davidson and Hall.
   Davidson, who last season served as the team's director of marketing, made the jump to general manager after raising the cash to buy the second-year hockey team.
   Coach confirmation
   IceRays coach Taylor Hall confirmed the signings of Bumstead and Robertson on Wednesday.
   The only player in WPHL history to score at least 25 goals and fight 25 times in a single season, Bumstead said he would not be surprised if more players re-signed with the IceRays now that Davidson is running the team.
   "You might even see Regan Harper come back," Bumstead said.
   Like Robertson, Harper is a two-time WPHL All-Star. Unlike Robertson, however, Harper went public with his displeasure over the IceRays' management last year and said on April 27 that he would not return.
   The steady defenseman said Wednesday he is entertaining offers from teams in other leagues.
   "Right now, I'm exploring other options in the Central Hockey League," Harper said from his home in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan.
   Harper said he has not "completely ruled out" the idea of returning to the IceRays. He added that his decision would not be affected by the signing of Robertson and Bumstead.
   "I should make a decision by mid-to-late-July," Harper said.
   Top point producers
   Robertson and Bumstead were the IceRays top scorers from last year's 40-23-6 team. Robertson recorded 109 points on 42 goals and Bumstead recorded 70 points on 32 goals. Bumstead also served 274 penalty minutes.
   With the signings, Hall now has seven players under contract: Robertson, Bumstead, defenseman Jody Praznik, goalie Jason Genik and forwards Mike Tomlinson, Brent Hoiness and Quinten Van Horlick.
   The IceRays will formally announce the signing of Robertson and Bumstead today at an 11 a.m. press conference. The team released a statement saying WPHL president Rick Kozuback will attend today's press conference.
  IceCubes
   A CENTRAL DIVISION EXPANDS: The WPHL Central Division, the IceRays home, will move from five teams to six for the 1999-2000 season.
   With the addition of the expansion Lubbock Cotton Kings to the league, the Abilene Aviators - their revised ownership group should be in place by early July - will move from the WPHL Western Division to the Central. Lubbock will be a part of the Western Division.
   All three divisions will have six teams.
   In accordance with the realignment, the IceRays will play each of their non-divisional opponents twice - home and away - next season instead of three times. Within the Central Division, Corpus Christi will play Austin, Central Texas, Waco and Fort Worth nine times next season. The IceRays will only play Abilene on eight occasions, however.



Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or e-mailed at buttonm@scripps.com.

| Talk about this story | Next Story | Home |