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Friday, October 1, 1999

Genik's return to Corpus Christi takes detour through Manitoba
Hall says netminder will be back with IceRays before season is over
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

When the International Hockey League season opens tonight, Jason Genik will be wearing a Manitoba Moose uniform.
   But it's not really as bad as it seems, IceRays fans.
   The 23-year-old goalie signed a 25-game contract with the IHL's Moose Thursday.
   Rest assured, IceRays coach Taylor Hall will tell the fans, Genik will be on his way back to Corpus Christi soon enough.
   "The 25-day contract is basically a way to keep Jason there for a while longer," Hall said. "Manitoba is waiting for someone from the NHL to trickle down."
   The Moose have a deal with the Detroit Red Wings in which the Moose are guaranteed two goalies from the Red Wings. Manitoba has received one, Jason Elliott, and he will start in goal tonight when the Moose open their season against the Chicago Wolves. Genik - a Winnipeg, Manitoba native - is the No. 2 goalie for Manitoba, but just until Detroit sends the team another goalie.
   Moose coach Randy Carlyle echoed Hall's thoughts, saying the terms of the 25-game contract state that Genik can be released at any time.
   Still, Genik isn't complaining.
   "I love it (here)," Genik told the Winnipeg Sun. "You're playing in the old rink of the Winnipeg Jets and it's a thrill. It's kind of a boyhood dream come true.
   "Whatever happens, happens."
   The same can be said for the four rookie goalies attending the IceRays 1999-2000 training camp, all of whom are fighting for the No. 2 goalie job.
   "I feel some pressure," said Eddy Skazyk, a three-year professional but still considered a rookie because he has not played in 100 professional American hockey games yet. "But at the same time my rookie status is just in games played."
   If familiarity plays any role, Skazyk may be a step ahead of the other three goalies - rookies Eli Wilson, Varian Kirst and Shawn Grenier. Skazyk played with IceRays forward Geoff Bumstead for two years at Cornell University and he grew up playing against Genik.
   "We played against each other for about four or five years, from pee-wee through midget hockey," Skazyk said. "I think we'd make a great combination. We're friends and we're competitive with each other."
   Hall did not say which goalie has impressed him the most, but he did say the two home exhibition games against Lake Charles - Sunday at 6:05 p.m. and Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. - will be crucial for the goalies.
   "You can see some things there that you can't see in scrimmages," Hall said.
   Hall added that he will not make any cuts until after both exhibition games.
   IceCubes
   WIZARDS RENT IGLOO: The Waco Wizards will practice at Memorial Coliseum from Saturday through Tuesday. The ice in Waco is not ready, said team owner Rick Dames, as is the case in Central Texas where the Wizards had planned to hold their training camp.
   HOCKEY SHOP OPENS: There's a new addition to the Igloo this season: the "Hockey Shop."
   Located on the south concourse of Memorial Coliseum, IceRays fans can rent skates, buy new equipment and even buy the skates some of the Corpus Christi players wore last season at the Hockey Shop.
   League MVP Chris Robertson's skates are going for $150.
   "They're $500 brand new," IceRays coach Taylor Hall said.
   SCARY MOMENT: Brad Wingfield fell to the ice with a thud during Thursday's scrimmage.
   The early diagnosis was a deep thigh bruise, but it could have been much worse. Wingfield fractured his right tibia and shattered his right fibula late last season. Wingfield left the ice under his own power, bringing a somewhat of a sigh of relief to Hall and the team.
   SCRIMMAGE RESULTS: Fueled by fast-skating Dave Shute and newcomer Dustin McArthur, Team White defeated Team Black Thursday, 4-3. Shute scored a goal and recorded two assists and McArthur scored two goals to draw the three-game series even. Roger Lewis had a goal and an assist and Brent Hoiness had two assists for Team Black.
   Game 3 begins today at 3 p.m.



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

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