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Thursday, September 30, 1999

Important eyes follow 'Rays' aspirants
Intra-squad scrimmage gives many players first opportunity to impress head coach Hall
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

They knew he was up there, watching.
   So they did their best to pretend not to notice.
   The second day of the Corpus Christi IceRays' 1999-2000 training camp brought the first intra-squad scrimmage and, for many of the rookies trying to make the team, it provided the first chance to catch coach Taylor Hall's eye and make an impression.
   As the players flew up and down the ice inside Memorial Coliseum, Hall sat up in the press box with pad and pen, surveying the talent.
   "This is what it's all about," said Hall, who was in an obvious upbeat mood after a long summer without coaching hockey. "I'm looking for guys to show me how badly they want to play here."
   Hall didn't have to look far for hungry players: Sixteen of the 28 players attending camp are rookies, which, by Western Professional Hockey League bylaws, mean they have played in less than 100 American professional games.
   "Yeah, you can feel him watching you," said rookie defenseman Ryan Esselmont, who played 54 games for Memphis in the Central Hockey League last year. "But he's watching everyone, so you just try to take care of yourself and do the best you can."
   Esselmont caught Hall's eye on more than one occasion.
   "Look at him wheel," Hall said. "He can really fly."
   Although some of the veterans at camp feel some pressure as they try to secure starting jobs, the real pressure sits heavy on the shoulders of the rookies. For them, training camp can mean the difference between playing hockey for money or finding another line of work.
   "There's a great deal of pressure," said rookie forward Jade Kersey, who graduated from Brown University in May. "I want to play here this year and I'll do whatever it takes to make the team."
   Unlike many rookies, Kersey had a familiar face to greet him. He went to school with IceRays forward Brent Hoiness and former IceRays defenseman Bob Quinnell, who is currently in camp with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League.
   "Brent, Bob and I were like best friends at Brown; we did everything together," he said. "We went on spring break together and everything."
   Rookies and veterans alike will get another chance to impress Hall today, when they scrimmage for the second time at 3 p.m.
   Hall said all the players fighting for jobs will play in both exhibition games against Lake Charles on Sunday and Tuesday.
   "Some of the veterans will probably split games," Hall said.
   ICECUBES
   ROBO, TOBIN PRAZNIK RELEASED: The scare is over. Chris Robertson will play for the IceRays this season after being released by the American Hockey League St. John Flames Tuesday. Also headed south is Tobin Praznik, younger brother to IceRays defenseman Jody Praznik. Tobin, a tough forward who may remind IceRays fans of Lorne Toews, was released by the IHL's Manitoba Moose this week. Tobin Praznik is expected to join the IceRays' camp next week, as is Robertson.
   MORE SEATS: Coliseum workers began construction on a set of risers that will add about 150 seats to the Igloo on Wednesday. The seats should be ready for bodies by Sunday's exhibition game against Lake Charles.
   NEW EQUIPMENT MANAGER: The IceRays hired Greg Sieg as their equipment manager. Sieg worked in Amarillo last season and spent the previous two seasons with El Paso, which won back-to-back WPHL President's Cups in his time there.
   SCRIMMAGE RESULTS: Team Black, led by Roger Lewis and Brent Hoiness, defeated Team White, 7-3, Wednesday. Lewis and Hoiness each scored two goals and had an assist. For Team White, Dave Shute had a goal and an assist, as did Kurt Wickenheiser.

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