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Thursday, February 17, 2000
Remaking IceRays' roster on the fly, Hall jettisons popular forward Lewis
By Mark Button
Caller-Times
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| Caller-Times file photo |
| Voted by Corpus Christi fans as last season's 'Unsung Player of the Year,' IceRay Roger Lewis (right) was released Wednesday by coach Taylor Hall. |
Add Roger Lewis' name to the list of hockey players who returned to the Corpus Christi IceRays for a second season but will not finish the year with the team.
IceRays coach Taylor Hall on Wednesday released Lewis, a pesky forward voted "Unsung Player of the Year" by Corpus Christi fans last year.
"Over the last couple of months, we've been bringing in a lot of new guys," Hall said. "And now we have a lot of guys on the roster. Unfortunately, Roger didn't fit into the blueprint for us in the playoffs to win a championship."
Lewis, who anchored the team's checking line and scored five goals and had 20 assists in 47 games, is the fifth returning IceRays forward who has been dealt away this season. Like Lewis, forwards Dave Shute, Pavel Evstigneev, Mike Tomlinson and Chris Robertson returned to the IceRays this season after playing in Corpus Christi last year. Because of trades, injury or outright release, however, none of them are will wear IceRays jerseys as the team (22-18-8, 52 points) heads toward the playoffs.
Only nine of the 19 players the IceRays started the season with remain on the Corpus Christi roster.
"I kind of sensed it coming," Lewis said. "I was playing less than normal in the two games we had last weekend. But overall, I was surprised that he outright released me without being traded."
Not only did the rash of trades Hall completed in the last two months put Lewis' job security in jeopardy, players coming off the injured-reserve list forced Hall to make a move. The $10,000-a-week league salary cap was also a concern. When players are on the IR, their salaries do not count against the cap.
Forward Layne Roland came off the IR on Feb. 11 and forward Brad Wingfield returned to the team from an injury today. Veteran defenseman Jody Praznik is due to come off the IR Sunday as well.
"Roger is a great guy," Hall said. "We wish him the best of luck wherever he goes."
Lewis said Wednesday that he does not know where he will finish the year.
"I go on the waiver wire for 24 hours," he said. "So right now I'm just waiting to see which team will pick me up."
Lewis said he would like to continue to play in the Western Professional Hockey League, but he has not ruled out jumping to another league if the right opportunity came along.
Lewis said he was disappointed with the news because he knows he will miss the Corpus Christi fans and his teammates.
"But in a career aspect," he said, "I look at it as an opportunity to go somewhere and maybe make a little more impact on a team than I did here."
ICECUBES
A BRAHMAS TIE ICERAYS: With a 6-3 victory at San Angelo Tuesday, Fort Worth (24-20-4, 52 points) moved into a two-way tie for third place in the WPHL Central Division. The IceRays and Brahmas meet in Fort Worth Friday and will play a total of six more games against each before the playoffs begin in late March.
Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at buttonm@caller.com
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