Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - On eve of scrimmage, Praznik returns

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Wednesday, October 4, 2000

On eve of scrimmage, Praznik returns
Hall welcomes back first IceRay as team prepares for CHL opponent
By Matt Young
Caller-Times

David Adame/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi’s Byron Pool (bottom) hits the ice while battling Francis Bouley (center) and Steve Smiley for a loose puck during practice Tuesday.

Taylor Hall saw some positives from his players in the Corpus Christi IceRays' first scrimmage Tuesday, but the IceRays coach especially liked what he saw from the scrimmage's referee.
   The referee was Jody Praznik, one of the IceRays' top defenseman and a league all-star last year. Praznik signed a contract about an hour before the scrimmage, giving him enough time to lace up a pair of skates and officiate the game.
   "It's good to be back out here with the guys," Praznik said. "I'm glad we finally got the contract signed, and I'm looking forward to starting the season."
   Praznik was the first player the IceRays signed when the franchise began operations in 1998.
   "Jody's one of our leaders, so it's great to have him back in the fold," Hall said. "It was great to just see him skating around for us again."
   Praznik officiated what turned out to be a defensive scrimmage. The IceRays played two 20-minute halves, with play being stopped every minute for line changes.
   Although it meant nothing, Kurt Wickenheiser's White team shut out the Black team, 4-0. Wickenheiser, the IceRays' leading scorer last season, scored the only goal of the first half. Kevin Solari, Cory Evans and Patrick Heinz added goals in the second half.
   "One scrimmage certainly doesn't make a season, but I was watching really closely, and I saw a lot of good things out there," Hall said. "We looked really strong in goal and on defense, which is definitely a positive step for us. Defense should be one of our strong points this season."
   Hall will get a better look at his team when it plays its first exhibition game against the Wichita Thunder at 7:05 p.m. today at Memorial Coliseum.
   The Thunder plays in the Central Hockey League, where it went 25-20-2 last season. The matchup will also reunite the IceRays with a familiar foe - Stephane Larocque, who played for the Fort Worth Brahmas last season before signing with the Thunder in the offseason. Larocque was involved in several altercations with IceRays last season when Corpus Christi played Fort Worth.
   "We'll be able to learn a lot more about ourselves (today) when we get more in a real game situation," Hall said. "You'll have a full house, and you'll be playing against a different team. That's when it gets more competitive, and you learn more about the players."
   Praznik and Geoff Bumstead will likely sit out the first exhibition game, although both may be available for the final preseason game against Wichita on Friday.
   "(Bumstead) has a sore groin, so we're going to hold him out for a little while," Hall said. "We know it's a long season, so it's nothing we want to rush."
   Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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