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Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Wednesday, October 17, 2001
IceRay's player capsules
2 REGAN HARPER
Nickname: Harps
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 29
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 200
An original IceRay, Harper is one of the league's top defensemen. He was a finalist for the WPHL's Defenseman of the Year last season after tallying 59 points with Tupelo. ... Still holds the IceRays' record for plus/minus in a season (+34). ... Has played in three straight All-Star Games.
3 JEFF POTTER
Nickname: None
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 26
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 205
A good-sized defenseman in his first year with the IceRays. ... Was a college teammate with IceRay Byron Pool at Colgate University.
7 BYRON POOL
Nickname: Poolzy
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 26
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 210
In his second season with Corpus Christi, Pool came to the IceRays last year during an early-season trade with Monroe. ... A tough defender who doesn't give up the blue line and has a knack for clearing the crease.
8 ALEX KHOLOMEYEV
Nickname: Komo
Pos: Right Wing
Age: 32
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 225
A versatile player who can score from anywhere on the ice, Kholomeyev came to the IceRays during the 2000 season from a trade with Fort Worth. ... He knows what it takes to win a title; as a member of the Huntsville Channel Cats of the SHL and the CHL, he won two championships. ... Was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 1992 Entry Draft.
11 KURT WICKENHEISER
Nickname: Wick
Pos: Center/Left Wing
Age: 37
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 183
One of the most popular IceRays, Wickenheiser was voted onto the All-Star Game last season. ... In 2000, he led the WPHL in goals with 63 and was second in the league in points (118). ... Is in his 16th season of hockey. ... Signed a contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 1986, and has played on the same teams before with Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey.
12 ROBBY BOISSON
Nickname: Dog
Pos: Right Wing
Age: 23
Ht: 5-9
Wt: 185
A physical forward who has shown the ability to score, Boisson should see most of his ice time as a member of the team's checking line. ... While playing in juniors, he was named to the SJHL All-Star Game in two of his four years with the league.
19 JEFF PALUSEO
Nickname: Pallie
Pos: Center/Left Wing
Age: 25
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 185
In his second year as a pro, Paluseo has all the tools of a great prospect. Very quick on the ice, and always a dangerous threat on breakaways. ... Led all IceRays rookies last season with 44 points. ... In college, was a second-team All-American and a finalist for Division III Player of the Year at Plattsburgh (NY) State.
21 CORY EVANS
Nickname: Evy
Pos: Left Wing
Age: 27
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 220
A hard-nosed, defensive forward who knows how to score. ... His best season came in 1998, when he had 28 goals and 22 assists in Landsberg (Germany).
24 RYAN PRENTICE
Nickname: Prents
Pos: Center
Age: 21
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 185
A quick forward with excellent hands, Prentice comes to the IceRays after playing with Monroe last season, when he scored 35 points. ... Look for him to spend most of his time playing in the same line with Kurt Wickenheiser or Jeff Paluseo, giving the team a speedy unit.
27 JASON CARRIERE
Nickname: A.C.
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 28
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 210
A big defenseman who likes to use his size and strength to go through opponents, not necessarily around. He has gained the reputation of never giving up the blue line, and likes to push opponents around. ... Comes to the IceRays after spending two seasons with the Monroe Moccasins, where he was a teammate of Jason Smith and Ryan Prentice.
29 QUINTEN VAN HORLICK
Nickname: Q Ball; Qubes; Que
Pos: Right Wing
Age: 26
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 175
One of the team's fan favorites both on and off the ice, Van Horlick likes to play with great emotion. ... Has shown a knack for taking on the other team's biggest players and drawing them into the penalty box. ... A good team player.
30 HUGO HAMELIN
Nickname: Hammer Hug's
Pos: Goalie
Age: 27
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 195
Will be one of the main players to watch this season, as the team is relying on him to elevate the team from his goalie position. ... Was one of the team's biggest offseason signings, coming to the IceRays after teaming with Dale Henry to win two WPHL championships with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. ... Was the playoff MVP of the 1999-2000 season.
31 BRAD ERBSLAND
Nickname: Erbs
Pos: Goalie
Age: 26
Ht: 5-9
Wt: 175
After a strong rookie season, Erbsland returns to the IceRays in what should be primarily a backup role to Hamelin. ... Signed as a free agent last season and stuck with the team, playing in 13 games with a 3.66 goals-against average. ... Was a college teammate of Jeff Paluseo, and helped lead Plattsburgh (NY) State to four conference championships.
32 MIKE DEGURSE
Nickname: Goose
Pos: Left Wing
Age: 27
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 220
New to the IceRays, DeGurse should give the team a big, physical player who likes to mix things up. During the 1997-98 season with Huntsville in the CHL, he tallied 65 points - and 335 minutes in penalties. That shouldn't come as too big of a surprise: his favorite TV show is "M*A*S*H". ... Has played six of his seven seasons in the CHL.
33 JAMIE HEARN
Nickname: Hearnzy
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 30
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 212
In his second season as an IceRay and his 10th as a pro, Hearn gives the team valuable leadership and experience. ... A defensive force with a nice scoring touch, tallying 48 points last season with 13 goals. ... When the season opens Thursday night, Hearn will become the only player to ever play in the inaugural games of the CHL (1991-92), the WPHL (1995-96) and the new CHL this year. ... Was named to the WPHL All-Star Game last season.
37 PETER-EMMANUEL BRADY
Nickname: Pierre
Pos: Goalie
Age: 24
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 195
Fighting for a roster spot behind Hamelin and Erbsland, Brady was a ninth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 1997. ... An agile netminder.
41 JEFF CHEESEMAN
Nickname: Cheezy
Pos: Right Wing
Age: 26
Ht: 5-8
Wt: 190
A crafty forward who uses his speed to create scoring opportunities, Cheeseman also is a physical player who uses his strength and speed to create turnovers. ... Signed with the IceRays last season after being released by Amarillo and finished the season with 26 points and 15 goals.
44 DEREK MCKINLAY
Nickname: Mac; Kins
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 22
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 215
After signing with the team just before the start of training camp, McKinlay might fit nicely into Dale Henry's philosophy of building a team around its defense. ... A big defenseman, he and Henry were teammates on last year's WPHL championship team in Bossier-Shreveport.
45 DUSTIN MCARTHUR
Nickname: Carty
Pos: Right Wing
Age: 26
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 195
A good player with a nice scoring touch, McArthur also has shown an ability to play good defense. ... Last season, teamed with Cory Johnson and Alex Kholomeyev to be one of the most dominant second lines in the WPHL.
72 JASON SMITH
Nickname: Smithers; Smitty
Pos: Defenseman
Age: 29
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 205
Signed with the team over the offseason, Smith is a nine-year pro and played the last three seasons with Monroe. ... Tallied 52 points with the Moccasins last year.
94 KEN GOETZ
Nickname: Kenny
Pos: Right Wing
Age: 23
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 195
Fighting for a roster spot, Goetz is a fiesty rookie who doesn't back down. ... Should spend most of his team on the IceRays' checking line.
Note: IceRays' roster current as of Oct. 16. Roster must be cut to 18 players by Thursday.
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