Corpus Christi Online - / IceRays close out deal by sending Sharapov to Odessa

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Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999
IceRays close out deal by sending Sharapov to Odessa
Russian rookie expected to start for Jackalopes
By MARK BUTTON
Staff Writer

   Corpus Christi coach Taylor Hall traded forward Vadim Sharapov to Odessa Tuesday, fulfilling his obligations from a previous deal with the Jackalopes.
   Prior to the 1998-99 Western Professional Hockey League season, the IceRays coach acquired veteran forward Dave Shute from Odessa in exchange for future considerations. Hall was required to give the Jackalopes a player before the end of the season.
   "You always have to give up something good to get something good," Hall said. "It was a tough decision, but we owed them a pretty good player and Vadim was the guy we settled on."
   Odessa coach Joe Clark was not available for comment.
   The 21-year-old Russian rookie recorded 47 points in 47 games with the IceRays (29-20-5, 63 points), scoring 20 goals to go with 27 assists. Though Sharapov suffered a mid-season slump -- he failed to score a goal from Dec. 20, 1998 to Jan. 26, 1999, a 13-game stretch -- the skilled skater and stick-handler had scored six goals in the last 10 Corpus Christi contests.
   "I guess I'm not really surprised," said Sharapov, who will leave for Odessa today. "It's all a part of professional hockey. I'll miss Corpus Christi; I made a lot of friends here. I'll definitely miss all the guys on the team."
   On Nov. 1, 1998, Sharapov recorded the IceRays' third hat trick in a 6-2 IceRays victory at Fort Worth.
   Together with 25-year-old forward Pavel Evstigneev,
   fans dubbed the two Moscow natives the "Russian Connection." Currently, Evstigneev is playing in the International Hockey League with the Las Vegas Thunder along with the IceRays' defenseman Bob Quinnell.
   Hall said he expected both Evstigneev and Quinnell back before the end of the season.
   "With Pavel possibly coming back in the future, we've only got so much room for the same type of players," Hall said. "Plus, it's a good chance for Vadim. Odessa has been struggling with scoring goals as of late, and he'll probably play on their first line right away."
   Sitting in fourth place in the WPHL Western Division, Odessa (26-25-3, 55 points) would claim the 12th and final playoff spot if the season ended today. They have, however, lost six of their last 10 games.
   "(Odessa) has a some good players, and the coach said I'll get as much ice time as I want," Sharapov said. "There are still in the playoffs right now, so I am just going to do my best to help them."
   A 10-year veteran, Shute has scored five game-winning goals this season. The 27-year-old Richfield, Minn. native has 19 goals and 24 assists.
   The WPHL trading deadline is Feb. 22, and Hall said he is "pretty close to where we want to be," but that he will be "listening to other teams" to see if there is a lucrative trade possibility.
   The IceRays travel to Fort Worth for a 7:05 p.m. game Thursday. Corpus Christi will then play road games at Monroe and Tupelo before returning to Memorial Coliseum to host Austin on Feb. 25.
   Staff Writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613, through e-mail at buttonm@scripps.com or on the internet at www. caller.com.

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