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Tuesday, Apr. 13, 1999
IceRays players' reflect on future with Corpus Christi
For most, decision to stay hinges on loyalty to coach Hall

   Six days ago, Corpus Christi general manager Stu Kehoe stepped inside the IceRays locker room for the first time. The hockey players he aimed to meet looked up and gave Kehoe their attention.
   Then they went back to cleaning out their lockers.
   Kehoe's hiring last week marked a new beginning to the end of the first season for hockey in Corpus Christi. Season Two will roll around in about seven months and everyone seems to be wondering the same thing: Who's coming back?
   After a successful inaugural year - 36 sellouts in 37 home games - the general manager change signaled disarray in the organization. An assumption that the players truly care about the front office soap opera would be wrong.
   Because they don't.
   Maybe a few players were a tad embarrassed about the way owner Rick Brezer handled the firing - er, the re-assigning - of former general manager James Garino. The poorly kept secret and timing of the move made the franchise look every bit like a "minor-league" operation.
   But don't think the players will be influenced by Garino, Brezer or Kehoe. Truth is, the players are loyal to one man and one man only.
   Taylor Hall.
   So this you can be sure of: Those players who return to Corpus Christi for the 1999-00 Western Professional Hockey League season will do so because of their coach.
   "The guys are very loyal to Taylor," Geoff Bumstead said. "You think you know so much about the game, but every year you're with him, you learn more. He gives you the hunger to get better. A lot of us came over from New Mexico because of our loyalty to Taylor, and I'm sure you'll see that loyalty remain in place."
   There are, of course, other factors such as the city's golf-friendly climate, beaches, and the remarkably faithful IceRays fans. A bunch of them made the team feel like champions by hanging around after the Game 4 loss in Louisiana to cheer on their heroes as they boarded the bus home for the last time.
   Still, those players who come back next year will do so mostly because of Hall, who has two years remaining on his contract.
   Hall said he wants most of the guys back, especially league Most Valuable Player Chris Robertson.
   An offer has been made to the skilled center.Robertson said the offer is "good," and bit his tongue for three minutes in an effort to keep his secret. Finally, he gave a hint.
   "I think Corpus Christi would be a great place to finish my career," he said somewhat sheepishly.
   Obviously, Robertson's return is key.
   "If he doesn't sign, then some of the other guys who might not have looked as good might look better all of the sudden," Hall said. "We have to make sure we take care of him. He's going to have other options, but I know he likes it here."
   As for the others, remember that the WPHL wants to be a developmental league, grooming young talent for higher levels of play. With that in mind, don't get too attached to these players: Most hope to move up the hockey ladder.
   Also, with Lubbock joining the WPHL next season, Hall will have to make five players available for an expansion draft. The most the IceRays could lose during the draft is one player.
   So who will return?
    Count on these coming back:
Robertson, Regan Harper. The two 1998-99 All Stars were the catalysts to much of the success the IceRays had on the ice last season.
   "We will do everything to get Chris and Regan back," Hall said.
Mike Tomlinson, Jody Praznik. Both have multi-term contracts. Tomlinson signed a three-year deal before this season and Praznik has a year left on his original two-year deal.
Shaun Peet, Quinten Van Horlick. Both are pet projects of Hall, and both improved drastically by season's end. Hall won't let either of these guys go anywhere.
Tyler Boucher. Hall will look the other way on the remaining 14 games of Boucher's 15-game suspension for butting a Lake Charles player above the eye with the end of his stick. Boucher is loyal to Hall, and vice versa.
Brad Wingfield. If his broken leg heals, Hall will have him back. "We definitely want Brad back," Hall said. "He has some unfinished business here."
    Count these guys out:
Craig Coxe. We've seen the last of Coxe on skates. One of the toughest players to ever play in the NHL finished his career as a skilled center who went an entire season without a single major penalty. Now Coxe wants to coach, and he may get his chance with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League.
Lorne Toews. At 26 years old, Toews is good enough and young enough to make a charge at the IHL. His call-up to Las Vegas last week translates into a tryout for next season. If the Thunder doesn't want him, another IHL or AHL team will.
Bob Quinnell. Though Las Vegas called him up just once this year, the 26-year-old offensive-minded defenseman is too good to stay in the WPHL. He'll get a shot in the IHL, but if things don't work out, he said would like to come back to Corpus Christi.
Pavel Evstigneev. Hall was not happy to see the fall of Russians Evstigneev and Vadim Sharapov, who Hall traded to Odessa in February. After scoring nearly
   a goal a game in the first 15 games, Evstigneev was nearly invisible as the season wound down.
    In limbo:
Phil Valk. Will be back - unless an IHL team picks him up. That could happen: his recent call-up to the Houston Aeros for the playoff run is proof.
Geoff Bumstead. The league's toughest tough guy has plans. "I'm going to the show," he said. He's not kidding. Bumstead attended the Edmonton Oilers training in each of the last two years; he'll be invited next year. A groin injury on the first shift of the first day of practice last year prevented Bumstead from show casing his skills. Now he'll get his chance.
   Bumstead may be the most loyal to Hall. "If I don't make it in the show," he said, "you might see me around here."
Jason Genik. Hall has already made an offer to the rookie goalie who lit up the WPHL in the second half of the season before coming back to earth in the playoffs. Hall wants Genik back badly.
   Genik, 23, is headed to his Winnipeg home to fish and think, but Hall expects a decision by May 15.
   "I'm still young," Genik said. "If I'm going to make a run at it (NHL), it will have to be in next year or so."
   Genik will probably take an offer from a more visible team in, say, the East Coast Hockey League.
Roger Lewis. Hall made Lewis an offer. Decision to come.
Scott Barber, Dave Shute. Both are waiting to field offers from other teams. Shute may end up in Europe.
Shawn Snesar, Brent Hoiness. Snesar said he'd like to return if he gets a good offer. If Wingfield returns, Hoiness may be the odd-man out.
   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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