CALLER-TIMES INTERACTIVE: NEWS
Wed 15-Apr-1998
IceRays to announce first player
Expansion team expected to sign Scorpions' Praznik
By MARK BUTTON
Caller-Times
The Corpus Christi IceRays are expected to announce today that they have signed Jody Praznik as the franchise's first player for the inaugural 1998-99 season.
Praznik, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed defenseman, will be formally introduced to the public today at a 1 p.m. press conference outside the IceRays Merchandise Store in Sunrise Mall.
Praznik was one of the best Western Professional Hockey League defensive players during the 1996-97 season when he played for IceRays Coach and General Manager Taylor Hall. At that time, Hall coached and Praznik played for the New Mexico Scorpions, one of the 12 current WPHL teams.
The IceRays are one of two WPHL expansion teams for the 1998-99 season, which begins in October. The Corpus Christi team will play its 35 home games in Memorial Coliseum. Little Rock, Ark., will have the other expansion team next season.
Praznik scored 18 goals and dished out a league-best 52 assists in 1996-97 for the Scorpions, who won the Governors' Cup for their regular season championship. His 70 points led the league in that category for defensemen and his 18 goals ranked third.
Steve Cherwonak, WPHL director of scheduling and media relations, could not confirm the signing of Praznik Tuesday because league protocol requires that it must first receive a signed contract that meets league approval. The WPHL has not yet received that contract from Hall. Cherwonak, however, did not deny that Praznik would be an IceRay.
``He's a great addition to the team,'' Cherwonak said. ``It's a great way to start off. He's a tremendous defenseman.''
Praznik, a 29-year-old native of St. Andrews, Manitoba, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1988 and has had stints with the Adirondack Red Wings and San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.
``Jody played in Europe last season and his rights are not owned by any team in the league,'' Cherwonak said.
The WPHL is currently in the semifinal round of the 1997-98 playoffs. The Fort Worth Brahmas swept the Shreveport Mudbugs in one semifinal series and will face either the Scorpions or the El Paso Buzzards in the WPHL finals.
Hall had no comment Tuesday about Praznik, preferring to wait till today's press conference.