CALLER-TIMES INTERACTIVE: NEWS
Tue 14-Jul-1998
IceRays pick former Scorpions exec as GM
Garino one of several players, employees making move from New Mexico team
By MARK BUTTON
Caller-Times
One hundred days till the showdown.
The Corpus Christi IceRays hired Jimmy Garino as the hockey team's new general manager Monday. Garino made the move from vice president of sales and marketing for New Mexico Scorpions, and he is one of at least four Scorpions who either played under or worked with IceRays Coach Taylor Hall from 1996-97, when Hall coached the New Mexico squad.
Jody Praznick, the first-ever player signed by the IceRays, played for Hall in New Mexico, as did Chris Robinson, Tyler Bouche and Mike Tomlinson -- all of whom are expected to sign with Corpus Christi before the Western Professional Hockey League season begins on Oct. 10 with a clash between the IceRays and the Austin Ice Bats.
However, Oct. 20 is the date that IceRays fans need to circle. That's when the Scorpions come to Memorial Coliseum to drop the puck, and possibly some gloves.
``It wouldn't surprise me if a few punches were thrown that night,'' said Don Zallera, public relations director for the New Mexico franchise.
Hall, who until Monday held both the general manager and head coaching titles for the IceRays, refutes any bad blood between the two franchises, and said his goal is not to rob the Scorpions of talent but to bring Corpus Christi the best franchise possible.
``Jimmy is a great guy,'' Hall said. ``He's dynamic. He's a motivator. He's so enthusiastic, and he's the type of person to take control of things. I hired him because I want to make sure the people of Corpus Christi get the highest quality people available.''
Garino's stance is similiar. The 28-year-old Connecticut College graduate turned down offers from the likes of the Austin IceBats, the San Antonio Dragons of the International Hockey League and the front office of the WPHL itself to jump on board with Hall and the IceRays.
``Quite honestly, this (Corpus Christi) was the place with the most potential,'' Garino said. ``Taylor's passion is totally infectious. After working with him in New Mexico I learned that he is the person anyone in this league should want to work for.''
Though Hall, Garino and Zarrella contend there are no sour feelings between Zarella's Scorpions and the IceRays, the men agree the contests between the two clubs will be memorable.
``That's a battle no one should miss,'' Garino said.
The 1998-99 WPHL season, which will be the IceRays' inaugural year, will feature 17 teams, up from 12 last season.
While he was with the Scorpions, Garino saw his team lose to El Paso in Game 7 of the WPHL Eastern Conference finals. El Paso went on to defeat Forth Worth in the finals. Garino served as both the vice president of the Scorpions as well as vice president of sales and marketing. Under Garino, the Scorpions were the league's No. 1 team in corporate sales, and they also held the single-game attendance record for WPHL teams.
Staff writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613.