CALLER-TIMES INTERACTIVE: NEWS
Wed 29-Jul-1998
IceRays strike deal with Vegas
Hockey team secures affiliation with Thunder
By MARK BUTTON
Caller-Times
The Corpus Christi IceRays will announce today that the franchise has officially secured an affiliation with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League.
``It's official,'' said Brad Treliving, director of hockey operations for Western Professional Hockey League. ``I think it is a tremendous accomplishment for a team that hasn't even played a game yet. It gives them instant credibility -- not that they didn't already have credibility.''
IceRays coach Taylor Hall said he was glad the deal is finally complete.
``It's a real relief,'' Hall said. ``We'll be one of only four or five teams in the league with an official affiliation.
``We want to give guys the belief that they can move up and ultimately have a chance at playing in the NHL. It's an incentive to the younger players, and it will make for a better product on the ice.''
The affiliation with the Thunder creates a player pipeline between the IceRays and Las Vegas. The IHL is one level below the NHL and one level above the WPHL; the IHL is hockey's version of Triple-A baseball, with the WPHL serving as Double-A ball.
The Thunder will be able to call up IceRays players to fulfill needs, moving minor-leaguers closer to the NHL. In turn, Las Vegas will be able to send players to Corpus Christi if the need arises.
Additionally, the IceRays have officially signed Chris ``Robo'' Robertson, Mike Tomlinson and Tyler Boucher to one-year contracts.
All three men played under Hall two years ago for the WPHL's New Mexico Scorpions franchise that produced the best regular-season record in 1996-97. Robertson, who was a player/assistant coach to Hall in New Mexico, said he can't wait to get on the ice for Corpus Christi.
``It's a lot more exciting to be signed when you know you're going to have a successful team,'' said Robertson, 30.
Hall said Robertson was, and will still be, one of the most skilled players in the WPHL.
``He is very smart offensively, he is an incredible skater and he will definitely be a team leader,'' Hall said of Robertson, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound center/forward.
Hall described Tomlinson as a versatile player that should average a point a game (a point is awarded for either a goal or an assist). Tomlinson just finished playing with the Greensboro Monarchs of the East Coast Hockey League where he produced 56 points in 47 games.
Boucher, Hall said, is a ``sparkplug'' of a player. Standing just 5-5 and weighing only 165 pounds, both Robertson and Hall said Boucher is not afraid to mix it up with players larger than himself.
``He plays like he's 6-6,'' Hall said. ``He'll be a fan favorite. He's a checker, meaning that he checks the better players on the other team and gets under their skin. The home crowd is going to love Tyler.''
The IceRays begin play in WPHL the on Oct. 13 against the Austin Ice Bats at Memorial Coliseum. Training camp for the Thunder begins Sept. 17. The IceRays begin their camp Sept. 28.