CALLER-TIMES INTERACTIVE: NEWS
Wed 24-Jun-1998
IceRays near IHL affiliation
Contract sought with Las Vegas
By MARK BUTTON
Caller-Times
The Corpus Christi IceRays are close to securing an affiliation with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League, according to Taylor Hall, IceRays general manager and head coach.
``Nothing is official yet,'' Hall said Tuesday. ``We've been talking to Las Vegas for a while now, and hopefully we can make an official announcement soon.''
An affiliation with the Thunder -- or another franchise if the Las Vegas deal fails to materialize -- would create a player pipeline between the IceRays and the affiliate's franchise. The Thunder play in the IHL, which is one level below the National Hockey League. The IHL is equivalent to Triple-A major-league baseball affiliates, whereas the Western Professional Hockey League is comparable to Double-A baseball.
If Corpus Christi and Las Vegas strike an affiliation contract, the Thunder will be able to call up IceRays players to fulfill its needs, moving these minor-leaguers closer to the NHL. In turn, Las Vegas would be able to send players to Corpus Christi if the need arose.
Hall said he expected roughly half of the 17 WPHL teams would have affiliations next season.
``I think it would be a big positive if we can get an affiliation in our first year,'' Hall said.
Familiarity and friendship, Hall said, are the reasons Corpus Christi began pursuit of an affiliation with Las Vegas. Thunder general manager Bob Strumm held the same position for the Regina Pats Canadian Junior Hockey League team that Hall played for from 1981-84.
During the 1996-97 WPHL season, when Hall coached the New Mexico Scorpions, he spoke regularly with Strumm in Las Vegas. The Scorpions were not affiliated with the Thunder, but Hall and Strumm worked several player deals during the season.
``I think I had four or five players called up to Las Vegas that year,'' Hall said.
Hall said the respective attractions of casinos and beaches that Las Vegas and Corpus Christi offer could help bring players into both franchises.
Hall also said the IceRays will be announcing player signings in the coming weeks. Corpus Christi opens play in the WPHL on Oct. 13 against the Austin IceBats.