NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (June 22) - The Texas Brahmas added center Jason Cirone to their roster Thursday afternoon following a trade with the Central Hockey League's (CHL) Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in exchange for future considerations. The 36-year-old Cirone brings 20 years of professional hockey experience (including NHL, European and Olympic) to the Brahmas roster for the 2007-08 season.
Cirone spent the 2006-07 campaign with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees as a player/assistant coach, playing in 59 regular season games and led the team in scoring with an impressive 63 points (28 goals, 35 assists).
Cirone also has international experience, having played in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games at Torino where he played with the Italian National Team and scored a goal and an assist in five games. Cirone also played in the 2006 World Championships in Riga, Latvia for Italy last May.
Prior to joining the CHL, Cirone spent five seasons in Italy playing for Asiago HC. In 190 games he averaged just over one point per game, recording 91 goals, 102 assists and 193 points. Cirone also spent one season in the German Hockey League (DEL).
The 5-foot-10, 205 pound center was a third-round pick of Winnipeg (No. 46 overall) in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. Cirone had a brief stint in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets in the 1991-92 season, playing three games.
Cirone also played for the Long Beach Ice Dogs, Kansas City Blades and Cincinnati Cyclones of the International Hockey League (IHL) for seven seasons. He combined for 259 points (121 goals, 138 assists) in 416 games.
Cirone played in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Moncton Hawks, the affiliate for the Winnipeg Jets, in the 1991-92 season and the Rochester Americans, the affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres in the 1995-96 season.
In the 1995-96 season, Cirone had a brief stint with the San Diego Gulls of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Cirone also saw time in the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) for the Birmingham Bulls for the 1993-94 campaign.
The Toronto, Ontario native had success in his major-junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Cornwall Royals In 189 games with the Royals, he registered 230 points (103 goals, 127 assists). In three playoff appearances with the club, he played 34 games and 40 points (24 goals, 16 assists). He also played 23 games for the Windsor Spitfires where he recorded 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists).
Head coach Dan Wildfong believes the addition of Cirone continues to help build the Brahmas into a championship level team.
"The Brahmas now have a solid foundation in Cirone. His experience in professional hockey is crucial in developing a strong team. The leadership he will provide will be beneficial to our young guys" said Wildfong.
Details regarding the future considerations from the Brahmas to the Killer Bees will follow upon the completion of the 2007-08 CHL campaign.
For more information, please contact Meagan McClurkan at (817) 336-4423 or (817) 584-1822.
Jason Cirone Center
Born 02-21-1971 - Toronto,
Height 5.10 -- Weight 205 -- Shoots L
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