An Original Returns, as Binns Is Back In Lubbock
October 8, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX: October 8, 2002 â The Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League are excited to announce veteran defenseman Craig Binns has been added to the Cotton Kings training camp roster.
"Binns was looking to play in Europe this season, but something fell through and I stumbled over him by chance," said Cotton Kings head coach/director of hockey operations, Bill McDonald. "We have a lot of offensive minded defensemen, so Binns would contribute well to the mix because he is a big stay at home defenseman that plays physical."
Binns, a 28 year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario, spent last season with the Tulsa Oilers, where he contributed with 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points and 107 penalty minutes in 51 games. His career best season came in the 99/00 season as a member of the Lubbock Cotton Kings. Binns was one of the original cast members off the Cotton Kings opening night roster from their inaugural season, and he completed the season with 9 goals and 19 assists for 28 points. He ranked second on the âKings squad that season with a plus/minus rating of 33, leading all âKings defenseman in the category. Binns left the continent after his season in Lubbock to join the Newcastle Jesters of the British Superleague, where he tallied 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points in 43 games.
The 6'4", 225-pound left-hander is in his ninth season of professional hockey. He played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League from 1991-1994 with Windsor and Owen Sound. Binns notched 22 points and 260 penalty minutes in 168 games over his junior career.
Binns started his professional career in Columbus of the East Coast Hockey League in 1994-95, where he netted 7 goals and totaled 17 points. Craig played 3 games in Columbus during the 1995-96 season before heading to Mobile, where he had a goal and 18 assists for a 19-point season. In 1997-98, Binns was called-up to the International Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves, where he played 37 games. He played the 1998-99 season with Mobile scoring 8 points in 53 games, and played alongside former Cotton Kings defenseman Brandon Carper. Binns has 25 goals and 87 assists for 112 points in 411 career games, qualifying him as a veteran.
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