Bats Announce Signings, Radio Deal
Published on October 14, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the addition of two tough customers to their lineup for the 2002-03 season. The Bats signed swingman and former Ice Bat Shawn Legault to a contract, and also announced that player-assistant coach Jeff Greenlaw would return as an active player for the upcoming CHL season.
The 25-year-old Legault, a native of Legal, Alberta, will be among the toughest players in the CHL. After playing defense for the Bats for two seasons from 1998-2000, Legault averaged almost 400 penalty minutes over the past two seasons at forward with Elmira of the United League. He also has appeared in 13 games with Syracuse of the higher-level American League over the past two years. Legault attended training camp with the NHL Edmonton Oilers earlier this month, and also attended camp with the Columbus Bluejackets in the two years prior.
The 34-year-old Greenlaw, from Aylmer, Ontario, will enter his fifth consecutive season in Austin, his 17th overall. A number-one draft pick of Washington in 1986, Greenlaw appeared in 57 NHL games over five seasons, with the Capitals and Florida Panthers. Earlier this summer, it was also announced that Greenlaw would assume the Assistant Coach duties left by former Assistant Ken McRae, now the head coach of the Indianapolis Ice.
"We're excited to get Shawn Legault back to Austin," said Brent Hughes, Ice Bats Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. "We feel since he was here three years ago, he's improved tremendously as a hockey player. He's an intimidating presence that we didn't quite have last year, and his skills have improved tremendously. We're bringing him in as a forward, but he's played about 50-50 forward and defense the last two years. His toughness will help our hockey club."
"Jeff Greenlaw brings leadership, intensity and consistent play, night in and night out," Hughes said. He's our top penalty killer, and important to us in front of the net on the power play. He's also intimidating to play against, and we're happy to have him lacing the skates up another year."
Prior to the Ice Bats' preseason exhibition game this past Saturday, the team also signed 24-year old forward Jaroslav Kresac from the Czech Republic. The speedy Kresac, who has played at the Division II pro level in his native homeland the past three years, scored a goal in the Ice Bats' 4-2 exhibition loss to Laredo.
With the recent signings, and Sunday's release of forwards Tommy Bolduc, Mark Coletta, Stacey Bublitz, and Jamie Davidsonâthe Ice Bats have 22 players remaining in camp. The team must trim its roster to 18 by late Wednesday. With the Legault and Greenlaw signings, the Bats have now signed all five of their allowed "veteran" players, those with 260 games or more of pro experience. However, the Bats still have six rookies in camp, three more than the league-required number of players with 25 games or less of pro experience.
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The Ice Bats also announced today that road games this season will be broadcast on News Talk 1260, KWNX-AM. The station will broadcast all road games during the 2002-03 regular season and CHL playoffs. The broadcasts will also be available through the Ice Bats website, at www.icebats.com. Ice Bats Director of Broadcasting, Media/PR Glen Norman will handle play-by-play duties for a fifth straight season. Home or away, Ice Bats fans will be able to follow the action with real-time scoring through the Ice Bats website, courtesy of Pointstreak.com. Fans will be able to access a game box score in real-time, as well as those of all other CHL games being played.
The Ice Bats, defending Southern Conference champions, will open the 2002-03 CHL regular season this Friday, October 18th at the new Ford Center in Oklahoma City. The team's home opener at the newly-remodeled Travis County Expo Center will take place the next night, this Saturday, October 19th, against the Laredo Bucks. The Ice Bats will raise Conference and Division championship banners, there will be live music, and free magnetic schedules will go to 5,000 fans.
For the first time in franchise history, the team will play all 32 home games on weekend datesâFriday and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons. For the coming season, improvements at the Travis County Expo Center include all-new glass surrounding the rink, safety netting in end zones and corners, and climate control for the first time ever.
Season tickets and corporate partnerships for the 2002-03 Ice Bats season are on sale at the Ice Bats office. Season tickets are available in full season, 16-game and 10-game plans. Free Belfry Club membership is included with all full season packages, and free parking with all full season and 16-game plans.
Individual game tickets are also available through the Ice Bats office or through all Star Ticket outlets, including all Austin-area Albertson's locations. Ticket prices remain the same as last season, and range from $11 to $21, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 people or more. To charge by phone, fans may call the Ice Bats office at 927-PUCK, or Star Tickets at 469-SHOW. On-line ordering is available through www.startickets.com.
For more information, fans may call the Ice Bats Ticket Office at (512) 927-PUCK.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2002
- Bats Announce Signings, Radio Deal - Austin Ice Bats
- Ice Makes Moves as Team Prepares Roster for Friday - Indianapolis Ice
- Cotton Kings Weekly - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Saints Make Roster Cuts - San Angelo Saints
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