Cotton Kings and Rocky Mountain Complete Trade

January 3, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


LUBBOCK, TX: January 3, 2007 - The Lubbock Cotton Kings and the Rocky Mountain Rage are ringing in the New Year with a major trade, as the Cotton Kings have traded forward Trevor Weisgerber to the Rage for forward Anders Strome.

Strome, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, returns to Lubbock for his second stint and third season with the Cotton Kings. His last season in Lubbock came during the 04/05 season, as he led the Kings in scoring that season with 57 points off 35 goals and 22 assists, including tying a franchise high with a four-goal performance on 2/19/05. He earned an invitation to the CHL All-Star Game in Laredo that season and earned the Cotton Kings "Offensive Player of the Year" honor. The 6'3" 210-pound forward originally joined the Kings in his rookie season (03/04) ironically via a January trade with the Wichita Thunder for Joe Blaznek. Strome appeared in 25 games with the Kings that season and compiled 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points, leading to a finalist for the CHL "Rookie of the Year" award. He appeared in the CBC (Canadian TV) reality series "Making the Cut" and made it to the final round of 18 players. The appearance led to him attending training camp with the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage before returning to Lubbock in 04/05. Following the 04/05 season, Strome went to the ECHL and appeared with a trio of teams. He played with the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Florida Everblades before closing the season with the South Carolina Stingrays. Strome combined for 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 54 regular season games, and led the Stingrays in postseason scoring with 7 points (5g,2a). With the Rage this season, playing under former Kings player and coach Tracy Egeland, Strome was co-leading the team in points with 22 points, which included a team leading 12 goals. His all-time pro numbers include 86 goals and 80 assists for 166 points in 206 games, and his Kings numbers include 45 goals and 31 assists for 76 points in 85 games. The fourth-year pro has attended AHL training camps with Manitoba (03/04), San Antonio (04/05) and Manchester (05/06) throughout his career. Prior to turning pro, Strome was a Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) All-Star and "All-Rookie Team" member during the 99/00 season with 24 goals and 47 assists for 71 points in 63 games, and a MJHL postseason leading 23 points (14g,9a) in 16 games with the Winnipeg South Blues. He earned the team's "Rookie of the Year" and "Top Playoff Performer" awards. Strome went on to a three-year college career following juniors at UMass-Lowell, where he combined for 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points in 91 games.

Weisgerber leaves the Kings ranked second in scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 28 games. The Vibank, Saskatchewan native was in his first season with the Kings after being acquired in an offseason trade with Rio Grande Valley for Emery Olauson. While in Rio Grande Valley, Weisgerber played under Egeland and was the Killer Bees leading scorer last season. The fifth-year pro also leaves the Kings with six multi-point games and with individual game highs for shots (9 on 11/16) and power play goals (co-leads with 2 from 10/28) this season.

Lubbock expects to have Strome join the team Thursday night, as the Kings are on the road. The Cotton Kings face the Austin Ice Bats Thursday night in Austin before returning home to host the Odessa Jackalopes Saturday. Strome will not be the only familiar name making a return to "The Kingdom" Saturday, as it is "Lance Leslie Night." Leslie will be on hand signing autographs and the first 1,500 kids 12 and under in attendance will receive a youth replica jersey compliments of McDonald's. The Kings will also be wearing striped alternate jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game.

The Cotton Kings are competing in their eighth season of professional hockey in the South Plains. The next home game, Saturday against Odessa, is set for a 7:05 face-off inside City Bank Coliseum. Individual ticket and corporate sponsorship information is available by contacting the Cotton Kings office at (806) 747-7825. Additional 'Kings info can be found online via their official site at www.cottonkings.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2007


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