Esdale named CHL All-Star
December 22, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Central Hockey League today announced that Thunder defenseman Paul Esdale will start for the Northern Conference when they battle the South in the Dodge CHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, January 12th in Laredo, TX.
Esdale, a third-year pro, leads all CHL defensemen with 10 goals and seven power play goals. He also ranks third among all CHL defensemen with 20 points, just four points off the league lead.
A 25-year-old native of Edmonton, Alberta, Esdale wasn't even on the Thunder opening day roster. He joined the team for their third game of the season and scored his first goal on October 30th at Lubbock. His best game this season came on November 20th versus New Mexico, when he scored two power play goals and added an assist.
Prior to turning pro, Esdale played four years of NCAA Ivy League hockey at Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Economics. While at school he led all Brown defensemen in scoring all four seasons. Following his senior season, he was immediately called up to the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, where he had an assist in five games.
Esdale played last season for the ECHL's Florida Everblades, notching 16 points in 63 games and helping Florida reach the ECHL Finals. This season, Esdale ranks third among all Thunder players in scoring and is on pace to break Wichita's 10-year-old, single season record for goals by a defensemen, held by Dave Doucette with 20. Esdale is also one power play goal shy of tying Wichita's single-season record of eight, held by Doucette and Brian Stacey.
Esdale will join fellow Northern Conference starters Derek Landmesser (D-Memphis), Don Parsons (F- Memphis), Greg Pankewicz (F-Memphis), Chad Woollard (F- Fort Worth) and Tyler Weiman (G- Colorado). The reserves will be announced next Wednesday, December 29th and Thunder forwards Jason Duda and Travis Clayton should warrant serious consideration. Duda and Clayton are currently tied for third in the CHL scoring race, with 34 points each.
Esdale notched his 10th goal of the season last night, sealing Wichita's 4-2 win over the Blazers at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have now beaten the Blazers 10 consecutive times, dating back to January 23rd, 2004.
With Colorado's loss at Amarillo, the Thunder increased their Northwest Division lead over the Eagles to five points, with a CHL-best record of 17-7-1. The Thunder return to action on Christmas Night in Topeka, where they will battle the Tarantulas at 7:35 p.m. Wichita's next home games are scheduled for New Year's Eve at 6:00 p.m. versus the Tulsa Oilers and New Year's Day at 5:00 p.m. versus Colorado.
Corporate packages and season tickets for the 2004-05 campaign are also still on sale. To order your tickets or for more information, call the Thunder office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2004
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- Bucks Brent Cullaton Selected As Starter For 2005 Dodge CHL All-Star Game - Laredo Bucks
- Pankewicz, Weiman to start in CHL All-Star Game - Colorado Eagles
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- Dodge CHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups Announced - CHL
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