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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

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October 11, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


The Utah Grizzlies open their 2002-03 American Hockey League season tonight in Houston versus the Aeros at the Compaq Center. The two teams have a long history as both competed in the now-defunct International Hockey League. Last season, the Aeros ousted the Grizz in the first round of the playoffs 3-2 in a best-of-five series.

This season, the teams will meet 10 times (five games in each city) with game two of the series coming tomorrow night.

Utah has 15 players on its current 25-man roster that spent time in a Grizzlies uniform last season. The team's leading scorer, Jim Montgomery, returns for his second season in Utah. Last year, Montgomery scored 71 points for Utah ranking him among the league's top 10 in scoring. The Grizzlies' also have several highly regarded young players in the line-up that will be looking to get their first action as professionals. Forward Steve Ott was Dallas' first round pick in 2000 and goaltender Jason Bacashihua was the team's top pick in 2001.

Houston returns its top two scorers from last season with both Cory Larose (64 points) and Tony Virta (58 points) on the team's opening roster. The team has also added four veterans in Tony Tuzzolino (29 points with providence last season), Jean-Guy Trudel (70 points in Springfield last season), Keith McCambridge (263 PIM's in 59 games with Providence last season) and Sylvain Cloutier (16 points in 60 games with Albany last season). Team Notes: Mark Wotton, Marcus Kristoffersson and Eric Chouinard did not accompany the team to Houston due to various minor injuries. All three players are expected to return for the team's home opener next Friday. Montreal, Utah's secondary affiliate, has assigned three players to the Grizz; veteran forward Eric Landry, forward Eric Chouinard and defensemen Matthieu Descoteaux.

Next Game: The Grizzlies will meet the Aeros in game two of the back-to-back series tomorrow night (Saturday, October 12) in the Compaq Center. Face-off is scheduled for 6:30 pm.

***Tonight's game can be heard on the home of the Grizzlies, ESPN Radio 1230 ***

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