Ice Bats Captain Retires

January 27, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the retirement of team captain Dave MacIntyre, effective at the end of this weekend's play. MacIntyre is leaving the Ice Bats to pursue a career in law enforcement as a Court Officer with the Toronto Police Service.

The 32-year-old MacIntyre hangs up the skates after eight professional seasons as one of the league's top two-way forwards. After playing five years at St. Mary's University in his native Nova Scotia, MacIntyre spent most of his first three pro seasons in the Western Professional Hockey League with the Waco Wizards and Central Texas Stampede.

Obtained by Lubbock in the 2000-01 WPHL Dispersal Draft, MacIntyre led the Cotton Kings to the 2001 President's Cup Finals. All tolled, MacIntyre played 3-1/2 seasons with the Cotton Kings, 2-1/2 under current Ice Bats Coach Bill McDonald.

MacIntyre played last season in Germany, then rejoined McDonald in Austin this year. Entering play tonight, the veteran winger ranks third in team scoring with 13 goals and 14 assists.

"In a short time, Dave MacIntyre has had a tremendously positive effect on this year's team and our franchise," said Ice Bats President Jeff Buch. "The tough part about this sport is that, for most, it doesn't last forever. And so while we hate to lose a player of his stature, on a personal level, we're happy that he can pursue his chosen career path."

"Guys like Mac don't come along that often," McDonald said. "He's a fierce competitor that brings it to the ice every game. But his worth to the team isn't always seen on the ice. It's off the ice in the dressing room and in the community. It's in his leadership. I've had an opportunity to get close to Mac, after coaching him in Lubbock and again here. You won't find a more quality person. Hopefully, the guys that have seen him and learned from him can take his approach and apply it to the rest of the season."

"It's with very mixed emotions that I leave the Ice Bats," MacIntyre said. "It's hard to leave the guys and to leave something I started. And it's tough to leave the game. But looking at the big picture, this is a career decision and a life decision. It's the right one for me. It's something I've worked on for almost a year, and it's a career move, not just a summer job."

"At this stage of my career, I'm not sure how many more years I would have been able to play," MacIntyre said. "But I'm glad I got to spend my last one in Austin. We have a great bunch of guys who have really turned things around, and I have a lot of respect for Coach McDonald. I know they'll do just fine."

Winning their fifth straight game, 1-0 last night in Corpus Christi, the Ice Bats are 17-18-3 on their 10th-Anniversary 2005-06 season. Off to a 7-1-1 start in January, the Ice Bats have overtaken Corpus Christi and Lubbock in the Southern Conference, and have tied Amarillo for the Conference's final playoff position.

The Bats return to play this weekend with games Friday and Saturday. Friday night, the Ice Bats face Fort Worth, the Elgin High School Band will perform, and after the contest, the UT Hockey Team takes on Texas Tech.

Saturday night's game against Oklahoma City is the "Red River Face-off." UT and Texas Tech meet again starting at 4pm, but after that, it's all "Texas-OU." The Ice Bats will wear special Texas Longhorn jerseys, while the Blazers don University of Oklahoma jerseys for the contest. The Ice Bats' game-worn jerseys will then be auctioned for charity at a later date.

After Saturday's game, blues-rock band "Grady" performs as part of the "Bud True Music Concert Series." With a style that's been called a blend of "blues thrash and Western style rock and roll," "Grady" features a triumvirate of talented musicians. Band leader Gordie "Grady" Johnson hails from Canadian multi-platinum band "Big Sugar," while bassist Big Ben Richardson comes from the Toronto-based "Phantoms." Giving the band its Texas influence is drummer Chris "Whip" Layton, who was the pulse of Stevie Ray Vaughn's band "Double Trouble," and later "Arc Angels" and "Storyville."

Promoting their new release "Y.U. So Shady," the band has had a busy 2005 tour schedule. After beginning the year opening for "Los Lonely Boys," "Grady" was named "Best New Band" at the 2005 Austin Music Awards, while placing in several other categories. After a busy summer in Texas including shows at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and "The Black Crowes" and "Arc Angels" reunion tours, the band embarked on an extensive tour of Canada. And most recently, "Grady" returned from a special holiday performance in Hawaii.

Tickets for Ice Bats home games are on sale now through the Ice Bats office at 927-PUCK, or at any Texas Box Office location, including all Austin-area HEB stores. For on-line orders, fans may visit www.TexasBoxOffice.com or www.GetTix.Net. To charge by phone, fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at 927-PUCK, Texas Box Office at (512) 477-6060, or Get Tix at 1-866-4-Get Tix.

Individual game tickets range in price from $11 to $35, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. In addition to individual game tickets and group outings, season tickets and corporate partnerships are currently available for the upcoming season, with full-season, half-season and 10-game ticket packages on sale now. Fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com for more information.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2006


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