Ice Bats Nabb Vet Goal Scorer
August 6, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the signing of veteran forward John McNabb to contract for the 2004-05 CHL season. McNabb has spent most of his five prior professional seasons as a consistent goal scorer in the East Coast Hockey League.
The 26-year-old McNabb, a native of Calgary, Alberta, scored a combined 29 goals and 30 assists in 66 regular season games last year with Long Beach and Florida of the ECHL. Acquired by Florida in a February trade, McNabb scored six goals and six assists in 17 playoff games, leading the Everblades to an appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals.
After two years of limited junior play in the Western Hockey League, McNabb scored a whopping 54 goals and 78 assists in his final year of juniors, with South Surrey of the British Columbia Junior League. He then appeared in the 2000 ECHL All-Star Game as a rookie, while scoring 17 goals and 30 assists in 66 games with Pensacola.
McNabb's best season as a pro came two years ago with the ECHL's Jackson Bandits, leading the team with 35 goals, 35 assists and 11 power play goals in 72 games. He started last season in Germany prior to joining Long Beach.
"John McNabb is a finisher with tremendous offensive ability," said Jeff Greenlaw, Ice Bats Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. "Two years ago, he led his team in scoring with 35 goals. And last year, he scored 40 goals, including the playoffs. We think he'll be a great player in our league, and put up some big offensive numbers."
McNabb is the ninth player signed to contract for the coming season. He joins forwards Jared Dumba, Mike Olynyk, Benoit Genesse, Kris Knoblauch and Brent Gay, defenseman Brian Pasko, and goaltenders Matt Barnes and Peter-Emmanuel Brady as Ice Bats currently under contract. Further signings will be announced in the coming weeks.
McNabb is the first player signed that qualifies as one of four allowed "veterans." By league rule, teams may have no more than four players who have appeared in 260 or more professional games. All teams are also required to have at least five "developmental" players, those that have appeared in 128 or fewer pro games. With their current signings, the Ice Bats have already met that standard.
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The Ice Bats are preparing for their ninth season of play at the Travis County Expo Center. The Bats will open the season with three home games October 22nd through the 24th, against Southeast Division rivals Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley and Laredo.
Season tickets and corporate partnerships are currently available for the upcoming season. Once again, free Belfry Club membership is included with all full-season packages, and free parking with all full-season and 16-game ticket plans.
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 August 6, 2004
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- Ice Bats Nabb Vet Goal Scorer - Austin Ice Bats
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