Jeff Blair Is New Jackalopes Goaltender
Published on August 20, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release
Two seasons ago, the Jackalopes' search for a new goaltender led them to Lake Charles, Louisiana. There they found Mike Gorman, who came to the Jackalopes from the Lake Charles Ice Pirates and went on to re-write many of the franchise's goaltending records.
To find Gorman's successor, the Jackalopes have gone "back to the Bayou," signing goaltender JEFF BLAIR, who spent last season with the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Kingfish of the East Coast Hockey League.
Last season with Baton Rouge, Blair was 5-26-5 with a 3.61 goals against average. As he once said of Gorman, Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Don McKee says Blair's "numbers" are extremely misleading.
"Jeff did a remarkable job playing for what was, to be honest, a bad hockey club in Baton Rouge," McKee said. "He was the backbone of that club and his numbers are the result of having very little defensive support."
McKee thinks the Jacks' defensive philosophy will benefit Blair, just as it did Gorman and Grant Sjerven, who wrote...then re-wrote...the goaltending section of the franchise record book. Ironically, the Jacks recently acquired (and will retain) Sjerven's CHL playing rights for the upcoming season. Gorman, after two seasons with the Jacks, signed with Flint of the United Hockey League.
"With a solid team in front of him, Jeff Blair has the ability to be a great goaltender," McKee said.
The 25-year-old native of Edmonton, Alberta, has experience in both the East Coast and West Coast Hockey Leagues, as well as four seasons (1995-99) in the junior ranks in the Western Hockey League, where he was an all-star in 1999.
Blair was an all-star in the Western Hockey League in 1999 before beginning his professional career in the West Coast Hockey League in 1999-2000.
The Jacks are now set "between the pipes," as Blair joins Matt Cairns on the Jackalopes roster. Cairns, a rookie goaltender from The University of Regina, signed with the club in June.
"Having two outstanding goaltenders has always been a key to our success," McKee said. "In Jeff Blair and Matt Cairns, we feel we have a great goaltending tandem."
Jackalopes Player Signings To Date For 2003-2004 CHL Season
Player Position 2002-2003 Club Status
John Bossio Forward Jackalopes Non-Veteran
Matt Cressman Forward Jackalopes Veteran
Jeff Goldie Forward Bakersfield (WCHL) Veteran
Scott Green Forward Jackalopes Veteran
Matt Price Forward Arcadia University Rookie
Mike Rutter Forward Jackalopes Non-Veteran
Sebastien Thinel Forward Jackalopes Non-Veteran
Danny Williams Forward University of Regina Rookie
Adam Doyle Defenseman Jackalopes Veteran
Scott Hillman Defenseman Jackalopes Veteran
Jamie Yoder Defenseman Jackalopes Veteran
Jeff Blair Goaltender Baton Rouge Kingfish (ECHL) Non-Veteran
Matt Cairns Goaltender University of Regina Rookie
Central Hockey League Stories from August 20, 2003
- Van Parys Returns to the CHL - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Mudbugs Re-Sign Campbell, Add Bell - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Jeff Blair Is New Jackalopes Goaltender - Odessa Jackalopes
- Gorillas Re-Sign Standout Goaltender Shawn Degagne - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder Re-Sign Cunningham - Wichita Thunder
- Bats' "Blood Brothers" to be Unleashed - Austin Ice Bats
- Blazers Ink Forslund - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Kings Sign Dave MacIntyre - Lubbock Cotton Kings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
