Kings finalize roster for season
October 21, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX â Lubbock Cotton Kings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Chris Dashney announced today the signing of defenseman Derick Martin and the Cotton Kings runner-up for CHL Rookie of the Year last season, Anders Strome.
Martin, 5-11, 185-pounds, was a recent cut from the Hamilton Bulldogs camp of the American Hockey League and was acquired this past Monday by Dashney.
"I was very pleased to get Derick on our team," said Dashney. "He had a lot of options and he chose Lubbock â I think that says volumes about the team we are putting together."
Martin, 22, played the last two years as a defenseman at St. Mary's University. In 55 games, he posted one goal and 11 points. The Timmins, ONT, native played from 1999 to 2002 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Hull Olympiques. In 198 games at the junior level, he posted seven goals and 45 assists for 52 points.
Strome, 6-3, 210-pounds, initially signed with the San Diego Gulls in the ECHL with hopes of more exposure at the AHL level â the Winnipeg native attended the Manitoba Moose camp before the 2003-04 season.
"Things didn't work out for Anders in the coast (ECHL) and what was a guaranteed roster spot, became an expenditure due to the NHL lockout," said Dashney. "He and I were in contact all summer and he knew we had a spot for him if things didn't work out."
Strome, 22, split duties last season with the Wichita Thunder and the Kings. In 65 games, he scored a rookie-leading 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points â just eight behind the leading rookie scorer Karlis Zirnis (COL). Before arriving in Wichita, he played junior hockey with South Winnipeg of the MJHL in 1999-00, where he was an MJHL All-Star and a member of the MJHL all rookie team, picking up 94 points in 68 games. He was also MJHL's top playoff scorer with 14 goals and 23 points. Before turning pro, he played three years of college hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell from 2000-03.
The Kings held their annual golf tournament yesterday at Meadowbrook golf course. A portion of the proceeds went to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Twenty-two foursomes teed off at 1 p.m. with each group having a member of the Cotton Kings roster or staff.
The Kings have finalized their 18-man roster after signing Martin and Strome and waiving Michal Pscheidt, Chris Hartly, Nick Cote, Troy Duncan, Brett Leggat, Brett Large and Tim Plett.
The Kings will start the 2004-05 season this Saturday night in Amarillo against the Gorillas at 7:05 p.m. The broadcast will be carried on KOOL-98 (98.1 FM). It will be the first of 10 meetings between the two teams this season. The Kings went 4-3-1 against the Soutwest Division Champions last season; the Gorillas advanced to the Southern Conference Finals before bowing out to the eventual champions, the Laredo Bucks.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2004
- Bucks Assigned Forward Chris Nielsen - Laredo Bucks
- Scorpions Start Season Tomorrow at Tulsa - New Mexico Scorpions
- Kings finalize roster for season - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Tarantulas games to be broadcast on the Internet - Topeka Tarantulas
- Puck drops on 13th Thunder season tomorrow - Wichita Thunder
- Saints Goalie Starts Up Zone 33 - San Angelo Saints
- RiverKings kick off new season with special luncheon, guests - Mississippi RiverKings
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