Kyle Reeves bringing scoring skills to Ft. Worth
Published on August 15, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Fort Worth- The Ft. Worth Brahmas added a major weapon to their 2002-2003 offensive arsenal on Thursday morning with the signing of veteran right wing Kyle Reeves to a contract.
Reeves, 6'0", 200, comes to the Brahmas with impressive offensive credentials. Over the course of his 11 year professional career, he has scored 434 goals and assisted on 291 more in 631 regular season games played. He has scored 60 goals in a season on three occasions and he has another season of 59 goals.
Reeve's name should be a familiar one for Ft. Worth hockey fans. During the 1995-1996 season, Reeves was a star for the now defunct Ft. Worth Fire (CHL). In that year, he registered professional highs of 68 goals and 115 points. He also played in Ft. Worth (against the Brahmas) numerous times as a member of the Lubbock Cotton Kings (WPHL) from 1999-2001.
Last season, Reeves played for three teams. He began the year in Germany with the Bad Nauheim Red Devils (Ger.-Div.II). His European experience was shortlived, however, as he played in just one game for the Red Devils before leaving to return to the United States with the Anchorage Aces of the WCHL. He then skated in eightgames for the Aces before being traded to the San Diego Gulls (WCHL). The constant changing of adresses affected his point totals, as he registered just 39 points (21G/18A) in 49 total games played in 2001-02.
Before his tumultuous 2001-02 campaign, Reeves enjoyed two prolific seasons with the Lubbock Cotton Kings. In 1999-2000, Reeves finished second in the WPHL in goals scored with 62 and tied for third in points with 112. He was also second in the WPHL that season in power play goals (20) and game winning goals (11). He was a starter for Team Texas in the 2000 WPHL All Star Game. The 2000-2001 season saw Reeves again score 62 goals for the Cotton Kings, a total good enough to lead the entire WPHL. He finished that year with 85 points, the 5th highest total in the league. His 330 shots on goal also led the league and his 8 game winning goals were the second highest total on the circuit. Reeves was the top vote getter for the 2001 WPHL All Star Game, and he made the most of his opportunity by winning the game's MVP award on the strength of a first period hat trick. Another notable achievement for Reeves during the 2000-2001 season was his career high 4 goals in a game on March 23, 2001 against the Austin Ice Bats.
After a three year junior career in the Western Hockey League (including a 86 goal, 40 assist performance for the Tri City Americans in 1990-91), Reeves originally turned pro with the Peoria Rivermen of the International Hockey League. He played the majority of his first three pro seasons with Peoria (1991-94) before embarking on a four team odyssey (Flint-CoHL, Utica-CoHL, South Carolina-ECHL, and Ft. Wayne-IHL) during the 1994-1995 campaign. The 1995-96 season was his aforementioned stint with the Ft. Worth Fire before he headed off to the ECHL in 1996-1997 season with Knoxville and Baton Rouge. Reeves then moved on to San Diego of the WCHL for the next two years, playing with the Gulls from 1998-2000.
Reeves has won one championship in his professional career, scoring 10 goals and assisting on 5 others in 13 playoff games to help the San Diego Gulls to the 1998 WCHL Taylor Cup title. Twice he has been on runner up teams, as a member of the Gulls squad in 1998-1999 that lost to Tacoma in the WCHL finals and also with the Lubbock team that lost in the 2001 WPHL finals to Bossier-Shreveport.
A native of Swan River, Manitoba, Reeves was drafted 64th overall in the second round of the 1991 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues. Reeves joins goaltender Scott Roche as players on the Brahmas roster that were originally drafted by the Blues organization.
Brahmas head coach Todd Lalonde expects Reeves to be a difference maker this season for Ft. Worth.
"There are only a handful of players at this level that have the talent of Kyle Reeves. What he brings to the table is flat out goal scoring ability. He can score from anywhere, at anytime. Whenever he's on the ice, he's a threat to score. We are extremely fortunate to have signed him, and I'm looking forward to coaching him. I expect Kyle to not only be among our team leaders in scoring, but to also contend for the league scoring title," said Lalonde.
The Brahmas bench boss went on to say that he also expects a dose of veteran leadership from the experienced Reeves.
"Kyle has been around, and he's been on winning teams. Our team is going to be very young this season, so Kyle is going to have to definitely be a leader. Kyle and our other players with a little bit of experienceâChad Grills, Chad Woollard, Joe Van Volsen, David Bourqueâare going to have to set the example for all of our rookies and players with limited experience," said Lalonde.
Reeves is looking forward to returning to Ft. Worth and joining the Brahmas.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity," he said, "The Brahmas are a quality organization and Todd Lalonde is a quality coach. I know what my job is (to score), and I'm confident in my ability to do that. I like the makeup of the team they've put together in Ft. Worth and hopefully I can come in and do my part to help us win."
Reeves becomes the thirteenth player under contract with the Brahmas for the 2002-2003 season. Chad Woollard (LW), Adam Davis (D), Ryan Rivard (LW), Chad Grills (C), Joe Van Volsen (C), Jason Reesor (C), Jim Midgley (C), Justin Williams (F), Brant Somerville (D), David Bourque (D), Lee Jacobson (D), and Scott Roche (G) have already inked contracts this off season with Ft. Worth. Van Volsen, Davis, Bourque, and Woollard are all returnees from the 2001-2002 Brahmas squad. Reeves joins Van Volsen and Grills as players on the Brahmas roster who qualify as veterans with more than 260 professional games played. CHL league rules mandate that each member team be limited to just five veteran players.
The Brahmas will begin their sixth season, and second in the CHL, on Friday, October 17, with a road game against the Wichita Thunder. Ft. Worth's home opener this season will be on Saturday, November 2, against the Indianapolis Ice. Season ticket and advertising packages remain on sale now. For more information, please contact the Brahmas office at (817) 336-4423.
Central Hockey League Stories from August 15, 2002
- Chris Johnston Joins Oilers - Tulsa Oilers
- Blazers Sign Pair of Rookies - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Kyle Reeves bringing scoring skills to Ft. Worth - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Two Players Sign with Bucks - Laredo Bucks
- Gorillas Sign Two Solid Rookies - Amarillo Gorillas
- Ice Bats Get Their Goalie - Austin Ice Bats
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