Leslie and Emersic Receive Call-Up
March 22, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX: March 22, 2002 â The Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League have completed the 2001-2002 season, but two individuals will continue their season in the American Hockey League, as the Rochester Americans have called up goaltender Lance Leslie and the Utah Grizzlies have called up forward Blaz Emersic.
Leslie, a 5'10" 165-pound native of Dawson Creek British Columbia, finished this season with a 16-13-5 record, ranking 7th in the CHL with a 2.81 GAA. He received two CHL "Goaltender of the Week" honors this season, while becoming the Cotton Kings franchise leader in games played (78) and wins with 39. Leslie also set the franchise record for "longest shutout sequence," collecting a shutout sequence of 117:40 from 1/12/02 â 1/19/02. The former Ottawa Senators free agent signee has an eight-season career record of 165-115-41, with a 3.30 GAA and an 89.7% save percentage. His all-time AHL numbers include a record of 15-20-6, a 3.83 GAA and an 88.9% save percentage. Leslie's last season in the AHL was during the 96-97 season with the Kentucky Thoroughblades. Leslie will dress for tonight's Americans game in Cincinnati, and will join former Cotton Kings winger Ryan Shmyr, who has played 24 games this season with the Amerks. Rochester serves as the top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.
Emersic, a 6'0" 200-pound native of Ljubljana, Slovenia joined the Cotton Kings in early February after being acquired in a trade deadline transaction with the Wichita Thunder. The speedy forward combined for 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points. He co-led the âKings in scoring (with Jan Melichercik) and goals (with Dave MacIntyre), while leading the team in power play goals (9) and shots (189). Emersic, who began the season in AHL camp with the Chicago Wolves, co-led the Cotton Kings in scoring for the month of February (5g,8a,13 pts) and had a Cotton Kings season high 11 game point streak (2/15/02 â 3/8/02). He will join the Slovenian National Team in late April to compete in the World Championships held in Sweden. The Utah Grizzlies are expecting Emersic to dress tonight, as they host the Chicago Wolves. The Utah Grizzlies serve as the top affiliate for the Dallas Stars, and they also field a working agreement with the Florida Panthers.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2002
- Austin Takes 1-0 Lead in First Round Series - Austin Ice Bats
- El Paso 4, Odessa 3 - El Paso Buzzards
- Leslie and Emersic Receive Call-Up - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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