Nick Stajduhar to Play In Mr. Manatees Alumni Game

January 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


Pensacola, FL - The Pensacola Ice Pilots, under the new ownership group of Hockey Enterprises of Pensacola L.L.C. with owner Tim Kerr, are proud to announce that former Ice Pilots defenseman Nick Stajduhar will play in the Mr. Manatee's Alumni Game on March 5th at 6:05 p.m. followed by the Ice Pilots original game vs. the San Diego Gulls at 8:05 p.m.

Stajduhar played in a span of three seasons for the Ice Pilots from 1996-1999 helping the Ice Pilots win the Southern Conference Championship during the 1997-1998 season and reaching the Kelly Cup Finals. Stajduhar was the leading scorer in the 1998 Kelly Cup Playoffs with 26 points and lead everyone with 21 assists. Stajduhar played in a total of 82 regular season games for the Ice Pilots scoring 20 goals, 42 assists for 81 points and picked up 134 penalty minutes and played in a total of 31 playoff games for the Ice Pilots scoring 6 goals, 27 assists for 33 points and picked up 44 penalty minutes.

Stajduhar holds Ice Pilots playoff records in points (33), assists (27), plus/minus (+12), shots (134) and is tied with several players with 2 game winning playoff goals. He played in two games in the NHL with Edmonton during the 1995-96 season and was drafted in the first round and the 16th player overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. He is part of hockey trivia as he was the last number one pick that Edmonton had to draft from the Los Angeles Kings involving the Wayne Gretzky trade that happened on August 9, 1988.

Stajduhar last played hockey during the 2000-2001 season with Memphis of the CHL, Idaho of the WCHL and Houston of the IHL. He is 29 years old from Kitchener, Ontario and is married working for Xerox Canada living in Toronto.

Stajdhuar joins former players Shane Calder, Chad Quenneville, Kelly Hultgren, Scott Malone, Andrew Rodgers and Scott LaGrand and former Head Coach Al Pedersen and former Assistant Coach George Kozak who will participate in the Mr. Manatee's Alumni Game. There will be members of the Jr. Ice Pilots, Senior League and representatives from the local media who will also participate in the game.

The Alumni players will be wearing special old timer sweaters during the "Mr. Manatee's Alumni Game" and the original Ice Pilots players will also be wearing the special old timer sweaters sponsored by Mr. Manatee's during the game vs. San Diego at 8:05 p.m.

The old timer sweaters will be auctioned off after the game vs. San Diego at "The Hangar" with proceeds going to the Florida Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the Children's Home Society.

The Ice Pilots will play home tonight vs. the Texas Wildcatters at 7:05 p.m. SpongeBob SquarePants will be at the game sponsored by Cox Media. Kids can have their picture taken with SpongeBob SquarePants from 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. in the front concourse. The first 4,000 fans will receive noisemakers sponsored by Cox Media and fans can bring their Cox Media bill to the Civic Center box office and receive a free $10 ticket with the purchase of a $10 ticket.

The Ice Pilots will also play home tomorrow night vs. Florida at 7:05 p.m. It is Florida Lottery Night as prizes will be given away at the game. Fans can purchase individual game tickets in person at the Civic Center box office, at any Ticketmaster location, Charge by Phone at 434-7444 or through the Ice Pilots website at www.icepilots.com. For group tickets, season tickets and birthday parties, fans can call the Ice Pilots at 432-PUCK.



ECHL Stories from January 2, 2004


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