Rage Sign Two-Time All-Star
March 15, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Broomfield, Colo. - With five games left in the regular season including tonight's showdown with the New Mexico Scorpions at Broomfield Event Center at 7:05 p.m., the Rocky Mountain Rage took steps to bolster their offense today with the signing of two-time All-Star forward Bill Newson. The club also added rookie forward Derek LeBlanc to its roster.
Newson is an eighth-year pro who has averaged more than 27 goals per season during his six campaigns in the Central Hockey League. The graduate of Northeastern University was named an All-Star for Amarillo during his rookie season in 2000-01 and then again in 2003-04 for Rio Grande Valley, where he spent three years playing for Rocky Mountain head coach Tracy Egeland. After generating 63 points (29g-34a) for both the Killer Bees and the Tulsa Oilers last season, Newson stopped playing professionally until now.
LeBlanc will also make his Rage debut tonight against the Scorpions. After spending four seasons in the Western Hockey League, the 6-foot-2, 210 lb. forward played this year for the University of Lethbridge (Alberta) where he recorded 16 points (11g-5a) during the Pronghorns' 28-game campaign.
Egeland also made two other roster moves today, placing both left winger Nathan Rosychuk and defenseman Nick Harloff on 14-day injured reserve.
Rocky Mountain concludes the home portion of its regular season tonight against New Mexico and tomorrow against the Tulsa Oilers at 3:05 p.m. The team is currently in second place in the Northwest Division, five points behind the Colorado Eagles with one game in hand. In the race for the four remaining playoff spots in the Northern Conference (only the Northeast Division-winning Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are assured of post-season play), the Rage are currently tied with the Youngstown SteelHounds for the final two berths.
Note: Rocky Mountain has dropped to fourth in the latest CHL Coaches Poll released yesterday behind the Mudbugs, Laredo Bucks, and Eagles. For complete poll results, please visit http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/index.html?article_id=2249.
Single-game tickets are still available for tonight and tomorrow's tilts with prices ranging from $18 - $43 per seat (parking included). Fans can purchase tickets at Broomfield Event Center's box office or through Ticketmaster by logging-on to www.Ticketmaster.com, calling (303) 830-TIXS, or visiting any Ticketmaster retail outlet.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2008
- Gorillas Drop Second in a Row to Arizona - Amarillo Gorillas
- Eagles Drop Home Finale to spOilers - Colorado Eagles
- Scorpions Overpower Rage - New Mexico Scorpions
- Mudbugs Lock Up Second Straight Governor's Cup - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas Top Rayz 3-2 In Shootout - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Third Period Goals Power Ice Bats 4-2 Win - Austin Ice Bats
- Texas Victorious Again, 3-2 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Hounds Defeat Bucks 3-1 - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Mudbugs defeat RiverKings 3-0 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Fall Again In Youngstown 3-1 - Laredo Bucks
- Rage Sign Two-Time All-Star - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Boomtown Trading Card Giveaway Starts Tonight - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks In Youngstown Again Tonight: Three Points From Clinching South - Laredo Bucks
- Sundogs' Urquhart Scorches Gorillas in 7-2 Win - Amarillo Gorillas
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