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Rayz Make Two Deals Before Trade Deadline

February 11, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Before the clock struck twelve on the CHL trade deadline, the Rayz did some last minute trading. Corpus Christi picked up two defensemen in two separate deals, Rayz Head Coach, Ken McRae announced on Monday. The Rayz acquired Jeff Winchester from the Youngstown Steelhounds, via the Arizona Sundogs. Winchester comes as part of the deal made earlier in the season that sent Jason Baird to Youngstown and brought Chris Shaffer and Matt Smyth to Corpus Christi. The Rayz also picked-up former CHL Defenseman of the Year, Paul Esdale, from the Colorado Eagles for future considerations. The Rayz return to the American Bank Center on Friday Night at 7:05pm to take on the Laredo Bucks. Tickets for the game are on sale now. Call 361.814.PUCK for more information. Winchester, 26, comes to the Rayz from a previous trade with Youngstown. The New Brunswick-native played four years of college hockey at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. In 108 games, the defenseman tallied 4 goals, 41 assists and 273 penalty minutes. His penalty minutes total ranks 7th in program history. Following college, he signed with the San Diego Gulls of the ECHL. He appeared in 5 games, totaling 2 assists. Last season Winchester was signed by the AHL's Syracuse Crunch. He was eventually re-assigned to the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL. In 47 games with the Inferno, he scored 1 goal and 5 assists. This season with the Sundogs, Winchester has tallied 5 assists in 29 games. In his four games against Corpus Christi this season, he has had two assists.

Esdale, 28, comes to the Rayz from the defending President's Cup Champions, the Colorado Eagles. Esdale played collegiate hockey at Ivy league, Brown University. He played 119 games with the Brown Bears totaling 25 games and 42 assists. He joined the Florida Everblades of the ECHL in 2004. Then during the 2004-2005 season, the Alberta-native exploded onto the CHL scene. He was awarded the CHL Defenseman of the Year while playing with the Wichita Thunder. He scored 69 points in 57 games and was teammates with Rayz forward Joe Blaznek. Last season he played for three different teams in Sweden before finding his way back to the CHL playing for the Youngstown Steelhounds. Esdale has spent the entire 2007-2008 season with the Colorado Eagles. In 33 games, he has 7 points.

The Rayz are proud to be celebrating a decade of hockey in South Texas. Individual game tickets are currently available. Get your Rayz tickets today at www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet or the American Bank Center. Rayz group discounts are also available. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.

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