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Rayz Trade Baird To Youngstown For Shaffer And Futures

November 16, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz traded forward Jason Baird to the Youngstown Steelhounds on Friday in exchange for forward Chris Shaffer (SHAY-fur) and two players to be named later. Shaffer is a third-year forward who has spent his entire pro career with Youngstown. Baird is a seventh year forward who was in his fourth season with the Rayz. Shaffer is expected to join the Rayz in time for their game in Bossier-Shreveport on Tuesday Night, but will not be available for the lone Rayz game this weekend - a Saturday Night contest in Rio grande Valley. The Rayz are currently in the midst of a five-game road trip and will return to the American Bank Center on November 24th and 25th. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.

Shaffer, 27, turned pro with the Youngstown Steelhounds in 2005-2006 and has been there ever since. In his first year with Youngstown, the 5'11", 195 lbs. forward who hails from Dryden, Ontario was named the club's Rookie of the Year with ten goals and 22 points in just 42 games played. In his professional career, Shaffer has appeared in 116 games and has 25 goals, 30 assists and 55 points. Prior to turning pro, Shaffer played three seasons of collegiate hockey at Lakehead University (CIS) and played junior hockey in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In juniors, Shaffer was teammates with former Rayz players Derrick and Chad McIver and Mike Tilson. While at Lakehead, Shaffer posted solid numbers, tallying 94 points (42g, 52a) in 77 games. This season Shaffer has three goals and five points in a dozen games.

In addition to Shaffer, the Rayz also received two players to be named later from the Steelhounds. Those players will be acquired by the Rayz either later on this season, or at the conclusion of the 2007-2008 campaign.

Baird, 27, was the longest tenured member of the Rayz before his departure. Baird was acquired in May of 2004 in a ten-player blockbuster deal that brought Baird and four others from the former Indianapolis Ice to Corpus Christi. Baird played in 135 career games for the Rayz and notched 147 points (48g, 99a) and 417 penalty minutes. Baird was named both the team MVP and the CHL Southern Conference All-Star MVP in 2004-2005. His next season with the Rayz was cut short with a season-ending knee injury suffered just four games into the year. Ironically, the injury came in the first ever meeting between the Rayz and the Steehlounds. Last season, Baird came back to the lineup and had 61 points (15 g, 46a) in as many games. So far this season, Baird has one goal and four points in ten games. Baird exits Corpus Christi ranking third on the all-time franchise list in points and assists. With Baird's departure, the Rayz roster currently stands without any players who were in Corpus Christi before the 2006-2007 season.

Corpus Christi will continue their season-long, five-game road trip on Saturday Night in Rio Grande Valley at 7:35pm. The game can be heard in Corpus Christi on the Rayz flagship radio station ESPN 1230AM or online via the Rayz website at www.ccrayz.com. Fans can also view most games online for free via the CHL Network. For more information, please visit www.nifty-tv.com/chl.

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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