ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Acquire Veteran Defenseman Short from Las Vegas in Exchange for Rookie Olynick

Published on March 17, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (March 17, 2004) – Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie of the Peoria Rivermen of the ECHL announced Tuesday that seven-year veteran defenseman Kayle Short has been acquired from the Las Vegas Wranglers in exchange for rookie defenseman Craig Olynick. Olynick was then traded to the archrival Toledo Storm along with center Blaine Bablitz and future considerations in exchange for All-Star center Morten Ask.

Short – a 6-foot, 200-pound native of Barrie, Ontario – collected five assists in 17 games with Las Vegas this season after signing with the club on December 28. Last year, the 30-year-old posted 15 points (2g, 13a) and 110 penalty minutes (PIM) in 63 games with the Fresno Falcons of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL). He appeared in 13 playoff games in 2002-2003, registering three points (1g, 2a) and 20 PIM as the Falcons lost to the San Diego Gulls in the WCHL Taylor Cup Finals.

Short spent the previous four seasons in the Sekonda Ice Hockey Superleague (British Elite League), three with the Sheffield Steelers (1998-2001) and one with the Manchester Storm (2001-2002). He notched 42 points (13g, 29a) and 222 PIM in 126 games with Sheffield.

During his 1997-1998 rookie season with the Hampton Roads Admirals, Short posted 11 points (1g, 10a) in 40 games. He was a member of the Hampton Roads 1998 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship Team, picking up one goal in 13 playoff games with 18 PIM. He spent 25 games in 1997-1998 with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL), tallying three points (1g, 2a) and 27 PIM; he was a teammate of Rivermen head coach Jason Christie.

In 1996-1997, Short played 59 games with the Canadian National Team, registering 13 points (7g, 6a) and 91 PIM after one year at the University of New Brunswick of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU). He enjoyed a four-year Major Junior "A" hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), spending parts of three seasons (1991-1994) with the Sudbury Wolves (80gp – 2g, 16a=18pts, 142 PIM) and parts of two seasons (1991-1992, 1993-1994) with the Guelph Storm (83gp – 9g, 43a=52pts, 143 PIM). As an OHL rookie, he collected 22 points (7g, 15a) and 48 PIM in 56 games with the Hamilton Dukes.

Olynick – a 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Humboldt, Saskatchewan – notched six points (2g, 4a) in 37 games for the Rivermen with a +13 plus/minus.

The Rivermen battle the Trenton Titans on Wednesday, March 17 at Sovereign Bank Arena in the fifth road game of six in eight days. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT. On Friday, March 19, Peoria takes on the second place and defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT at Boardwalk Hall. The Rivermen are a member of the ECHL – America's Premier "AA" Hockey League.

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