Sirois to Captain the Pride

October 9, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz News Release

FLORENCE, SC – Pee Dee Pride Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Davis Payne today announced his captain and alternates for the 2002-2003 season. Left wing Allan Sirois will be the Pride's captain this season, while defensemen Aaron Gates and Jason Robinson will serve as alternates.

Sirois enters his seventh professional season and his fifth with the Pride. Last season, Sirois was named ECHL Sher-wood Player of the Month in November, earned Most Valuable Player honors at the ECHL All-Star Game, and set a career-high with 37 goals.

This will be Gates' second full season in a Pride uniform. He was originally acquired in a trade with Roanoke in December 2000. Gates enjoyed a breakout year offensively last year posting six goals, after scoring a total of three goals in his first two seasons combined. In addition to that offense, Gates once again was one of the steadiest performers on the Pride's blue line. He finished third on the team with a plus-six rating.

Robinson joined the Pride in January of last year in a trade with Greensboro. Prior to the trade the veteran blueliner was captain of the Generals' squad. In 30 games with the Pride after being acquired, he posted one goal and five assists to go along with 47 penalty minutes.

The Pride open up their sixth season on Friday at home against South Carolina. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a free Pride logo sticker. On Saturday, the Pride host Columbia. Prior to the game, there will be a giant tailgate party in the civic center parking lot featuring inflatable games for kids, live music, 1,000 free hot dogs courtesy of IGA and W. Lee Flowers and free drinks from Pepsi of Florence. The tailgate party will run from 5:30 until 7:30.

Individual tickets for all Pride home games are available at the Florence Civic Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (843) 679-9333 or www.ticketmaster.com.

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