Size Matters for Bats
October 2, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the signings of forward Josh St. Louis and defenseman Scott McCallum to contract for the 2003-04 season. With the signings, the Bats now have 16 players officially under contract for the coming season.
The 27-year-old St. Louis, a native of Calgary, Alberta, will enter his third pro season, having spent two years with Augusta of the East Coast League. St. Louis posted three phenomenal junior seasons with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League, scoring 45 goals and 50 assists in 1995-96, and 57 goals and 51 assists in 1996-97. After that, St. Louis attended Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia before turning pro in 2001. He scored 18 goals and 12 assists in 57 games with the Augusta Lynx last year.
"Josh is a big strong kid with good hands," said Jeff Greenlaw, Ice Bats Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. "At 6-3, 225 pounds, he'll be a good guy to have in the corners and on the forecheck. He's got some goal scoring ability too, based on his unbelievable junior stats. (Bats goalie) David Haun played against him in college and (defenseman) Darryl McArthur played with him, and both give him high marks. We think playing with great playmaking centers like we have, Josh can score 30 goals in our league.
McCallum, 24, from Dauphin, Manitoba will enter his fourth pro season, his second with the Ice Bats. The 6-4, 228-pound defenseman can also play forward, if necessary. A 4th-round NHL draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 1997, McCallum played four years of junior hockey, split between Tri-City and Brandon of the Western Hockey League. He spent his first two seasons of pro hockey in the East Coast League with four different teams. Last year, McCallum scored 10 points in 60 games with the Ice Bats.
"Scotty's another big, intimidating force," Greenlaw said. "He plays physical and aggressive. And he's got a cannon of a shot, which I think he'll use more this year. Last year, he came in late, and found it hard to crack our established blue line corps. This year, we expect him to be more productive with more ice time. It's tough to find big strong guys that can play, and both of these guys can play.
In addition to St. Louis and McCallum, the Ice Bats have also signed veterans Kelly Smart, Shawn Legault and Kris Waltze, and forwards Tab Lardner, Mike Olynyk, Joey Bastien and Brent Hughes. Also signed are defensemen Darryl McArthur, Pat Brownlee, Daniel Tetrault, Derek Stone and Clint Way, and goaltenders Peter Brady and David Haun.
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The Ice Bats open training camp this coming Wednesday, and will host a preseason exhibition game against the Southeast Division rival Laredo Bucks, beginning at 5pm on Sunday, October 12th. Doors to the Expo Center will open for a public skate from 1:45 to 3:45pm. Ice Bats representatives will also be on hand to give fans an opportunity to choose their seats for the upcoming season. Following the contest, fans can collect autographs in the Belfry Club from Ice Bats players. The game is open to the public for general admission seating, with a requested $5 donation to Ice Bats Children's Charities.
The Ice Bats begin their eighth season of play on Saturday, October 18th, against the New Mexico Scorpions at the Travis County Expo Center. The Bats will raise their championship banners from the past season, and free magnetic schedules will go to 5,000 fans. Two-time defending Southeast Division and Southern Conference champions, the Ice Bats also won the Governors' Cup with the League's top regular season record last year.
Tickets to all Ice Bats home games are available at all Texas Box Office locations, including the Ice Bats ticket office and all Austin-area HEB stores. On-line ordering is available through www.TexasBoxOffice.com. To charge by phone, fans may call Texas Box Office at (512) 477-6060, or the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK.
Individual game tickets range in price from $10 to $30, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. In addition to group tickets, season tickets remain on sale at the Ice Bats office, in full-, half-season, or 10-game plans. Free Belfry Club membership is still included for all new full season packages, as well as free parking for all full-season and half-season plans.
For more information, fans may call the Ice Bats Ticket Office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2003
- Saints Sign Another Forward - San Angelo Saints
- Size Matters for Bats - Austin Ice Bats
- Sanger to Handle Net Duties for Icemen - Indianapolis Ice
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