St. Croix Joins 'Bugs from AHL

October 13, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League today announced the signing of their fourth veteran-status player for the 2009-2010 season, defenseman Chris St. Croix. The club also announced the release of four players from its training camp roster.

St. Croix, 30, joins the Mudbugs after starting the year with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Entering his 11th professional season, the 6-3, 205-pound defenseman has appeared in close to 600 pro games, with nearly half of those coming in the AHL.

"Chris is a solid, well rounded veteran defenseman," Head Coach Scott Muscutt remarked. "He brings a wealth of experience, ability and knowledge of the game to our hockey club. I'm glad to have him here and we're certainly looking forward to seeing him help this hockey team."

Returning to North America last year after playing four seasons in Germany, St. Croix split time between the AHL and ECHL. He appeared in a total of eight AHL games in 08-09; two with the Iowa Chops and another six with his hometown Manitoba Moose. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native spent the majority of last season alongside fellow Mudbugs John DeCaro and Shawn Limpright with the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers. In 51 ECHL games with Las Vegas and Elmira, St. Croix had ten points (2g, 8a), 37 penalty minutes and a +3 rating.

St. Croix played his first three pro seasons entirely in the AHL with Saint John and Hartford, appearing in 217 games in that time. He then spent the next two years bouncing between Manitoba and Columbia of the ECHL before heading to Germany. In 56 games with the Inferno in 2002-03, the big blueliner reached career highs with 49 points (13g, 36a) and 101 penalty minutes. He sports career totals of 65 goals, 184 assists and 495 penalty minutes in 589 professional games. In 247 games at the AHL level, St. Croix has six goals and 31 assists for 37 points and 208 penalty minutes.

During his four-year Major Junior career with the Western Hockey League's Kamloops Blazers, St. Croix was a fourth-round draft pick (92nd overall) of the Calgary Flames in 1997. In 238 career games with the Blazers, he posted 110 points (26g, 84a) and 270 minutes in penalties.

The Mudbugs also announced this week the release of four players on their original training camp roster: F Jordan Foote, F Charlie Giffin, F Justin McCutcheon, and D Phil Sbrocchi.

The Mudbugs will begin the 2009-2010 season Friday night at 7:05 against the Laredo Bucks at the CenturyTel Center. Season ticket packages and mini-plans are available now, so call (318) 752-BUGS or stop by the team office inside CenturyTel Center for more information.



Central Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2009


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