Super Mario added to defense

Published on January 11, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz have agreed to terms on a contract with veteran defenseman Mario Doyon, Rayz General Manager/Senior Vice President Larry Linde announced Tuesday morning. Doyon will join the Rayz this week, and is expected to play in this weekend's games. Doyon's contract is for the remainder of the 2004-2005 season.

Doyon, 36, spent last season with the Indianapolis Ice and retired following the playoffs. In joining the Rayz, Doyon will be reunited with Head Coach, Ken McRae and half a dozen former teammates who played with him last season in Indianapolis. In 63 games last year, Doyon tallied a career-high 23 goals and 54 points ranking him fourth among all CHL blue liners. His addition to the Rayz roster creates one of the more offensively explosive defensive corps in the league. Doyon joins a defensive unit anchored by Bernie John, who currently leads all defensemen in points per game.

"To be able to add a veteran defenseman of Mario's status is a big boost for our hockey club," said McRae. "He will add veteran leadership to our team, and tremendous offensive output from our blue line. He's extremely skilled and will improve our power play, our defense, and the overall make-up of our team."

Doyon was a sixth round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1986 National Hockey League Entry Draft and played parts of three seasons in the NHL. In 28 games with the Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques, Doyon had three goals and seven points. In addition to his NHL and CHL tenures, Doyon ranked as a top tier defenseman in the IHL, AHL as well as leagues in Germany and Italy. In his 16-year career, Doyon has averaged almost 40 points a season.

Doyon's ties to this year's Rayz team extend beyond his relationship with his six former teammates from Indianapolis. Doyon was a former teammate of McRae with the Nordiques from 1989-1991. Doyon also played alongside current Rayz leading scorer Greg Bullock with the San Francisco Spiders of the IHL in the 1995-96 season. Bullock and Doyon finished eighth and ninth respectively on the team in scoring.

Doyon's addition to the Rayz promises to improve what has already been an offensive powerhouse through the first half of the season. The Rayz currently stand with a 16-11-3 record with 35 points. They are in first place in the Southeast Division, second place in the Southern Conference and, with 101 goals thus far, are the highest scoring team in the Southern Conference.

The Rayz are off this week for the CHL All-Star Break. The Dodge CHL All-Star Game will be played Wednesday night at 7:30pm in Laredo. There will be a Laredo National Bank All-Star Skill Challenge Tuesday night at 7:30pm. The Rayz have three participants representing Corpus Christi in both the Skills Challenge and All-Star Game. Jason Baird and Bernie John were voted as starters for the game, and Greg Bullock, who leads the Southern Conference in points, was named also named to the team.

Corpus Christi returns home Friday Night at 7:00pm when they take on the evil Laredo Bucks at the American Bank Center in a Division battle for first place. The Rayz and the Bucks rivalry game will feature the second installment of Men's Night this season. All male fans 18 years and older will receive discounted tickets to the game starting at just $8 (plus a $1.50 facility fee). The Rayz weekend continues at home Sunday at 5:00pm for Whataburger and Caller-Times Family Day. The Rayz host the Colorado Eagles for the only time this season. Any fans who purchase a regular priced ticket, receive two free children tickets to the game. Make your weekend plans to see your first-place Rayz at the American Bank Center Friday and Sunday. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations and the American Bank Center Box Office, For more information, please contact the Rayz at (361)814-PUCK.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2005


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