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This Week in WHA2

Published on October 31, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL) News Release


CELEBRATION, Fla. – This weekend the member teams of the World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) will take the ice in preseason games and teams will finalize their rosters in preparation for the start of the WHA2. The WHA2 drops the puck on its inaugural season on November 6.

The WHA2 announced that all players will wear protective visors in all WHA2 games, practices, and pre-game skates. WHA2 Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Governors, David Waronker, said the move was made to help protect the players by preventing eye injuries.

The WHA2 and the member teams' merchandise stores opened early this week to allow fans to "suit up" for the season. Visit www.wha2.com or each team's individual website.

The Alabama Slammers opened training camp this past weekend, with 30 players vying for roster spots for the upcoming WHA2 season. On-ice sessions resume Saturday, culminating with a Sunday scrimmage against the Macon Trax. The Slammers have been active in the community as well, participating in the Kid's World Expo 2003 in Birmingham and the Asthma Association of Alabama's 2nd annual Asthma Walk in Homewood. The team's merchandise kiosk at the Riverchase Galleria Mall has been seeing brisk traffic. Ticket sales for opening weekend against the Jacksonville Barracudas continue to go very well, with sell-outs expected both nights. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, or by calling 205-715-6000. Game time each night is 7:05p.m., with game broadcasts on www.irn.fm beginning at 6:45p.m.

Jacksonville Barracudas training camp is underway and with it comes more player signings. The Barracudas welcome Greg Capson, a 6'2", 215 lb. defenseman who played six games with the ‘Cudas last season; Brent Scott, a 5'10", 200 lb. forward; Mike Johnson, a 6'3", 220 lb. defenseman; goaltender Jean-Francois Laniel, a 1999 third-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers; goaltender Brandon Snee, a 2000 fifth-round draft pick of the New York Rangers; and Kory Barker, a play-making center who led the Barracudas in assists last season (39) and third on the team in points (50). The Barracudas are heading to Orlando on Saturday for an exhibition game with the Seals at the RDV Sportsplex at 4:00pm.

The Loggerheads passed an important season ticket milestone this week. With the latest sales on record, the Loggerheads now have 215 season ticket holders. As training camp rolls on, the Loggerheads cut their roster down from 40 players to 21 with the weekend's preseason games ahead. The Loggerheads play The Miami Manatees on Saturday, Nov. 1st at Kendal Ice Arena at 7:00pm and then host the Orlando Seals at the Lakeland Center on Nov. 2nd in the team's charity exhibition game. Fans can get in free with a donation of a non-perishable food to Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland or with a $5 donation to Lighthouse Ministries of Lakeland. The "Loggerettes", the Loggerhead's dance team, will perform at all Loggerheads home games, make public appearances and participate in all team promotions. Their first stop will be Saturday, Nov. 1st at Lighthouse Ministries "Care Fest 2003". The girls will be on hand signing autographs and posing for pictures. Twistee Treat Ice Cream and sandwich shops has generously donated coupons for a free ice cream cone to the first 2000 fans who attend the Loggerheads Charity Exhibition game on Nov. 2nd. The Loggerettes will hand out the coupons.

The Macon Trax hit the ice this week as training camp opened at the Centreplex. Coach Tommy Stewart invited 23 players (20 skaters/3 goalies) to camp for the 2003-04 season. Coach Tommy Stewart has moved afternoon practices to 4:00-5:30 pm. This was done to accommodate Trax fans. The Macon Trax are holding an intersquad scrimmage today at approximately 4:30 pm which will last about an hour. The scrimmage will be free of charge, like all practices, but fans will be asked to make a donation to the "All Aboard for Charity" program. The Trax goal is to raise enough money from the scrimmage to be able to purchase least one season ticket to donate to the charity program.

Miami Manatees Head Coach Zac Boyer signed center Todd Nowicki, previously a member of the championship winning Orlando Seals in the 2002-2003 season, where he played in 44 games, scoring 25 goals and 48 points, while earning 24 penalty minutes. He appeared in all six games of the Seals championship run, scoring three goals and six points. Nowicki played hockey at SUNY-Buffalo State for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons. In 48 games, Nowicki scored 40 goals and 81 points. In 2002, Nowicki appeared in two games with the ECHL Reading Royals.

The Orlando Seals are getting into the spirit of competition, and will play two exhibition games this weekend. They will host the Jacksonville Barracudas in a preseason contest on Saturday November 1 at 4 p.m. at RDV Sportsplex. That game is free to Seals season ticket holders. Admission for other fans is $4 with proceeds of the game being donated to Hockey 4 Kids. On Sunday November 2, the Seals will head to Lakeland for a 5 p.m. exhibition game.

That game can be heard on the internet at www.IRN.FM. Fans that have purchased their season tickets for the Seals will be able to pick them up at Saturday's exhibition game. Season ticket holders unable to attend Saturday's exhibition game may pick up their tickets at the Seals office located at 127 North Magnolia in downtown Orlando.

The WHA2 will ice six teams for the 2003 – 2004 season: the Alabama Slammers, Jacksonville Barracudas, Lakeland Loggerheads, Macon Trax, Miami Manatees, and Orlando Seals. Each team will play a 60 game schedule beginning on November 6th. Every game will be broadcast on www.irn.fm.

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