Three 'Kings Looking For Promotion

Published on September 12, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release


FORMER ‘KINGS SEEKING A STEP UP EMERCIK, McDONALD AND SHMYR LOOK TO MAKE GOOD IMPRESSIONS

LUBBOCK, TX: September 12, 2002 – With NHL prospect camps wrapping up and NHL and American Hockey League (AHL) training camps around the corner, the Lubbock Cotton Kings would like to give an update of former players involved in NHL and AHL camps.

Cotton Kings forward Blaz Emersic completed workouts in the Dallas Stars Prospect Camp today and is waiting to find out if he will join the Stars training camp squad in Breckenridge, Colorado. If he does not receive an invitation with the Stars, he will report to camp with the American Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies, who serve as Dallas' top affiliate. Emersic, a 6'0" 200-pound native of Ljubljana, Slovenia joined the Cotton Kings in early February after being acquired in a trade deadline transaction with the Wichita Thunder. The speedy forward combined for 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points last season. He co-led the ‘Kings in scoring (with Jan Melichercik) and goals (with Dave MacIntyre), while leading the team in power play goals (9) and shots (189).

Emersic, who began the season in AHL camp with the Chicago Wolves, co-led the Cotton Kings in scoring for the month of February (5g,8a,13 pts) and had a Cotton Kings season high 11 game point streak (2/15/02 – 3/8/02). At the end of the ‘Kings season in March, Emersic was called up to join the Utah Grizzlies. Emersic played five games with the Utah Grizzlies recording a goal and an assist for 2 points. He recorded the game-winning goal for Utah on March 30th, scoring a goal past Chicago Wolves (and Atlanta Thrasher call-up) goaltender Norm Maracle, but later received an elbow in the contest. The elbow received by Emersic broke his jaw and prematurely ended Emersic's season and his hopes of competing for the Slovenian National Team in the World Championships.

‘Kings winger Walker McDonald, who endured his finest season of his career last season, will report to camp with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, who serve as the top affiliate of the New York Rangers. McDonald, a 6'3" 220-pound native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has combined for 35 goals and 40 assists for 75 points and 319 penalty minutes in 116 games over his two seasons with the Cotton Kings. Last season, McDonald tallied 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points and 152 penalty minutes in 56 games. He co-led the CHL with a single game plus/minus ranking of (+6), which also set the franchise record for highest plus/minus rating in an individual game. The task was completed on 1/6/02 against El Paso. McDonald also tied the franchise record for the most assists in an individual game, grabbing 4 assists on 3/1/02 against Amarillo.

Former Cotton Kings enforcer Ryan Shmyr, who has already completed Calgary Flames Prospect Camp, is set to attend Calgary Flames Training Camp this weekend in Banff, Alberta. Shmyr, who compiled a franchise all-time high 729 penalty minutes from 99/00 – 00/01 with the ‘Kings, split last season with the Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres' top affiliate) of the AHL and the Johnstown Chiefs (Calgary affiliate) of the East Coast Hockey League. In 34 games with Rochester, Shmyr tacked up 170 penalty minutes with a goal and 2 assists for 3 points, and produced 174 penalty minutes with Johnstown in 29 games along with 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points offensively. The 6'6" 230-pound Fairview, Alberta native also recorded a two-goal game in the playoffs to lead the Americans in playoff goals. This is the first NHL training camp for Shmyr, and he stands as just the second player (Derek Holland was the first) to compete in a NHL training camp once playing for the Cotton Kings.

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 12, 2002


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