Three Rookies Added to Blazers Roster

July 30, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Oklahoma City Blazers News Release


Oklahoma City, Okla. – The Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League signed wingers Justin Kot and Mike Lucci and centerman Shane Fukushima, the club's front office announced today.

Kot, a 6-2, 200-pound native of Weyburn, Saskatchewan returns to the Blazers lineup after a brief stint with the club at the end of last season and during the Blazers playoff run. In 14 games with Oklahoma City last season, he picked up three points (2-1-3) and served 11 penalty minutes. Prior to joining the Blazers, he completed his junior career with the Estevan Bruins of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. In 165 games with the Bruins, he picked up 135 points (45-90-135) while serving 376 penalty minutes.

Lucci joins the Blazers after a successful four-year career at Providence College where he was a teammate of Blazers goaltender Boyd Ballard. In four seasons at Providence, the 5-11, 200-pound native of Parma, Ohio amassed 43 points (21-22-43) in 132 games. Prior to his colligate career, Lucci skated with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. He scored 87 points (30-57-87) while serving 239 penalty minutes in 108 games with the Lancers. He was named to the USHL Southern Conference All-Star team in 1999.

Fukushima comes to the Blazers after playing two seasons with the Texarkana Bandits of the Gulf Coast Hockey League. In 52 games, the 5-10, 195-pound native of Owatonna, Minn. scored 91 points (38-53-91) while serving 75 penalty minutes over those two seasons. Prior to his experience in the GCHL, he skated three seasons at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. There he led his team in scoring during the 1999-00 season and picked up a total of 82 points (30-52-82) in 72 games over three seasons.

The addition of Kot, Lucci and Fukushima bring the total number of players signed for the 2003-04 season to eight. They join all-star Blair Manning, Ryan Campbell, Tim Laurila and goaltenders Boyd Ballard and Sean Connors. The Blazers open their 12th CHL season at home on Friday, October 17 against the defending CHL champion Memphis RiverKings. Season tickets are available by contacting the Blazers office at 235-PUCK (7825).



Central Hockey League Stories from July 30, 2003


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