Thunder re-signs pair
July 5, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder today re-signed defenseman Matt Coughlin and right wing Scott Rozendal.
A second-year pro out of Napanee, Ontario, Coughlin (pronounced COG-lin) was acquired by the Thunder from the Fort Worth Brahmas on January 9th. In 30 games with the Thunder, the 6-3, 205-pound defenseman recorded four points, 65 penalty minutes and was an impressive +7.
Prior to turning pro, Coughlin played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, followed by three seasons at St. Mary's University. He notched 37 points and 617 penalty minutes in the OHL, 14 points and 106 penalty minutes during his college career. He also attended training camp last fall with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals.
Rozendal, also a second-year pro, began last season with the ECHL's Fresno Falcons. He joined the Thunder as a free agent on New Year's Eve at Oklahoma City and quickly recorded his first pro assist.
Rozendal (pronounced ROH-zin-dahl) stepped it up down the stretch, picking up half of his 14 points in the month of March. His best game came on the final day of the regular season versus Oklahoma City, in which he notched two goals late in the third period, helping the Thunder to an eventual 5-4 overtime victory. Prior to turning pro, Rozendal played two seasons at the University of Guelph, recording 36 goals and 73 points in just 45 games.
"Matt and Scott should both contribute nicely this season with a year under their belt", said Thunder head coach Mark French. "Matt is a tough, stay at home defenseman that makes good decisions with the puck and keeps things simple, while Scott is an agitating player, who plays hard every shift and will chip in offensively."
The Thunder, the 2006 CHL's Most Improved Franchise of the Year, will begin their 15th season with a pair of home games on Friday and Saturday, October 20th and 21st. Wichita finished the 2005-06 season ranked second in the CHL and seventh overall among North America's 54 "AA" hockey teams, averaging 5,719 fans per game.
Thunder season tickets, still the least expensive in the CHL, are on sale now, ranging from $256 to $408. For more information, call the Thunder office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from July 5, 2006
- Killer Bees Add Scoring Sting; Olauson Signed - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Blazers Team MVP Returns for 06-07 Season - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Third time's a charm - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Thunder re-signs pair - Wichita Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
