Two Gorillas at AHL Training Camp
September 30, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Amarillo Gorillas News Release
Two members of the Amarillo Gorillas are currently at the training camp of the Utah Grizzlies of the American Hockey League.
Rookie defenseman Tyler Butler and 2002-2003 CHL Rookie-Of-The-Year Derek Hahn are currently in Salt Lake City for the camp. The Grizzlies are the AHL Triple âA' affiliate of the Dallas Stars.
"I believe both Tyler Butler and Derek Hahn will do extremely well in Utah," said Ferras. "They are both very talented players that would fit in well with any team."
Butler, a native of Kanata, Ontario Canada, concluded a brilliant four-year collegiate career at the University of Alabama-Huntsville and then played in four-playoff games for the Amarillo Gorillas. In the final game of the five game series with the Indianapolis Ice, Butler scored a goal on a big slap shot from the point.
Meantime, Derek Hahn enjoyed a terrific year with the Gorillas after joining the hockey club shortly after the Thanksgiving Holiday.
In 46 games with the Gorillas, Hahn netted 25 goals and added 27 assists for 52 points and 14 penalty minutes. Hahn jumped onto the scene during an early season road trip to Austin where the Gorillas began to hit their stride with back-to-back wins over the Ice Bats. The following weekend, Hahn scored the game winner to lead Amarillo to a big win over the El Paso Buzzards.
Hahn was chosen as the CHL's player of the week in early January and his solid play was being taken note of by the Central Hockey League and by season's end was being considered for the Rookie-of-Year Award. The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) graduate would be the second consecutive player from that program to take the prestigious award following Peter Bournazakis' success with the Indianapolis Ice.
The Amarillo Gorillas are gearing up for their second season in the CHL and their home opener is just over a month away on Friday, October 24 when they host the expansion Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at 7 p.m. at the Jungle in the Amarillo Civic Center.
Parital and Full Season Ticket packages and corporate partnerships are still available. Inquire about this month's season ticket special. For further information about the coolest game on ice please contact the Amarillo Gorillas Corporate Offices at 242-7825 or drop by at 1934 Civic Circle in the Wolflin Village.
Central Hockey League Stories from September 30, 2003
- Trojans Come Marching to The Valley - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Two Gorillas at AHL Training Camp - Amarillo Gorillas
- Gorillas Acquire Goaltender Myers from Scorpions - Amarillo Gorillas
- Single Game Seats Go on Sale Saturday - Amarillo Gorillas
- Gorillas to Play Pair of Exhibition Games against Arch-Rival Cotton Kings - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder Open Camp Monday - Wichita Thunder
- Five Saints in AHL Camps - San Angelo Saints
- Training Camp Less Than A Week Away - Laredo Bucks
- Dodge to Sponsor All-Star Game - CHL
- Return of the Icemen - Laredo Bucks
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