Veteran Forward Tallaire Rejoins Ice Bats for 2005

January 3, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release


The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced that veteran forward Gerald Tallaire has been re-signed to contract for the current season.

The 32-year-old Tallaire, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has played in Austin in each of the past four seasons, scoring 15 goals and 36 assists in 64 games while earning All-Star honors last year. A victim of the league rule that limits teams to four veterans with 260 or more professional games played, Tallaire was the final cut of this year's training camp in October. Tallaire signed with Fort Worth in late October, but did not see game action with the Brahmas due to injury, and was released in mid-November.

Tallaire played four years at Lake Superior State University, winning the NCAA championship in 1994. After spending his first two pro seasons overseas, he then played two years for the Belton-based Central Texas Stampede of the WPHL, finishing as that franchise's leading career scorer. Tallaire spent most of the 2000-01 campaign in Italy before joining the Ice Bats late that season. Tallaire ranks 4th in career assists and total points with the Ice Bats.

"We know what Tally can do when healthy," said Ice Bats Head Coach Greg Gatto. "He easily could have been on our roster after training camp, but we had some tough decisions to make. He brings additional speed to our lineup, which we need. And right now with an open vet spot, we thought it made sense to add that extra body and keep our forwards well rested."

"I'm happy to be playing again," Tallaire said. "You definitely miss it. I'm just going to come in and help out where I can. Some guys have been struggling to score, so hopefully I can help some of the younger players. Benoit Genesse and I worked really well together in training camp, so he's an example of a guy that maybe I can help put up bigger numbers."

The Ice Bats are 13-12-2, trailing Southeast Division leaders Laredo and Corpus Christi by just five points. Following a Friday night game in Fort Worth, the Bats return to the Travis County Expo Center for games this Saturday and Sunday. It's "Guaranty Win Weekend," presented by Guaranty Bank. If the Ice Bats fail to win either night this weekend, fans in attendance may redeem their ticket stub for a free seat to the January 20th home game.

Saturday night at 7:35pm, the Ice Bats face Fort Worth in the second half of a home-and-home series. Following the contest, the "Bud True Music Concert Series" continues with a performance from Del Castillo. Sunday at 4pm, the Ice Bats face Colorado for the first time ever, with a free skate with Ice Bats players following the game.

Individual game tickets are available now through the Ice Bats office at 927-PUCK, on-line at www.GetTix.Net, or at any of a dozen Pinky's Wireless locations in the Austin area, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Killeen and San Marcos. Tickets are also available at all Texas Box Office locations, including all Austin-area HEB stores, or on-line at www.TexasBoxOffice.com.

To charge by phone, fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at 927-PUCK, Get Tix at 1-866-4-Get Tix, or Texas Box Office at (512) 477-6060.

Individual game tickets range in price from $10 to $35, depending on section, with discounted rates for groups of 15 or more. Fans may call the Ice Bats ticket office at (512) 927-PUCK, or log onto the team's website at www.icebats.com for more information.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2005


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