JacksFan41
|
| Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:09 pm Renewed Affiliations |
|
|
Affiliations and contacts in professional sports have become the lifeblood of many minor league organizations over the last 20 years. Today, the Jackalopes are proud to announce the renewing of two affiliations (one personal and one organizational) that will benefit the team both on and off the ice.
Former Jackalopes Defenseman Doug Johnson has signed on as the Jackalopes new assistant coach for the 2006-07 season. Johnson will follow in the footsteps of two former Jackalopes (Derek Laxdal and Greg Gatto) that became assistant coaches for the team after playing under Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Don McKee during previous seasons.
Johnson spent 6 years as a professional hockey player before retiring in 2003 and taking up farming with his family in Saskatchewan. Last year, Johnson came back to hockey, as he was named the head coach of the Billings Bulls Junior A team in Billings, Montana. “Doug has tremendous heart and a fantastic work ethic,” said McKee. “He should be a great role model for our young players and will be a great help to me in making our team a strong contender.”
With training camp just around the corner, Johnson will be involved in all of the pre-season activities as well as being very active with the Jackalopes Amateur Youth Hockey Association this season. “Doug will be with the team from the beginning of training camp through the entire season,” noted McKee.
From an organizational standpoint the Jackalopes will once again be affiliated with the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL next season. This will be the sixth consecutive year that this affiliation has taken place.
The Oilers will not have an American Hockey League team and the Jackalopes will not know until the end of training camp if Edmonton will assign a player to the Jacks this season. “It is important to keep this affiliation with the optimism that Edmonton will have an AHL team in the future,” said McKee. “Hopefully this will also mean that more players from the Oilers’ organization will be placed in a Jackalopes sweater.”
Edmonton finished as the runner up in the Stanley Cup Finals last season after falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7. “Continuing our affiliation with a team such as Edmonton, that has such a proud history, is also a terrific reminder that our own franchise will be entering its 10th season this October,” noted McKee.
News and Notes
• Corby Antropik will become the team’s new Equipment Manager for the 2006-07 season. Corby is no stranger to the CHL after spending the 2004-05 season with the San Angelo Saints. Last season Corby was the equipment manager with the Pensacola Ice Pilots. As a native Texan, he is happy to return to the Lone Star State and the CHL. He will take the place of Tony DeGrande in the locker room and on the bench this season.
• The Jackalopes will hold a special 10th Anniversary Banquet that will be open to the public on Monday, September 25th. The banquet will focus on the upcoming season and the 10th year of Jackalopes hockey in the Permian Basin. More details coming soon.
www.jackalopes.org |
|
