Pensacola Ice Pilots 99-00 News Briefs
Updated: 01-29-00
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Al Pedersen will not return to coach in
2000-01 (from icepilots.com)
Pensacola, FL - The Pensacola Ice Pilots announced today that Al Pedersen
will not return as Head Coach of the Pensacola Ice Pilots for the 2000-2001
season. The team has decided to go into another direction.
"This is a very difficult decision to make. However, the organization
has decided to go in a different direction. We feel that the timing is right
and it is a time to make a change. The organization would like to thank Al for
four great years and wish him the best of success. We know that he is capable
of coaching not only in this league but in the higher leagues as well,"
said Ice Pilots Vice President of Business Operations Neil Hoyt.
Pedersen, who is 35 years old, posted a regular season record of 132-125-23
as Head Coach for the Ice Pilots during the four seasons. He had a post-season
record of 21-13.
This past season the Ice Pilots under Pedersen went 35-29-6 for 76 points
and made the Kelly Cup Playoffs only to be eliminated in the Wild Card round
by the Mississippi SeaWolves two games to one.
Pedersen had his best seasons coaching the Ice Pilots in his first two
years reaching the semi-finals and the Kelly Cup Finals. The Ice Pilots
finished with a record of 36-31-3 for 75 points in Pedersen's first year
losing to South Carolina in the Kelly Cup semi-finals three games to two.
During Pedersen's second season the Ice Pilots went 36-24-10 for 82 points
during the regular season and won a Southern Conference Championship before
losing to Hampton Roads in the Kelly Cup Finals four games to two.
Pedersen was also an assistant coach and player for the organization with
the Atlanta Knights in the IHL and played in 428 NHL games with the Boston
Bruins, Minnesota North Stars and Hartford Whalers. He played in two Stanley
Cup Finals with the Boston Bruins. Pedersen and his wife Becki have two sons,
Tyler and Jarret.
February 2000
January 2000
Date: 01-29-00
Subject: Bruce Richardson | Yeygeny Lazarev
News Brief: Pilots Center Jeff Trembecky was
traded to the Trenton Titans today for future considerations. Winger Yevgeny
Lazarev has been added to the Ice Pilots active roster.
Date: 01-27-00
Subject: Bruce Richardson | Yeygeny Lazarev
News Brief: Center Bruce Richardson has
been added to the Ice Pilots active roster. Yevgeny Lazarev is on his
way to Pensacola from Hershey. He has not yet been placed on the roster - he
is just in transit from Hershey to Pensacola (He was expected to arrive in
Jacksonville in time for the game, but was delayed in Atlanta).
Date: 01-27-00
Subject: Bill Kohn | Raitis Ivanans
News Brief: Pilots Defenseman Bill Kohn has been
moved from the 7 day to 14 day IR and Raitis Ivanans has been placed on the 7
day IR.
Date: 01-21-00
Subject: Bruce Richardson
News Brief: The Ice Pilots announced today that
Center Bruce Richardson has been released from Hershey and assigned
to Pensacola. He will join the team on the road trip in Florida and
is expected to be in uniform this weekend.
Date: 01-21-00
Subject: Jeff Rucinski | Bill Kohn
News Brief: Jeff Rucinski was taken off
of the IR today and added back to the active roster. Bill Kohn was
placed on the 7 day IR.
Date: 01-11-00
Subject: Chad Nelson
News Brief: The Pensacola Ice Pilots traded
Defenseman Chad Nelson to the Arkansas RiverBlades today for future
considerations. Trading Nelson, one of the team's highest paid
players, makes more room under the salary cap. Pensacola also had a
defenseman-heavy roster with 8 D ... an odd situation after playing much of
the year short-handed.
Date: 01-09-00
Subject: Luc Fournier
News Brief: The Pensacola Ice Pilots waived
Forward Luc Fournier today (only a few hours prior to the game) to make
room on the roster for Alex Couture.
Date: 01-08-00
Subject: Alex Couture
News Brief: Pensacola Ice Pilots
(ECHL) --
Suspended defenseman Alex Couture. NOTE: this was
only for "paperwork purposes." Alex is here and is
playing!
Date: 01-06-00
Subject: Alexandre Couture
News Brief:
The Ice Pilots announced today that they have acquired
defenseman Alexandre Couture (KAH-TOUR) from the Peoria Rivermen for future
considerations.
| Season |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
+/- |
| 98-99 |
Peoria |
58 |
7 |
20 |
27 |
78 |
|
| 99-00 |
Peoria |
25 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
35 |
+19 |
Alex is a 6'3", 210 pound Defenseman who shoots right. He was
born on December 18, 1977 in Ham-nord, Quebec (some sources list Lac St.
Augustine, Quebec). Alex was a 7th round pick of the Florida Panthers in
the 1996 NHL Entry Draft and started the 98-99 season in the Panthers training
camp. He was the 3rd leading scorer for Halifax in the 97-98 QMJHL
playoffs.
Couture played in the QMJHL from 1994 to 1998. He played for Halifax and
Victoriaville during the 97-98 season scoring 7 goals, 18 assists (59 PIM) in
36 games with Halifax and picked
up 13 PIM in 6 games with Victoriaville. During the 96-97 season, Alex played in 43 games
with Hull scoring 2 goals, 12 assists and picked up 21 PIM.
Alex will wear #33 and is expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the
Bulls.
Date: 01-05-00
Subject: 2000 All-Star Roster -- Southern Conference
News Brief: Ice
Pilots rookie forward John McNabb will represent the Ice Pilots at the 2000
All-Star game in Greenville, SC on January 19th. McNabb team leader in
scoring for the Ice Pilots. He has 11 goals and 20 assists in 33 games.
2000 Southern Conference All-Star Roster
(* denotes rookie)
| C |
John Spoltore, Louisiana
IceGators |
D |
Kelly Perrault, Birmingham
Bulls |
|
Dany Bousquet, Pee Dee
Pride |
|
Chris Valicevic, Louisiana
IceGators |
|
Eric Naud, Jacksonville
Lizard Kings |
|
Brad Dexter, South Carolina
Stingrays |
|
Greg Schmidt, South
Carolina Stingrays |
|
*Neil
Fewster, Grrreenville
Grrrowl |
|
*Buddy Smith, Pee Dee Pride |
|
Ryan Gaucher, Mississippi
Sea Wolves |
|
*Bobby Stewart, Mobile
Mysticks |
|
*Steve O’Brien, Arkansas
RiverBlades |
|
Sean Venedam, Grrreenville
Grrrowl |
G |
Marc Magliarditi, Florida
Everblades |
| RW |
Wes Mason, Augusta Lynx |
|
David Brumby, Jackson
Bandits |
|
Jeff Lazaro, New Orleans
Brass |
|
Jeff Maund, Florida
Everblades |
|
*John McNabb,
Pensacola Ice Pilots |
Co-Coaches |
|
Olivier Morin, Tallahassee
Tiger Sharks |
|
John Marks, Grrreenville
Grrrowl |
| LW |
Luke Curtin, Baton Rouge
Kingfish |
|
Frank
Anzalone, Pee Dee
Pride |
Date: 01-04-00
Subject: Luc Fournier | Chad Nelson
News Brief: Pilots Forward Luc Fournier
was taken off the 7 day IR and defenseman Chad Nelson was moved to the 7 day
IR because of a pulled stomach muscle.
December 1999
Date: 12-31-99
Subject: Bill Kohn | Luc Fournier
News Brief: Defenseman Bill Kohn was
activated from IR today and Pilots Forward Luc Fournier was placed on the
7-day IR.
Date: 12-23-99
Subject: Lorne Toews | Jeff Rucinski
News Brief: Pilots Winger Lorne
Toews has been returned to Pensacola today by the Hershey Bears.
Pilots Defenseman Jeff Rucinski was also returned to Pensacola
and was put on the 14-day IR due to a groin injury sustained in the game on
the 21st against the Jackson Bandits.
Date: 12-22-99
Subject: Jeff Rucinski
News Brief: The Hershey Bears recalled
defenseman Jeff Rucinski. Jeff played in one game since his
return to Pensacola on Sunday. Oddly enough, Jeff was only on the ice
for one period during the Ice Pilots home game against the Bandits on
Tuesday -- he was on the bench during the first period but never returned to
the ice.
Date: 12-9-99
Subject: Luc Fournier
News Brief: Forward Luc Fournier
has been placed on 7-day IR after sustaining an injury during his
first shift in Jackson on the 7th.
Date: 12-7-99
Subject: Shane Calder | Lorne Toews | Darcy George
News Brief: Winger Lorne Toews has
been returned by Hershey today as originally expected. Right
Winger Shane Calder has been returned by Manitoba. Shane
played in one game for the Moose -- he did not pick up any points or penalty
minutes. Left Winger Darcy George has been removed from the
IR list effective today. George has been on IR since sustaining a
concussion in Louisiana on November 23 after being hit from behind and
knocked unconscious by IceGator Jessie Rezansoff.
Date: 12-4-99
Subject: Lorne Toews
News Brief: Lorne Toews was called up
to Hershey after the completion of tonight's game against the Mysticks.
Lorne is expected to return before Tuesday's game at Jackson, but that could
change.
Date: 12-4-99
Subject: Shane Calder | Jeff Rucinski
News Brief: Pilots Right Winger Shane
Calder was called up by the Manitoba Moose of the IHL. This
is the first time in four years with the Pilots that Shane has been recalled
by the Moose. Just when it looked like defenseman Jeff Rucinski would
be back in an Ice Pilots uniform (he returned to Pensacola today) he
was immediately called up by the Ice Pilots AHL affiliate, the Hershey
Bears. SO ... Rucinski is returned to Pensacola and called up to
Hershey -- all in one day! Both transactions are effective
immediately - neither player will suit up for the game against Mobile
tonight.
Date: 12-2-99
Subject: Chad Nelson
News Brief: Defenseman Chad Nelson has
been suspended by the ECHL for the next three Ice Pilots games.
Chad will not suit up on December 3 at Baton Rouge, December 4 versus
Mobile, or December 7 at Jackson. In addition, Chad will sit out all
of the remaining games with Louisiana this season: the games on
December 18 and February 5 at home and December 23 and March 2 at
Louisiana. Chad will serve the time for the November 26 elbowing
incident in which IceGator winger Vashi Nedomanski suffered a broken
cheekbone -- he will be out for at least 4 weeks.
November 1999
Date: 11-29-99
Subject: Harold Hersh | Marc Dupuis | Chris Libett | Jon Coe |
Joe Harney
News Brief: Ice Pilots Captain Harold
Hersh will return to Pensacola Tuesday and will be back in uniform by
Friday's game against the Baton Rouge Kingfish on the road. Defenseman
Marc Dupuis returned to Pensacola today, and will also suit up for
the December 3rd game in Baton Rouge. Defenseman Chris Libett was
waived to make room on the roster for Dupuis. Center Jon Coe
was waived to make room for the team's returning Captain. Joe
Harney loses the "C" in all of these transactions, but makes
"history" this season by being the only Ice Pilots Captain not
called up to Hershey!
Date: 11-27-99
Subject: Joe Harney
News Brief: Ice Pilots Defenseman Joe
Harney will wear the Captain's C beginning today when the Ice Pilots
take on the Greenville Grrrowl at the Hangar. Joe is the third player
to wear the "C" this season ... the "C" went to Harold
Hersh at the beginning of the season ... Marc Dupuis was given the
"C" when Hersh was called up to Hershey, and now Joe will wear the
"C" after Marc Dupuis was called up to Hershey earlier
today. For three years, the Ice Pilots only Captain was Chad
Quenneville (now retired) ... in less than a week, the Ice Pilots have
had three Captains.
Date: 11-27-99
Subject: Marc Dupuis
News Brief: Defenseman Marc Dupuis,
Ice Pilots Captain, was called up to the Hershey
Bears of the AHL earlier today. Marc is the fourth player
this season who has been called up to Hershey.
Date: 11-26-99
Subject: Luc Fournier
News Brief: Ice Pilots signed forward
Luc Fournier. Fournier played last season with McGill University (CIAU).
In 24 games, he netted 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points and picked up 64
penalty minutes. He has also played professional hockey with the El
Paso Buzzards of the WHPL. In 10 games with the Buzzards, he score 2
goals and 5 assists for 7 points and picked up 10 penalty minutes.
Date: 11-20-99
Subject: Marc Dupuis
News Brief: Marc Dupuis will wear the
Captain's C in the absence of Harold Hersh who was called up to the Hershey
Bears of the AHL earlier today.
Date: 11-20-99
Subject: Jon Coe
News Brief: The Ice Pilots announced
today that they have claimed center Jon Coe off waivers from the
Augusta Lynx. Coe, 5'11", 180 lb from Anoka, MN played 9 games with
Augusta this year, picking up 1 goal, 1 assist, and 2 PIM. Coe spent
his college career at Providence (NCAA) -- in 136 games he scored 30 goals
43 assists for 73 points, and picked up 120 penalty minutes.
Date: 11-20-99
Subject: Harold Hersh | Evgeny Lazarov
News Brief: Ice Pilots Captain Harold
Hersh and Left Winger Evgeny Lazarev were called up today
by the Pensacola's AHL affiliate Hershey Bears. Hershey sustained
three injuries in last night's game against the Albany River Rats. No
word on when these players will return or if Lazarev will return at all.
Date: 11-18-99
Subject: Paul Strand
News Brief: The Ice Pilots claimed
forward Paul Strand off waivers and added him to the active roster.
Strand, who stands 5'11" and weighs 190 pounds, played in 11 games
for Louisiana this season scoring 5 goals, 5 assists for 10 points and
picked up 25 penalty minutes before being waived. He played last season for
Hamburg in Germany scoring 15 goals, 21 assists for 36 points in 43 games.
Strand also played for Raleigh and Baton Rouge in the ECHL during the
1997-98 season. He scored 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 points and picked up 8
penalty minutes in 10 games with Baton Rouge and played in 54 games for
Raleigh scoring 25 goals, 26 assists for 51 points in 119 penalty minutes.
He played his college hockey at University of Alberta. Strand is 26 years
old from Edmonton, Alberta.
Date: 11-18-99
Subject: Bruce Richardson
News Brief: Center Bruce Richardson was recalled
to Hershey, Pensacola's AHL affiliate. Bruce, along with Evgeny
Lazarev, was part of the spark guided the Ice Pilots to a four-game winning
streak this past week. Richardson played in one game for the Ice
Pilots picking up an assist in the 3-2 win over New Orleans on Sunday -- he
was a plus one.
Date: 11-12-99
Subject: Bruce Richardson
News Brief: Center Bruce Richardson was assigned
to Pensacola from the AHL affiliate Hershey Bears. He is expected to
arrive in Pensacola this weekend, and will probably see his first action in
an Ice Pilots uniform on Sunday. Richardson has played 5 games with
Hershey scoring up 1 goal and 15 penalty minutes. He netted 4 goals, 7
assists (11 points) and 132 penalty minutes in 44 games with the Bears last
season. Richardson was born on June 8, 1977 in Ville St. Pierre, PQ --
he is 5'9", 175 pounds and shoots left.
Date: 11-11-99
Subject: Jeff Rucinski
News Brief: Jeff Rucinski has been called
up to Orlando of the International Hockey League. He has played in
all nine games for the Ice Pilots this season picking up 2 assists and 8
penalty minutes. This is not the first action Rucinski has seen in the
"I" or in Orlando: last year he played 63 games for
Cleveland and, in the 1997-98 season, he saw action in 5 games for Orlando.
Date: 11-11-99
Subject: Garth Gartner
News Brief: Rookie Forward Garth Gartner
was released from the Ice Pilots today. Gartner who played 3
games for the Pilots this season picked up no points and 5 penalty
minutes. He was waived to make room for forward Evgeny Lazarev who was
assigned to the Ice Pilots from Hershey yesterday.
Date: 11-10-99
Subject: Evgeny Lazarev
News Brief: The team announced today that
19-year-old Left Wing Evgeny Lazarev (YEHV-geh-nee LA-zahr-ehv) has
been assigned to Pensacola from the Hershey Bears of the American
Hockey League. Lazarev scored 6 goals, 15 assists (21 points) and
picked up 18 penalty minutes in 53 games for Hershey last season. Evgeny
(19 years old, 6'2", 215 pounds) is from Kharkov, Ukraine and is on the
50-man roster of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche -- he was Colorado's 8th
choice, 79th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
