Moose Give Winnipeger 2nd Chance

By Andrew Bourgeois
Jamie Morris knows that second chances in pro hockey are far and few and chances like this don’t come around very often. Morris, who was strong in goal during Manitoba Moose training camp a year ago, is about to get a second chance to play professional hockey in his home town and he wants to make the most of it.


The Winnipeg South Blues graduate will join fellow Winnipeggers and Manitoba Junior Hockey League opponents, Cory Cyrenne and Jeff Leiter, when the Manitoba Moose opens camp on September 17.


The Moose announced yesterday that Leiter and Morris were given an invitation to camp, while Cyrenne was inked to a one-year deal.


Were it not for a pulled stomach muscle, Morris may have made his debut last year when Manny Legace was summoned by the Detroit Red Wings.
It took him a while, but Morris bounced back on his feet, landing a job with the Indianapolis Ice of the Central Hockey League.


After spending much time in the shadows, the 26-year-old posted an impressive 8-3 record in the post-season to backstop the Ice to a Miron Cup title while earning playoff MVP honours in the process.


With Legace and Johan Hedberg already signed if they are unable to crack an NHL roster, Morris is likely to battle for an emergency recall spot.


An opportunity to find work in professional hockey is something the Moose will provide Leiter, whether it’s with them or with a club in another league.


The Moose also inked Cory Cyrenne to a one deal.
Cyrenne has been a winner at every level he has played including an MJHL title with the St. Boniface Saints, a Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup Championship with the Brandon Wheat Kings and a Colonial Cup with the Flint Generals of the United Hockey League, but was unable to produce consistently at the IHL-level during the past two seasons.


Moose head coach and general manager Randy Carlyle is hoping this is the year Cyrenne establishes himself as a full-time player.


“He’s made it very tough on us,” Carlyle said yesterday. “We’ve sent him down a couple of times and he’s had success at the lower levels. He’s a very skilled player and this year will be another challenge for him.”

MOOSE NOTES



Players under contract for the 2000-2001 season:
Mel Angelstad 
Doug Ast          Acquired from Long Beach
Brian Chapman 
Cory Cyrenne
Dion Darling      Acquired from Long Beach 
Rusty Fitzgerald 
Justin Kurtz 
Dmitri Leonov     Acquired from Long Beach  
Bret Meyers
Jeff Parrott
Sean Pronger    
Jimmy Roy     
Mike Ruark     

PLAYERS INVITED TO TRAINING CAMP
Jamie Morris      Goalie 
Jeff Leiter F     Forward
Jeff Scharf F     Forward
Kris Schultz F    Forward 
Shawn Allard D    Defence
Cal Benazic D     Defence
Brian LaFleur D   Defence
Reg Bourcier G    Goalie

Players whose minor league rights are held by Manitoba:
Manny Legace 
Scott Thomas 
Johan Heberg 

Players from 1999-2000 who have signed elsewhere:
Bill Bowler       Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) 
Michael Stewart   Frankfurt Lions (DEL) 
Lonny Bohonos     HC Davos (Switzerland) 
Jim Montgomery    San Jose Sharks (NHL) 
Doug Doull        Manchester Storm (UK) 
Jason Elliott     Houston Aeros (Detroit gave Houston minor
                                 league rights to Elliot)


IHL TIDBITS



While the rosters are far from settled, most IHL teams have gotten a start on next season. The Houston Aeros have been the most active, signing 11 players including Lane Lambert, Terry Marchant, Alex Moger, Greg Pankewicz and Alexi Vasilevski.


Other notable signings include Gilbert Dionne and Len Esau by the Cincinnati Cyclones; Dave Baseggio, Ed Patterson, and Travis Richards by the Grand Rapids Griffins; Doug Ast, Rusty Fitzgerald, Jimmy Roy, Brian Chapman and Jeff Parrot by the Manitoba Moose; Mark Beaufait and Todd Richards by the Orlando Solar Bears; and Brad Lauer and John Purves by the Utah Grizzlies.


Grand Rapids made the most significant off-season acquisition so far in landing Mike Crowley. He was a first-team IHL all-star last season with the Long Beach Ice Dogs.
The Griffins, who open camp Sept. 18, also retained assistant coach Danton Cole but won’t have Kelly Miller, Kevin’s brother, back on the staff of new head coach Bruce Cassidy. He is expected to take a season off from hockey after ending a 15-year playing career. Kelly was also a volunteer assistant under Guy Charron last season.


The most changed team in the IHL figures to be the Manitoba Moose. Coach Randy Carlyle won’t have Bill Bowler, Jim Montgomery, Lonny Bohonos or Michael Stewart for sure. Bowler is with the new NHL team in Columbus and Montgomary with the San Jose Sharks. Bohonos went to Switzeralnd and Stewart to Germany. Right wing Mike Prokopec also wants to test the NHL and Sean Proger (Boston), Jimmy Roy (Dallas), Dimitri Leonov (Detroit) and Brett Hauer (Edmonton) will be in NHL camps.

IHL FASTFACTS



On January 17, 1962 the Saint Paul Saints win the most lopsided game in IHL history, with a 20-3 clobbering of the Toledo Mercurys.

TODAY IN HOCKEY



September 8,1982 the Montreal Canadiens trade Rod Langway, Doug Jarvis, Craig Laughlin and Brian Engblom to the Washington Capitals for Ryan Walter and Rick Green.

DID YOU KNOW?



Hubert “Hub” Nelson was the top goalie in the minor leagues during the 1930′s, playing between the pipes for the St. Louis Flyers and the Minneapolis Millers of the Amercian Hockey Association. The New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks made several efforts to buy him but the Flyers front office opted to keep him. He never did play a game in the NHL and the closest he came was backing up Frank Brimsek on the powerful Coast Guard Cutters during WWII.

IHL TRANSACTIONS



Chicago: Resign defenceman Bob Nardells, Tom Tilley and Glen Featherstone.