Ice Bats Add Depth, Toughness to Roster
September 8, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League today announced the signings of winger Britt Dougherty, swingman Nello Ferrara and defenseman Adam Holmgren to contract for the team's 10th-Anniversary 2005-06 season. With the signings, the Ice Bats have 11 players officially signed to contract, with the team's training camp set to begin in about a month.
The 21-year-old Dougherty, a native of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, will enter his second professional season. After two seasons of major junior hockey with Regina in the Western Hockey League, Dougherty joined Corpus Christi as a rookie last season, and compiled 20 penalty minutes in ten games. Constrained by a lack of playing time, Dougherty left the Rayz in December and returned to the junior ranks, finishing the year in the Saskatchewan and Manitoba Junior Leagues.
Ferrara, a 29-year-old Chicago native, amassed 63 penalty minutes in 17 games with the Kansas City Outlaws of the United League last season, before sidelined to injury. A junior product of the United States Hockey League, Ferrara has prior pro experience in the UHL and WHA2.
Holmgren, 24, from Blaine, Minnesota, also played junior hockey in the USHL, then competed for four seasons at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Holmgren scored 44 points in 55 games on the blue line over the last two seasons.
"I saw Dougherty for an extended period in training camp last year, and liked what I saw on and off the ice," said Ice Bats Coach Bill McDonald. "He's a tough kid who isn't afraid to take on anyone. But training camp will be a competition at every position. Everyone coming to camp, including the guys we signed today will be fighting for spots on the team. That's how it should be, it's how you acquire quality depth."
The Ice Bats will open their 2005 training camp with the first on-ice practice sessions scheduled for Monday, October 10th. A full training camp and preseason game schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
The Ice Bats will then begin their 10th-Anniversary 2005-06 season hosting Corpus Christi on Friday, October 21st at the Travis County Expo Center. The 64-game CHL schedule includes 30 home dates at the "Bat Cave," as well as a pair of home games scheduled for March at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.
Season tickets and corporate partnerships are currently available for the upcoming season, with full-season, half-season and 10-game ticket packages on sale now. 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.
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Central Hockey League Stories from September 8, 2005
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- Ice Bats Add Depth, Toughness to Roster - Austin Ice Bats
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