(Team Press Release) The Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League Wednesday announced the signing of defenseman Terry Virtue to contract for the 2006-07 season, the Ice Bats’ first at Chaparral Ice Arena. The veteran d-man has spent the bulk of a 15-year professional playing career in the AAA-level American Hockey League, while also appearing in five games in the NHL. With the signing, the Ice Bats now have 11 players officially under contract for the coming season. 2006-2007 CHL Team Player Signings
The 36-year-old Virtue, a native of Scarborough, Ontario, ranks among the top 15 players with 865 AHL games played, third among defensemen. He is 11th all-time in career penalty minutes in that league, and ranks eighth in AHL playoff game appearances. A two-time participant in the AHL All-Star Game, Virtue won Calder Cup championships in 1999 with Providence, top affiliate of the Boston Bruins, and in 2000 with Hartford, top affiliate of the New York Rangers. And he appeared in five NHL games with those two organizations in 1999 and 2000.
Virtue began last season in the ECHL, then returned to the American League with the top affiliates of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. All tolled, Virtue scored 44 points in 70 games last season. He will serve a dual role as the Ice Bats’ Player-Assistant Coach.
“We’re obviously very pleased to get a player of Terry’s stature,” said Ice Bats Coach Bill McDonald. “Hands down, he’ll be one of the top defensemen in our league. As a player, he still has great competitiveness and a desire to win, and that will rub off on the rest of our team. He loves the game and wants to stay involved in hockey after his playing career. So he’ll play an active role in helping to coach the team, especially our defense.”
“I’m excited to come to Austin, learn about the league and the coaching side,” Virtue said. “I’d done a lot of calling around, and everyone I talked to had good things to say about Bill and his ability to help me get started on a coaching career. I hope to use some of the same strengths I’ve shown as a player. I’ve always been able to keep guys accountable leading by example. You’re not going to be the best player on the ice every night, but you can always be the hardest working. Even if we didn’t have as much talent, teams I’ve played with have won a lot of games by outworking the other team.”
The Ice Bats will open their 11th season on Saturday, October 21st at 7:30pm against the defending Northern Conference champion Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
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