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Edited
by Phillip Brents Teams
included in this report: Bakersfield
Condors Rosebush won a gold medal at the 1999 Pan American Games as a member of Team Canada … in softball. “I grew up in a small town in Ontario. Softball is very popular there,” said Rosebush, who completes the answer to the trivia question as holder of a bronze medal from the 1999 World University Games in hockey. “I started playing when I was 10 years old. It’s something I still do in the summer when I’m away from hockey.” Rosebush scored the winning run in a 4-3 victory against the United States to claim the Pan Am gold medal. He was more of an overall contributor to his team’s fortunes at the World University Games. Want more trivia? The native of Wellington, Ontario was a member of the University of Guelph’s CIAU championship team in 1997. Rosebush, now 27, said he cherishes both his international medals – the gold in softball and the bronze in hockey. “Definitely whenever you put on that jersey that says Team Canada, it’s a special feeling. You can’t describe it. Both were good experiences,” he said. Rosebush’s experience with the Condors can only be described in similar positive terms. An immediate fan favorite upon his arrival in the WCHL, Rosebush continues to shine both in the eyes of the Bakersfield faithful and Condors head coach Paul Kelly. “Fans appreciate a player’s work ethic,” Kelly said. “He’s a blue collar player. When fans see him crash and bang guys, flipping and flying, they identify with him. He does whatever it takes. He’s a fast skater. He’s an exciting player to watch.” During his rookie season in 1999-00, Rosebush scored 18 goals and added 27 assists for 45 points in 68 games – thus far his best point-mark as a pro. He also earned a one game call-up to the then IHL Long Beach Ice Dogs. He was one of only three Condors to play in all 72 games in 2001-02 during which he recorded a career-high 23 goals and finished third in the league with six game-winning goals. In four playoff games, he added one goal and three assists.
His best season at the University
of Guelph came in 1997-98 when he reached double digits in goals (18) and
assists (14) while totaling 32 points in 25 games. Idaho
Steelheads
A member of the Peoria Rivermen’s 2000 ECHL championship team, Rybar has been battling fellow Steelheads newcomer Marty Flichel for the team scoring lead all season. The two Idaho players took off in the league scoring charts as the Steelies took control of the WCHL standings with a nearly invincible start. At midseason, Flichel and Rybar ranked second and third, respectively, in the league point standings. A refugee from the defunct Tacoma Sabercats, Flichel (pronounced flick-el) led the WCHL with 20 goals in 35 games while Rybar’s 25 assists ranked him third in the league in a like number of games. Flichel, however, was a known commodity after finishing ninth in league scoring with 70 points in 66 games for the Sabercats during the 2001-02 season. Rybar was a complete unknown to hockey fans in the western United States. The native of Fernie, British Columbia, almost remained that way. “I was thinking of retiring after last season in the ECHL,” said Rybar, 28. However, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound center was lured out west to play for a team that resembled the makeup of the 2000 Kelly Cup champion Rivermen. Perhaps not surprisingly, Rybar – who led Peoria in scoring during three of his four seasons with the Rivermen -- has prospered in his new surroundings. His motivation remains high in Idaho. “When we won the championship in Peoria in 2000, I think we had a great core of guys. I see that here with this team. That’s one of the reasons I came here,” said Rybar, who counted as a “veteran” player under ECHL rules but not in the WCHL. In four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, he totaled 105 points in 149 games. Consistency was his trademark with seasons of 29, 24, 24 and 28 points. With 14 goals and 25 assists in his first 35 games with the Steelheads, Rybar clearly has demonstrated his strength – passing. He had 44 assists against 17 goals in 72 games in the 2000-01 season after tallying 51 assists against 17 goals in 58 games during Peoria’s 1999-00 championship season. In 18 playoff games that season with the Rivermen, he had 17 assists against six goals. “I like to set up guys. I had a lot of guys I could give the puck to in Peoria. I did well there,” Rybar said. Rybar called the ECHL more of a “run-and-gun” league, comparing the WCHL more to the IHL with an emphasis on older, more experienced players. While the slant of the two leagues might differ, the sense of achievement does not. “I think we’re winning
as a team. It’s rubbing off on myself. I knew the players who were
here. That’s a big part of my personal success. I’m just glad
I can help the team win,” Rybar said. Las
Vegas Wranglers Chandar Sports chairman Charles Davenport and new business partner Jonathan Fleisig have named Billy Johnson vice president of the Las Vegas Wranglers, which will open play at the brand new, state-of-the-art Orleans Arena as an expansion team in the East Coast Hockey League next fall. Johnson, who arrives in Las Vegas after serving as vice president and general manager of the Nashua Pride in baseball's Atlantic League since 1997, will oversee all day-to-day business operations of the franchise. He was named the Atlantic League's Executive of the Year in 2000. "After conducting an extensive search for an experienced and innovative candidate to head up our business operations with the Wranglers, I believe we have found the right man for the job in Billy Johnson," Davenport said. "Billy brings a wealth of creativity, enthusiasm and professionalism to the organization, and I feel he is ideally suited to help the Wranglers provide the type of high quality sports entertainment that the people of Las Vegas demand and deserve." "With an experienced ownership group and a first-class facility in the Orleans Arena, the Wranglers are poised to create a new chapter in Las Vegas pro sports," said Johnson. "I'm grateful for – and look forward to – being a part of this very exciting future." Johnson's career in sports began as he moved his way up through several marketing and public relations positions before taking over as the Louisville Redbirds' director of public and media Relations in 1989. He also helped run baseball teams in Kinston, N.C., and Chattanooga, Tenn., before being named the Pride's first general manager in 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in telecommunications and journalism, and will be joined in Las Vegas by his wife Shawna. Davenport also announced that Chandar Sports has entered into a partnership with Fleisig to jointly operate the Wranglers. Among other sports properties, Fleisig owns the WCHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Besides naming Johnson vice president, Davenport and Fleisig have appointed Matthew Riley president of the Wranglers. Riley, also president and general manager of the Condors, has led two previous franchises in the opening of a brand new facility. Riley will oversee the operation, setting up the structure of the Nevada franchise. "I am very excited to be able to enter into this partnership with Mr. Fleisig. He has a proven track record as someone who has a great deal of knowledge about and passion for the professional sports business," said Davenport regarding his new business partner. "Jonathan and I share a vision for a dynamic organization that will bring the world of sports entertainment to a new level in Las Vegas." "I am thrilled to be involved with a great market such as Las Vegas, and I am excited to meet the challenge of making the Wranglers a first-class entertainment option," Fleisig said. Besides the Wranglers, Chandar
Sports owns and operates the defending Taylor Cup champion and two-time
WCHL Organization of the Year Fresno Falcons. The ownership of the two minor
league hockey franchises marks the initial steps in the company's plan to
acquire and cultivate diverse holdings in the areas of sports and entertainment. |
FEATURE ARTICLES
AROUND
THE WCHL GAME RECAPS PROFILES IN HOCKEY PRESS RELEASES |
Condors
left wing Paul Rosebush may own the rights to his own Trivial Pursuit question
should the popular game upgrade its database in the future to include minor
professional hockey.
It
did not take long for Joe Rybar to make a name for himself in the WCHL.
About one month, to be exact.