BROOMFIELD, Col – Last season’s team disappointed the fans and team ownership with a poor finish. In addition to its returning players, t his year’s roster will have new faces to help grind it out at the finish.
THE NEW ARRIVALS
JOHN SNOWDEN
Snowden will be entering his 6th year as a pro, most of his time spent playing in the ECHL. This talented Right Wing was named to the ECHL All Star Team during his rookie year while playing with the Texas Wildcatters in the 2003-04 season. He scored a career high 37 goals his second year in Texas. He is a skilled player and proven goal scorer.
MARK VERSTEEG-LYTWYN
Mark is another talented Left Wing that has spent his first two years as a pro with the Kalamazoo Wings. He was only 19 when he first played for the Wings, in the then United Hockey League. In his 141 games with the Wings, he netted 46 points (24, 22) while racking up 144 penalty minutes.
JARRED MOHR
Mohr is a 3rd year pro Defenseman also spent 41 games last season playing with the Kalamazoo Wings. There he racked up 12 points (1, 11) and 32 penalty minutes. His rookie season was spent in the ECHL, where he split time between the Cincinnati Cyclones where he played in 44 games while registering seven points (2, 5) and 38 penalty minutes, and the Pensacola Pilots for 24 games.
CHRIS BRANNEN
A trade with the Odessa Jackalopes in August brought this 5th year pro to the Roster. Brannen, a 6’2”, 208lb stay at home Defenseman was acquired for future considerations. He is a great addition to the defense, and just may be the piece The Rage needed. Brannen is also a two-time winner of Jack’s Community Spirit Award, which is given to the player most involved with the team’s community relation efforts.
NATHAN O’NABIGON
O’Nabigon is entering his rookie year. He is a 6’2”, 215lb Left Wing, and has played the past four years at the University Of New Brunswick.
MARK SMITH
Smith, a solid Defenseman, is entering his 2nd year as a pro. Last season, he played in the for the Charlotte Checkers in the ECHL, where he registered 15 points (6, 9) and 41 penalty minutes.
MARTY MAGERS
Magers is a talented Goaltender that will be a solid backup for Scott Reid. Magers signed midway through the 2005-06 season with the Bakersfield Condors in the ECHL, where he went 8 – 1 – 0 and posted a 2.12 goals against average, with a .932 save percentage. His first two full seasons as a pro were spent in the International Hockey League (formally United Hockey League) playing for the Port Huron Icehawks. Last season, he posted a record of 14 – 11 – 3, with a 2.89 goals against average, and a .904 save percentage.
Another trade this season sent fan favorite Trevor Weisgerber to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in exchange for the rights to Defenseman Bernie Chmiel and future considerations. The Rage were forced to make the trade due to the CHL veteran rules.
Weisgerber leaves as the all time leading scorer for the Rage, having netted 91 points (35, 61) during his season and a half with the Rage. Last season, he scored 25 goals and had 44 assists.
Chmiel just concluded his second year as a pro, splitting last season between The Mississippi River Kings and the Killer Bees. He has not yet signed with the Rage.
Contact the author at buck.pettry@prohockeynews.com .
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