JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville IceMen welcomed their first ever NHL/AHL partners, the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose, to the River City Thursday afternoon. When the IceMen take the ice on October 14th, their roster will contain some of the top prospects from the Winnipeg organization.
"We are excited to launch our team with the Winnipeg organization," said Bob Ohrablo, President of the Jacksonville IceMen. "In addition to a strong commitment to development, Winnipeg has successful ties to our Vice President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach Jason Christie, who has been integral in player development for both the Jets and Moose in the past while accumulating the winningest coaching record in ECHL history."
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Christie accumulated a 547-349-111 record in 14 seasons as an ECHL head coach. He has worked with Winnipeg in both the Ontario and Tulsa ECHL teams in the past.
"We are pleased to embark on our partnership with the Jacksonville IceMen," said Craig Heisinger, Senior Vice President & Director of Hockey Operations/Assistant General Manager of the Winnipeg Jets. "The commitment the IceMen ownership has to winning on and off the ice has been unquestioned. We have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with their head coach Jason Christie and look forward to him continuing to coach our prospects, as well as add to his ECHL record as the winningest coach in ECHL history."
The IceMenbegin their 72 game season at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday, October 14th against the Orlando Solar Bears.