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Like the man promised -- knew it was him all along -- an Augusta Chronicle story on the ECHL settlement.

Official word here.

Rob Mueller of the Augusta Chronicle and the Hockey News -- or at least someone claiming to be him -- says the ECHL has itself a new CBA.

Laddy Tresl, Jr? You know this league is getting old when the child of a former Wiffle player is ready to go pro. Hope he makes the Brahmas.

Turns out Doug Shedden was not the league's biggest off-season call-up...congratulations to Gord Dwyer on his promotion to the NHL. Gentlemen (and ladies), start your bitchin'.

Add James Hiebert to the Laredo roster. Colorado's Riley Nelson also takes his leave from Rampage camp. And yes, that's a different Jonathan Gagnon.

The Rampage and Aeros play free practice rink exhibition games Saturday and Tuesday at Northwoods Ice.

Hey, rumor has it Mike Comrie could be dealt to Colorado... the Eagles, I mean.

But seriously folks... I don't know exactly how much Chris Stewart's newest acquisitions get from Wilkes-Barre, but I hear Paul Kariya and Greg Pankewicz were spotted at the Denver Ruth's Chris on Sunday... and Pankewicz picked up the check!

Okay, okay. Really now... I'll bite into this topic -- which is bound to stay on people's minds -- later in the week.

By the way, has anyone seen Blake Sloan? C'mon Tip, sign him for the Grizzlies! Or are you saving room for Claude Lemieux?

While we're on the subject, say hello to your Utah CHLers: Jonathan Gagnon, Darryl McArthur, Tyler Butler and Derek Hahn. The names Dave Gove and Eric Schneider also ring a bell. Notably absent: Blair Manning.

A reminder that beat writers don't compose headlines: it's not exactly an upset when Valeri Bure skates for the AHL team and Simon Lajeunesse is in net for the Panthers.

R.I.P. George Plimpton. The obits may focus on The Paris Review, Reds and the Detroit Lions, but he was also the author of a terrific hockey book.

Just a hunch... meet your 2002-2003 Most Outstanding Goaltender.

And on that same subject: is 46 goals, 41 assists and 340 PiMs not as great a stat line as you've ever seen? Yeesh!

Yes, the other shoe has dropped in Colorado. It would seem the Eagles' Florida affiliation is limited to one player, Riley Nelson.

In any case, Laredo fans know that Roscoe's working it, though Thursday didn't end well for the Bucks' new goalie. And I'm still assuming that the Lynx and Drulia will reap more than the Jackson Bandits did.

The most important point to all of this: there's hockey in South Central Texas Saturday: a Panthers/Rampage exhibition.

Hmmmmh. Next up, I suggest the "Shiner Austin Ice Bocks."

Well, there may not be a two-way deal, but it appears the Egeland-Wild connection did indeed send Matic Kralj to RGV.

Marty Turco gets strung up as a symbol for what's wrong with hockey in the Philly paper (not that you couldn't say the same thing about Jose Theodore). Truth is, I'm only linking to the piece 'cause of the Stickle reference. Is there any doubt that Leon is the most famous former linesman in NHL history, at least on the East Coast?

ROCKY...ROCKY...ROCKY.

Truly amazing that a career minor leaguer can generate two newspaper stories, even during exhibition season, even near his home... but good for Rocky Thompson. Here in Austin, we have a soft spot for the younger brother of former Ice Bat (and Zamboni Rodeo character) Jeremy.

It's just too bad he didn't get a shot at Dallas A.

Rob Valicevic and David Oliver each chipped in a goal as the Houston Aeros... oops, I mean the Utah Grizzlies... oops, I mean the Dallas Stars... beat the New York Rangers 5-3.

Tough deal for Dallas Anderson... And Shawn DeGagne, to a lesser extent -- does he even get to go to Utah?

Ok, this has zilch to do with hockey, but I'm sure Horns-haters around the CHL (whether in Austin or OKC) will be entertained as much as I was by my sometimes-colleague Michael Corcoran's ill-conceived analysis of UT's early schedule.

If I could, I'd crawl up in a hole and sleep until Oct. 4, when the Longhorns football season begins in earnest with a contest against the mighty tough Kansas State Wildcats at D.K. Royal Memorial Stadium. Until then, the Horns are playing a bunch of teams like New Mexico State, Rice, Tulane..

Oops!

Shawn DeGagne ought to send a thank you note to Marty Turco's agent. Best of luck to him, though I suspect the only way DeGagne isn't in Amarillo come October is if Turco stays unsigned (without being traded or replaced). He'll also need to outplay D-1 draft pick Dan Ellis.

What can I say... everybody needs an off-season. I'd have lots to say if the subject was the Phillies' wild card prospects, or Penn State at Nebraska.