Robitaille Agrees To Deal With Icemen

June 15, 1999

Sean Mayer, Staff Writer

For Patrice Robitaille, there were too many positives involved with playing for the BC Icemen to pass up.

So, Robitaille, an alternate captain and the Icemen’s second-leading goal scorer, signed a one-year deal Monday to return to the team.  He is the second player under contract with the Icemen, joining captain Greg Pajor, who signed Thursday.

“I liked the way things went last year,” said Robitaille, who led the Icemen with 57 assists and was second to Pajor with 75 points in 71 games.  Robitaille, 28, reeled off a franchise-best 13-game point streak and was the Icemen’s representative at least year’s United Hockey League All-Star Game in Moline, Ill.

“Brad (coach Brad Jones) and I got along very well, and he’s one of the best coaches I’ve had over the last few years,” Robitaille said.  “He related will with the players.  He gives us a lot of confidence.  A lot of coaches I’ve had in the past, they’ve been very individual.  Brad’s completely the opposite.  He makes it fun to come to practice.”

Robitaille, a Clarkson graduate and native of St. Catherine, Quebec, spent his first three pro seasons in the International Hockey League and the West Coast Hockey League.  He joined the Icemen last season largely because it afforded him and his wife, Stacy, the opportunity to spend more time with the family. Stacy Robitaille is from Binghamton.

Robitaille, who plays right wing, is spending the off season working for Jim Gresham Maintenance, owned by his wife’s uncle.  The couple is expecting its first child this week.