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New GM Jumps Into Job
June 12, 2001
Scott Lauber
Press
& Sun Bulletin
On his first day as general manager of the BC Icemen, Tom Reynolds nearly wore out the telephones in the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
Reynolds, hired Monday as the second GM in the four-year history of the United Hockey League franchise, began calling some of the Icemen’s 600 season ticket holders to introduce himself and talk about the upcoming season. Reynolds is expected to be introduced himself as GM later in the week.
“I want this organization to be a lot more accessible to fans than it has been in past years,” said Reynolds, a Town of Main resident who has attended about 30 Icemen games since the team’s inception in 1997-98. “So far, the response from people has been great…and everyone is enthused about our new owner.”
That owner, Davis Wright, hired Reynolds, 39, to oversee the Icemen’s off-ice affairs. He’ll be responsible for ticket sales, promotions and daily business operations.
Reynolds will also assist coach/director of hockey operations Brad Jones in signing players, and after one season as a part-time scout and assistant coach for the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Reynolds is qualified to do so.
Reynolds said he has already called Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to discuss an affiliation agreement. The Icemen are already affiliated with the AHL’s Springfield (Mass.) Falcons.
“In the beginning, I’ll be mainly concerned with the business end of things, but as times goes by, I’ll get involved in helping on the hockey end,” Reynolds said.
As Reynolds becomes acclimated to the Icemen offices, Wright and Jones are attending the UHL Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas.
After the International Hockey League folded last month, Reynolds said he’s optimistic the UHL, a lower-level development league below the AHL and IHL will attract more talented players.
“I’m enthused about this upcoming season for the Icemen, but I’m real enthused that the IHL has folded,” Reynolds said. “A lot of players out of there will fall into the UHL. A lot of good major junior or college players will end up coming here now that the IHL isn’t around.”
Reynolds’ acceptance of the Icemen’s GM job means he won’t be coaching the Binghamton Tornadoes, a local Junior B team. He said he has spoken to Chuck Annis, owner of the program, and will continue to be involved in recruiting local players.”