McCaughey Gets a Second Chance : Roller hockey: Former Kings prospect has helped the Bullfrogs to an undefeated record.

During a recent roller hockey practice, Bullfrog forward Brad McCaughey sounded like a coach or front-office executive.

“Selfish hockey players aren’t winning players,” McCaughey yelled to his teammates during the scrimmage.

Later at the Bullfrogs’ practice facility, the Side By Side ice and roller rinks in Huntington Beach, McCaughey explained how his ice hockey future went from King prospect to probable retirement.

Two years ago, McCaughey led the Toledo Storm of the East Coast Hockey League in goals, earning team most valuable player honors. The next season, McCaughey moved up to the Kings’ minor league affiliate, Phoenix of the International Hockey League, where he was an assistant team captain for the Roadrunners.

But after notching 12 goals and 24 assists in 58 games last season, the Kings did not renew the contract of McCaughey, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder from Ann Arbor, Mich.

“I wanted to come back, but they didn’t want me,” McCaughey said.

So at age 27, McCaughey faced the end of his playing days . . . until Bullfrog Coach Chris McSorley and roller hockey came calling.

“Chris called me three times before I decided to play for the Bullfrogs,” McCaughey said. “I figured I wasn’t doing anything, so why not go to California and make some money?”

The average salary for a Roller Hockey International player during the 10-week season is about $467 per week. With additional league championship and divisional prize money, a player could earn nearly $900 per week.

“I think the thing that surprised me the most about the league is how competitive it actually is,” McCaughey said. “And the response we’ve been getting, particularly at home, has been outstanding.”

With its spacious home site, the Anaheim Arena, the Bullfrogs are leading the league in attendance. Anaheim drew an opening-night crowd of 13,314 on July 2. On Aug. 1, a crowd of 10,971 cheered the Bullfrogs to a 9-6 victory over San Diego.

In the other four home games, the Bullfrogs have averaged 6,373. The league’s second-best average is 5,291 in St. Louis.

McSorley’s strategy, a roster consisting entirely of minor league ice hockey players learning to use in-line skates, has paid off.

McCaughey has 11 goals and 18 assists for the Bullfrogs. With a balanced attack, the Bullfrogs have won 11 consecutive games, making them the only unbeaten team in the league.

The Bullfrogs have two games remaining, Sunday at Los Angeles and Aug. 22 against Oakland in Anaheim. While McCaughey is looking forward to Anaheim clinching home-rink advantage throughout the playoffs with two more victories, he is also planning his future.

“I’ve talked to (Bullfrog owner) Maury (Silver) about some opportunities here,” McCaughey said.

Next year, the league plans to expand to a 20-game schedule and hopes to have 20-24 teams in place by Dec. 1, said Larry King, the league president and chief executive officer.

“I hear Phoenix might get a franchise too,” McCaughey said. “I’d love to go back there and get involved.

“I’d like to stay in hockey, but I’m probably going to get out of the physical part of it,” said McCaughey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications at Michigan. “I’d like to get in on the ground floor of this league because I think it’s really going to take off.”