Ice Dogs Are Routed by Orlando

It took Hubie McDonough, oh, about three minutes Sunday to remind the Ice Dogs what they lost when they traded him to Orlando for future considerations.

Twenty-three seconds after Ice Dog Dave Smith was sent to the penalty box for hooking, McDonough slapped the puck past goaltender Kay Whitmore to start Orlando on its way to a 9-2 victory in front of an announced 4,964 at the Sports Arena.

The all-star line of Mark Beaufait, Craig Fisher and Dave Barr took it from there.

Beaufait, who was with the Ice Dogs when they were the San Diego Gulls, had a hat trick and two assists, Barr had five assists and Fisher had two goals and an assist for Orlando (47-21-6).

Now a second-line player for Orlando’s high-powered offense, McDonough was undoubtedly the franchise player for the Ice Dogs (31-31-12). He was the MVP of last year’s IHL All-Star game and still is the franchise leader in goals (111) and assists (161). He played in only 11 games for the Ice Dogs this season, yet had 11 goals and nine assists.

The decline of the team can be clearly traced to his departure.

At the time he was traded, Ice Dog Coach John Van Boxmeer called him the best player in the league and he is certainly the best power-play player.

But his hefty salary, combined with the Ice Dogs’ shaky financial status, led to his trade.

Van Boxmeer smiled painfully when asked for the umpteenth time Sunday when those future considerations might be paid by Orlando.

“That is what is known as a figure of speech,” he said.

“It was tough [when Ice Dog attendance declined],” McDonough said. “The numbers they were telling us that we were going to have were . . . made up, it seems like. We had a great team when things started. I know it’s tough on the guys who are left.”