Bullfrogs Make Egeland Their Top Draft Choice

Seven-year minor league ice hockey forward Tracy Egeland was the No. 1 pick for the Bullfrogs Thursday in the annual Roller Hockey International winter draft.

Egeland is playing for former Bullfrog Coach Grant Sonier at the Huntington (W.Va.) Blizzard of the East Coast Hockey League. Sonier is now director of player personnel for the Bullfrogs.

Egeland has spent the bulk of his ice hockey career bouncing among teams in the International Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He appeared in 54 games with the IHL Ice Dogs last season.

“He’s extremely intense and competitive,” Sonier said. “You’ve got to hate to lose and this kid absolutely hates to lose. He’s the complete package.”

Anaheim, picking last, selected 10 players. Only 12 teams participated in the draft, down from 18 last season.

The Bullfrogs released defenseman Scott Bell and he was acquired by Minnesota in the third round.

About the only other player of note drafted by the Bullfrogs was defenseman Brad Tiley. He was reacquired in the sixth round after the Bullfrogs gave up rights to him earlier in the day. Tiley played with Anaheim in 1995, but an injury cut short his season and he sat out last season. Tiley is now playing ice hockey with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the IHL.

The Bullfrogs are scheduled to open their fifth season June 7 at the Pond against San Diego, but that might change, according to owner Maury Silver. Scheduling has been difficult, Silver said, because so many teams have dropped out or changed locations. Only four other West Coast teams remain: San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento and the Blades, and the league has reduced the season to 24 games, four fewer than in 1996.