Broomfield, CO - Centerman Daymen Rycroft, the Central Hockey League's reigning goal-scoring champion, has re-signed with the Rocky Mountain Rage as a player/assistant coach for the 2008-09 season.
Entering his fifth season as a pro and his second with Rocky Mountain, Rycroft established new career highs last year by leading the CHL with 48 goals and tying for seventh in the league with 84 points overall. His league-high 23 power play goals equaled a mark that has not been surpassed in the CHL since the 2000-01 campaign. Both goal-scoring feats smashed the old Rage single-season records of 19 goals and nine power play tallies set by Mark Wires in 2006-07.
“I knew what I was getting in Daymen after coaching him for two years with the Killer Bees. Given his work ethic and willingness to camp himself in front of the net, I'm not surprised he put up those types of numbers last season,” said Rage Head Coach and General Manager Tracy Egeland. “He also really developed into a team leader last year – a player that other guys can look to and see how things are done the right way - and I know we're going to benefit greatly from his expanded role as one of my player/assistants.”
In a season full of offensive exploits, Rycroft's most impressive stretch last year came during the month of January when he was named the CHL's Player of the Month. He registered 26 points (16g-10a), potted five game-winning goals, and strung together a 10-game goal-scoring streak, tying the longest goal-scoring streak in the CHL since the league record of 13 straight games was last accomplished in 1995-96.
When asked how he plans to top 48 goals, Rycroft responded, “It's all about winning games – getting into the playoffs and taking it from there. If I end up on the score sheet … great. But if I don't, it's not a big deal as long as we're winning.”
But then he added, “That said, I do expect to have the same type of season. I just don't have a number in mind.”
On his new responsibilities as a player/assistant coach, the first cousin of former University of Denver and Colorado Avalanche forward Mark Rycroft commented, “I'll have the same approach as last year. I'm not a rah-rah type of guy. I'm pretty quiet and just try to lead by example.”
