TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LYNX CAPTAIN AND GOALKEEPER MOVING TO ROCHESTER!
January 8, 2004 (TORONTO, ON) - The Toronto Lynx have transferred the playing rights of Theo Zagar to the Rochester Raging Rhinos. “The Rhinos and other teams have been interested in Theo for quite some time states,” Nicole Hartrell, Lynx COO, “and recently the Rhinos made their offer attractive enough for the Lynx to accept. We really hate to see Theo go, but he was in the option year of his contract and with several teams interested in his services, we risked not receiving any compensation if we delayed much longer. In addition, the American teams have an advantage on the Canadian teams with the higher value of the American dollar.”
Hartrell underscores the club’s appreciation of Zagar’s commitment and talent over the years. “He really made a difference to our club and will sorely be missed by the other players and by our fans. We always try to make the right decision for the player’s long term career goals while at the same time meeting our objective of putting a competitive team on the field.”
Zagar, who began his unprecedented run with the Lynx in 1998, holds virtually every team record for goalkeepers including 115 games played, 465 saves, 44 wins and 29.5 shutouts. After a standout career at the University of Toronto, which earned him the CIAU Player of the Year Award in 1997, the Lynx selected Zagar with their first pick in the 1998 A-League draft. Zagar claimed the starting goalkeeping position to begin the 2000 season and has never looked back, earning an A-League Second Team All-Star selection and leading the Lynx to the playoffs that season. The East York native and graduate of East York C.I. was named team captain in June 2002 and has won a team record 3 Toronto Lynx Most Valuable Player Awards, including 2003.
WHAT NOW FOR THE LYNX NET?
New Lynx head coach, Duncan Wilde, is wasting no time in filling the void that Zagar’s departure has created. “As the new head coach of the Toronto Lynx, it is disappointing to lose Theo as a player and our club captain. However, I have received numerous approaches from some quality goalkeepers since my appointment and I am very much looking forward to seeing them play in the open tryouts being held at the Oakville Sports Centre on January 21st and 22nd. Together with James Kryger and Brian Rowland (last season’s backup goalkeepers), we will be taking a serious look at 2 or 3 free agent players together with a couple of goalkeepers traveling from Europe. So I am very confident that we can find a suitable replacement. I would personally like to wish Theo every success for the upcoming season, except of course when we play against Rochester!”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT -- MEDIA RELATIONS, TORONTO LYNX
416-251-4625, extension 30
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