CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) have named Cassidy Lange as the team’s new Assistant General Manager, IceRays general manager Pat Dunn announced today. Lange will also serve as an alternate governor for the league and assist the Hockey Operations staff in event and travel planning.
“This definitely solidifies the future of the organization by injecting some young blood in the Front Office,” said Dunn. “Cassidy is still a young man, therefore I see many more years of hockey in Corpus Christi. I won’t be around forever. It’s Cass’ team after all so he should know all the ins and outs. Once we had that conversation, the idea excited Cass and he is enjoying his new role. Everyone around him is excited for him as well.”
Lange, 26, enters his 10th season with the organization after spending the last nine years working for the IceRays both part-time and full-time while completing his college degree. He has already stepped into his duties before being officially named to his new position, dealing with scheduling with the league and negotiating dates for home games with the American Bank Center for the 2016-17 season as well as helping to organize and put together the IceRays off-season try-out camps including the 2016 Pre-Draft Camp in St. Louis, Mizz., the most recent 2016 Virginia Open Camp in Chesapeake, Va., and the upcoming 2016 Main Camp in Fraser, Mich. on July 28-31. He will still remain active in sales while expanding his role within the organization and assisting Dunn with general managing duties.
“It’s a great honor to be named the Assistant General Manager,” said Lange. “I am thrilled that Pat sees the value in me to hold a position like this, and I look forward to helping to continue to build a winner on and off the ice.”
The Corpus Christi native began his tenure during the 2007-08 season as a Game Operations Intern before serving as an Account Executive for the final two seasons as members of the Central Hockey League (CHL). Lange stepped in as the Director of Community Relations during the 2010-11 season before re-joining the sales staff exclusively. As an Account Executive, Lange established himself as one of the team’s top sales performers and an essential piece to the team’s success in the Front Office. Along the way, he kept well-rounded by also becoming the organization’s resident Information Technology (IT) staff member and unofficial team historian.
Lange has overcome numerous obstacles and barriers over his lifetime, the most prevalent being living with Cerebral Palsy, a life-long physical disability that affects movement and posture. The condition has never remained a crutch over his lifetime, medaling in swimming, track & field and bowling in the Special Olympics and graduating from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. That attitude exists in his work and passion for hockey, something that is hard to go unnoticed within the office.
“Everyone likes Cass, and more importantly his work ethic,” said Dunn. “That’s a big part of his life. He will talk hockey with you all day long. He’s not afraid to pick up the phone and try to get businesses on board.”
Following the 2007-08 season, the IceRays organization was purchased by his father, Tim, to help preserve hockey in the Coastal Bend and extend its longevity with the move to a junior franchise prior to the 2010-11 season, the first in the NAHL. Over that time, the IceRays have remained a consistent presence in the Corpus Christi community and a staple of temperate South Texas winters with aid on both side of the organization. The Lange family has now reached a decade of influence in the IceRays organization and remains a large part of the team’s future success in Corpus Christi with Cassidy’s decision to stay local and accept a higher position.
“The people are great here, and I have made so many friends within this hockey team that are now my clients,” said Cassidy. “At the end of the day, the grass might not be as green on the other side, and I am beyond excited not only to take a greater role with a fantastic organization, but also be able to stay close to my family as well. I’d also like to thank Pat Dunn for believing in me and offering the Assistant General Manager position. I’ve known Pat for 16 years now. He’s watched me grow up from being a little kid, sitting behind the glass watching the game I love, to coming in the office completing sales and now Assistant General Manager.”
Despite the excitement and hype surrounding the announcement, Lange’s focus remains squarely on putting together a high-quality on-ice product while remaining a continuing model of influence in the NAHL after three-straight seasons leading the league in attendance.
“I not only want this team to be a winner on the ice, but I also want it continue to be known as one of the top places to play in all of Tier II Junior A hockey. We have made amazing strides in the last few years getting to a level, now if we can just take it up a couple more notches, we’ll be in good shape.”
The IceRays open the 2016-17 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against the Odessa Jackalopes at the American Bank Center. Purchase your 2016-17 season ticket membership ahead of opening night! Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
