Bowler reunited with Thunder

Tim Graham

Tuesday, July 15, 1997 | 9:40 a.m.

Neither side ever was comfortable with the matter.

The Las Vegas Thunder was bound and lost a talented young center. Bill Bowler was confused and lost his hockey innocence.

Both started over this morning.

"Billy the Kid is back," Thunder general manager Bob Strumm said.

The Thunder selected Bowler with the No. 1 pick in the International Hockey League's expansion draft. The five-round draft was set up to assist the Grand Rapids Griffins, who started play last season. The Thunder acquired the top choice by trading goaltender Pokey Reddick last summer.

Bowler played his first professional season for Las Vegas in 1995-96 and led all IHL rookies in scoring with 31 goals and 55 assists in 75 games. He also was a +31. But after the season, No. 9 was shipped with Guy Larose to the Houston Aeros to complete a previous deal that sent Marc Laniel and Paul DiPietro to the Thunder for the playoff homestretch.

"We did everything we could to bring a championship here that year, and rather than take anything back from us, Billy was the guy (Houston) really wanted," Strumm said. "The trade was drawn up in such a manner it was difficult for us to keep him."

Fresh off a record-setting junior career in which he scored 467 points in 250 games, Bowler was given his first taste of hockey's cold business side. He responded, however, with 22 goals and 43 assists in 78 games for the Aeros last season.

"He just didn't understand, and it was a tough lesson for a young kid to learn about the business," Strumm said. "But we weren't any happier with it than he was. That's why we're proving that to him by taking him back."

Bowler, now 22, admitted he was "a little bit surprised, but happy" the Thunder selected him and claims he won't hold a grudge.

"I'm a player. I don't have any say except on the ice," Bowler said from his Toronto home. "I was never happy to leave Las Vegas.

"You never like to be traded or to be shipped around. You take it personal, and I definitely did. But you realize it's part of the business."

The Thunder settled on the 5-foot-9, 179-pound center after making progress in its other areas of need: goaltending and defense. Although Strumm would not announce who he was interested in signing, he said he was confident those areas will be improved.

"We did a lot of work this week, trying to point our workload in the direction of goaltending and defense, so that would enable us to take Bill," said Strumm, who considered picking Orlando Solar Bears backup goaltender Scott LaGrand. "If we had not made that progress, it would have forced us to make another decision.

"When we lost him, it was a situation where we went forward in giving up a guy we really didn't want to give up. You only get so many chances to do things over again. This is a chance of getting back a guy we like a whole lot.

"Beyond the skill factor, which certainly is important, every player who wears our uniform will be competitive and have character. Bill Bowler made his career on those two qualities."

Thunder followers took notice during his stay here. When Houston played at the Thomas & Mack Center last season, dozens of fans turned out in T-shirts with Bowler's face on front, cheering him on.

"This is a chance to get back a guy who was very popular here as a player and a person," Strumm said. "You don't make your decision on that basis, but it's a bonus."

Since all the players eligible for the expansion draft were free agents, the Thunder technically owns only Bowler's exclusive IHL rights until Dec. 31. But Strumm expects smooth negotiations.

"We've discussed generalities in terms of numbers," Strumm said. "I'm sure we'll put things together."