Thunder’s Lefebvre expected to be traded to Long Beach

Steve Guiremand

Monday, March 15, 1999 | 11:31 a.m.

Patrice Lefebvre sat back in his seat in the upper deck of the Thomas & Mack Center and watched as the public address announcer introduced the starting lineups before Sunday night's 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Lumberjacks.

"It's weird," the 1997-98 International Hockey League most valuable player said. "I never thought this day would come. It's tough to take."

The "this day" the popular Lefebvre was referring to was getting traded by the Thunder.

Lefebvre, the last original member from Las Vegas' opening-night roster six years ago, was told not to dress for Sunday night's game because he would be traded by Thursday's IHL trading deadline.

More than likely Lefebvre will be the "future considerations" that was part of a Dec. 1 trade with the Long Beach Ice Dogs, which brought the Thunder right winger Scott Hollis and left winger Shawn Wansborough for Keith McCambridge.

According to the terms of the trade, Long Beach could pick from a list of Thunder players on March 18 unless Las Vegas was within two points of a IHL playoff berth. Lefebvre's name was required to be included on that list.

The Thunder trail Kansas City by 11 points for the final IHL Western Conference berth after Sunday night's victory and has just one game, a Wednesday night date at Manitoba, before the trading deadline.

Unless the league begins awarding nine points for victories, there's no way Las Vegas can get within two points of the Blades by Thursday.

Thunder general manager Bob Strumm said he had contact with several other IHL teams about a possible Lefebvre trade. However, IHL president Doug Moss ruled last week that if Lefebvre is dealt by Las Vegas, the team acquiring him will still have to make him available to Long Beach.

One possible loophole would be if the new team restructured Lefebvre's contract to include a hefty relocation clause.

"We'll know something in the next two or three days," Strumm said. "(Lefebvre) is aware of it. It's tough. ... At this point the number one priority is for him not to get hurt."

"I'd like to go to a contender for sure," Lefebvre said. "But it's still tough. I was told that I would finish my career here (when he signed a four-year contract in 1995). I gave my heart and soul to this team for six years. I can't believe this day is here."

Lefebvre said he heard that at least five teams have inquired about his availability.

"It's a sad day for our team," Las Vegas coach Bob Bourne said. "I can't really give a true comment until I know what happens."

Although Bourne gave his team today off, he and his coaching staff were told by Strumm to report to work by 11 this morning for a meeting.

Lefebvre, meanwhile, went through the Thunder locker room shaking hands with his soon-to-be ex-teammates and coaches.

"I'll be by (Monday) morning to clean out my locker," he told Bourne.

Lefebvre will leave Las Vegas as its all-time leader in games (429), assists (395) and points (553). He played in four IHL All Star games and led the IHL scoring last season with 89 assists and 116 points, both team records.