Lefebvre back in Vegas tonight

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 26, 1999 | 10:05 a.m.

It isn't unusual to see Patrice Lefebvre skating around the ice at the Thomas & Mack Center.

After all, the 32-year-old right winger, who was the most valuable player in the International Hockey League last year, is widely recognized as the most popular player in the history of the Las Vegas Thunder hockey team.

But what is unusual is to see Lefebvre skating against the Thunder.

Such will be the case tonight at 7:05 p.m. when Lefebvre's new team, the Long Beach Ice Dogs, visit the Thomas & Mack.

It will mark a homecoming for Lefebvre, who was shipped to Long Beach last Thursday as the player to be named in a trade that brought Las Vegas wingers Scott Hollis and Shawn Wansborough in December.

Those attending tonight's game might be wise to purchase a program. Since last playing at the Thomas & Mack two weeks ago, the Thunder has made several major trades.

On Monday, Las Vegas traded popular defenseman Jason McBain and center Sean Berens to Providence of the American Hockey League for center Chris Taylor and defenseman Yevgeny Shaldybin.

Then on Tuesday, defenseman Sami Helenius was traded by parent club Tampa Bay to the Colorado Avalanche. And on Wednesday, the Thunder traded forward Stefan Ustorf to the Detroit Vipers for forward Phil Crowe and defenseman Mike Gaffney.

Tonight's game kicks off a three-game homestand that includes a Saturday night game against Utah and a Tuesday night contest against Houston.