COASTAL BENDS HOCKEY TEAM NOW LED BY INDUSTRY VETERANS
Corpus Christi Ice Rays
Corpus Christi TEXAS (News Release) – The Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League announced that effective immediately, the team has added hockey and sports & entertainment industry veterans Steve Donner and George Manias as new Managing Partners to the club. Donner will take over as Chief Executive Officer and Manias as Chief Operating Officer. In their roles, Donner and Manias will assume complete control of day-to-day decision making and operations of the organization. Former team President Cassidy Lange will assume a role as a consultant and help to advise accordingly as needed throughout this transition.
STEVE DONNER is currently the majority owner of the Dothan United Soccer Club, of USL2. Steve was previously an original & influential founder & operator of the National Lacrosse League, and former co-owner of the Elmira Mammoth of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. In addition, Donner is the former president and CEO of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, founder and CEO of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse and the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the United Soccer League. Steve has also served as chief executive of several other professional sports teams and ventures throughout his career.
GEORGE MANIAS is currently the Founder & President of GemCo Sports & Entertainment (GSE), a boutique sports marketing agency focused on launching & operating professional sports teams, venues & leagues. Manias opened GSE after serving most recently as President/CEO of the Orlando Valkyries of the Pro Volleyball Federation (who just won the League Championship in just their second season), President/COO of the Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League, President/COO of the three time champion Albany Empire, of the Arena Football League and President/COO of several Minor League Professional Hockey teams, including those in the Central, United and ECHL Hockey Leagues. Prior to that, Manias led business operations and sales for several “Big 4” teams, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL (winning back-to-back Stanley Cups), the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA and the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. In addition to leading teams, Manias also launched industry leading sales consulting service agencies focused on revenue generation, including Legends Global Sales, owned by the NY Yankees & Dallas Cowboys) and Front Row Marketing Services, owned by Global Spectrum.
New CEO Steve Donner said “I am excited to work with George Manias in taking over the management responsibilities of the IceRays. We are making a long-term commitment to injecting new energy into the team and Coastal Bend community. We also plan on investing back into the community we serve long term. We believe in the team and the NAHL as a league. We are confident that our experience in hockey and sports will assist us in growing IceRays hockey and its fan and sponsor experience to a major league level. We can’t wait to get started!
Manias, the teams new COO added, “Steve and I are thrilled to a take over the IceRays operations while also becoming active members of the Corpus Christi community. Our immediate goals for the organization are to entrench ourselves into this community, grow the sport of hockey in our market, provide a quality family, fun and affordable experience for our fans and ultimately win championships. Coach Cloutier has done a tremendous job recruiting talent, developing players and winning games over the last couple of years and we are confident in his abilities to continue down that path under our leadership. We are appreciative towards the Lange family for all they have done for hockey over the last 18 years and are excited to get started and carry the momentum of a great 2024-25 season forward”
Former IceRays Team President Cassidy Lange said, “I think George and Steve’s background in the sports industry will take the organization to the next level. I’m excited to see what they can do and wish them nothing but the best.”
