HARTFORD, February 7, 2013: Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned defenseman Jyri Niemi to the Whale from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors, and that the Whale has signed forward Michael Pelech to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement.
Niemi, a third-year pro out of the Western Hockey League, had been assigned to Greenville December 28, after playing in five games with the Whale and registering five penalty minutes and six shots on goal. In 14 ECHL games with Greenville, Niemi had one goal and five assists for six points and was +8, with 34 PIM.
Pelech, a 6-3, 210-pound fourth-year pro, comes to the Whale from the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. The 23-year-old Toronto native is second on the Cyclones team in points with 37, tied for the team lead in assists with 27 and third in penalty minutes with 63. Pelech has also played three AHL games this year with the Worcester Sharks, a stint in which he had one assist and two PIM.
Pelech, who was a sixth-round pick (156th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2009 NHL Draft out of the Ontario Hockey League, has appeared in nine career AHL games with the Sharks, Norfolk Admirals and Manchester Monarchs, notching one assist and eight penalty minutes. In 249 total ECHL contests with the Cyclones, Toledo Walleye and Ontario Reign, he sports career numbers of 46-119-165 with 432 PIM.
The Whale’s next action is this Saturday night, February 9, the first of back-to-back games in St. John’s, Newfoundland against the St. John’s IceCaps. Faceoff is 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, and fans can hear all the action live on “The Rock” 106.9 WCCC, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.
The next home game for the Whale is next Friday, February 15 vs. the Portland Pirates at 7:00 PM. As at all Friday-night Whale home games, fans that night can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at the XL Center until the end of the first intermission.
Tickets to all Whale home games, start as low as $10 each ($12 each when tickets are purchased on the day of the game), and are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, through TicketMaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.
For information on season seats, and all of the Whale’s many ticketing options, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 548-2000 to talk with an account executive today.
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