RoadRunners Bolster Blue Line
October 4, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL have announced that defensemen Ian Turner, Corey LeClair, and Steve Birnstill have each agreed to terms on a contract for the upcoming 2007-08 ECHL season.
Turner, 25, returns to the ECHL after spending the 2006-07 season with St. Thomas University of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Belleville, Ontario native and fourth-year professional led all Tommies' defensemen in scoring and finished eighth among Atlantic University Sport blue-liners with eight goals and 21 points in 26 games.
Turner spent three seasons in the ECHL from 2002-04 and compiled 17 goals and 66 points in 200 games with the Richmond Renegades and the Reading Royals. He is a former teammate of RoadRunners' Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Church, and current players Cody Rudkowsky and Reagan Rome. Turner and RoadRunners' rookie forward Thatcher Bell were teammates last season at St. Thomas University.
LeClair, 24, tallied five goals and 21 points in 67 games with the defending American Conference champion Dayton Bombers in 2006-07. The Riverview, Mich. native and third-year pro ranked fourth among Bombers' defensemen in scoring and appeared in 12 postseason contests, including four of the five Kelly Cup Finals' games against Idaho.
LeClair began his professional career in 2005-06 with the Reading Royals and collected four assists in 23 games after completing a two-year collegiate career at Dalhousie University. He tallied 11 goals and 36 points in 54 career games at Dalhousie from 2004-06. LeClair is re-united with his former Dayton teammate Justin Maiser who was acquired by the RoadRunners on Aug. 30.
Birnstill, 21, enters his first full professional season following a four-year collegiate career at Northeastern University. The Commack, N.Y. native led the Huskies with 13 assists in 2006-07 and finished tied for fourth on the club in scoring with 16 points in 32 games. Birnstill finished in the top three in team assists in three out of his four seasons at Northeastern and completed his collegiate career with eight goals, 49 assists, and 57 points in 130 games.
Birnstill signed an amateur try-out contract on March 19 with Peoria of the American Hockey League and appeared in five games with the Rivermen while collecting four penalty minutes.
Turner, LeClair, and Birnstill join a RoadRunners roster that already includes forwards Peder Skinner, Dustin Moore, Thatcher Bell, Sean O'Connor, Justin Maiser, Cam Paddock, Scott Kelman, Daniel Sisca, Jeff Kyrzakos, Chris Stevens, and Mitch Carefoot; defensemen Dave Pszenyczny, Brian Yandle, Nathan Schwartzbauer, Reagan Rome, and Nick Toneys; and goaltender Cody Rudkowsky.
The RoadRunners 2007 training camp will commence at 9:00 a.m. Sunday with introductory meetings and physicals at US Airways Center. The complete training camp roster will be released tomorrow.
The RoadRunners will visit the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League in the "Battle of the Desert" pre-season series at 7:05 p.m. Oct. 12 and 13 at the Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Tickets for both pre-season games are on sale now and will be $13 regardless of location in Tim's Toyota Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), online at www.gettix.net, or in person at the Tim's Toyota Center Box Office.
The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 when they host the Utah Grizzlies to commence their third season in the desert. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.
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ECHL Stories from October 4, 2007
- Trenton Devils Announce Training Camp Roster - Trenton Devils
- RoadRunners Bolster Blue Line - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Falcons Complete Camp Roster with Signing of Hemingway - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Open Camp Tomorrow With 22 Players - Idaho Steelheads
- Rays Open Training Camp Tomorrow - South Carolina Stingrays
- Huxley Returns, Three More Added to Camp Roster - Stockton Thunder
- Falcons to hold Meet the Team Event at Logan's on Tuesday - Fresno Falcons
- Gladiators Training Camp Roster Set - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Release Training Camp Roster - Reading Royals
- Phantoms Assign Pair of Goalies - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Join Forces With Blue Jackets - Elmira Jackals
- Wranglers Add Elite Forwards Peter And Chris Ferraro - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Goaltenders Boutin, Cey Assigned To Sea Wolves - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Heisten back with the Aces as camp roster grows - Alaska Aces
- Barnes Reassigned To Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Salmon Kings Announce 2007 Training Camp Schedule - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Souvenir Puck Giveaway On Opening Day In Johnstown - ECHL
- Shaw Returns For Second Tour With Trenton - Trenton Devils
- Morin and Guerin Assigned to Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- Young Assures Defensive Depth - Wheeling Nailers
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