AHL Peoria Rivermen

Beckford-Tseu, Reaves, Neilson Head To Alaska

Published on April 15, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have assigned forward Ryan Reaves and goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu to the ECHL's Alaska Aces. In addition, the Peoria Rivermen assigned forward Eric Neilson to the Aces as well.

Alaska swept its first-round playoff series against the Idaho Steelheads and will now face the winner of the Victoria Salmon Kings-Utah Grizzlies playoff series.

Beckford-Tseu started the year with the Aces, but worked himself all the way to the NHL this season, appearing in one game with the St. Louis Blues and stopping 8-of-9 shots in his NHL debut in relief of Manny Legace on February 21 in Los Angeles. With Peoria this season, the Toronto, Ontario native posted a 15-14-2 mark to go along with a 2.63 GAA and .899 save percentage. His 15 wins led the team and he recorded the club's only shutout, a 5-0 blanking of Hamilton on December 11 in Peoria.

With Alaska Beckford-Tseu has a 35-5-2 record over parts of three seasons, and this year went 12-4-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .923 save percentage. He was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Blues.

Reaves was also selected by the Blues in the fifth round, but during the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. With Peoria this season the 6-2, 204-pound right wing scored four goals and totaled seven points in 31 games, plus adding two assists in nine games with the Aces. Reaves also collected a total of 88 PIMs between the two clubs with his physical, banging style.

Neilson, 23, returns to Alaska where he began the season with three goals, four points, and 119 minutes in penalties in 34 contests. He was recalled to the Rivermen just after mid-season and appeared in 18 games, notching two assists and 82 minutes in the penalty box. The Fredericton, New Brunswick native was originally drafted in round 5 of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.

In addition, the club announced today that they have released defensemen Stephen Wood, Tyson Strachan, and Joe Grimaldi from their PTO agreements.

All three are expected to join the Aces today in preparation for the next playoff series. For more information on the Aces and the team's quest for the Kelly Cup, check www.alaskaaces.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2008


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