AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

AHL SUSPENDS 3 PENGUINS FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN MARCH 17 GAME

March 19, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


AHL SUSPEND'S PENGUINS' STEVE PARSONS, JASON MacDONALD AND DARCY VEROT FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN MARCH 17 GAME
Pittsburgh Penguins reassign Shane Endicott and Eric Meloche to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

WILKES-BARRE, PA - The American Hockey League has suspended Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' forwards Steve Parsons, Jason MacDonald and Darcy Verot for their actions in AHL Game #942 on March 17 vs. Syracuse at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza.

Parsons has been suspended for twelve (12) games under the provisions of AHL Rule 28(d), and 76(a) in Category III as a result of his game misconduct penalties against the Crunch. He will miss the Penguins' final eight games of the 2001-02 regular season: March 20 at Philadelphia, March 23 at Grand Rapids, March 27 at Norfolk, March 29 at Norfolk, March 30 vs. Syracuse, April 3 at Philadelphia, April 5 vs. Philadelphia and April 6 at Hershey. The final four games will be served subsequently during the 2002 AHL playoffs and/or the 2002-03 AHL regular season.

MacDonald has been suspended for six (6) regular season games under the provisions of AHL Rule 28(d) as a result of the accumulation of his third (3), fourth (4) and fifth (5) game misconduct penalties in the General Category. He will miss the Penguins' next six games: March 20 at Philadelphia, March 23 at Grand Rapids, March 27 at Norfolk, March 29 at Norfolk, March 30 vs. Syracuse and April 3 at Philadelphia. He will be eligible to return to the lineup in the Penguins' final home game of the regular season on Friday, April 5 vs. Philadelphia (7:05 p.m.).

Verot has been suspended for two (2) regular season games under the provisions of AHL Rule 33A as a result of receiving a match penalty under AHL Rule 43 (a). Verot will miss the Penguins' next two games: Wednesday, March 20 at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m.) and Saturday, March 23 at Grand Rapids (7:30 p.m.). He will be eligible to return to the lineup on Wednesday, March 26 at Norfolk (7:15 p.m.).

The Penguins set a new team record for penalty minutes in a game with 162 on Sunday against the Crunch. The Penguins lead the AHL in penalty minutes with 2,531 in 72 games. The Penguins also led the league with 42, 10-minute misconduct penalties, 29 game misconduct penalties, 598 minor penalties and are tied for first in match penalties with three (3).

The Penguins are 341 penalty minutes away from tying the league record of 2,872, set by the Hershey Bears during the 1986-87 season.

Steve Parsons leads the league with 366 penalty minutes in 52 games this season. Parsons is also tied for fourth in major penalties with 28. Darcy Verot and Jason MacDonald are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in penalty minutes. Verot has 350 penalty minutes in 66 games, while MacDonald has 324 penalty minutes in 55 games. Verot leads the league in minor penalties with 70. MacDonald set a new team record for penalty minutes in a period with 50 in the third period on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reassigned forwards Shane Endicott and Eric Meloche to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Both players are expected to be in the lineup tomorrow night when the Penguins (20-37-12-3, 55 points; 4th-place, South Division) visit the Philadelphia Phantoms (28-22-14-5, 75 points; T-2nd place, South Division) at 7:05 p.m. at the First Union Spectrum.

With the roster moves, the Penguins have 24 players on their roster - 13 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders.

Endicott, 20, has one point and four penalty minutes in four games with Pittsburgh this season. He was recalled by the Penguins from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on March 9.

Endicott made his National Hockey League debut on January 29, 2002 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He recorded an assist and was a plus-1 rating in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers at the First Union Center.

The 6'4", 200-pound native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has recorded 38 points (19+19) and 44 penalty minutes in 55 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He is ranked third on the team in scoring.

Endicott was drafted by the Penguins in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He played junior hockey in Seattle (WHL) and recorded 173 points (72+101) and 175 penalty minutes in 219 games with the Thunderbirds.

Meloche, 25, has recorded one assist and eight penalty minutes in 23 games with the Penguins this season. He was recalled by the Penguins from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 27.

The 5'11", 195-pound native of Montreal, Quebec has recorded 26 points (13+13) and 77 penalty minutes in 49 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Meloche has recorded 66 points (33+33) and 149 penalty minutes in 128 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton over the past two seasons.

He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the seventh round (186th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. In four seasons at Ohio State University (CCHA), Meloche recorded 124 points (67+57) and 383 penalty minutes in 147 career games with the Buckeyes.

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