Balla Earns First Trip to Ottawa
March 26, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
Senators Return Prusek to Griffins
Grand Rapids, MI - The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League on Tuesday announced that the Ottawa Senators have recalled left wing Chris Bala on an emergency basis and have canceled the emergency recall of goaltender Martin Prusek, returning him to the Griffins.
Bala, Ottawa's third choice, 58th overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, joins the Senators for the first time this season as a replacement for former Griffin Chris Neil, who is out with a hip injury. Bala attended training camp in Ottawa before being assigned to the Griffins on September 25.
The Harvard University graduate currently ranks among Grand Rapids' leaders with 21 goals (T2nd) and 36 points (4th). The 23-year-old set a Griffins franchise record and tied an AHL season-high by tallying five assists in the team's 7-3 win over the Chicago Wolves on January 10. Bala then became just the third rookie in Griffins history to record a hat trick, accomplishing the feat in a 7-1 rout of the Norfolk Admirals on January 25.
Bala, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, played for the PlanetUSA squad at the 2002 AHL All-Star game in St. John's, Newfoundland, registering a goal and a pair of assists. He is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday when the Senators visit the New York Islanders at 7:00 p.m.
Prusek, Ottawa's sixth choice, 164th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut last Saturday against the Atlanta Thrashers, turning away 12 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss.
In his first professional season in North America, Prusek (16-5-5) leads the AHL with a 1.79 goals against average and a 0.933 save percentage. The 26-year-old netminder is vying to become the first AHL goalie since the 1938-39 season and just fourth ever to complete a season with a goals against average below 2.00.
Prusek is expected to join the Griffins in Rochester tonight in preparation for their game on Wednesday against the Americans at 7:05 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2002
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- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Announce Roster Moves - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Thrashers Recall Three - Chicago Wolves
- P-Bruins set for conference showdown - Providence Bruins
- Balla Earns First Trip to Ottawa - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Pronger Recalled - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms Flier - Adirondack Phantoms
- Hogs Report 3/25/02 - Rockford IceHogs
- Yuri Babenko Takes Leave of Absence - Hershey Bears
- Rock Report - Toronto Marlies
- Six Bears to Children at Visit Milton S. Hershey Medical Center - Hershey Bears
- Clay Walker to Perform at Aeros' Game - Houston Aeros
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