Barracudas swing big trade

December 3, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Jacksonville Barracudas News Release


After losing all three of their home games this past week, the Jacksonville Barracudas have announced that they have traded their leading scorer, Mike Fougere, to the Pee Dee Cyclones for defensemen Martin Viazanica and Chris Kovalcik.

Through 15 games this season Fougere had racked up 6 goals and 9 assists, along with a team-leading 79 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Nova Scotia native spent time at both defense and forward for the Barracudas this season.

The Barracudas hope to turn around a season that has seen them allow the most goals and shots per game in the SPHL, by picking up two defensive stalwarts from the Cyclones.

A Bystrika, Slovakia native, Martin Viazanica is skilled at both ends of the ice. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has played 14 games with the Cyclones this season, scoring two goals and four assists while adding 16 penalty minutes. He was called up to the ECHL's Columbia Inferno for two games, picking up no points. Last season he played for the now defunct Asheville Aces, scoring 10 goals and 21 assists in 56 games.

Chris Kovalcik will add a physical element to the Barracudas' blue line. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman has picked up 3 assists and 39 penalty minutes in 8 games with the Cyclones so far. Last season he played 47 games split between the Winston-Salem Polar Twins and the Asheville Aces, scoring 5 goals and 11 assists while piling up 221 penalty minutes.

In a separate move, forward CJ McConnell's 5-game tryout with the club has ended, and the Barracudas have rewarded his strong play by signing him to a contract. McConnell has scored 3 goals and added 2 assists during his tryout. To make room on the roster, the Barracudas have waived forward Rob Kapuscinski. As well, defenseman Greg Capson will not accompany the team on their road trip, and has been waived.

The Barracudas are in action tonight in Kissimmee, FL against the Florida Seals, and then at home against the Huntsville Havoc on Tuesday, December 6th. The puck drops at 7:05, and it's "Two-4-Tuesday" sponsored by Rock 105. Arena Club seats, draft beer, and sodas are 2-for-1. Hot dogs are buy-two-get-one-free.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the Arena Box Office or the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts box office. For more information, call the Barracudas' office at 904-367-1423.



SPHL Stories from December 3, 2005


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