'Blades Trade for Ice Pilots' Neilson
January 8, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - Florida Everblades President & General Manager Craig Brush, along with Head Coach Gerry Fleming announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Corey Neilson in a trade with the Pensacola Ice Pilots. In return, the Everblades send rookies Jonanthan Lehun and Nick Vucovic to the Ice Pilots.
Neilson, who will be in uniform for the Everblades during their upcoming road trip, joins the Everblades after picking up 25 points (6g, 19a) and 77 penalty minutes in 32 games with the Ice Pilots this season. Of the 29-year-old's 25 points, 11 of them have come on the power play, scoring three goals and adding eight assists.
Neilson was in his third season with Pensacola where he averaged 70 points in each of the last two years. Last season the native of Oromocto, New Brunswick tallied 62 points in 71 games with Pensacola, notching 18 goals and adding 44 assists. During the 2003-04 campaign Neilson collected 78 points (19g, 59a) in 72 games. Both seasons, Neilson earned a trip to the ECHL All-Star Game.
"As an organization we were real pleased to have the opportunity to acquire Corey." Brush said. "He has proven over his career that he is a solid defenseman, who can chip in offensively, which was something we felt we needed at this time. Corey brings a lot of experience to our roster, and we look for him to be a leader on and off the ice. To lose players like Jon and Nick is very tough, especially with how well they have been playing, and we wish them all the best."
Prior to joining the Ice Pilots, the former 3rd round draft pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 1994, split the 2002-03 season between Elmira of the United Hockey League and Syracuse of the American Hockey League. In 1999-00, Neilson played the first of three straight seasons in the ECHL with the Louisiana IceGators. From '99-'02, he tallied 118 points in 191 games with Louisiana.
Neilson began his professional career in 1997-98 by splitting time with Quad City (3g, 16a in 62 games) of the UHL and Portland (0g, 2a in 5 games) of the AHL. The following season he played overseas in Germany with Timmendorf where he scored 62 points in 47 games.
Prior to turning pro, Neilson spent four seasons at the junior level with North Bay, Detroit and Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League. Neilson compiled 131 points in 250 career OHL games.
Lehun, 21, leaves the âBlades after tallying 11 goals and 19 assists in 31 games. At the time of the trade, the native of Toronto, had picked up points in nine straight games, including a personal season-high four points on Jan. 3 against his new team. The winger tallied four of his goals and nine of his assists on the power play.
Vukovic, 25, heads to Pensacola having notched five goals and chipped in seven assists in 32 games with Florida. The first-year defenseman strung together a four-game points scoring streak from Dec. 28 - Jan. 3. Vukovic, a native of Kitchener, Ontario tallied his first professional goal on Nov. 4 vs. the Augusta Lynx.
The Everblades return to action on Tuesday, January 10 when they take on the Fresno Falcons at 10:00 p.m. from the Save Mart Centre in Fresno, CA. Everblades half season, group tickets, and individual game tickets are on sale now! Fans can purchase tickets at the Germain Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling TicketMaster at (239) 334-3309, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, contact the Everblades office at (239) 948-7825.
ECHL Stories from January 8, 2006
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- Bombers fall to Chiefs, 5-3 - Dayton Bombers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
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- Ice Pilots Acquire Jonathan Lehun and Nick Vekovic from Florida - Pensacola Ice Pilots
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