AHL Syracuse Crunch

Blue Jackets Sign 2004 First Round Pick Right Wing Alexandre Picard And Tomas Popperle

Published on August 29, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY (August 29, 2005) - The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed right wing Alexandre Picard, the club's first pick in the 2004 Entry Draft, and goaltender Tomas Popperle, the club's fifth round selection in the 2005 Entry Draft, to three-year contracts, Blue Jackets President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Picard, 19, ranked among the top scorers in the Canadian Hockey League last season with 40 goals and 45 assists for 85 points with 160 penalty minutes, a +20 plus/minus rating, six game-winning goals, and six shorthanded goals in 65 games with Lewiston of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. His six shorthanded goals were second in the CHL to 2005 first overall pick Sidney Crosby's seven, while his 40 goals ranked 13th and 85 points ranked 21st.

"Alexandre Picard has established himself as one of the most dangerous goal scorers in Junior Hockey," said MacLean. "He's a natural goal scorer who plays hard, crashes the net and has a physical edge. He's a big part of our future and we think he has a chance to make an impact on our team as early as this season."

The 6'2", 190-pound native of Les Saules, Quebec, was the third-ranked North American skater in the 2004 NHL Central Scouting final draft rankings. He was selected by the Blue Jackets with the eighth overall pick at the NHL Entry Draft in Raleigh, Carolina. In 206 career QMJHL games, Picard registered 93 goals, 104 assists and 289 penalty minutes, twice finishing among the league's top-10 in goals. He participated in the 2004 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and also represented Team QMJHL in both the 2003 and 2004 Canada/Russia Challenge.

Popperle, 20, was selected by the Blue Jackets in the fifth round of this summer's NHL Entry Draft held in Ottawa on July 30. In his first full season up from the Junior League, he established himself as one of the top goaltenders in the Czech Extraliga, posting a 15-9-1 record with a 1.58 goals against average and a .949 save percentage in 25 games for Sparta, the same Czech program which produced David Vyborny. The 6'1", 187-pound native of Broumov, Czech Republic, led the league in goals against average and save percentage, while ranking sixth in shutouts. Over the past three season, he has also appeared in 58 games for Sparta-Jr of Czech Junior League and 21 games for Berounsti in the Czech-1 League.

Season tickets and partial packages for the 2005-06 season are now available. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets or partial packages can contact the Crunch office at (315) 473-4444.

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