Blue Line Fortified As Jackals Sign Pair
January 7, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
ELMIRA, NY - The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the ECHL, announced today that they have agreed to terms with Matt Gens and have signed Jeff State to an ECHL contract. Gens and State, both defensemen, will replenish a depleted Jackals blue line that saw Jekabs Redlihs returned on loan to Syracuse Sunday and Andrei Plekhanov Monday morning.
Head coach Steve Martinson, who picked up his 600th coaching win Friday in Dayton, is very familiar with Gens, having coached him last season in Rockford in the United Hockey League. Gens picked up eight goals and 40 points with a +21 rating in 75 regular season games with the IceHogs. In his totals were four power play goals, three game-winners and 79 penalty minutes.
In the Colonial Cup playoffs, won by Rockford, Gens chipped with another 13 points and a +11 in 17 games included a power play goal and one game-winner. He was voted to the Rockford Register Star's IceHogs' All-Time Team.
Gens, 24, was a ninth round (278th overall) pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Set to embark on his third professional season, Gens joins the Jackals after recovering from off-season surgery. In 146 games with Rockford over two seasons (2005-2007), the Baudette, MN, native totaled 13 goals, 50 assists and 63 points with 157 penalty minutes. He was pointless in five game with the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals last year.
State brings a strong physical presence to the Jackals. The 28-year old native of Buffalo returns to North America after skating in 18 games this season with Edinburgh of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom. The 6'7", 245-pound State brings 309 games of professional experience to Elmira and makes the Jackals his sixth ECHL stop during his six-year pro career. 709 penalty minutes punctuate his resume along with ten goals and 49 points overall.
"Matt and Jeff bring skill and experience to a defense that is still coming into its own this year," said Jackals coach Steve Martinson. "Gens is a guy that's tough to play against for the opponent and that fits right into my blue print. Jeff gives us size and a force in front of the net that few teams have. "
Elmira is also expected to activate defenseman Luke Fritshaw from the injured reserve list later this week. Fritshaw started the season on the injured reserve list after suffering a groin pull October 15th in a pre-season game at Reading. In his return to the line-up November 16th in Texas, he reaggravated the groin injury and suffered a broken foot when he blocked a shot.
"On paper, our defense is coming together and that is to take nothing away from the guys that have picked up the slack in the first half of the season," Martinson continued. "But I really feel we're still building and that's a nice feeling to have with 24 wins in our first 35 games."
***
The Jackals are back in action at First Arena Friday, January 11th, against the Johnstown Chiefs and Saturday, January 12th, versus the North Division-leading Cincinnati Cyclones. Face-off at First Arena both nights is 7:35 p.m. Good seats still remain and can be purchased at the Gray Street box office - First Arena (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday), charge-by-phone at 734-PUCK (7825) and 722-3711 or buy on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.
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