Clarke signs two-year deal with Kings
August 11, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - The Los Angeles Kings, the parent club of the Manchester Monarchs, have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with restricted free agent left wing Noah Clarke and two-year entry-level contracts with goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji and defenseman Richard Petiot, Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced today. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
Clarke, 26, appeared in 61 games with the Monarchs, recording 45 points (21-24=45) and 24 penalty minutes during the 2004-05 regular season. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound native of LaVerne, California, added a goal and six penalty minutes in six post-season games with the Monarchs.
During the 2003-04 season, Clarke became the first-ever California-born player to skate with the Kings and he had one point (an assist) in the two games he played for the Kings.
The Kings originally selected Clarke in the ninth-round (250th overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He played four years of college hockey at Colorado College, where recorded 176 points (63-113=176) in 164 career games.
Fukufuji, 22, led the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) in appearances (44), wins (27), shutouts (3) and goals-against-average (2.48) during the 2004-05 season. The first-ever Japanese player drafted by the Kings, Fukufuji also finished second on the Condors with a save-percentage of .919.
Fukufuji's 27 wins this past season tied for fifth-best among ECHL netminders. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound native of Tokyo, Japan, who was originally selected by the Kings in the eighth-round (238th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, also strung together two separate seven-game winning streaks during the 2004-05 season, helping the Condors advance to the Kelly Cup playoffs. Voted "Rookie of the Year" by the Bakersfield coaching staff, Fukufuji's season ended prematurely with a leg injury against the Las Vegas Wranglers on April 2, 2005.
Prior to being selected by the Kings, Fukufuji skated with Japan at the 2004 World Championships, posting a record of 0-3-2, a goals-against-average of 3.61 and a save-percentage of .893 in five appearances while facing an average of 34 shots against per contest.
Petiot, 22, appeared in 25 games with the Colorado College Tigers (WCHA), registering eight points (3-5=8) and 38 penalty minutes during the 2004-05 season. That concluded his four-year college career. Previously he had played for Camrose (AJHL) during the 2001-02 season when he had 24 points (8-16=24) and 81 penalty minutes.
The Kings originally selected Petiot, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound native of Daysland, Alberta, in the fourth-round (116th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Are you a resident in Monarchs Country? Season tickets for the Monarchs fifth anniversary season are on sale now. Visit www.monarchshockey.com or call (603) 626-7825 for more information on the team's Full-Season, Half-Season and 10-Game ticket packages.
Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey this season with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter; WTSL-AM 1400, Lebanon) and at www.monarchshockey.com.
American Hockey League Stories from August 11, 2005
- Clarke signs two-year deal with Kings - Manchester Monarchs
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- Rivermen announce one schedule change - Peoria Rivermen
- Former Barons Rookie of the Year Signs With Sharks - Cleveland Barons
- Binghamton native hired as B-Sens' equipment manager - Binghamton Senators
- Gary Agnew and Ross Yates Return for Sixth Season with Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Bulldogs pre-season schedule released - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Bruins Announce Schedule Change - Providence Bruins
- Columbus Signs Center Ben Simon - Syracuse Crunch
- Paek named assistant coach - Grand Rapids Griffins
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