Cory Ward and Evan Cowley return to Manchester, Nic Pierog signs ATO
March 26, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Manchester Monarchs Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, Rich Seeley, announced today that Cory Ward has been returned from loan by the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL), Evan Cowley has been returned to the Monarchs by the Thunderbirds and Nic Pierog has signed an Amateur Try-Out Agreement with the Monarchs.
The Monarchs are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings.
Ward, 24, returns to the Monarchs after playing in five games for the Springfield Thunderbirds, without recording a point. Ward has played 23 games in the AHL this season with the Ontario Reign and Thunderbirds, tallying one goal. This season, Ward has played in 16 games for the Monarchs, totaling seven goals and seven assists for 14 points, while posting six penalty minutes.
The 5-foot-11, 201-pound native of Las Vegas, Nev., played collegiately at Bemidji State University, where he skated in 151 career games over a four-year career, and scored 80 points on 45 goals and 35 assists. During the 2016-17 season, Ward notched 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points for the Monarchs.
Cowley, 22, returns to the Monarchs after being called up by the Thunderbirds on Mar. 24. With Manchester, Cowley has posted a 8-7-0-1 record this season, to go along with a 2.98. goals against average and a .907 save percentage. In 14 games with the Thunderbirds, Cowley has posted a 5-5-1 record, a 3.13 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound native of Evergreen, Colo., was drafted by the Florida Panthers (92nd overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and won a National Championship with the University of Denver last season. With the Pioneers, Cowley posted a 5-2-0 record, a .955 save percentage and a 1.13 GAA in his senior season.
Pierog, 25, joins the Monarchs after playing the last four seasons at Clarkson University, where he captained the Golden Knights for the past two seasons. While at Clarkson, Pierog played in 151 games while racking up 21 goals and 23 assist for 44 points.
The 6-foot-1, 209-pound native of Halton, Ontario, played two seasons in the BCHL for the Surrey Eagles and Penticton Vees, where he skated in 112 games and scored 40 goals and 33 assists for 73 points before starting his collegiate career at Clarkson.
Ward, Cowley, Pierog and the Monarchs are back in action Wednesday, Mar. 28 (7 p.m.), when they play the Reading Royals from Reading, Pa.
The Monarchs are hosting Community Appreciation night on Saturday, April 7 (6 p.m.), when they take on the Worcester Railers for the final game of the regular season. Purchase your $5.00 discounted tickets.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 26, 2018
- Grizzlies Back in Action Friday and Saturday - Utah Grizzlies
- Vote for Mark Dekanich's Mask in #ECHLMarchMASKness - Reading Royals
- Thunder Weekly - Wichita Thunder
- Cory Ward and Evan Cowley return to Manchester, Nic Pierog signs ATO - Manchester Monarchs
- Stingrays Weekly Report - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - March 26 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Mallards Weekly Update - Quad City Mallards
- Komets Clinch Home Ice for First Round; Week 24 Yields Three Points - Fort Wayne Komets
- Mavericks Sign Forward Logan DeNoble - Kansas City Mavericks
- First-Round Home Dates Announced for ECHL US Bank Kelly Cup Playoffs - Idaho Steelheads
- Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report - Wheeling Nailers
- Indy Fuel Pit Stop Weekly - Indy Fuel
- Steelheads Weekly Report - Idaho Steelheads
- Rush Gear up for "Danny Battochio Retirement Night" - Rapid City Rush
- Walleye Weekly - Toledo Walleye
- Moose Recall Pearce, Kulevich - Jacksonville Icemen
- Mavs Monday: Week 25 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report - Tulsa Oilers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
