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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Coyotes Sign Six Players to AHL Contracts

September 2, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH * The Utah Grizzlies National Hockey League (NHL) affiliate, the Phoenix Coyotes, announced today that they have signed six (6) free agent players to American Hockey League (AHL) contracts. Coyotes General Manager Michael Barnett made the announcement. The Coyotes signed left wing Jon Sim to a one-year contract, center Erik Westrum to a one-year contract, defenseman Rick Berry to a two-year contract, left wing Martin Sonnenberg to a two-year contract, left wing Doug Doull to a two-year contract, and goaltender Zac Bierk to a one-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Sim, 26, is no stranger to Grizzlies* fans playing 112 games over three seasons (2000-2003) with Utah. Over that time, the New Glasgow, Nova Scotia native scored 53 goals with 50 assists and 192 penalty minutes. His 103 points rank him 15th on the Grizzlies all-time point list and his 53 goals are ninth all-time. In 2003, Sim was named the AHL All-Star Game Most Valuable Player while a member of the Grizzlies.

Last season, the 5-10, 190-pound left wing split time between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh in the NHL recording career highs in games played (63), goals (8), assists (10), points (18) and penalty minutes (33). In his career, Sim has played in 158 NHL games scoring 18 goals with 18 assists and 90 penalty minutes. Originally, Sim was drafted by the Dallas Stars (3rd round, 70th overall) in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. In his first professional season (1998-99), Sim helped the Stars win their first Stanley Cup.

Westrum, 25, began the season with the Springfield Falcons (AHL) but finished with the Coyotes. In 15 games with Phoenix, Westrum posted two points (1-1 *2) with 20 penalty minutes. In 56 games with Springfield, the 6-0, 204-pound center collected 14 goals with 18 assists and 91 penalty minutes. The Minneapolis, Minnesota native has experienced success at the International level as well winning the Deutschland Cup as a member of Team USA (Nov. 7-9) and also representing Team USA at the World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. Westrum plated in nine (9) games for Team USA recording 3-2-5. He ranked T-13th in the tournament in goals, T-26th in points and 11th in face-off win percentage (57.3%). Westrum also scored the clinching goal in a shootout with Slovakia that gave Team USA the bronze medal. Westrum was drafted by the Coyotes (7th round, 187th overall) in the 1998 Entry Draft.

Berry, 25, played 65 games last season with the Washington Capitals (NHL) setting career highs in assists (6), penalty minutes (108) and games played (65). Berry also played 10 games for the Portland Pirates (AHL), recording 2-1-3 and 12 PIM. The Birtle, Manitoba native has played parts of five (5) seasons in the NHL with Colorado, Pittsburgh and Washington appearing in 197 games registering 2-13-15 and 314 penalty minutes. In 2001, the 6-2, 200-pound defenseman was a member of the 2001 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche organization, playing 19 regular season games with the Avalanche recording four (4) assists and 38 penalty minutes. Berry has also played 184 games in the American Hockey League with Hershey and Portland, registering 19-40-59 and 262 PIM. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche (3rd round 55th overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft.

Sonnenberg, 26, split last season between the Calgary Flames and the Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL). Sonnenberg played five (5) games for the Stanley Cup finalist Flames, recording two (2) penalty minutes. In 48 games with Lowell, the 6-0, 185-pound Sonnenberg collected 20-22-42 and 46 PIM. The Wetaskiwin, Alberta native has played in 63 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and Calgary, registering 2-3-5 and 21 PIM. In 1998-99, he played in a career-high 41 games with Pittsburgh, recording 1-1-2 and 19 PIM. He also played in seven (7) playoff games for the Penguins.

Doull, 30, split last season between the Boston Bruins and the Providence Bruins (AHL). The 6-2, 216-pound Doull played 35 games for Boston, collecting one (1) assist and 132 penalty minutes. In addition, Doull played 22 games for Providence scoring one (1) goal with 98 penalty minutes. The Glace Bay, Nova Scotia native had his best season in 2002-03 when he set career highs in games played (70), goals (15), assists (10), points (25) and PIM*s (257) with the St. John*s Maple Leafs (AHL). In four (4) seasons in the American Hockey League with Saint John, St. John*s and Providence, Doull has registered 24-28-52 and 688 PIM in 177 games. Doull also played three (3) seasons in the International Hockey League (IHL) with Michigan, Manitoba and Detroit, recording 8-17-25 and 480 PIM in 117 games.

Bierk, 27, played four (4) games with the Coyotes last season posting a 0-1-2 record with a 3.81 goals against average and a .889 save percentage. In addition, the 6-5, 205-pound netminder played two (2) games with Springfield posting a 0-1-1 mark with a 3.38 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. In 2002-03, the native of Peterborough, Ontario played in 16 games with the Coyotes, setting career highs in wins (4-9-1), GAA (2.17), and save percentage (.932). He also played 13 games with Springfield, posting a 6-4-1 record with a 2.89 GAA and a .915 save percentage. In six (6) NHL seasons with Tampa Bay and Phoenix, Bierk has played in 47 career NHL games, posting a record of 9-20-5 with a 3.18 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Bierk was originally drafted by Tampa Bay (9th round, 212th overall) in the 1995 Entry Draft. The Coyotes signed Bierk as a free agent on August 30, 2001.

The Grizzlies begin their 10th season in Utah and their 11th season overall on Wednesday, October 13th when they host the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. For ticket information, call the Grizzlies ticket sales department at (801) 988-PUCK (7825).

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