Elmira Executes Five-Player Trade With Quad City
February 27, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Elmira, NY - The Elmira Jackals announced today that they have acquired defenseman Andrei Lupandin, rookie defenseman Nick Harloff and goaltender Zach Sikich from the Quad City Mallards in a trade for defensemen Dale Lupul and Derek Miller.
The Jackals Front Office continued their busy Wednesday afternoon as they dealt rookie defensemen Dale Lupul and Derek Miller to the Quad City Mallards in exchange for defensemen Andrei Lupandin and Nick Harloff and goaltender Zach Sikich.
Andrei Lupandin was actually the property of the Jackals at one point during the past off season. Elmira acquired his rights during the UHL Dispersal Draft from the Motor City Mechanics who suspended operations following the 2005-06 season. The Jackals then traded Lupandin's rights to Quad City along with forward Craig Macdonald in a move that brought right wing Frank Littlejohn to Elmira. Currently in his 9th year of professional hockey, Lupandin is no stranger to several members of the Jackals Front Office; he was teammates with Elmira assistant coach Kris Waltze and played for then head coach Robbie Nichols for the 2004-05 Flint Generals. In 495 career pro games, the Kharkiv, Ukraine native has 253 points (78 goals, 175 assists) and 427 penalty minutes. In 47 games this season for the Mallards the 28-year old defenseman has 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) and 32 PIMs.
Nick Harloff passed the 100 games played mark this season, but is still considered a rookie by UHL definitions. Coming into the 2006-07 season the 22-year old from Kitchener, Ontario had played in 57 games, three below the rookie cutoff. Last season Harloff made appearances for South Carolina, Florida and Dayton of the ECHL and Columbus of the SPHL. In 108 career pro games played the 6'0" 185 lbs defenseman has 29 points (7 goals, 22 assists) and 125 penalty minutes. Perhaps the most promising statistics are Harloff's 50 games in Quad City, where he had 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) and 62 penalty minutes, career highs in all categories.
"We have struggled defensively and our recent woes have been an indication of that," said Jackals General Manager Robbie S. Nichols. "Bringing in both Andrei Lupandin and Nick Harloff will add a lot of speed and offense to our back line. Andrei has a lot of experience, Nick has a lot of energy and they both move the puck very well. Again making quality trades are never easy and we wish both Dale Lupul and Derek Miller the best of luck in Quad City."
The Jackals also acquired rookie goaltender Zach Sikich in the trade. Sikich has done a number on Elmira this season; earning two of his four wins against the Jackals. In 14 games for Quad City this year the rookie from Eveleth, Minnesota has a 4-5-1 record with a 3.08 goals against average and a 0.903 save percentage; he also has two assists.
Dale Lupul had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) and 121 PIMs in 56 games played for Elmira this season and he was selected to the 2007 UHL All-Star Classic. Derek Miller posted 20 points (2 goals, 18 assists), 90 PIMs and a +3 rating in 57 games played.
Lupandin and Harloff will be in the lineup on Wednesday February 28th as the Jackals host the Bloomington PrairieThunder for a 7:05 pm face off at First Arena. Sikich is not expected to be in the Jackals lineup Wednesday. Friday March 2nd the Jackals will battle the Flint Generals at 7:35 pm.
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