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Falcons Swing Deal with Wildcatters

February 25, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. – On the heels of sending Riku Rahikainen to the Florence Pride on Monday in exchange for the rights to forward Mike Souza, Fresno Falcons General Manager Blaine Moore completed another trade today by moving defenseman Mark Jackson and winger Adam Stefishen to the Texas Wildcatters in exchange for center Brian Passmore. In a pair of separate transactions, today the Falcons also signed former NHL defenseman Neil Wilkinson and rookie winger Wes Rypien to free agent contracts.

Passmore has been much-traveled during his rookie year as he will be playing for his fourth team this season when he makes his Falcons debut on Friday against the Bakersfield Condors. The former seventh round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft totaled a combined 29 points (14g-15a) in 54 games with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Greenville Grrrowl and Wildcatters.

Both rookies, as well, Jackson recorded nine points (2g-7a) and 100 penalty minutes in 46 games with Fresno, while Stefishen led the club with 149 penalty minutes to go along with five points (2g-3a) in his 33 games in a Falcons uniform.

Wilkinson and Rypien will both don a Falcons sweater for the first time this evening against the San Diego Gulls. The former played 460 games over 10 years in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins. He made one trip to the Stanley Cup Finals with the North Stars during the 1990-91 campaign, where they eventually lost to the Penguins in six games.

Rypien joins Fresno out of major junior, where he played in both the Western and Ontario Hockey Leagues last season. He required off-season surgery and is just now ready to see action in his first professional game.

The Falcons battle the Gulls tonight at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center. Tickets to the game can be purchased directly at Save Mart Center's Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets, which include select Save Mart Supermarkets, Tower Records, Wherehouse Music and Ritmo Latino locations, charged by phone at 485-TIXS or bought online by clicking the Ticketmaster icon throughout www.fresnofalcons.com.

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