Flags claim five players in dispersal draft
June 7, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Flags News Release
(Port Huron, MI) - The Port Huron Flags, a community owned team in the United Hockey League, announced today the selection of five players taken in the United Hockey League's dispersal draft. The draft consisted of players who ended the 2005-2006 season on the rosters of the Motor City Mechanics, Missouri River Otters, and Roanoke Valley Vipers, all franchises that will not compete in the league in the 2006-2007 season. Selecting second in each round of the draft, Port Huron claimed LW Mike Wiggins (ROA), D Tyler Butler (MO), D Rico Fatticci (ROA), D Steve Makway (MO), and F Mike Olynyk (MO). The United Hockey League rights to these players now belong to Port Huron.
Wiggins split last season, his first full year in professional hockey, between Fort Wayne and Roanoke in the UHL, scoring 37 goals in 74 games and earning 70 points. In 80 career games the 5'8" 165 lbs. left winger has 39 goals and 75 points with 77 minutes in penalties. The 26 year old native of Calgary, ALTA scored 54 goals in four seasons at Wisconsin-Superior (NCAA), including 31 his senior year. Mike finished first among UHL rookies in shots on goal (306), third in goals, third in power play goals (14), fourth in power play points (28), and sixth in rookie scoring. Wiggins closed out the 2005-06 season with his first career hat trick against Danbury on 4/15/06.
Butler, a 6'2" 205 lbs. defenseman, has played three pro seasons. After two years with Amarillo in the CHL, the 27 year old native of Kanata, ONT played for the Missouri River Otters last season posting 10 goals and 14 assists with 79 minutes in penalties in 74 games. His play earned him a two game call up to Peoria in the AHL. In 200 career games Butler has registered 28 goals and 61 assists for 89 points.
Fatticci is a 5'11" 190 lbs. defenseman who has played four years professionally, including most of the 2004-2005 season in Port Huron as a member of the Port Huron Beacons. He set career best totals that year in games played (79), goals (4), assists (18), and points (22), while totaling 103 minutes in penalties. Last season in Roanoke the 25 year old native of Hibbing, MN scored (2-8-10) in 60 games with a career high 105 minutes in penalties.
Steve Makway began last season, his second as a pro, with the Flint Generals before being traded to Missouri. The 6'5" 230 lbs. defenseman had 158 minutes in penalties in 58 games, while scoring (5-12-17). The 23 year old native of Trail, BC spent his rookie season in Laredo of the CHL in 2004-2005 and has 323 PIM in 114 career games played.
Mike Olynyk spent three seasons with Austin in the CHL before splitting last season between the Quad City Mallards and Missouri River Otters. The 25 year old forward from Sparwood, BC is 6' 197 lbs. Injury held Olynyk to just 42 games last season, but he still tallied 94 minutes in penalties while scoring a goal and six points. In 217 career games Mike has earned 631 minutes in the box, including a career high 206 during the 2003-2004 season in Austin.
In other news the Flags announced goaltender Jeremy Symington has been selected by the Bloomington Prairie Thunder in the UHL expansion draft. Bloomington will enter the league for the 2006-2007 season. Symington spent all of last season in Port Huron posting a record of (5-13-3) with a 4.46 goals against average.
The Flags will begin their second season of play in the United Hockey League in October.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from June 7, 2006
- Chicago Hounds Announce Greg Puhalski as Head Coach for Inaugural Season - Chicago Hounds
- Flags claim five players in dispersal draft - Port Huron Flags
- Martinson to lead Rockford for third straight campaign - Rockford IceHogs
- Fury see new faces in dispersal, expansion drafts - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Komets looking for coach - Fort Wayne Komets
- Trashers add four players in dispersal draft - Danbury Trashers
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