Greenville and Toledo complete blockbuster deal
March 8, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Grrrowl News Release
GREENVILLE, SC - The Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL, proud affiliates of the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers, have announced the successful completion of a seven-player trade with the Toledo Storm. Greenville sends CARL MALLETTE (F), KEVIN BERGIN (F), and JOEY MARTIN (D) to Toledo, in exchange for SAM PAOLINI (F), TYLER KNIGHT (F), MARIS ZIEDINS (F), and JASON JOZSA (D). Greenville's four newest members are expected to be in the lineup Friday, when the Grrrowl visit the Charlotte Checkers.
"This was an extremely tough decision because we're talking about three very good hockey players who have been a big factor in our 2004-05 success," said Grrrowl Head Coach John Marks. "But we had to make a deal that we thought would make us a better team. We addressed Toledo's needs, they addressed ours, and all of us feel that this is an excellent trade for both teams. For Carl Mallette and Kevin Bergin, they're being reunited with their former coach Tony MacAulay and under Tony's tutelage, they both had tremendous years last year, for Joey Martin, it's an opportunity for more ice time and to showcase his talents in the North. Our job is to put the best team on the ice to compete for a championship. We feel this trade has accomplished that."
Greenville acquires three of Toledo's top four scorers, with Paolini leading the Storm with 45 points on 13 goals and 32 assists. Paolini was this year's Storm captain and a 2003-04 ECHL All-Star. Knight was leading the Storm in goals with 20, and third on the team in points with 35. Ziedins' 33 points ranked fourth best on the team, and the second year pro out of Riga, Latvia had a hat trick on January 15th. Ziedins played four years at St. Norbert College and was named the Division III Player of the Year in 2003. Jozsa had been with Toledo since graduating from Colorado College in 2003, and served as an alternate captain this season.
In a separate transaction, Greenville defenseman KENNY SMITH was recalled by Edmonton, and is expected to be in the Road Runners' lineup Wednesday when they travel to Syracuse. Smith was a third round draft pick of Edmonton in the 2001 Entry Draft.
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