Heat Sign Two to PTO's Prior to Tonight's Game
February 20, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
Stockton, Calif. - The Stockton Heat, proudly owned by the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League, announce the signing of defenseman Mike Vernace and Gabriel Verpaelst to professional tryout contracts. The pair will be available for tonight's game against the San Jose Barracuda.
Vernace (VEHR-Nayce), 29, is in his 10th year as a pro having played 22 NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning to go along with 438 games in the AHL and 69 games in Germany and Sweden. Most recently, Vernace has returned to the city where he once starred during his junior hockey days playing for the Brampton Beast in his first season in the ECHL.
MIKE VERNACE (D)
BORN: Toronto, ONT DATE: May 26, 1986
HEIGHT: 6'2" WEIGHT: 211 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
HOW ACQUIRED: Signed a PTO with the Stockton Heat on 2/19/16
DRAFTED: 7th Round (201 Overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks
Verpaelst (VEHR-Pass), 22, is in his second season as a pro in the ECHL, currently playing for the Norfolk Admirals and leading the team in penalty minutes with 132. The name should be familiar to Stockton Hockey fans as Verpaelst suited up for the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) in 2014-15, playing the Stockton Thunder (ECHL) 12 times while recording a goal and 2 assists to go along with 23 PIMS. This is Verpaelst's first AHL call-up.
GABRIEL VERPAELST (D)
BORN: Sherbrooke, PQ DATE: September 16, 1993
HEIGHT: 6'0" WEIGHT: 191 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
HOW ACQUIRED: Signed a PTO with the Stockton Heat on 2/19/16
The Stockton Heat host the San Jose Barracuda this Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. looking to continue their current nine-game home winning streak. On Saturday it's Diabetes Awareness Night where the first 1,000 fans 13-years and older receiving a Heat gym bag and on Sunday the first 1,000 fans in the building will receive an oversized Freddie Hamilton trading card.
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