Kenny Smith returned, Brodeur and Gusev recalled

March 28, 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 that defenseman KENNY SMITH has returned from a five-game stint with the Road Runners. In separate transactions, the Norfolk Admirals have recalled goaltender MIKE BRODEUR and defenseman VLADIMIR GUSEV. Greenville has also announced that in celebration of Friday's TOP DOG Appreciation night at the BI-LO Center, all TOP DOG members can bring two free guests to Greenville's 7:05 p.m. game against Charlotte.

Smith, a third-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2001 Entry Draft, was called up by the Road Runners in time to dress for his first AHL game on March 11th. He played five games for Edmonton, registering four shots and four penalty minutes between March 11th and March 26th. In 57 games with the Grrrowl this season, the 6-2, 215-pound Harvard graduate posted three goals and six assists with 64 penalty minutes and 116 shots on goal. Two of Smith's goals came on the power play, while his most recent goal tied a game against Augusta with three seconds left in regulation. A native of Stoneham, Mass., Smith is in his rookie season after completing a four-year career at Harvard University.

Gusev, a fourth round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2001 draft, played his first AHL game of the season Sunday after being recalled by the Admirals earlier in the day. Gusev played 10 games with Norfolk last season, notching one assist and 10 penalty minutes. The 6-3, 205-pound defenseman has set career highs in goals (7), assists (11), points (18), and PIMs (101) through 64 games with Greenville this season. The native of Novosibirsk, Russia is a +10 rating since February 28th.

Brodeur gets his first call to the AHL after playing all 34 games of his rookie season with Greenville. The 6-2, 167-pound goalie from Calgary, Alberta, was selected by Chicago in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In 34 games with Greenville this season, Brodeur has posted an 18-15-6 record with a 2.76 goals against average and .925 save percentage. Brodeur leads the ECHL in shootout percentage (.914), having stopped 32 of 35 shootout attempts. He is tied for the league lead in shootout wins with six, and recorded his first professional shutout at South Carolina on March 22nd in a 2-0 victory.

In other Greenville news, rookie forward BROCK RADUNSKE has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve list.

The Grrrowl have three home games this week, hosting South Carolina on Tuesday, Charlotte on Friday, and Florida on Saturday. TOP DOG members can get two free tickets to Friday's game by showing their TOP DOG Identification Card at the Box Office window prior to the game. All attempts will be made to seat the guests as close as possible to the TOP DOG member's primary seats. For tickets to any of Greenville's five remaining regular season games, call Ticketmaster 864-233-2525. For playoff ticket information, call the Grrrowl offices at 864-467-4777.



ECHL Stories from March 28, 2005


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