AHL Manchester Monarchs

Kings Place Straka ON IR; Recall Barney, Pirnes

January 12, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, NH – The Los Angeles Kings, the NHL affiliate of the Manchester Monarchs, have placed forward Martin Straka on the injured reserve list (retroactive to January 11) due to a knee sprain and have recalled center Esa Pirnes and right wing Scott Barney from the Monarchs. In other roster news, the Monarchs on Monday announced that right wing Dan Welch will be out of the lineup indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair an unstable shoulder. Straka, 31, suffered his injury on Saturday during the second period of the Kings-Columbus Blue Jackets game at STAPLES Center. He has played in 40 total games this season with the Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 23 points (10-13=23) and 20 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-9, 178-pound native of Plzen, Czech Republic, was acquired by the Kings from the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 30 for defenseman Martin Strbak and left wing Sergei Anshakov. In 18 games with the Kings this season, Straka has 11 points (6-5=11) and four penalty minutes.

Pirnes, 27, has played in 18 games with the Kings this season and has two points (both assists) and two penalty minutes. He missed 18 games earlier this season due to a concussion, which he suffered during the Kings-Phoenix Coyotes game on November 27 in Phoenix. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Oulu, Finland, is playing in his first Kings/NHL season after the club selected him in the sixth-round (174th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In four games this season with the Monarchs, he has four points (3-1=4) and two penalty minutes.

Barney, 24, has played in 39 games this season with the Monarchs and has a team-leading 19 goals. He is also third in overall team scoring (19-12=31), and his 19 goals are tied for fourth most in the AHL. Barney, a 6-foot-4, 208-pound native of Oshawa, Ontario, made his Kings/NHL debut last season and played in five games. He wears No. 62.

The Kings (16-14-8-4; 44 points) begin a four-game road trip tomorrow night in Nashville versus the Predators. Pirnes and Barney are scheduled to meet the Kings in Nashville.

Team physician Dr. James Vailas performed the surgery on Welch, a 22-year-old from Hastings, Minnesota, at the Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center on January 7. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Welch, who has 11 points (6-5=11) and 18 penalty minutes in 29 games with the Monarchs this season, will rehab in Manchester. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the eighth-round (245th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Welch has 23 points (9-14=23) and 40 penalty minutes in 71 career AHL regular season games with the Monarchs.

The Monarchs (20-16-2-3, 45 points) return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, January 16 when they visit the Cumberland County Civic Center to take on the Portland Pirates. They also are scheduled to host the Pirates at 7:35 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday, January 17. Immediately following Saturday's game, fans are invited to go to the Holiday Inn's Grand Ballroom for New Hampshire's biggest 70's party, sponsored by Rock 101 and featuring the Monarchs players. Tickets to party with the Monarchs are only $10 with a January 17 game ticket, or $15 at the door. Groove all night long to Motor Booty Affair and enter a contest to see who has the best male and female 70's costumes. Top prize for each is a $500 gift certificate from Princess Jewelers, plus a Monarchs jersey and Monarchs ticket vouchers. Tickets to 70's Night with the Monarchs are limited so call (603) 626-7825 to reserve your tickets today.

Monarchs Ticket Availability as of January 12

Sat., Jan. 17 vs. Portland: Only 400 seats remain.

Fri., Jan. 30 vs. Bridgeport: Only 600 seats remain.



American Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2004


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