Kings Sign Forward Michael Cammalleri
July 25, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
El Segundo, CA â The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with forward Michael Cammalleri, Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced. Per club policy, terms of the agreements were not announced.
"Michael has decided to forego his senior year at Michigan and the Kings are very pleased to have him under contract with our organization," said Taylor. "Michael was generally regarded as the best player in college hockey this past season. He is a highly skilled, intelligent player who has excelled at all levels of hockey thus far. He will certainly compete for a spot with the Kings this season as we consider him to be an elite prospect."
Cammalleri, 20, recently completed his junior season for the University of Michigan Wolverines of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), where he led the club in goals (23), power-play goals (nine) and game-winning goals (seven). His 44 points (23-21=44) in just 29 games ranked second on the club, and he was a co-recipient of the Hal Dowes Trophy, awarded annually to the Wolverines' most valuable player, despite missing 15 of 17 games from December 15 through March 1 while recovering from mononucleosis. He also averaged 1.5 points and 0.8 goals per game, marks that would have placed him in the top five nationally if he had skated in 75 percent of Michigan's games. The Most Valuable Player of the 2002 CCHA Super Six Championship, Cammalleri was also named CCHA "Offensive Player of the Week" twice during the season.
Originally selected by the Kings in the second round (49th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, the 5-9, 180-pound native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, also played for the silver-medal-winning Canadian National Junior Team at the 2002 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic, where he was named the tournament's top forward. In seven games with Team Canada, Cammalleri led the entire tournament in scoring with 11 points (7-4=11) and 10 penalty minutes. His seven goals also tied him for the tournament lead in goals. He also played for Team Canada at the 2001 World Junior Championships in Russia.
During 2000-01 season, Cammalleri led the Wolverines with 29 goals and ranked second in team scoring with 61 points (29-32=61) in 42 games. He also co-led the team with 10 power-play goals. In 110 games during his three seasons with the Wolverines, Cammalleri recorded 131 points (65-66=131) and 84 penalty minutes.
Cammalleri also becomes the fifth top young prospect the Kings have brought under multi-year contracts this summer, joining left wing Alexander Frolov, center's Jared Aulin and Yanick Lehoux and defenseman Joe Corvo.
The Kings are scheduled to open their 2002-03 training camp on Thursday, September 12, at the HealthSouth Training Center in El Segundo. The first day of on-ice practice will be Friday, September 13.
American Hockey League Stories from July 25, 2002
- Kings Sign Forward Michael Cammalleri - Manchester Monarchs
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- Veteran Center Mark Freer Returns To Bears - Hershey Bears
- Pirates Host Welcome Reception For Army - Portland Pirates
- Rivermen Sign Finnerty - Peoria Rivermen
- Kings Acquire Forward Erik Rasmussen - Manchester Monarchs
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