AHL Norfolk Admirals

Lightning Announce Goaltender Transactions

January 24, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


TAMPA BAY, Fla. - *The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, announced today that goaltender Dustin Tokarski has been reassigned to the Admirals from the Lightning and that goaltender Riku Helenius has been reassigned from the Admirals to Södert=C3=A4lje SK of the Swedish Elite League, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.

Tokarski, 20, is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound goaltender out of Watson, Saskatchewan. He appeared in two games with the Lightning following his first career NHL call-up on January 14. In those games, he did not receive a decision while stopping 13 of 16 shots in 44:21. He made his NHL debut on January 16 at Florida in relief, stopping all five shots he faced in twenty minutes of work.

Tokarski has posted a 12-13-0 record with two shutouts, a 2.68 goals-against average and.911 save percentage in his first 25 professional games with the Admirals this season. He ranks among the top rookie netminders in the American Hockey League.

Tokarski was drafted by the Lightning in the fifth round (122nd overall) in 2008. He won the 2006 Canadian Midget National Championship with the Prince Albert Mintos, was MVP of the 2008 Memorial Cup with the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs, and won the gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships for Team Canada.

Last season, Tokarski broke his own Spokane franchise records with a 1.97 goals-against average,.937 save percentage and seven shutouts while going 34-18-2 in 54 games. He led the WHL in goals-against average, save percentage and shootout save percentage (.860) while tying for first in shutouts and ranking fifth in wins. In 129 career games with the Chiefs, he recorded a 77-39-7 record with a 2.18 goals-against average and.925 save percentage.

Helenius, 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, has played in 12 games with the Admirals this season, posting a 5-7-0 record with a 2.75 goals-against average and a.896 save percentage. He last played on December 19 against Binghamton, making 18 saves.

A native of Palkane, Finland, Helenius has played in 37 career AHL games, all with Norfolk. He has posted a 14-22-1 record with a.902 save percentage and a 2.73 goal-against average during his AHL career. He has appeared in one NHL game January 30, 2009 against Philadelphia, stopping two shots in relief.

Helenius was selected by Tampa Bay in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The Admirals will continue a seven-game road trip this afternoon against the Lowell Devils. The puck drops at 4:00 p.m. and fans can follow the game on STAR 1310-AM, star1310.com or ahllive.com.

The Admirals kick off a six-game homestand at Scope on Wednesday, February 3, against the Hershey Bears.

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime!

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