AHL Norfolk Admirals

Lightning Recall Defenseman Mike Lundin And Goaltender Riku Helenius

December 26, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


TAMPA BAY, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have recalled defenseman Mike Lundin and goaltender Riku Helenius from the Admirals, Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced today.

Lundin, a 6-foot-2, 197-pound defenseman from Burnsville, Minnesota, has appeared in four games with the Lightning this season, averaging 16:59 in ice time per game.

Lundin has appeared in 27 games with the Admirals this season scoring two goals and 14 assists. His 16 points leads all defensemen and ranks fourth overall with Norfolk while ranking among the top 20 of all American Hockey League defensemen. Lundin, who also led the Admirals in scoring by defensemen last season, has appeared in 78 career AHL games (all with Norfolk) and has six goals and 41 assists in those games.

The 25-year-old third-year pro has appeared in 110 career NHL games (all with the Lightning) with eight assists. In 2007-08, he appeared in 81 of Tampa Bay's 82 games and ranked second on the Lightning in plus/minus rating with a plus-3. He also represented the Eastern Conference in the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game.

Lundin played in 160 career games with the Maine Black Bears from 2003-07, recording 13 goals and 69 points. He was drafted by the Lightning in the fourth round (102nd overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Helenius, a 6-foot-3, 211-pound goaltender from Palkane, Finland, has played in 12 games with the Admirals this season, recording a 5-7-0 record with a.896 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average.

Last season, he led the Admirals in both goals-against average (GAA) and save percentage in his first North American professional season. In 25 games with Norfolk, the 21-year-old went 9-15-0 with one shutout, a 2.72 GAA and a.918 save percentage.

Drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round (15th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut in relief on January 30 with Tampa Bay versus Philadelphia and stopped the two shots he faced in his only career NHL action to this point. Helenius also appeared in 11 ECHL games last season between the Augusta Lynx and Mississippi Sea Wolves, going 4-5-2 with a 3.80 GAA.

The Admirals will battle the Hershey Bears in a home-and-home set of games beginning tomorrow evening at Giant Center. The puck drops at 5:00 p.m. The Admirals and Bears then travel to Norfolk to face off at Scope on Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday's game will be another Family Fun Pack Night and Student Rush Night. Family Fun Packs include four discounted Red Level Tickets for just $48 plus four free hot dogs, four free popcorns and four free sodas. Fans get all of that for just $48 - that's a savings of $37!

Student Rush Nights, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter's Sports Lounge, provide $8 White Level Tickets (normally $12) for high school and college students with a valid current high school or college ID. In addition, when you buy a Student Rush Night Ticket, you get a buy-one, get-one free offer for the next Student Rush Night. On top of that, you get discounted food at Baxter's Sports Lounge (located right across the street from Scope) on the day of the game.

Admirals Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Student Rush Night Tickets are available ONLY at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game.

For a complete schedule and details of the promotions, please visit norfolkadmirals.com or call (757) 640-1212.

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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