Lowell feeling "Blue" after recent signing
March 15, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
Lowell, Mass. - The Lowell Lock Monsters announced today they have signed RW Blue Bennefield to a professional try-out contract. He will join the club immediately and is expected to practice with the team on Thursday.
Bennefield, 26, has spent this season with the Adirondack Frostbite in the United Hockey League. The Frostbite play in Glens Falls, NY, and former Lock Monster Dane Jackson serves as the head coach. Bennefield ranks among UHL leaders with 267 penalty minutes and is tied for the league lead in major penalties with 23. He has also contributed to the Frostbite offense with 10 goals and 21 points in just 49 games. The sixth-year pro has never skated in the American Hockey League.
The Calgary native started skating professionally at the end of the 1999-00 season with the Idaho Steelheads in the West Coast Hockey League. This season he surpassed the 300-game and 1,000-penalty minute plateau in his pro career. His best statistical season as a pro came in 2003-04, when he was one of only three ECHL players to record at least 20 goals and 200 or more penalty minutes (Matt Zultek with Trenton and Lance Galbraith with Idaho). He spent that season with the Gwinnett Gladiators. Bennefield played three years of junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, averaging nearly a point per game in his final two campaigns.
The Monsters have a pair of road games Friday (Springfield) and Saturday (Manchester at 2:00 p.m.) before hosting Manchester on Sunday, March 19th. Game time is 4:05 p.m., presented by Trinity Ambulance. That day is Guns N Hoses Night with the Monsters. Doors will open at a special time, two hours before game time. Check out the battle on the ice between the Mass. State Police and the Manchester P.D. Plus, the first 1,500 fans will get a free Lock Monsters Guns N Hoses puck! Sundays are Family Four Pack games, featuring 4 tickets, 4 scrumptious hot dogs and 4 refreshing Pepsis for just $49. In addition, everyone in attendance is welcome to hit the ice for a free post-game skate. Complimentary skate rental is available, or fans can bring their own to the game.
Individual tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at the Tsongas Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Flex Packs and group outings are on sale now; contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for more information.
All games home and away can be heard live on 980 WCAP, and viewed through B2 Networks, the official broadband provider of the AHL, with the "Voice of the Lock Monsters" Ryan Johnston. Log on to www.lockmonsters.com to watch or listen online.
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