Marlies assign six to Columbia

Published on October 5, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Columbia Inferno News Release


(COLUMBIA, S.C.) Oct. 5, 2007- The Columbia Inferno have received six players reassigned from the Toronto Marlies, Inferno head coach and director of hockey operations Troy Mann announced today.

Center Peter Tsimikalis, right wing Joe Cooper, defensemen Patrick Wellar and Phil Oreskovic and goaltenders Todd Ford and Jeff Jakaitis have all joined the Inferno's 2007-08 training camp. The Inferno are proud be entering the second season of their affiliation with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.

Tsimikalis split the 2006-07 between the Kicthener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League and the Albany River Rats of the AHL. He tallied 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) and 14 penalty minutes during 19 regular season games with Kitchener, while accumulating three points (one goal, two assists) and seven penalty minutes in 19 regular season games with Albany.

Cooper was a senior with the Miami University Redhawks last year, where he notched four points (three goals, one assist) and 58 penalty minutes in 36 games. Cooper was originally selected 219th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Wellar split the 2006-07 season between the Alaska Aces of the ECHL and the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL. In 53 regular season games with the Aces, Wellar had 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) and 101 penalty minutes, as well as four points (one goal, three assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 15 Kelly Cup Playoff games. In Peoria, Wellar had one assist and nine penalty minutes in 21 regular season games. Wellar was originally selected by the Washington Capitals 77th overall in the third round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Oreskovic split the 2006-07 OHL season with the Brampton Battalion and Owen Sound Attack. In 36 regular season games with the Battalion, Oreskovic tallied 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) and 113 penalty minutes, while he had eight points (one goal, seven assists) and 66 penalty minutes in 26 games with the Attack. Oreskovic also played three games with the Marlies during the 2006-07 season, where he had one assist and two penalty minutes. Oreskovic was originally selected 82nd overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Ford compiled a 16-13-6 record in 37 games with the Inferno last season, with a 2.98 goals against average and .914 save percentage. He also earned a 2-1-0 record with a 3.27 GAA and .869 save percentage in four games with the Marlies. Ford was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs 74th overall in the third round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Jakaitis was 16-16-3 with a 2.31 GAA and .931 save percentage in 35 games during the 2006-07 season with Lake Superior State University.

The Columbia Inferno open the 2007-08 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:05 against the Augusta Lynx. Group rates, season tickets, fundraisers and individual tickets are available now by dialing 803.256.7825 or by logging on to columbiainferno.com.

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