Marlies sign free agents
September 13, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Toronto Marlies News Release
Mike Penny, general manager of the Toronto Marlies, announced today that the club has signed forwards Jeff Corey, Brett Engelhardt, Owen Fussey and Colin Murphy, in addition to defenceman Justin Sawyer and goaltender Robert Gherson. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Corey, 23, registered 99 points (47 goals, 52 assists) while collecting 134 penalty minutes in 135 career NCAA games with Vermont over a four-year playing career. The 6'0, 190-pound right wing enjoyed his best season while playing in 37 games for the Catamounts in 2004-05 when he finished second in regular season team-scoring by setting collegiate career highs in goals (17), assists (16) and points (33). Corey was signed to an amateur try-out contract on March 15 and registered three points (two goals, one assist) in nine games with the Marlies.
Engelhardt, 26, registered career highs in goals (12), assists (32) and points (44) in 71 games with the Marlies in 2005-06. The Sheboygan, Wisconsin native finished tied for the team lead (Battaglia, Newbury) with three shorthanded goals. The 6'2, 210-pound winger played four seasons with the NCAA's Michigan Tech Huskies and led the team in scoring in his sophomore campaign of 2001-02.
Fussey, 23, was a third round draft choice of the NHL's Washington Capitals (90th overall in 2001). The 6'0, 190-pound left wing spent last season with the Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears - AHL affiliate of the Capitals - and recorded two goals and 12 points in 50 games. He also appeared in one playoff game but was held pointless. Fussey made his NHL debut on March 10, 2004 in a game versus Buffalo. He played in a total of four games for Washington in 2003-04.
Murphy, 26, and a former teammate of Engelhardt's at Michigan Tech, played his first full season of professional hockey last year for the Marlies. Despite appearing in only 53 of 80 regular season games, he scored 16 goals and added 18 assists for 34 points and was the team's highest-scoring rookie. Murphy scored the team's first-ever goal in an 8-5 loss at Rochester on October 7, 2005. The 5'11, 190-pound winger and native of Fort McMurray, Alberta led the Huskies in scoring in both his sophomore (2002-03) and senior (2004-05) seasons.
Sawyer, 20, played 67 games for the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals last season. The 6'3, 225-pound Oshawa native was the team's leader in games-played (appearing in all but one contest) while also leading the club in penalty minutes with 212. He registered 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) before playing in 12 games with the Marlies upon the conclusion of the Generals' season.
Gherson, 22, was a fifth round draft choice by the Capitals (145th overall in 2002). The 6'1, 180-pound goaltender won 20 of the 35 games in which he appeared last season for the Hartford Wolf Pack - AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers. He recorded one shutout victory while also registering three assists. The Toronto native also started one game for the Manitoba Moose - AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks - and turned aside 20 shots in recording the victory.
Penny also announced that the team has picked up the option year on forward Martin Sagat's contract. Sagat had eight goals and 21 assists in 60 games for the Marlies last season.
The Marlies begin their pre-season schedule two weeks from this evening when they host the Hamilton Bulldogs - AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens - on September 27 at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium. After three more pre-season games, the Marlies open the 2006-07 regular season when they host the Syracuse Crunch - AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets - on Friday, October 6 at Ricoh Coliseum at 7:30 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from September 13, 2006
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