AHL Manchester Monarchs

Miller And Smolinski Activated

Published on January 22, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


El Segundo, CA - The Los Angeles Kings have activated center Bryan Smolinski and defenseman Aaron Miller from the injured reserve list, Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced today. To make room on the roster, left wing Kip Brennan and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky have been placed on the injured reserve list. In addition, the Kings have recalled defenseman Tomas Zizka from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League and have assigned center Michael Cammalleri to the Monarchs.

Smolinski, 31, has missed the last 11 games after suffering an eye laceration during the Kings-Phoenix Coyotes game on December 26 at STAPLES Center. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound native of Toledo, Ohio, has appeared in 35 games for the Kings this season recording 20 points (7-13=20) and 18 penalty minutes. Originally acquired by the Kings from the New York Islanders with Ziggy Palffy, Marcel Cousineau and a fourth round choice (Daniel Johansson) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft for Olli Jokinen, Mathieu Biron and a first round choice (Taylor Pyatt) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Smolinski has appeared in 716 career NHL games with the Kings, Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins recording 462 points (198-264=462) and 452 penalty minutes.

Miller, 31, has missed the last 18 games after fracturing his left foot during the Kings-Dallas Stars game on December 11 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. In 15 games this season with the Kings, he has no points and six penalty minutes. He missed the first 13 games of the season while recovering from off-season abdominal surgery to repair a sports hernia on September 13. Originally acquired by the Kings from the Colorado Avalanche with Adam Deadmarsh, Jared Aulin, a first round selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft (David Steckel) and a first round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft for Rob Blake and Steven Reinprecht, Miller has 85 points (22-63=85) and 253 penalty minutes in 413 career NHL games with the Kings and Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques.

Brennan, 22, missed the club's last game after suffering a left knee sprain during the first period of the Kings-Edmonton Oilers game on January 16 at the Skyreach Centre in Edmonton. In 13 games for the Kings this season, he has no points and 31 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound native of Kingston, Ontario, was originally selected by the Kings in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and began the season with Manchester appearing in 15 games and recording three points (2-1=3) with 71 penalty minutes. In 17 career NHL games, all with the Kings, he has no points and 53 penalty minutes.

Visnovsky, 26, suffered a left knee sprain in the second period of the Kings-Calgary Flames game on January 18 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. In 34 games for the Kings this season, he has 13 points (5-8=13) and 20 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound native of Topolcany, Slovakia, was originally selected by the Kings in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2000 NHL Draft, and has appeared in 187 career NHL games with the Kings recording 73 points (16-57=73) and 70 penalty minutes.

Zizka, 23, has appeared in 36 games for the Monarchs this season recording 32 points (10-22=32) and 38 penalty minutes. His 32 points rank second among all AHL defensemen and he will represent the PlanetUSA squad at the 2003 AHL All-Star Game, which will be played in Portland, ME, on Feb. 3. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound native of Sternberk, Czech Republic, was originally selected by the Kings in sixth round (163rd overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He will wear jersey number 5.

Zizka may make his NHL debut (18-20-4-4, 3rd-Pacific Division) tonight when the Kings meet the Mighty Ducks in Anaheim, CA (10:30 EST). Tonight's game will be carried on Fox Sports Net 2, ESPN 710-KSPN and along the Kings Radio Network.

Cammalleri, 20, has appeared in 27 games for the Kings this season recording eight points (5-3=8) and 20 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut at the Kings-Ottawa Senators game on November 8 at the Corel Center in Ottawa, Ontario, where he recorded an assist (0-1=1). The 5-foot-9, 180-pound native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, was selected by the Kings in the second round (49th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and has played in 11 games for the Monarchs recording 19 points (5-14=19) and 12 penalty minutes.

The Monarchs are on the road for a pair of weekend games, starting on Friday, January 24 when they travel to Portland, ME to take on the Portland Pirates. Game time Friday is set for 7:05 p.m. The Monarchs next home game is scheduled for Friday, January 31 at the Verizon Wireless Arena when they host the Hartford Wolf Pack at 7:35 p.m. The first 3,000 fans at that game will receive a free Monarchs T-Shirt, courtesy of Crowley Foods. For ticket information to future Monarchs games, call (603) 626-7825.

Ken Cail broadcasts all Monarchs games on the Monarchs Radio Network (610 WGIR, 930 WGIN, 1540 WGIP, and 1400 WTSL) and on the World Wide Web at monarchshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2003


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