AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Penguins Add Drew Fata, Release Ben Blais and Dave Karpa

Published on February 3, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA. - The Pittsburgh Penguins today reassigned defenseman Drew Fata from Wheeling of the ECHL to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The AHL Penguins also made two roster moves today, releasing defensemen Ben Blais and Dave Karpa from their respective contracts.

Fata, 20, has one goal and two penalty minutes in eight games this season with the Penguins. In 21 games with the Nailers, he has recorded 11 points (4+7) and 55 penalty minutes. Fata was reassigned to Wheeling for the second time this season on December 2.

The 6'1', 209-pound native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round (86th overall) of the 2001 Entry Draft.

Fata was expected to be in the Penguins' lineup tonight at Philadelphia, but their game against the Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum was postponed due to the inclement weather in northeastern Pennsylvania. The game will be made up on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:05 p.m.

Blais, 25, has appeared in four games with the Penguins, recording two assists and two penalty minutes. He was signed to his second 25-game try-out contract on January 30.

The 6'4", 195-pound native of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. has recorded eight points (2+6) and 71 penalty minutes in 39 games with the Nailers

Karpa, 32, recorded 11 points (3+8) and 43 penalty minutes in 29 games this season with the Penguins.

The 6-1, 210-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan was signed by the Penguins to an American Hockey League contract on January 16. He left the team on Monday and will play in Russia.

With today's moves, the Penguins have 23 players on their roster - 13 forwards, seven (7) defensemen and three (3) goaltenders).

The Penguins (19-18-5-4, 47pts. T-5TH-Place, East Division) look to end their three-game winless streak (0-2-1) on Friday when they host the Syracuse Crunch (20-15-7-3, 50pts., 4Th-Place, North Division) in the first game of a six-game homestand. Game time is at 7:05 p.m. at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

As part of the American Heart Association's "National Wear Red Day for Women", the Penguins are asking all fans attending Friday's game to wear red. Approximately 160 tickets are still available for the game against the Crunch.

Tickets for all Penguins games are on sale and can be purchased at the Wachovia Arena Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations and telephone outlets. Ticket prices for the Penguins' 2003-04 season are set at $29.75 (Yellow Zone), $19.25 (Red Zone), $17.25 (Gold Zone) and $13.25 (Blue Zone).

Tickets can also be charged over the phone by calling Ticketmaster at (570) 693-4100, (215) 336-2000 and (607) 722-7272 and via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com or by using the Ticketmaster link on www.wbspenguins.com.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2004


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