AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Pittsburgh Recalls Pair

December 9, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defensemen Ross Lupaschuk and Brooks Orpik from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League and also reassigned defenseman David Koci from Wheeling of the East Coast Hockey League to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The announcements were made today by Penguins' General Manager Craig Patrick.

Lupaschuk, 21, has played in 25 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 17 points (9+8) and 19 penalty minutes. He ranks second among AHL defensemen in goals and is tied for eighth among AHL defensemen in scoring. Lupaschuk leads the team in goals, power-play goals (6), shots (72) and is tied for fifth in scoring.

The 6'1", 218-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta played in 72 games last season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 29 points (9+20) and 91 penalty minutes. Lupaschuk was acquired by the Penguins along with Kris Beech and Michal Sivek from Washington in exchange for Jaromir Jagr and Frantisek Kucera on July 11, 2001.

Orpik, 22, has played in 25 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 10 points (1+9) and 50 penalty minutes. Orpik ranks second on the team in penalty minutes and ranks fifth on the team in assists.

The 6'2", 224-pound native of Amherst, NY has played in 103 career games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 30 points (3+27) and 149 penalty minutes. Orpik was drafted by the Penguins in the first round (18th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Koci, 21, has not appeared in a game thus far this season with the Penguins. He was reassigned to Wheeling from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on November 22 for the third time this season. Overall, in 17 games with the Nailers, Koci is scoreless with 32 penalty minutes.

The 6'6", 225-pound native of Prague, Czech Republic split the 2001-02 season between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Wheeling. Koci recorded four points (1+3) and 98 penalty minutes in 26 games with the Penguins and posted six points (2+4) and 105 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Nailers.

He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

With the roster moves, the Penguins have 20 players on their roster - two goaltenders, six defensemen and 12 forwards.

The Penguins (9-12-2-2, 22 points; third-place, South Division, Western Conference) host the Binghamton Senators (12-9-2-1, 27 points; third-place, East Division, Eastern Conference) on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza.

The career playing statistics for Koci, Lupaschuk and Orpik will follow this release.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2002


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