Ray Kaunisto Comes to Evansville in Trade with Kalamazoo

March 11, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


EVANSVILLE, Ind.- The Evansville IceMen, presented by Coors Light, announced a trade on Wednesday with the Kalamazoo Wings. In the deal, the IceMen receive forward Ray Kaunisto and future considerations. Kalamazoo acquires the ECHL rights to Patrick Kennedy.

Kaunisto comes to the IceMen in his third ECHL season. The 6'4 forward has five goals and nine assists in 43 games with the Wings this year. He has also accumulated 76 penalty minutes.

A graduate of Northern Michigan University, Kaunisto played 40 or more games in each of his four seasons with the Wildcats. He set collegiate highs in his senior campaign with 18 goals and 14 assists.

Following his time at Northern Michigan, Kaunisto began his pro career with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL in 2010-11. The 28-year-old played 131 games with the Monarchs in his first two pro seasons, scoring 15 goals and dealing 21 assists.

In 2012-13, Kaunisto set ECHL career highs in goals (7), assists (16), and penalty minutes (113) with the Colorado Eagles.

Kaunisto returned to his native Michigan to join the Wings in the 2013-14 season. Last season, Kaunisto played 34 games with Kalamazoo and also bounced up to the AHL on three separate occasions with the Syracuse Crunch, the Lake Erie Monsters, and the Utica Comets, Kalamazoo's AHL affiliate. He has played 160 career AHL games with 17 goals and 23 assists at the triple-A level.

This season, Kaunisto has three multi-point games. Two of those games, including a season-high two goals came against the IceMen's rival, the Fort Wayne Komets.

Kennedy leaves the IceMen having played the eighth most games in franchise history (105), but has only appeared in 25 with Evansville this season. The Utica Comets recalled Kennedy for the third time this season on Feb. 6th. Since this recall, Kennedy has only played one game.

In his 25 games with the IceMen this year, Kennedy has netted nine goals and picked up 12 helpers. A Cornell alum, Kennedy recorded a point in six consecutive ECHL games from Dec. 20 to Jan. 19.

The IceMen named Kennedy team captain in January after Guy Lepine was called up to Binghamton. In three seasons with the IceMen, Kennedy recorded 44 assists and 69 points both of which are tied for eighth most in franchise history.

Kaunisto will join the IceMen on Friday when the IceMen will travel to the state capital for a clash with the Indy Fuel. That game begins at 6:35 p.m. and can be seen at Bar Louie, the Official Watch Party Destination of your Evansville IceMen. Friday's game will also be available on ESPN Evansville 105.3, ESPN Evansville.com, and ECHL TV.

The IceMen return home on Saturday to begin a two-game series with the Orlando Solar Bears. Saturday's game will be Pi Day, with the date matching up to the first five digits of the number pi. The IceMen will wear special Pi Day jerseys that will be available for purchase at a post-game jersey auction. Plus there will be a pie-eating contest during intermission.

Fans Get the 3-2-1 Pack:

3- games of your choice

2- tickets per game

1- IceMen t-shirt

Plus receive one entry per pack purchase to win a team autographed stick and be eligible for early renewal for the 2015-2016 season. Packs start at just $60.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all games including the IceMen's March 14th game against Orlando at the Ford Center Box Office Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and after noon on weekend game days.

2015-16 season tickets are on sale now. Plans start at just $10 per ticket. Call an IceMen ticket executive at 812-421-GOAL to get your discounted season and group packages.



ECHL Stories from March 11, 2015


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