River Rats Sign ECHL's Leading Scorer

Published on December 18, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats announced today that forward Yannick Tifu, the current ECHL leading scorer, has signed a Professional Tryout Agreement with Albany. The River Rats also announced that goaltender Kevin Nastiuk has been reassigned to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

Tifu, 23, comes to Albany from the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL looking to make his AHL-debut. The Brossard, Quebec native currently leads the ECHL in points and assists with 42 points (8 goals, 34 assists) in 25 games played this season. The 5'11", 185 lbs forward is also riding a career-best and ECHL season-high 15-game scoring streak, registering 28 points (5 goals, 23 assists) over than span. Tifu finished fourth in the voting for the ECHL's Most Valuable Player during 2006-07, after completing the season with the third most points in the league, 88 points (28 goals, 60 assists) in 78 games played. Tifu played four years of junior hockey for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL from 2001-2005, scoring 248 points in 279 career junior games, but went undrafted and made his pro debut in 2005-06 for the Rockford IceHogs, then of the United Hockey League.

Nastiuk, 22, is currently recovering from an injury suffered in the first period of the River Rats road game against the Lowell Devils on November 23rd; despite playing only 20 minutes Nastiuk still recorded his fourth win of the year in that game. The Edmonton, Alberta native started the season red hot as the back up to Michael Leighton, winning all four of his starts and registering his first career AHL shutout on November 17th versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Nastiuk heads to Albany's ECHL affiliate with a goals-against average of 1.20 and a 0.959 save percentage in 200 minutes of action, allowing a mere four goals on 97 shots faced.

The River Rats have three games this week as they head into the heart of the holiday season. Albany will host the Rochester Americans on Wednesday, December 19th at the Times Union Center for a 7:00 pm face off. This weekend the River Rats hit the road with games Friday in Syracuse at 7:30 pm and Saturday in Wilkes-Barre at 7:05 pm.

Partial season tickets and flex ticket packages for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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