SPHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Reshape Injury-Riddled Roster

Published on November 19, 2013 under SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel has announced a number of changes to his injury-riddled lineup including the addition of three players and the departure of three more.

Forwards Alexandre Mentink and Tyler Pilmore, as well as goaltender Chris Carrozzi, have each been signed to an SPHL contract with Peoria, while winger-defenseman Nick Metcalfe and rookie netminder Russ Stein have both been released. In addition, center-winger Dustin Parks has been released on his own terms.

The roster shift puts Peoria at 15 skaters and two goaltenders, with an additional two skaters on the injured reserve including Dean Yakura and Tyler Amburgey.

Amburgey was placed on the injured reserve last Thursday with hip flexor issues.

Mentink, 21, signed with the Rivermen over the summer but never made it to Peoria. Instead, the 6'0, 190-pound winger went to ECHL Las Vegas, where he appeared in seven games and recorded two fights before he was released last Thursday.

A native of Joliette, Quebec, Mentink spent each of the last three seasons in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QJAHL), where he notched 41 goals and 42 assists in 117 career games.

Pilmore, 24, played five games with ECHL Toledo this season and recorded a pair of penalty minutes. Last season, the 6'0, 180-pound rookie appeared in two games for Toledo and an additional six games with ECHL Wheeling, where he made his professional debut on March 16.

Prior to turning pro, the Sylvania, Ohio native spent four years at Ohio University, where he tallied an impressive 66 goals and 161 assists for 227 points over just 161 games.

Carrozzi, 23, is a former sixth round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The fourth-year pro began the season with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL), where he registered a 5.00 goals against average and a .737 saves rate in his only appearance.

Last season, the Nepean, Ontario native split time between the St. John's IceCaps (AHL) and the Ontario Reign (ECHL), where he played under former Rivermen head coach Jason Christie. Over 28 games with the Reign, Carrozzi posted a 19-7-2 record with a 2.75 goals against average, .887 save percentage and four shutouts. He also recorded a 2.80 goals against average and a .879 saves rate in three games with the IceCaps.

Overall, the 6'2, 185-pound netminder has appeared in six AHL games and 106 ECHL games. In addition, Carrozzi helped Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2008 U-18 World Junior Classic.

Stein, 24, made four appearances between the pipes for the Rivermen including his first pro victory on Oct. 26 against Bloomington. Overall, the Ridgefield, Connecticut native posted a record of 1-1-0 with a 4.84 goals against average and a save percentage of .855. He recorded a season-high 33 saves on Nov. 2 against the Mississippi RiverKings.

Metcalfe, 22, appeared in just two games for the Rivermen since he was signed Nov. 11 and recorded one fight during his professional debut last Friday at Fayetteville.

A native of Stoneham, Massachusetts, Metcalfe spent the last four years at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. In 95 collegiate games, the 5-11, 180-pounder recorded two goals, 15 assists and 144 penalty minutes. He also served as captain during his final three seasons.

Parks, 22, notched one goal and eight penalty minutes over nine games for the Rivermen this season. A native of Osby, Sweden, Parks spent each of the last three seasons playing for the Ringerike Panthers in the Norwegian Hockey League. He intends to return to Europe and play in Norway.

Peoria begins a four-game home stand on Thursday with a 7:15 p.m. puck drop against the Pensacola Ice Flyers at Carver Arena. The game can be heard locally on CD Country 107.9 FM or online at www.cd1079.net . Fans can also follow along via the live video and audio stream at www.americaonesports.com.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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