AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen sign star collegian

March 20, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, IL (March 20, 2006) - Peoria Rivermen General Manager of Hockey Operations Kevin McDonald announced today that the Rivermen have signed right wing David Backes (BACK-iss) to an American Hockey League (AHL) amateur tryout (ATO) contract.

Backes, 21, recently completed his junior season at Minnesota State University-Mankato and on Wednesday, March 15, signed a National Hockey League (NHL) contract with the Rivermen parent club St. Louis Blues that will take effect beginning with the 2006-07 season. In 38 games played for Minnesota State-Mankato this season, the 6-3, 210-pound Mavericks captain accumulated 42 points on 13 goals and 29 assists and also incurred 91 minutes in penalties. His 42 points tied Backes for the most on his team and for the 12th-best total in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). He claimed the outright team lead in assists (29) and also placed second on the Mavericks in penalty minutes (91). For his efforts on and off the ice this season, Backes was named to both the All-WCHA Second Team and the WCHA All-Academic Team.

A native of Blaine, Minnesota, Backes spent three seasons at Minnesota State-Mankato after he was selected by the Blues with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. During those three seasons, the right winger appeared in a total of 115 games as a Maverick and recorded 119 points (46 goals, 73 assists) and 212 penalty minutes. Backes finished his collegiate career standing in 23rd place on Minnesota State-Mankato's all-time scoring list, having missed only one of his team's games, and having garnered an All-WCHA Third Team selection in 2004-05 and a WCHA All-Rookie Team berth in 2003-04 in addition to the honors he received following this past season.

2005-06 Peoria Rivermen Calder Cup Playoff ticket packages are now available for discounted pre-purchase. A Lower Bowl ticket package, which includes 16 potential home dates, costs $264 per seat ($16.50 per game), and an Upper Bowl ticket package costs $184 per seat ($11.50 per game). For more information on these postseason ticket packages or to place an order, please contact Rivermen Director of Ticket Operations Jim Small at (309) 676-1040, extension 106, or tickets@rivermen.net.

Listen to the live radio broadcast of all Rivermen games on HOPE 98.5 (WPIA-FM). On the Internet, watch the live streaming video Webcast or listen to the live streaming audio broadcast of all Rivermen games through the official Website of the Peoria Rivermen Hockey Club, www.rivermen.net, courtesy of the B2 Networks. Each video Webcast on the B2 Networks carries a pay-per-view fee of $6, while the Internet audio broadcasts are offered free of charge.

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