Rivermen's Carrier Signs AHL Deal
November 26, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA - The Peoria Rivermen have signed their first skater of the season to a National Hockey League organization.
Right wing Alexandre Carrier has signed an American Hockey League contract with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. He has been assigned to the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL and is expected to begin play there this week.
Carrier recorded 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points and a team-high 51 penalty minutes in 10 games this season with the Rivermen. The 23-year-old native of St-Elzear-de-Beauce, Quebec is in his fourth professional season. He spent his first pro campaign in Austria before returning to North America to play at the AA level in the last two seasons. He joined the Rivermen before this year's training camp.
"We are very happy for Alex," said Rivermen coach Jean-Guy Trudel. "With him getting an AHL contract we lose him for the year, but he deserves it. He did everything asked of him and more. He is a great teammate and a great person."
The Rivermen also activated left wing Ben Warda upon his return from Evansville of the ECHL, where he recorded one assist in four games. Warda registered two goals and one assist for three points in the first six Rivermen games of the season. Defenseman Ben Oskroba was signed to a full contract after scoring a goal and an assist for two points during his three-game contract last weekend, and forward/defenseman Nick Wheeler was released after registering two goals and one assist in 11 games.
"It was a tough decision with Nick," said Trudel. "He's a great kid. We needed to make room with Oskroba and Warda coming back."
The Rivermen return to action on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 each night at Carver Arena as they host the defending champion Pensacola Ice Flyers in a battle of the top two teams in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings. A Black Friday ticket special of $5 upper bowl and $10 lower bowl seats is available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday is also the Rivermen Great Teddy Bear Toss in which fans are invited to throw new stuffed animals onto the ice after the first Rivermen goal. All of the stuffed animals will be donated to local children's charities.
Saturday is Batman Night with a special appearance by the Caped Crusader and special Batman jerseys worn by the Rivermen and auctioned after the game.
All Rivermen games can be heard inside Carver Arena on 93.7 FM and anywhere on a computer or mobile device at www.rivermen.net through links on the Fanzone tab and the schedule page. All games can also be viewed via subscription on SPHLLive.com with links found on the Rivermen web site.
Single game tickets for Peoria's 33rd season of professional hockey are on sale weekdays at the Peoria Civic Center. Season ticket packages and group ticket options for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook ( www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen).
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- Rivermen's Carrier Signs AHL Deal - Peoria Rivermen
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