Sawyer Called up to Rockford

January 31, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release

The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today that defenseman Jean-Claude Sawyer has been reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League by the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.

Sawyer returns to Rockford where he has appeared in 14 games this season posting 3 goals and an assist for four points. He has also collected 19 penalty minutes while in the AHL this season. Sawyer skated in 12 games for Gwinnett this season recording a goal and four assists. He has 2 goals and 6 assists in 18 ECHL games this season with Gwinnett and Fresno.

The Saint John, New Brunswick native split time during his rookie season last year with Rockford and Pensacola. In 65 games with the Ice Pilots last season, Sawyer posted 7 goals and 25 assists. He had 4 penalty minutes in 4 games with Rockford in the American Hockey League last season.

Sawyer played five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles from 2002-03 to 2006-07. He had a career year in the QMJHL during his finals season with Cape Breton posting 15 goals and 62 assists for 77 points in 68 games.

The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season on the road Friday, January 23rd at 7:30 p.m. as they take on the Florida Everblades in Estero, Florida.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 21 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - season ticket packages are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.

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