Two First-Round Draft Picks Highlight Five Sent to Wolves
October 3, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
The Atlanta Thrashers have assigned National Hockey League first-round draft picks center ALEX BOURRET and defenseman BORIS VALABIK to the Chicago Wolves.
In addition, the Thrashers assigned National Hockey League veteran forwards JASON KROG and KYLE WANVIG and defenseman MARK POPOVIC, a member of last year's Wolves squad.
BOURRET, the Thrashers first pick, 16th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, ranked seventh in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with a career-high 70 assists and eighth with a career-most 114 points in 67 games last season with the Shawinigan Cataractes. The 19-year-old forward, who was named to the 2005-06 QMJHL Second All-Star Team, shared eighth in the league with a career-best 23 power-play markers and a career-high 44 goals.
VALABIK was selected by Atlanta 10th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-7-inch, 230-pound defenseman notched 10 points (G, 9A) in 52 games with the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers last season. He ranked third in the league with a team-best 216 penalty minutes.
KROG has appeared in 175 career NHL games, posting 18 goals and 34 assists with the New York Islanders and the Anaheim Ducks. The 30-year-old forward registered career highs with 10 goals, 15 helpers and 25 points for the Ducks in 2002-03 and helped the squad to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals with four points (3G, A) in 21 postseason tilts.
The Fernie, British Columbia, native was the recipient of the 1999 Hobey Baker Award, given to the top U.S. collegiate player.
Last season, POPOVIC tied for eighth among American Hockey League defensemen with a career-high 12 goals in 73 games with the Wolves. The 23-year-old blueliner placed seventh on the squad with a career-best 26 assists and 10th with a career-most 38 points.
WANVIG has racked up 14 points (5G, 9A) in 64 career NHL games with the Minnesota Wild over the past three seasons, which includes 12 points (4G, 8A) and 64 penalty minutes for the Wild last season. The 25-year-old forward has accrued 57 goals, 113 points and 488 penalty minutes in 239 career AHL outings with the Houston Aeros (2001-2005). He was a member of the Aeros' 2003 Calder Cup Championship squad.
American Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2006
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- Admirals Re-Assign Maunu to Toledo, Release Michaud - Norfolk Admirals
- Kings Assign LaBarbera, Tukonen To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Marlies weekly - Toronto Marlies
- Washington assigns Giroux to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Rangers Reassign Two Players From Training Camp - Connecticut Whale
- P-Bruins Announce Roster Moves - Providence Bruins
- Knights Get Two More From Calgary - Abbotsford Heat
- Hussey, Kolanos Arrive from Detroit - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rampage trim four from roster - San Antonio Rampage
- Senators host second annual Charity Golf Classic - Binghamton Senators
- First-Round Pick Radulov Reassigned to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sens add four to roster after clearing waivers - Binghamton Senators
- Harding back, Aeros release three - Houston Aeros
- Sound Tigers Roster Taking Shape - Bridgeport Islanders
- Iowa's leading scorer returns - Iowa Chops
- Two First-Round Draft Picks Highlight Five Sent to Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Express Mart Named Title Sponsor of Crunch's Opening Night - Syracuse Crunch
- Bears announce roster moves, title defense begins Saturday - Hershey Bears
- Moose Sign Five to PTO's - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage announce player transactions - San Antonio Rampage
- Aeros sign NHL veteran G Steve Shields - Houston Aeros
- Wolves Weekly Press Notes - Chicago Wolves
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