ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Veteran Norrie Acquired from Cincinnati; Tough Man Kaczowka Reassigned by NHL's Atlanta Thrashers

March 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (March 1, 2004) – Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie of the Peoria Rivermen of the ECHL announced today that veteran right wing Jason Norrie has been acquired from the Cincinnati Cyclones as the future considerations to complete the trade for Malcolm MacMillan on February 24. Christie also announced that the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers have reassigned third-year tough man David Kaczowka from Gwinnett Gladiators.

Norrie – a 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Calgary, Alberta – registered 19 points (8g, 11a) and 106 penalty minutes (PIM) in 41 games for the Cyclones this season. The 26-year-old joined the Cyclones for 20 games to finish the 2002-2003 season, notching 13 points (4g, 9a) and 41 PIM. In 15 playoff games with Cincinnati last year, Norrie tallied eight points (5g, 3a) with 13 PIM.

Norrie spent three of his first four professional seasons (1998-1999, 2000-2001 & 2001-2002) with the archrival Toledo Storm, posting 76 points (26g, 50a) and 577 PIM in 162 games. He led the Storm in PIM in 2000-2001 (251) and 2001-2002 (162). He also enjoyed seven-game call-ups to the International Hockey League (IHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL) in each of those last two years with Toledo, competing for the Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL) with 22 PIM in each stint.

Kaczowka – a 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan – racked up 118 PIM in just 22 games for the Gwinnett Gladiators this season with three points (1g, 2a). Last year, the 22-year-old registered a career-best 242 PIM for the Greenville Grrrowl in 59 games, while picking up 10 points (3g, 7a). The fourth round draft choice (98th overall) of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers in 1999 collected 182 PIM in just 32 games for Greenville as a rookie and was a member of its 2002 Kelly Cup Championship Team.

Kaczowka bruised his way to a league-leading 414 PIM (131 more than the second place finisher) for his hometown Regina Pats in his third and final season (2000-2001) of Major Junior "A" hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He spent his first two seasons (1998-2000) with the Seattle Thunderbirds, registering 458 PIM and 11 points (6g, 5a) in 123 games; he was a teammate of current Rivermen Bret DeCecco and Craig Olynick both years.

On Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6, the Rivermen host the archrival Toledo Storm. Game times are 7:00 p.m. On Friday, it's another Coca-Cola Finally Friday. Fans receive a 2-for-1 Upper Bowl admission when they present a Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke can at the Carver Arena Box Office. On Saturday, "Jars of Clay" will perform in a post-game Christian concert. The first 5,000 fans will also receive a Rivermen Team Photo, courtesy of Mac's & Big Foot Convenience Stores. The Peoria Rivermen are a member of the ECHL – America's Premier "AA" Hockey League.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 2, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central