Wellar, Wood, MacMurchy and Benson Return to ECHL Alaska
April 9, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. (April 9, 2007) - Peoria Rivermen General Manager of Hockey Operations Kevin McDonald announced today that the St. Louis Blues have reassigned defenseman Patrick Wellar to the ECHL Alaska Aces. McDonald also announced that right wing Ryan MacMurchy has been returned on loan to the Aces; defenseman Stephen Wood has been reassigned from AHL Bridgeport to the Aces; and right wing Hans Benson has been released from his professional try-out agreement and returned to the Aces.
The Aces begin defense of their 2006 ECHL Kelly Cup tonight at home against the Victoria Salmon Kings.
Wellar, 23, skated in 21 games for the Rivermen this season with one assist. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of Carrot River, Saskatchewan has 14 points (7g, 7a) in 53 games along with 101 penalty minutes (PIM) and +17 plus/minus for the Aces this season. The third-year backliner helped Alaska capture the ECHL Kelly Cup last season.
MacMurchy, 23, had four goals and an assist in 24 games with the Rivermen along 60 PIM. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound native posted 10 points (4g, 6a) in 18 games with 52 PIM for the Aces this season. The rookie right wing helped Wisconsin captured the NCAA Division I Championship last season.
Wood, 25, collected five points (1g, 4a) in 12 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers after being loaned there in early March. With the Rivermen this year, the 6-foot-2, 211-pound native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, notched two assists in 16 games. With the Aces this season, the third-year defenseman had 14 points (8g, 6a) in 25 games with 52 PIM.
Benson, 23, collected 54 PIM in 15 games for the Rivermen since joining the team in early March. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Menlo Park, California, had five points (2g, 3a) in 33 games for the Aces with a +2 plus/minus and 205 PIM. Last season, the third-year right wing helped the Central Hockey League's Laredo Bucks capture the President's Cup Championship.
On Wednesday, April 9, the Rivermen host the Milwaukee Admirals at 7:00 p.m. It is the final Nesquik Wacky Wednesday. Fans receive a Buy One, Get One Free Upper Bowl ticket offer by presenting a blue Nesquik cap or UPC label at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office. On Saturday, April 14, the Rivermen face off against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in the regular-season home finale - Ralph Rashid/Discover UFS/Ashley Furniture Fan Appreciation Night. Thousands of dollars in prizes from Rivermen corporate partners and area businesses will be given away. The first 5,000 fans will receive Circle K Team photos with gas coupons.
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