Wolf Pack Add Grit, Toughness
August 22, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
Hartford, August 22, 2002 -- Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Al Coates announced today that the organization has agreed to terms on contracts with rough-and-tumble forwards Garrett Burnett, Kevin McDonald and Brandon Cullen. In accordance with team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.
"These are three aggressive players, who have shown that they are more than willing to play a gritty game and stick up for their teammates," Coates said. "Garrett Burnett has been one of the toughest competitors in the AHL for several years, Kevin McDonald has established himself as a tough, physical player in the East Coast League, and Brandon Cullen was a real leader last year for an Erie team that challenged for the Memorial Cup."
Burnett, a 6-3, 230-pound left wing, played 32 games last season with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, notching one goal and 175 minutes in penalties. He also logged four games with the New Haven Knights of the UHL, with one goal and 40 PIM. Burnett spent the previous year with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League, and the two seasons prior to that with the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the AHL. While playing for the Thoroughblades in 1999-00, the Coquitlam, B.C. native led the league in penalty minutes with 506. In 135 career AHL contests, with Philadelphia, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Burnett has amassed six goals and five assists for 11 points, along with 996 PIM. In seven years of pro hockey, the 26-year-old has also appeared in the Colonial, Central and East Coast Hockey Leagues.
McDonald, a veteran of three seasons in the ECHL, played 15 games for the Roanoke Express last season, tallying six goals and five assists for 11 points, plus 43 penalty minutes. The previous season, the 5-11, 198-pound right wing split the year between Roanoke and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, totaling nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points and adding 363 PIM. In 1997-98, McDonald, a Western Hockey League product, played eight games with the AHL's Beast of New Haven.
Cullen, a right wing who hails from St. Catharines, Ontario, helped lead the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League this past season to the OHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup, the championship of all of Canadian Major Junior hockey. The 21-year-old, 6-foot, 212-pounder rolled up 24 goals and 31 helpouts for 55 points (good for fourth on the team) last year, with a team-high 178 minutes in penalties. In 21 playoff contests, Cullen scored 13 goals and added 16 assists for 29 points (fourth-best on the club), while adding 53 PIM. He was second only to teammate Cory Pecker in Memorial Cup points, with 2-2-4 in four games.
Wolf Pack 2002-03 season-ticket, multi-game, coupon book and group-discount packages are all currently on sale. For further information, contact the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000. And for Wolf Pack sponsorship/advertising opportunities, contact Sales at 860-246-7825.
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