MINNESOTA WILD SENDS DOWELL, ZUCKER AND BULMER TO IOWA

VETERAN CENTER AND ALL-STAR FORWARD JOIN IOWA WILD

Des Moines, IA – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Sunday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has assigned forwards Jake Dowell, Jason Zucker and Brett Bulmer.

Dowell is in his seventh pro season after playing for both Minnesota and the Houston Aeros last season. He was scoreless in two games for Minnesota and the 28-year old posted four goals with five assists for nine points in Houston. The Eau Claire, WI native is a veteran of 156 NHL contests, scoring 11 times and totaling 33 points with the Wild, Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks. Dowell has also played in 248 AHL games for Houston and the Rockford IceHogs. He has 26 goals and 48 assists for 74 career AHL points. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round (#140 overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Zucker enters his second season after playing in 20 games for Minnesota in 2012-13. He scored four goals and totaled five points with the Wild during his rookie campaign. He also played in 55 games for the Houston Aeros, leading the team in goals (24), shots on goal (205), power-play goals (12) and game-winning goals (8). In all, the Las Vegas skater added 26 assists and totaled 50 points with Houston. He was named to the AHL’s Western Conference All-Star team in January. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder was drafted by Minnesota in the second round (#59 overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Bulmer spent the entire 2012-13 season with the Houston Aeros, playing 43 games as a rookie. The 21-year old scored four goals and added three assists for seven points. The Prince George, BC native was drafted by Minnesota in the second round (#39 overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Fans will get their first look at the Iowa Wild on Wednesday, October 2^nd at 7:00 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena for the Green-White Scrimmage. The event is open to the public. Admission is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item (one per person). All donations will go to movethefood.org. Seating will be on a first come, first-served basis.

Fans may purchase single game tickets multiple ways, either through the team’s website – www.Iowawild.com, Wells Fargo Arena box office or Dahl’s food stores. Tickets are available online at www.iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-866-55-DAHLS (32457) or by visiting one of 13 Dahl’s food stores locations in the greater Des Moines area, and in Ames. In order to purchase group tickets (10 or more), please call the Iowa Wild ticketing department at 515-564-8700. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.

The Iowa Wild begins its Inaugural season, presented by Mercy Medical Center, in October of 2013. Season tickets to see the Wild play at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com. Opening Night is scheduled for Saturday, October 12th at 7:05 p.m. against the Oklahoma City Barons.

Joe Yerdon of Prohockeytalk.com is reporting that Las Vegas skater Jason Zucker of the NHL Minnesota Wild has been re-assigned to the AHL Iowa Wild.  Zucker, who scored that dramatic OT game-winner in a playoff game against the Chicago Blackhawks last season, is expected to make a quick return to the big club.

//When Anthony Greener coaches, he stands on the bench and keeps a small piece of paper in his left hand while the AA Las Vegas Jr Wranglers 18u players are in game action. So what exactly he is looking at?  “…it’s a list of lines we are using in the game, plus game stats like plus and minuses,” he says.

//A few weeks ago, writer Gregg Drinnan shut down his famous Takin’ Note hockey blog which is one of the best there is. Drinnan, sports editor of the Kamloops Daily News, took an leave from work to attend to his wife Dorothy who was waiting for kidney transplant. She got the new kidney on Friday and she is now out of the hospital and resting at home. When all is good, Gregg will return to the press box of the WHL Kamloops Blazers.

//Stat of the Day: Michael McNicholas of Las Vegas has 2 goals, 6 assists for 8 points for the BCHL Vernon Vipers. He is #1 in most points of all Las Vegas skaters away from home.

//No snow yet, but it’s going to go down to 34 degrees this weekend for Las Vegas skater Beau Ricketts who is skating for the NAHL Minot Minotauros in North Dakota. Beau is used to cold weather. He played previously with the Helena BigHorns in Montana.

//Our daily reading begins with Doyle Woody’s hockey blogs. He covers the ECHL Alaska Aces for the Anchorage Daily news.  Take a look http://www.adn.com/hockey-blog/

//The best hockey writer? You can start with Helene Elliott of the L.A. Times. She is the first female writer to have a plaque for excellence in reporting in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

//Best hockey television announcer we think is Bob Miller of the L.A. Kings. He is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. We’ve always wanted to meet and talk hockey with him.

//According to the famous Fairbanks Daily Miner ArcticCam it will be 26-degrees with snow showers on the way for hockey clubs in action there.  Take a look:  http://www.newsminer.com/arctic_cam/

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Richfield, Minnesota – Cody Milligan of Las Vegas dealt 2 assists, was +1 on the ice and the #2 Star of the Game for the NAHL Minnesota Magicians in a tough, physical 4-2 loss to Kenai River Brown Bears here Sunday before 360 at the twin-sheet Richfield Ice Arena. Milligan, who was traded by the Minot Minotauros to the Magicians, has 1 goal, 2 assists so far in the new season.

Here is the latest from hockey coach Rob Pallin, who coached over 20 seasons in Las Vegas.

By Rob Pallin

Coach – Sapa Fehervar AV 19 – Hungary

We won on Friday night in Salzburg.  Adam Naglich scored in OT.  We are now 3-3 tied for 7th place. Starting Thursday we have 4 games in 6 days. I hope all is well with everyone back home in Las Vegas.  As for Starbucks I drive about 25 minutes to get my latte.

Alex Hudson, who years ago skated for the AAA Cal Senators in Riverside, California, signed with the ECHL Colorado Eagles.  Two of Hudson’s AAA teammates were Eddie Samuels and Eddie Del Grosso of Las Vegas. Hudson is an ’87. Hudson last season split time with the ECHL Bakersfield Condors and the Alaska Aces.

Saturday, September 28

Michael McNicholas of Las Vegas scored 2 goals and was selected the #3 Star of the Game for the BCHL Vernon Vipers in a 7-4 home loss to the Surrey Eagles. The crowd was 1,625 at the Kal Tire Center Arena. McNicholas has 2 goals, 6 assists for the Vernon Vipers this season.

Also on Saturday:

//Zach Pochiro, who skated with the NHL St. Louis Blues in pre-season, was on the ice for the WHL Prince George Cougars in a 3-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers.

//Goalie Talon Miller, an AAA Las Vegas Storm alum, and the WSHL Salt Lake City Moose shut down the New Mexico Renegades, 11-0.

Saturday, September 28

Cal State Northridge 8, UNLV Rebels 2

March 15, 2003 – In a key game at the Tier 1 Pacific Regional ice championships in Fairbanks, Alaska, Las Vegas’ Justin Johnson scored the first goal, Eddie Samuels nailed the next two, Spike Neely and Scotty John scored to tie mighty AAA Alaska All-Stars 5-5 in regulation. Then, early in overtime, Scott Chisholm made a rush down the left side, slid a pass over to Spike Neely in the slot. Neely passed to Cody Morin who stuffed in a stunning game-breaking goal to give AAA Las Vegas its biggest win ever, 6-5 over the 30-6-1 Alaska team in a Pacific District Tier 1 playoff game in Fairbanks, Alaska. Las Vegas goalie Ryan Coursey was spectacular, stopping three difficult shots during the early moments of OT. After Morin slammed in the winning shot, all Las Vegas players rushed off the bench and onto the ice for a wild celebration. At that time it was the biggest win ever for a Las Vegas hockey club.

UNLV 5, Cal State Northridge 2

//UNLV now 3-0-0

The American West Hockey League (AWHL) announced they will have a Players Showcase with their six hockey clubs including the Helena BigHorns, Billings Bulls and Bozeman Ice Dogs at the SoBe Ice Arena on North Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, on December 16-19.