Blackhawks Recall Niemi From Rockford

The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled goaltender Antti Niemi (AN-tee, nee-YEH-mee) from the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.

Niemi, 25, leads Rockford with a 2.47 goals-against average and has notched a 13-12-2 record with a .910 save percentage in 29 games during his North American professional debut. Last night, the Vantaa, Finland, native recorded his team-best second shutout of the season, registering 21 saves in a 1-0 win over the Peoria Rivermen.

Niemi was signed by the Blackhawks as a free agent on May 5, 2008, after spending the previous three years in the Finnish Elite League with the Pelicans of SM-Liiga. Last season he notched a 26-6-14 mark with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 49 appearances with the Pelicans. He recorded 56 wins (56-44-29) and a 2.71 goals-against average in three seasons of action in Finland’s top professional league.