BLACKHAWKS RECALL ST. PIERRE AND BLUNDEN FROM ROCKFORD

Nesbitt and Collins join the IceHogs

Chicago, Ill.-General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Blackhawks have recalled forwards Martin St. Pierre and Michael Blunden from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. The Blackhawks have also placed forwards Martin Havlat (groin), Dave Bolland (broken finger), and Ben Eager (mild concussion) on injured reserve.

St. Pierre has appeared in 29 games for Rockford scoring 13 goals, 6 on the power play, to go along with 26 assists for 39 points and 36 penalty minutes with a +7 rating. His point total is second most in the AHL.

St. Pierre was signed by the Blackhawks as a free agent on November 12, 2005. He has played for the Blackhawks for the past two seasons making his NHL debut in the 2005-06 season when he appeared in two games and did not score. Last season, St. Pierre appeared in 14 games for the Blackhawks and scored one goal and four points.

The 24 year-old center has played in 16 career NHL games with one goal and three assists for four points with eight penalty minutes.

Blunden, 21, was the Blackhawks’ 2nd round pick (43rd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. This season at Rockford , Blunden has appeared in 32 games scoring 9 goals, 4 on the power play, while adding 15 assists for 24 points with 44 penalty minutes and a +8 rating.

Blunden made his NHL debut last season appearing in 9 games for the Blackhawks with 10 penalty minutes. He injured his shoulder on December 10th of last year and was lost for the remainder of the season.

In other IceHogs news, General Manager Al MacIsaac announced that the club has signed forwards Derek Nesbitt and Dusty Collins to PTO’s and forward Jamie Carroll has been released from his PTO and returned to the Port Huron Ice Hawks (IHL).

Nesbitt is the third leading scorer in the ECHL while skating for the Gwinnett Gladiators. Through 26 contests in Gwinnett, Nesbitt has 11g-28a-39pts in 26 games. Skating in his third season in the pro ranks, the AHL call up is the first of Nesbitt’s career. Last season, Nesbitt ranked second on the Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads with 81 points.

Collins comes to Rockford after playing in 26 games with the Arizona Sundogs (CHL). In his first full season in the pros, Collins has 10g-15a-25pts for the Sundogs. Last season Collins suited up and played in 11 games for the AHL’s Springfield Falcons after completing his four-year college career atNorthernMichiganUniversity . Collins was a fifth round selection (#163 overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Carroll departs Rockford after getting his first taste of AHL hockey. Carroll played in two games with the IceHogs, including the club’s 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Admirals at the MetroCentre on Saturday. Carroll currently ranks second in scoring with Port Huron with 27 points.

Next Home Game: Monday, Dec. 31 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The Hogs welcome the Admirals back to the MetroCentre. Ring in the New year with IceHogs hockey and stick around after the game as the Hogs and WIFR-TV channel 23 present Seven Mary Three and a live concert.