BLACKHAWKS SIGN CULLIMORE, ASSIGN HIM TO ROCKFORD

Chicago, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Jassen Cullimore and have assigned him to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. The IceHogs have correspondingly released the blueliner from his professional try-out agreement.

Cullimore, 37, has spent the 2009-10 season with Rockford, recording five points (2g-3a) and 36 penalty minutes in 40 games after originally signing a professional try-out agreement with the club on Oct. 22, 2009. The Simcoe, Ontario, native is a veteran of 776 career National Hockey League regular season games, racking up 77 assists, 103 points and 696 penalty minutes with the Vancouver Canucks (1994-96), Montreal Canadiens, (1996-98), Tampa Bay Lightning (1998-2004), Blackhawks (2005-07) and Florida Panthers (2007-09).

Cullimore, who helped Tampa Bay capture the 2004 Stanley Cup, tallied 14 points (2g-12a) and 117 penalty minutes during his two seasons in a Chicago uniform. Currently in his 17th professional campaign, Cullimore has also appeared in 35 career Stanley Cup Playoff tilts with Vancouver (1995), Montreal (1997) and Tampa Bay (2003, 2004), posting four points (1g-3a) and 24 penalty minutes. He was originally drafted 29th overall (round 2) by the Canucks in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

Next Home Game: Friday, Feb. 19 vs. San Antonio Rampage: Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 2,500 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs baseball hat courtesy of WXRX and 23-WIFR.