BLACKHAWKS TRIM ROSTER, MORIN AMONG THOSE SENT TO ROCKFORD

Chicago, Ill. - The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have assigned forwards Ryan Haggerty, Mark McNeill, Jeremy Morin and Corey Tropp and defenseman Ville Pokka to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.

The Blackhawks have also released forwards Chris DeSousa and Pierre-Cedric Labrie, defenseman Kirill Gotovets and goaltenders Mac Carruth and Mark Visentin from training camp, and they will report to Rockford’s training camp.

Morin, 24, has posted 158 points (81g-77a) in 208 career games with the IceHogs, including one goal in three games last season. The Auburn, N.Y. native currently holds the IceHogs all-time records for career goals (81), power-play goals (31), and shots on goal (709), while his 158 career points rank second all-time behind Brandon Pirri (200).

Morin recorded 15 penalty minutes in 15 games with the Blackhawks last season before getting traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets where he registered six points (2g-4a) in 28 games. The former second round (45th overall) draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009 shows 22 points (10g-12a) in 82 career NHL games.

Carruth, Gotovets, Labrie, McNeill and Pokka return to Rockford after spending the 2014-15 season with the IceHogs. In his second pro season, McNeill led the IceHogs with 23 goals and ranked second in points (44). Pokka, 21, will be entering his second season after being named to the 2014-15 AHL All-Rookie Team a season ago.

Tropp, 26, collected eight points (1g-7a) in 61 games for Columbus last season. The Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. native has recorded 27 points (6g-21a) in 148 career NHL games with Columbus (2013-15) and the Buffalo Sabres (2011-14).

Tropp was acquired by the Blackhawks with Morin, along with Artem Anisimov and Marko Dano, on June 30 in a trade that sent Alex Broadhurst, Michael Paliotta and Brandon Saad to Columbus.

Haggerty, 22, enters his second pro season after compiling 33 points (15g-18a) in 76 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack as a rookie.

DeSousa, 24, signed an AHL contract with Rockford in June after completing his rookie season with the IceHogs' ECHL affiliate Indy Fuel in 2014-15. In 20 games with the Fuel, DeSousa potted 7g-9a-16pts.

Visentin, 23, missed the entire 2014-15 season due to injury, but the goaltender spent the majority of the 2013-14 season with the AHL’s Portland Pirates winning 14 games and making his NHL debut with the Phoenix Coyotes later that season. In parts of two seasons with the Pirates, the net minder tallied a 29-30-0 record to go along with a 3.11 goals against average and a .902 save percentage in 75 games.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Texas Stars. The IceHogs open their 17th season at the BMO against Texas at 7 p.m., and the first 5,000 fans to the game will get an IceHogs calendar courtesy of Mulligan’s. For tickets visit IceHogs.com or call (815) 968-5222.