CRAWFORD RETURNED TO ROCKFORD

Berti loaned to Pensacola

Chicago, Ill.- Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced on Friday that the National Hockey League club has assigned goaltender Corey Crawford to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL and that IceHogs forward Adam Berti was loaned to the Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL).

Crawford was recalled yesterday after goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin suffered a mild knee sprain in Wednesday night’s 7-2 win at Columbus. Crawford was the backup goaltender to Patrick Lalime in last night’s 6-1 win at Nashville.

Crawford has appeared in 44 games at Rockford with a record of 24-13-5 with two shutouts, a goals against average of 2.72, and a .911 save percentage.

Crawford has appeared in two career NHL games for the Blackhawks, both in the 2005-06 season. He made his NHL debut on January 22, 2006, coming in to relieve starting goaltender Adam Munro versus Minnesota and not allowing a goal in just under 22 minutes. He made his only NHL start at St. Louis on February 2, 2006, in a game the Blackhawks lost 6-5 in a shootout.

Crawford was the Blackhawks’ 2nd round pick (52nd overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. The 24 year-old goaltender stands at 6-2 and weighs in at 190 pounds.

Berti has played in 39 games with Rockford and has two goals and five assists with a plus/minus rating of -1. The winger is currently skating in his second season in the pro ranks. Berti was a 3rd round pick (68th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Last season, Berti played in 49 games with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) and chipped in six goals and six assists during his rookie season.