Official site of the Rockford IceHogs
Proud Affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks

GILBERT REASSIGNED TO TOLEDO, VALLERAND RELEASED FROM PTO

Vallerand Marc SC1112 1
Rockford, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Wednesday that the National Hockey League club has reassigned winger David Gilbert from the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs to the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). Additionally, the IceHogs have released forward Marc-Olivier Vallerand from his professional try-out (PTO).

In 28 games with Rockford this season, Gilbert has a goal and four assists. Chicago’s seventh round selection (#209 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Gilbert has played 34 career games with the IceHogs, amassing three goals and six assists.

The Chateauguay, Quebec native has also appeared in 23 contests with Toledo this season where he has notched six goals and nine helpers for the Walleye.

Prior to turning pro, Gilbert, 21, skated in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Quebec and Acadie-Bathurst, totaling 70g-86a-156pts in 209 games.

Vallerand, 22, appeared in seven games for Rockford, recording two assists and eight shots on goal. The winger has spent the majority of the 2011-12 campaign with the Greenville Road Warriors in the ECHL. The Longueuil, Quebec native notched 27 goals and 23 assists in 54 games with the Road Warriors. Vallerand has also skated in two contests with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2011-12, recording one shot on goal.

In 70 games with Greenville during his rookie campaign in 2010-11, the winger registered 28 goals and 25 assists.

Prior to turning pro, Vallerand spent four seasons with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL, tallying 190 points (83g-107a) in 258 tilts.

Next Home Game: Friday, March 23 vs. Houston Aeros. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. for the first of back-to-back contests between Rockford and Houston at the BMO Harris Bank Center and the second of three meetings between the two teams in a nine-day span. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive an IceHogs water bottle sponsored by Rock Valley Culligan and 97ZOK.