PIRRI ASSIGNED TO ROCKFORD FROM CHICAGO WITH BOUCHARD

Hawks acquire veteran Bouchard from Islanders

Chicago, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have acquired forwards Peter Regin (REE-gihn) and Pierre-Marc Bouchard (BOO-shahrd) from the New York Islanders in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Regin will join the Blackhawks, while Bouchard will report directly to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. In addition, the Blackhawks have reassigned forward Brandon Pirri to Rockford.

Regin, 27, has appeared in 44 games this season with New York, posting seven points (2g, 5a) in those contests. He tallied a season-high two points (1g, 1a) on Oct. 8 vs. Phoenix and appeared in his 200th career NHL game on Nov. 19 at Toronto.

The Herning, Denmark, native has earned 62 points (21g, 41a) in 222 career NHL games with Ottawa and New York. Regin also appeared in 56 games with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL during the 2008-09 season, recording 47 points (18g, 29a). Prior to his North American career, Regin registered 58 points (25g, 33a) in 150 career games with Timra of the Swedish Hockey League from 2005 to 2008. He has represented his native Denmark in international competition 14 times, including six appearances at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010).

Regin was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round, 87th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Bouchard, 29, has recorded nine points (4g, 5a) in 28 games this season with the Islanders and 17 points (6g, 11a) in 20 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He recorded an AHL season-high seven-game point streak (3g, 6a) with Bridgeport from Dec. 14 to Jan. 3 and has earned a season-best two points four times. Bouchard registered an NHL season-best three-game assist streak with the Islanders from Oct. 15 to Oct. 19.

The Sherbrooke, Quebec, native has tallied 356 career points (110g, 246a) in 593 NHL games with Minnesota and New York, and 71 points (18g, 53a) in 87 AHL games with Houston and Bridgeport. Prior to his professional career, Bouchard played two seasons with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, earning 235 points (84g, 151a) in 136 career games. He represented Canada at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship, earning five points (2g, 3a) in six games while helping his team to a silver medal.

Bouchard was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, eighth overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Pirri, 22, has recorded 11 points (6g, 5a) in 28 games during two stints this season with the Blackhawks. The Toronto, Ontario, native has 13 points (4g, 9a) in 16 games with the IceHogs. Pirri is Rockford’s all-time leading point scorer, registering 187 career points in 228 games.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Feb. 8 vs. Iowa Wild. Opening face-off will be at 7 p.m. Iowa comes to the BMO Harris Bank Center for the fourth time this season. The first 2,500 fans to the BMO will receive a Brandon Saad bobblehead courtesy of WIFR. Also, following the game, fans can win a free Papa John’s Pizza with the Papa John’s Pizza Shootout.