Prescott Valley, AZ - The 2008 Central Hockey
League Ray Miron President's Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs today
announced the addition of two more players for the upcoming 2008-09
season in forwards Joel Irving and Andre Selander.
Irving
comes to the Arizona Sundogs after spending the 2007-08 season with
former CHL club, the Youngstown SteelHounds. The former sixth round
(148th overall) draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens
averaged nearly a point-per-game during the regular season, registering
63 points and 114 penalty minutes (PIM) in 64 appearances. His 26 goals
matched a career-best while his 37 assists and 63 points both set
career-high marks.
"Joel is a veteran that will help
provide leadership both on and off the ice to our younger guys," said
Sundogs Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro. "With Dan
(Laperriere) jumping behind the bench this season, Joel will join Chris
(Bartolone) to help fill that leadership role. Leadership is vital for
a club to succeed, especially in an organization such as ours with a
significant emphasis on developing younger players."
During
the 2006-07 season, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound forward split time between
the Utah Grizzlies and Bakersfield Condors, tallying 53 points
(18g/35a) and 122 PIM in 67 games. The 32-year-old has appeared in 646
games as a professional, including 30 at the American Hockey League
level, and has collected 197 goals, 268 assists and 1,172 PIM.
Prior
to turning pro, Irving played for four years at Western Michigan
University (NCAA). In 139 contests, the Lumsden, Saskatchewan, native
registered 25 goals, 30 assists and 222 PIM.
Selander,
24, joins the Sundogs for his first season of professional hockey in
North American after spending his entire career in Europe. In 2007-08,
the Sweden-born forward appeared in 27 games with Holland-based club,
Geleen, netting 10 goals and helping on seven more for 17 points.
"Andre
is looking to make the switch to the North American game and we're
happy to help him in his efforts," added Pietroniro. "There are
certainly adjustments that need to be made and we're expecting him to
do so quickly and effectively."