Bloomington, IL - Rick Varone, a member of the International Hockey League all-rookie team last season with the Turner Cup champion Fort Wayne Komets, became a member of the Bloomington PrairieThunder, coach Jarrod Skalde announced Friday.

Varone was placed on waivers Thursday by the Komets and claimed by Flint. He was then traded to Bloomington for future considerations. He will wear No. 21 with the PrairieThunder and be in the lineup Friday when Bloomington meets Dayton in a 6:45 p.m. contest at Hara Arena.

The 26-year-old Varone (pronounced Va-ROW-nee) had 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points in 75 games last season. He also had two goals and six assists for eight points in 11 playoff contests. This season he had one goal and five assists for six points in 23 games.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Varone hails from Woodbridge, Ontario.