Rockford, IL - Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced Tuesday that the NHL
club has assigned three players to the Rockford IceHogs of the American
Hockey League, defensemen Cam Barker and Aaron Johnson as well as
goaltender Antti Niemi.
The Blackhawks' first round draft pick in
2004, Barker split time last year with Rockford and Chicago. During his
time with the IceHogs, the defenseman tallied eight goals and 11
assists in 29 games. With the Blackhawks, the Winnipeg native racked up six goals and 12 assists in 45 games.
Niemi,
a Vantaa, Finland native, signed as a free agent with the Blackhawks on
May 5, 2008. This will be the goaltender's first stint in North America
as a professional hockey player after having played his entire career
in Finland.
Johnson played 30 games last season with the New York Islanders (NHL).
The Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia native also appeared in two games with
the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL). In total the blue-liner has played
146 games at the NHL level throughout his five year professional career
with the Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets.
